TOPIC:

SWB wrote:

shampers wrote: I've one last question from all the above info. If he had No 110 on joining then why did he get changed to No 4927? He was in the Lancashire Fusiliers the whole time it would seem.

No. 110 comes form the 3rd battalion - a militia unit. The militia were part time soldiers, like today's Army Reserve (formerly Territorial Army). They had a separate numbers from the regular battalions. When a man left the militia and joined the regular Army he was given a new number. Army numbering is a whole other thread.

Ah, yes, that does make sense.

I had read up on the Militia as being men who continued to do their normal day jobs but could be called up.

In my records for Robert I have stated the change of number when he moved from 3rd battalion to 2nd Battalion on 28/11/1894.

So whilst we have located his Militia records 12/8/1893 to 28/11/1894, his army records between 28/11/1894 and going MIA on 21/1/1900 have not been found.

All we definitely know about the military career of Robert Ford (born in Ireland in 1876) is that he enlisted in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers on 12 August 1883 and on 28 November 1894 enlisted in one of the two regular battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers. This would have required him to re-attest and be issued with a new regimental number.

There is uncertain evidence that when he joined the regular battalion he was given the regimental number of 4947. This would seem likely as Patrick Ford (also known as “L” and born in Warrington in 1876) attested on 5 September 1894 and he was given the regimental number 4927.

The QSA Medal roll for the 2nd Battalion lists 5 Ford’s (all Privates) – 4959 A Ford, 8822 C Ford, 6685 J Ford, 4927 L Ford and 3266 P Ford. Incidentally the last was named Peter and attested on 22 May 1890.

Whilst the 2nd Battalion served in South Africa the 1st Battalion did not, being stationed (according to the Fusiliers Museum website) in Malta, Crete & Gibraltar at the time.

A logical conclusion of the above is that Robert Ford was assigned to the 1st Battalion and did not serve in South Africa.

Perhaps the Fusiliers Museum in Bury might be able to help.

Smethwick wrote: All we definitely know about the military career of Robert Ford (born in Ireland in 1876) is that he enlisted in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers on 12 August 1883 and on 28 November 1894 enlisted in one of the two regular battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers. This would have required him to re-attest and be issued with a new regimental number.

There is uncertain evidence that when he joined the regular battalion he was given the regimental number of 4947. This would seem likely as Patrick Ford (also known as “L” and born in Warrington in 1876) attested on 5 September 1894 and he was given the regimental number 4927.

The QSA Medal roll for the 2nd Battalion lists 5 Ford’s (all Privates) – 4959 A Ford, 8822 C Ford, 6685 J Ford, 4927 L Ford and 3266 P Ford. Incidentally the last was named Peter and attested on 22 May 1890.

Whilst the 2nd Battalion served in South Africa the 1st Battalion did not, being stationed (according to the Fusiliers Museum website) in Malta, Crete & Gibraltar at the time.

A logical conclusion of the above is that Robert Ford was assigned to the 1st Battalion and did not serve in South Africa.

Perhaps the Fusiliers Museum in Bury might be able to help.

Thanks. I will write to them. 4927 is quote as Ford 'L' in a number of places but is also quoted as Ford 'R'. Here's one of the newspaper articles regarding the release of POWs on 6th Jun 1900.

Shampes

In your post of 2 days ago

"Robert Ford(e) (5/5/1876 - Knocknahila, Ballyhorgan, Listowel, Kerry). Served with Lancashire Fusiliers, Salford Battalion during WW1. Reg No - 19570"

From where did this piece of information come "Served with Lancashire Fusiliers, Salford Battalion during WW1. Reg No - 19570"

Pete

Volunteer wrote: Shampes

In your post of 2 days ago

"Robert Ford(e) (5/5/1876 - Knocknahila, Ballyhorgan, Listowel, Kerry). Served with Lancashire Fusiliers, Salford Battalion during WW1. Reg No - 19570"

From where did this piece of information come "Served with Lancashire Fusiliers, Salford Battalion during WW1. Reg No - 19570"

Pete

My apologies, the bit about WW1 should be against his brother John Patrick Ford. I’ll amend the post.