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re: Royal Warwickshire Brigade

S

sheri

master brummie
I need your help again please. I think my grandfather - Alfred Blackham was in the 1/16th Battalion which in 1915 became part of the South Midland Division and redesignated the 48th Division and 143 Brigade. Is there anyway I can find out which one he was in? His regiment No was 21047 (if that helps). I would like to try and find out where he fought. I know he was in the trenchs somewhere. My thanks for all the help you've given me.
Sheri
 
The medal record gives "Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Defense Corps"
Here's the card:
 
Hi Sheri

I have looked at your previous posts regarding Alfred Blackham. I can see where Alan was coming from when he said he may have served in the 1/6 Royal Warwickshire Regt. Alan, like me, probably did a check on similar service numbers of men who were killed in the Royal Warwicks. Soldiers that were KIA had the following numbers :- 21036, 21041, 21043, 21048, 21049, 21052, 21054. Seven service numbers all around Afred Blackham's 21047. FIVE of those men killed all served in the 1/6 Bn Royal Warwicks (their names; Maidment, Whittle, Edwards, Sturmey and Durden) and what is very strange they were all killed on the same day 4 feb 1917.

One of the seven served in the 10th Warwicks and the other the 1st Warwicks.

Thus, there is a strong possibility that A Blackham served in the 1/6. However, he might have served in another battalion.

regards

Terry

p.s

I have checked the WW1 Roll of Honour for Cadbury's. Alfred Blackham is not listed under Royal Warwickshire Regiment only under the Royal Defence Corps. As he was entitled to the War and Victory medals he probably did see service in a theatre of war with the Warwicks but for medical reasons transferred to the Defence Corps.

The Royal Defence Corps was a corps of the British Army formed in August 1917 and disbanded in 1936.
It was initially formed by converting the (Home Service) Garrison battalions of line infantry regiments. Garrison battalions were composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for active front-line service; the Home Service status indicated they were unable to be transferred overseas. Eighteen battalions were converted in this way[1].
The role of the regiment was to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom; guarding important locations such as ports or bridges. It also provided independent companies for guarding prisoner-of-war camps. The regiment was never intended to be employed on overseas service.
 
Thank you all so much for information especially Terry. You've filled in some the blanks for me. I am sure that Alfred served overseas because my dad said he had bad feet (had to wear football socks) for the rest of his life from standing in water in the trenches, also he would have been about 40 - he died in 1947 a year after he retired from Cadbury's. I can't remember whether he was at Ypres or on the Somme - my feeling is that it was ypres. Did some major battle happen on the 4th Feb 1917 as so many R.Warwicks from B'ham were killed on the same day? And as Alf was in the Defence Corps would he have stayed in B'ham? I'm on abit of a roll with this WW1 stuff as I've found a couple of possible cousins CWGC but no other info.
Sheri
 
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