possibly a stupid question?

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:44 pm

Hi, I apologise in advance if this seems a stupid question - I know nothing about military history or how army's worked - I have just found my grandfathers war records which shows that he signed up to the inniskillen Fusiliers - what I would like to know if how the call up system worked. William McCann was sent his call up papers in Glasgow and was then sent to Derry to join this battalion - did he choose this regiment? and how do I know what Battalion he joined - the records are very detailed but I don't really know what info I need to find out where he served.

I would appreciate any assistance with this - it really is not an area I know anything about!

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:58 pm

My Grandfather was also in the 'skins' but during the Great War.

The fussiliers HQ is at the castle in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh http://www.inniskilling.com/

I found them very helpful.

I'm hazy as to the 'call up' procedures myself, but no doubt an expert will step right up.

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:52 pm

hi, thanks for the link - I've had a look at the site and some of the info is helpful - my grandfather was in WW1 so I went and checked out his record again and it says 3rd Res Btn Ri Inniskillen, then his record says
1st Btn Expdy force ....... 13.11.1915 and then 1st btn Expdy force France 18.3.1916 from what I have read on the museum site he would have been in the 1st Battalion who served at gallipolie and then france?
I really need to do some research on this!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:58 pm

Hi Winger
Might be some useful info here;
http://www.1914-1918.net/skins.htm

The above tends to be a good site for military info.
I visted the museum in Enniskillen during the summer.

Best wishes
Lesley

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:36 pm

Hi, thanks Lesley - that's a great site - the dates fit perfectly with his service record - and it is amazing that I can follow him down to the day he landed. I have saved the site for further research.
thanks again - this is such a fantastic forum, I can't tell you the assistance it has given me over the years!

thanks again.

Adam Brown · Post by **Adam Brown** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:23 pm

Winger

From what you have typed I would suggest your granfather was a reservist

Conscription wasn't applied in Ireland at all and not until 1916 in the rest UK so for your relative to get call up papers in 1915 (or before then) I would say he had been a regular soldier in this regiment before the war and was still on the reserve list in 1914.

Regards

Adam

winger · Post by **winger** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:58 am

Hi - this is very interesting - when I read your reply at first I was ready to dismiss the idea out of hand - but and it just goes to show the experts know a lot more than me - I started to think about a photo of William McCann which is dated around 1906 and he is in a military hat - I don't know if this is still the Inneskillen's or a different regiment but if he was in some sort of territorial army that would explain why the photo is 10 years before his WW1 photo - so adam's answer would make perfect sense.
Now I still need to know if he chose to join the Inniskillen or would they have been his territorial unit?

thanks again for sorting me ou!

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:28 am

Remember Winger, it's really the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, it might make a difference when searching.

Did you find his service record on Ancestry?
I've looked in vain for my G'father's, I assumed that they had been destroyed, but if you've found one for an RIF there may be hope.

I don't have any photos of my G'father in uniform - he never spoke of those years to my Dad, he was a POW.
I do however still have his cane with silver top [and Castle insignia still visible] a Union Jack dating from that era and his Demob card and Demob Account.

Have you looked for him on the Ulster Covenant?
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_th ... venant.htm
It was signed in 1912, not only in the Province but all over the UK and world too. I'm told many of those men were ready willing and able to fight for their country at that stage.

Adam Brown · Post by **Adam Brown** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:05 pm

winger wrote:I started to think about a photo of William McCann which is dated around 1906 and he is in a military hat - I don't know if this is still the Inneskillen's or a different regiment but if he was in some sort of territorial army that would explain why the photo is 10 years before his WW1 photo ...Now I still need to know if he chose to join the Inniskillen or would they have been his territorial unit?

Winger

It is likely your g-father was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1906. He may have signed up for 12 years service. 5 years in the regiment and then a further seven years as a civilian but liable for call up to the same regiment if needed.

He may well have left the Army in 1907-1908 and had a civilian job between then and 1914. Being on the reserve didn't mean you had be in the territorials and actually as a reservist he would have been attached to the 3rd Bn (which ties in with your research) which was not a territorial unit.

Is there any chance of you posting the 1906 photograph?

Regards

Adam

winger · Post by **winger** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:14 pm

I am really puzzled now - William was a boat man on the Forth and Clyde canal and actually he was the last captain of the Fairy Queen - the last passenger boat on the canal - there is no indication in any of his records that he was in the military - I have tried to post the photo's i have in the hope that someone can confirm which uniform he has on, however I seem to be better at genealogy than technology and can't for the life of me work out how to attach a photo!
any help appreciated! [/img]

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possibly a stupid question?

possibly a stupid question?

really puzzled!