Military Chat

Hello everyone,
Ralph Walton is my Great Uncle,he was born as far as I know in Consett,Co.Durham
in 1889.Unlike most of my family members who enlisted in either the Durham Light
Infantry or Northumberland Fusiliers during the First World War,Ralph was in the
King's Royal Rifles,which was a southern Regiment.Can anyone help with any information about my Great Uncle.

Regards Gordon.

Found this

Name: Ralph Walton
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Private
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: King's Royal Rifle Corps
Regimental Number: C/9143
Previous Units: 20th. Bn. K.R. Rif. C. C/9143 Pte., 20th. Bn. K.R. Rif. C. C/9143


:-)

Hello PatinCyprus,
Thanks for your reply,you have my Great Uncle's regimental number right.
I didn't know he was in 'C' company 20th Battalion,so thanks for that.

Gordon.

http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/

(in case he is any on above. for other info.)

Chris :)

(if below)

Births Dec 1890 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------
Walton Ralph Lanchester 10a 292


1939 Register (Find My Past)

5 Sucamore (Sycamore) Street , Consett U.D., Durham
Ralph Walton 23 Aug 1890 Male Stoneman Coal Mine Underground Heavy Worker Widowed (Married on image)
Dorothy Walton 13 Oct 1898 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
John Walton 04 Apr 1920 Male Datal Hand Pony Driver Coal Mine Underground Single

Hi Chris Ho,
will have to look into the info you have provided,thanks for the message.

Gordon.

In case you didn't know, over 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed during WW2 bombing. The medal cards survived as they were stored elsewhere.

Surviving ones can be viewed on Ancestry which, unfortunately, has been plagued with problems both yesterday and today. Yesterday it was 'planned maintenance' and today they've been effected by the Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

Just for interest.....

20th (Service) Battalion (British Empire League Pioneers), King's Royal Rifle Corps were raised in London on the 20th of August 1915 by the British Empire League. In February 1916 they moved to Wellingborough for final training and proceeded to France on the 30th of March 1916 landing at Le Havre. On the 19th of May 1916 they joined 3rd Division as a Pioneer Battalion. In 1916 they took part in The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to The Somme for The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 They were at Arras, seeing action at Battles of the Scarpe and The Battle of Arleux. They moved north to the Flanders and were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road and Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres. Then moved south and were in action at The Battle of Cambrai. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of the Selle. After the Armistice 3rd Division advanced into Germany as part of the Occupation Force.

Hi Eringobragh1916,
Thanks for the very detailed history of the 20th Battalion,King's Royal Rifles.This
will go a long way in tracking my Great Uncle's service with the Rifles.All the
more so as I have visited Deville Wood,Ypres and The Somme.Many thanks.

Gordon.

Parts of the Regimental War diary can be downloaded for a price from TNA

Apparently there are 243 images for this bit, which covers March-Dec 1916.

20 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (Pioneers)

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352055

There is also this for 1919, not sure if it's the same battalion?

1 Light Brigade: 20 Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352017

Just 8 images