A lucky break meant I stumbled on the list of absent voters in 19-18-1919 in Stourbrige. Included in this was grandfather Edward Meredith ending the mystery of where he did his war service during the Great War…

Sadly 60% of the service records of first world war army soldiers were destroyed in a fire during the second world war.

A search of files on Ancestry.co.uk would suggest that Edward Meredith 1876’s records were lost, so I was not able to find which regiment he belonged to.

My mother’s recall was that her father worked with horses during his military service and that he, in common with other verterans, rarely spoke about his experiences.

By a stroke of luck I came across this index of absent voters 1918-1919 on the Worcestershire Record Office website. Most of the voters on the list would have been absent because of their army service.

Edward’s record has him serving in the 627 Labour Corps with service number 347343.

I include an extract from the website: http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm below which gives details of what the Labour Corps do. Certainly Edward’s account of having worked with horses fits in well with this description.

Sadly having checked the medal records on ancestry.co.uk I can find no record of a medal card for Edward under his 347343 regimental number. This is a shame as this would have given a clue as to which engagements he served in. It is, however a start.

The Labour Corps of 1917-1918

This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the units of the Labour Corps.

Background

Although the army in France and Flanders was able to use some railways, steam engines and tracked vehicles for haulage, the immense effort of building and maintaining the huge network of roads, railways, canals, buildings, camps, stores, dumps, telegraph and telephone systems, etc, and also for moving stores, relied on horse, mule and human. In the Middle Eastern theatres, camels were also also used.

In August 1914 there was no formed body of troops specifically designed for these tasks. In the infantry, manual work near the front lines was carried out by the Pioneer Battalions which were added to each Division. Some infantry regiments formed labour companies and works battalions for work on the lines of communication and at home, but the organisation of manpower was haphazard until the formation of the Labour Corps.

The labour units expanded hugely and became increasingly well-organised. However, despite adding large numbers of men from India, Egypt, China and elsewhere, there was never enough manpower to do all the labouring work required. The total number of men engaged on work in France and Flanders alone approximated 700,000 at the end of the war, and this was in the labour units alone. In many cases the men of the infantry, artillery and other arms were forced to give up time to hard effort when perhaps training or rest might have been a more effective option.

According to the Official History: “..although some labour units were raised and eventually labourers from various parts of the Empire and China were brought to France, the numbers were never at any period sufficient for the demands of a great army operating in a friendly country”.

Before the formation of the Labour Corps

The Army Service Corps Labour Companies

Among the earliest such units formed, the ASC Labour Companies originated to provide manpower to unload British ships and operate the docks in France. Two railway labour companies were also formed. More information

The Royal Engineers Labour Battalions

The RE raised 11 Battalions for labouring work. More information

Infantry Pioneer and Labour or Works Battalions

An early solution to the vast demand for labour was to create in each infantry Division a battalion that would be trained and capable of fighting as infantry, but that would normally be engaged on labouring work. They were given the name of Pioneers. They differed from normal infantry in that they would be composed of a mixture of men who were experienced with picks and shovels (i.e. miners, road men, etc) and some who had skilled trades (smiths, carpenters, joiners, bricklayers, masons, tinsmiths, engine drivers and fitters). A Pioneer battalion would also carry a range of technical stores that infantry would not. This type of battalion came into being with an Army Order in December 1914. In early 1916, a number of infantry battalions composed of men who were medically graded unfit for the fighting were formed for labouring work. They had only 2 officers per battalion. Twelve such battalions existed in June 1916.

Non Combatant Corps

After the passing of the Military Service Act in early 1916 it was decided to form a Non-Combatant Corps of conscientious objectors for work on roads, hutments, timber work, quarrying, sanitary duties and handling supplies. Eight NCC Companies existed by the middle of June 1916.

The Labour Corps is formed

Formed in January 1917, the Corps grew to some 389,900 men (more than 10% of the total size of the Army) by the Armistice. Of this total, around 175,000 were working in the United Kingdom and the rest in the theatres of war. The Corps was manned by officers and other ranks who had been medically rated beloe the “A1″ condition needed for front line service. Many were returned wounded. Labour Corps units were often deployed for work within range of the enemy guns, sometimes for lengthy periods. In April 1917, a number of infantry battalions were transferred to the Corps. The Labour Corps absorbed the 28 ASC Labour Companies between February and June 1917. Labour Corps Area Employment Companies were formed in 1917 for salvage work, absorbing the Divisional Salvage Companies. In the crises of March and April 1918 on the Western Front, Labour Corps units were used as emergency infantry. The Corps always suffered from its treatment as something of a second class organisation: for example, the men who died are commemorated under their original regiment, with Labour Corps being secondary. Researching men of the Corps is made extra difficult by this, as is the fact that few records remain of the daily activities and locations of Corps units.

Indian, Chinese, native South African, Egyptian and other overseas labour

With the shortage of manpower for labouring work continuing, Sir Douglas Haig requested an increase in the force of an additional 21,000 men. This demand was filled by importing men from China (where the British followed a French lead and signed an agreement with the Chinese for a supply of men), India, South Africa, Egypt and other places within the British Empire. Demand continued and by the wars end a total of approximately 300,000 such workers had been engaged, of which 193,500 were in France and Flanders. By the end of 1917 there were 50,000 Chinese workers in France, rising to 96,000 by August 1918 (with another 30,000 working for the French). 100,000 Egyptians were working in France and the Middle East, alongside 21,000 Indians and 20,000 South Africans, who were also in East Africa. They were kept on lines of communication and other work well behind the fighting line, and as a force were rather immobile due to the decisions to segregate them – many of these workers were black – and provide special camps. Indian labourers were more often used closer to the front lines, on fortification work. Many Indians were also used in Divisional Ammunition Column work, as drivers as well as in the manual tasks. The South African Native Labour Corps came to France early in 1917 and established a base at Arques-la-Bataille.

Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps

Formed in March 1917 after a proposal by the Army Council was welcomed by Sir Douglas Haig. Women would be used on the Lines of Communication and at GHQ, on tasks that did not require heavy labour. Initially called the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs), they eventually took the formal title of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. The women enlisted for a year or duration, whichever was longer. They were used on a wide variety of tasks, principally in clerical, canteen, motor transport, storehouses and telephone and postal roles. Approximately 10,000 WAACs saw service, most in France and Flanders. More information

Entrenching Battalions

Formed from the small surplus of men left after the break-up of many infantry battalions in early 1918, and the re-allocation of their strength to bring other units up to establishment. Men were all regarded as fit and ready to replace losses in fighting units at any time. There is some evidence that some Entrenching units were also formed in 1916.

Use of enemy prisoners of war

Until mid 1916, German prisoners were sent to England. From this time onward, prisoners were initially sent to Abbeville. Men with useful skills, notably forestry and engineering, were drafted into companies of about 100 men each, for use in POW Forestry Companies and ASC and RE workshops, respectively. 47 such POW labour companies were attached to the Labour Corps when it was formed

THOMAS WILLIAM DYER 2nd Great Grandfather baptised 15th July 1821. Parents William and Alice Dyer – which means Alice can now be added into family tree. The occupation of William is given as ‘labourer’ in 1821 and 1823, but by 1830 this has changed to ‘boatman’.

Elizabeth Dyer married Joseph Gardner in 1840 – the British Waterways site refers to this wedding. The records show that Elizabeth was baptised on 28th September 1823.

I could find no trace of the marriage of William and Alice Dyer. Nor could I find any trace of the birth of Hannah Gardner.

Baptism Records for Stratford

Dyer

1821 07 15
Thomas William
William and Alice Dyer
Labourer
1823 09 28
Elizabeth
William and Alice Dyer
Labourer
1830 12 05
William
William and Alice Dyer
Boatman

NB this suggests that between 1823 and 1830 3rd great grandfather William Dyer became a boatman.

I also wonder whether this entry refers to the same William. The sequence of dates suggests it could:

1826 04 16
Maria
William and Mary Dyer
Boatman

Perhaps Alice had more than one name?

Gardner

1823 10 19
John
John and Elizabeth Gardner
Labourer
Bishop on?
1824 07 31
Charles
John and Elizabeth Gardner
Labourer
Shottery
1828 09 07
James
John and Elizabeth Gardner
Labourer

1821 01 24
Ann
John and Harriet Dyer
Wheelwright
1819 06 02
Harriet
John and Harriet Dyer
Wheelwright
1827 02 14
Sarah
John and Harriet Dyer
Coachmaker
1827 02 14
Lucy
John and Harriet Dyer
Coachmaker
1827 02 14
Richard
John and Harriet Dyer
Coachmaker
1830 01 13
Henry
John and Harriet Dyer
Coachmaker

1830 12 05
Jane
Thomas and Ann Gardner
Labourer
Shottery
1818 04 14
Eliza
Thomas and Ann Gardner
Labourer
Shottery
1818 01 03
William
Thomas and Ann Gardner
Labourer
Shottery

1828 07 09
Sarah
Thomas and Alice Gardner
Labourer
Shottery

1824
David
David and Ursula Gardner
Groom

1821 03 07
William
Richard and Elizabeth Gardner
Labourer
Shottery

Marriages:-
1821 11 03
Thomas Gardner widower and Alice Osbourn widow

1817 02 13
John Dyer and Harriet Hemmings
Ann Dyer and Wm Edmonds
1807 11 09
John George and Hannah Gardner of this parish

1807 11 13
Matthew Gardner of Harvington and Hannah Biggerstaff of this parish

1807 01 08
George Gardner of Eatington widower and Ann Edwards of this parish spinster

1801
John Carter and Sarah Gardner

NB researched back to 1793. Writing in register very poor.

In autumn 2009 this was highlighted in media reports of the work of Julia Gillen of the Lancaster Literacy Research Centre.  In her synposis of her work on Edwardian Postcards Ms Gillen explained:

In the heyday of the postcard during the Edwardian age, (1901-1910) it offered an opportunity for rapid vernacular writing at very low cost that was not to be available again until the contemporary digital revolution. Up to six deliveries a day were being made in major cities and 6 billion cards were sent in the period. We have collected over 1,200 cards from the period to examine the creative responses of the population to this new technology. Apart from the light shed on writing practices of the Edwardians, our studies are revealing much about the travel patterns, social networks and concerns of the age.

In Fred’s collection of old photographs are nine post cards from her mother and maternal aunts and uncles in the Hill family.

Ada Hill was Fred’s mother and the others mentioned in the collection are Ada’s parents, Arthur and Alice, her sisters Lucy, Amy and Polly, and brothers Fred and Walter. 

It is surprising how such a small collection can both shed light on family history and illustrate the points made in Gillen’s study.

Starting in 1905 the postcards illustrate the picture post card craze.  Ada writes to her dad urging him to get an album to collect the cards she sends – and the front of the card perhaps illustrates the ‘mother in law’ humour of the time:

Stourbridge 8.30pm Sp 8 05,

Mr Alfred Hill, Dordale Farm, Belbroughton, Stourbridge

My Dear Dad,

I do hope you are better & hope you will think this nice & you must really have an album if I am to send P.Cs to you like this. Fondest love from Ada

Love to mother

Note the time of the collection on the post stamp. 

A second postcard from that year, unfortunately not signed, reads:

10.40 am Oct 17 05

Mr A Hill, Dordale …,Insetton, Belbroughton, Nr Stourbridge

My darling daddy

I certainly hop this pc will find you Letty or alright I am hoping …..next week, thank mother for her pc she asked ada to send me tell her I will write….I expect she prm

The postcards also show that the family was living at Dordale Farm near Belbroughton.  The farm is still there today and can be seen courtesy of Google Street View – it looks rather nice.  Arthur’s occupation is given as a farm bailiff in the 1901 census and it now looks like the family were living at Doredale.

A third postcard is undated but must have been written at about this time as the family was soon to move to Bee Hive Farm at Catshill.

No date

Miss L. Hill, Dordale Farm, Belbroughton, Nr Stourbridge

Dear Louie

I don’t know whether you you have a P.P.C. like this of the “Hagley Rd Stourbridge” if you have this will to to fill up.

“With love from Edgar”

How sweet.  ‘Edgar’ is almost certainly Edgar Lacy who married Lucy in 1910 at Catshill Church.  For those in the family with longer memories Edgar and Lucy had a daughter who we know as Auntie Phylis.

By 1906 the family had moved to Bee Hive Farm, Catshill.  I have, as yet, been unable to precisely locate this farm on either present day or older maps and suspect that it has been developed over.

However a fine example of early “Twitter” or “Txt” Speech is provided in another postcard to Lucy:

4pm Oct 23 06 Stourbridge

Miss L Hill, Bee hive Farm, Catshill, Bromsgrove

Dear Louie

Arrived h. Safe t. night feel a bit stiff from the j and ? Night shall be ther a C at 7 or 7.15pm on T…if f

With love from ALlE?

Forgive my transcription – I’ve done the best I can – any (polite) suggestions for improvement welcome.

There seems to be more than one handwriting on the card and the signature is somewhat scrawled.  It begs the question about the standards of literacy in the family.  Certainly Arthur and Alice were raised prior to the 1870 education act and so were not subject to compulsory schooling.  Arthur made his mark on their 1876 wedding certificate rather than signing it.  Were other members of the family reading/writing the postcards for their parents?

1909

Stourbridge 8.30pm July 28th 09

Mrs A Hill, Bee Hive Farm, Catshill, Nr Bromsgrove

Dear Mother, I have got orders for 2 dozen and 3 half dozen of Strawberrys & 1/2 dozen of Gooseberrys if you can get them & please send me 6 pennyworth of Potatos this week as I have got a good few left & I like them fresh hope your B. is better love to all from Ada.

Ada had married Edward Meredith in 1902 and, I suspect, was living in Stourbridge.  The message on the postcard is self explanatory but shows that even in her new urban setting Ada was making use of her rural relatives to do business.  Ada and Edward would also use their home in Cecil Street to provide lodgings for visiting artists at the local theatre.

1913 saw Alice Mary Hill – Auntie Polly writing wishing her mother a happy birthday.  The family had now moved to Lydiate Ash – next to what is now Junction 4 on the M5 motorway.

21 Jan 13 Pedmore Stourbridge

Mrs A Hill, Lydiate Ash nr Bromsgrove

My Dear Mother

Just to wish you very many happy returns of the day

Please tell Dad I will ask Burton to bring the Dog back on Saturday much love Polls

Not sure who Burton was, but kind of him to take the dog back I’m sure.

The choice of postcard is also interesting.  Arthur Hill gives his employment as ‘hauler’ in the 1911 census.  Did Polly pick the postcard with the horses in the golden sunset to symbolise her dad’s trade?

War

And finally three cards from during the war years.  In 1917 Fred, in the army – the Royal Artillery – sends a postcard from Aldershot to his mother.  You can almost feel the soldier’s yearning for home and family. The card has an emotional poem to ‘Daddy’ on the front and Fred tells his mother that he has not received a letter from her this weack (sic):

Postcard stamped Aldershot

Mrs A Hill, Lydiate Ash, Nr Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

July 28th 1917

My dear Mother I now write these few lines to you hoping it will find you all well at home as I am very well myself. Dear mother I have not received a letter this weack from you have you sent one if so it must be lost I will write a letter later with fondest love from Fred.

In 1918 Amy writes enquiring about Uncle Walter’s address.  Uncle Walter was also in the army and Amy is concerned she has not had replies to her letters:

Stourbridge 5.30pm 16 Ap 18

Mrs A Hill, Lydiate Ash, Nr Bromsgrove

Dear Mother

Did you get the parcel, I thought I should have heard from you please send me Walters address I have not heard from his & have written twice

Love Amy

Finally we have an author unknown picture postcard to Uncle Fred who was living in Cross Street, Stourbridge with his wife ‘Auntie Minnie’.

8pm Date 12 Sp ???

Mr F Hill, No 8 Cross Street, Stourbridge

Dear Fred

Hope to meet you at Snow Hill on Sat will arrive about ten to four and will be on the look out for you

Yours Truly WL

The front of the postcard has the words of ‘Its A Long. Long Way to Tipperary’

Reading these postcards surprise me at how much of an inisght into the lives of the Hills we can get.  They are part of a larger collection of cards that Auntie Phyllis had.  When she died Fred had some and others went to some of Phyllis’s other cousins.  I wonder if they still exist?