My new find - Royal Dublin Fusiliers

[Noor]

Hi all,

It is rare occasion when I pick up something new for my collection at the moment. But yesterday I spotted nice set that I jumped all over it without questions asked...

First at all I think it is harder to see these days full entitlement where the SWB is included. Also in this case all the medals, SWB and Cap badge are attached to the old wooden board - how the fabric is worn out under the medals, I can see that the set was attached there a long long time and most likely presented by the owner or his family with pride.

Some details:

All the medals are officially impressed:

- 1914 Star "8980 Pte. M.Porter R.D.F."
- British War Medal "8980 Cpl. M.Porter R.D.F."
- Victory Medal "8980 Cpl. M.Porter R.D.F."

MIC shows that Michael Porter landed in France 23 August 1914, so he was with the first patch with the 2nd Battalion, who joined BEF.

Also MIC shows that Michael was entitled SWB. But checking SWB number "273043" that's on the SWB, I can see that it was actually presented to James Harpur from ASC. That's a shame now . I can just hope that it was very old swap or Michael lost his and replaced it - impossible to confirm.

Meantime Michael's SWB input shows that he enlisted to the RDF already 13 April 1904 and served until 11 October 1915 when he was discharged due to the wounds.

I presume he was sent to the reserve ca. 1910-11 after initial 7 years and called back August 1914, what to you guys think? Thank you to the fellow forum member, I know that his wounding
was listed on the 12 October 1915 Irish Times newspaper that unfortunately don't show his residence place (like most of the times these lists are showing).

Next I checked Irish Census 1911 that shows only 9 same names. I think only two of them are suitable for service from 1904 and continue service 1914 (ages: 25, 19, 42, 5,15, 26, 8, 57, 3). I can eliminate 19, 5, 15, 8, 3 - too young to serve or too young to serve 1904. Also 42 and 57 do not make sense for service 1914.

Now, 25 and 26 years old are left. First one was Boarder from Dublin (born Co.Carlow) and second Pollrone, Co.Kildare man who was 1911 Army Reservist! I presume that I can be fairly sure that's the medals belonged to this man from Pollrone?

I haven't checked yet does his papers exist on the FindMyPast but I think it was interesting step by step "wrong way" check anyway.

Any ideas guys?

Regards,

Timo

[Graham Stewart]

Very nice Timo and such a shame the SWB isn't to your man, but there again there are specialist collectors of SWB's. Your deduction that your man would be sent to the 1st Class Army Reserve would indeed be correct as the infantry were recruiting on a 'seven & five' years basis, i.e. seven years with the Colours and five with the Reserve, before a complete Discharge. So as Michael enlisted in April 1904, then he would have transferred to the Reserve in April 1911, to await a complete Discharge in April 1916. However events were to overtake his life and in August 1914 he would have been mobilised along with thousands of other British Army Reservists. On rejoining his old unit, via the Depot, he would have retained his old regimental number, as your number wasn't disgarded until you were completely Discharged.