Gallipoli Campaign

[bigjarofwasps]

Hi Guys,

I`m trying to do a bit of research on this soldier...

12265 Pte. J. McCleary, Royal Welsh Fusiliers *

The MIC shows '2B' (Balkans) on the 28th June 1915 and entitlement to a 1914-15 Star trio. His "Medical History" papers show that Joseph McCleary from Wrexham, North Wales enlisted on the 26th August 1914, aged 29. He was discharged on the 4th June 1919 due to "Malaria attributed to Active Service".

The problem I`m having is that his service number doen`t appear to relate to any of the RWF battalions that deployed on this campaign, also his date of arrival doesn`t seem to tally up either. Can anyone shine any light on this for me?

Do MIC dates relate to when the soldier left Blighty or to when they arrived in theatre?

Gordon.

[mariner]

Hi Guys,

I`m trying to do a bit of research on this soldier...

12265 Pte. J. McCleary, Royal Welsh Fusiliers *

The MIC shows '2B' (Balkans) on the 28th June 1915 and entitlement to a 1914-15 Star trio. His "Medical History" papers show that Joseph McCleary from Wrexham, North Wales enlisted on the 26th August 1914, aged 29. He was discharged on the 4th June 1919 due to "Malaria attributed to Active Service".

The problem I`m having is that his service number doen`t appear to relate to any of the RWF battalions that deployed on this campaign, also his date of arrival doesn`t seem to tally up either. Can anyone shine any light on this for me?

Do MIC dates relate to when the soldier left Blighty or to when they arrived in theatre?

Gordon.

Curious one this, as from what I can see none of the RWF battalions arrived in Gallipoli until mid July 1915? Unless someone else knows otherwise.....

[mariner]

On first thoughts, I thought that maybe McCleary was in one of the TF battalions, however, having done a bit of digging, I`m now more inclinded to believe that he was with the 8th (Service) Battalion which was formed in Wrexham during August 1914, the then sailed to Gallipoli on the 28th June 1915, which also fits into the facts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/flintshire/pages/flintsoldiers.shtml

"1617 L/Cpl Richard Ernest Fardoe embarked on 28th June 1915 for Gallipoli, according to the 1914-15 Star Medal Roll." "Richard Ernest Fardoe was in the 8th service battalion"

http://www.1914-1918.net/rwf.htm

[bigjarofwasps]

8th Battalion seems to fit, the criteria.

Interestingly he`s not on the 1901 or 1911 census, for Wrexham.

[RWF]

His number is certainly in the range that could be expected for an 8th Bn chap. And given the other facts, I too would concur he was an 8/RWF man.