Charles Edward Devereux

[hankcinq]

Re: Charles Edward Devereux
Sargeant C E Devereux 25981 went to France on 5th December 1915. he was demobbed on 29 January 1919.

I am going to the battlefields soon and i would love to know where my granddad was during his WW1 service with the Royal Welch, He had three medals, the Victory, british and Star.

Can anyone tell me anything about this period of the War.

My grandad also served in WW2 and was a police officer in Neath in peace time

[Aled Roberts]

I only have the information that you already have in my database. The key to knowing where your relative served during his time in the RWF is knowing which battalion he served with.

Having looked at chaps in the service number range near your grandfathers, it would strongly suggest he was a 17th Battalion man. He date of entry into a theatre of war is also consistent with the 17th (but other battalions deployed in December 1915 such as the 13th, 14th, 15th etc)

You would need to get someone to reference the medal rolls (reference J/2/102 book 11 page 3580) at the National Archives to see if they hold anymore details. Some do, but some do not.... this will hopefully confirm which battalion he served with, and also if he moved battalions.

I can't find trace of service papers or pension records having survived the Luftwaffe in WWII I am sorry to say.

Richard

[Glyn Hughes 17]

If Sgt C E Devereux was in France on 5th Dec 1914 it is likely that he was serving with one of the following Bn’s:
1st Bn RWF, to Flanders Oct 1914
2nd Bn RWF to France 11-13 Aug 1914
4th Bn (TA) RWF to France Dec 1914.
Hope that this is of help to you.
Glyn

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Glyn

The date in the opening post is a typo, and should read 5th December 1915.

Edward's service number would see him joining up around March \ April 1915.

Richard

[Glyn Hughes 17]

Dear Richard,
Thank you Richard, If Sgt C E Devereux arrived in France Dec 1915 he could of served with the following Bn’s;
9th Bn RWF to France July 1915
10th Bn RWF to France Sep 1915
11 Bn RWF to France Sep 1915
My guess is that he served with in 113 Bde made up of 13 14 15 &16 Bn’s RWF (This was a North Wales Bde) to France Dec 1915.
Glyn

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Glyn

Interesting to note the 17th Bn is absent from from your options. I drew my conclusion from men in the same number block. Here is an extract :

Mostly seem to be 17th Bn boys, with a couple of 14th. Unfortunately I do not have battalions for all of them.

SDGW 25938 PRIVATE RICHARD HUMPHREY ROBERTS 17th Battalion Killed in action 27/07/1916
1915 Star Cat B 25938 Pte Richard Humphrey Roberts Embarked 04/12/1915 KiA 27/7/16 17th Bn
SDGW 25942 PRIVATE IDWAL SAMUEL JONES 17th Battalion Died of wounds 29/03/1918
1915 Star Cat B 25942 Pte Idwal Samuel Jones Embarked 05/12/1915 DoW 29/3/18 17th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25943 Pte Edward Morgan Evans Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 31/1/19
1915 Star Cat B 25944 Pte George Derry Jones Embarked 05/12/1915 Demob 3/3/19
1915 Star Cat B 25947 L/Cpl Ernest Davies Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 13/11/16
SDGW 25949 PRIVATE LEWIS HUGHES 17th Battalion Killed in action 27/07/1916
1915 Star Cat B 25949 Pte Lewis Hughes Embarked 04/12/1915 KiA 27/7/16 17th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25951 L/Cpl Charles Conde Embarked 05/12/1915 Discharged 13/1/19
1915 Star Cat B 25952 Sgt John Vaugh Embarked 05/12/1915 KiA 1/5/18 RWF
SDGW 25952 SERGT. JOHN WAUGH 17th Battalion Killed in action 01/05/1918
1915 Star Cat B 25954 Pte Levi Finney Embarked 04/12/1915 Demob 9/3/19
SDGW 25955 PRIVATE JAMES EDWARDS 17th Battalion Killed in action 31/07/1917
1915 Star Cat B 25955 Pte James Edwards Embarked 05/12/1915 KiA 31/7/17 17th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25956 L/Cpl Simon Williams Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 15/5/18
1915 Star Cat B 25957 Pte Robert Thomas Evans Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged to commission 27/11/17 to 11th Bn RWF
1915 Star Cat B 25959 Pte William Lewis Embarked 05/12/1915 Demob 17/2/19
1915 Star Cat B 25962 Pte Samuel Jones Embarked 04/12/1915 Demob 4/3/19
1915 Star Cat B 25964 Pte John Jones Embarked 04/12/1915 Demob 12/3/19
SDGW 25965 PRIVATE WILLIAM JONES 17th Battalion Died 31/05/1915
1915 Star Cat B 25969 Pte Thomas Jones Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 13/5/19
SDGW 25970 PRIVATE THOMAS EDWARD DAVIES 17th Battalion Killed in action 25/02/1917
1915 Star Cat B 25970 Pte Thomas Edward Davies Embarked 05/12/1915 KiA 25/2/17 17th Bn
SDGW 25971 PRIVATE WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES 17th Battalion Died of wounds 20/07/1916
1915 Star Cat B 25971 Pte William Henry Davies Embarked 04/12/1915 DoW 20/7/16 17th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25975 Sgt Robert Humphreys Embarked 05/12/1915 Demob 29/6/19
Gallantry 25976 Pte Hebert Ball 17th Highest rank attained overseas Lance Corporal
1915 Star Cat B 25976 Pte Herbert Ball Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 30/8/19 MM 17th Bn
Gallantry 25977 Serjeant Lewis Jones
1915 Star Cat B 25977 Pte Lewis Jones Embarked 04/12/1915 Demob 3/5/19 MM
SDGW 25979 PRIVATE JOHN MAKIN 14th Battalion Killed in action 23/08/1918
1915 Star Cat B 25979 Cpl John Makin Embarked 04/12/1915 KiA 23/8/18 14th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25981 Sgt Charles Edward Devereux Embarked 05/12/1915 Demob 29/1/19
1915 Star Cat B 25983 Pte Thomas John Roberts Embarked 04/12/1915 Discharged 17/5/17
SDGW 25987 PRIVATE JOHN JONES 17th Battalion Died of wounds 18/05/1916
1915 Star Cat B 25987 Pte John Jones Embarked 04/12/1915 DoW 18/5/16 17th Bn
1915 Star Cat B 25989 Pte William Yeadon Embarked 04/12/1915 Demob 18/4/19

[Glyn Hughes 17]

Dear Richard,
He could be serving with the 17th Bn, went to France with 115 Bde, 38 Div Dec 1915. If he was a Sgt at this time, could he have been a regular soldier with service with either 1st or 2nd Bn RWF.
Glyn

[hankcinq]

Looks like CE Devereux was with the 17Bn where did they see action in France from Dec 1915?

Thanks for your help so far

Dave williams

[hankcinq]

Thank you for your information. One other thing...... Charles Edward Devereux was a policeman in Neath, his home town, and yet he appears to have joined the RWF in Llandudno like lots of other lads from Glamorgan. How did the system work?

[Baconwallah]

That's easily explained, David. Men could and did join where they lived and worked, and your grandfather would have enlisted in Neath. He was then, with many others, sent to Llandudno where the 17th Bn RWF was in the process of being formed.

By the way, has your question re the activities of 17th RWF ever been answered? If not, ask your local library to find you a copy of the Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Vol III.

John