Post by ctdavies on Sept 15, 2021 13:25:19 GMT
Looking through the list of those from the Garw and near-by locations, I find the range not only of the Service but also of the Regiment etc. One gentleman suggested that his family member joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry because that was the first recruiting office he found. At the time of WW1 men still joined their local county regiment or corps whatever. However as volunteers and later conscripts increased in number some battalions were over strength whilst others were short of men. To level resources the War Office decided to post men to the battalion most in need. Taking into consideration the traditional recruiting grounds, men from the Garw would at first join the Welch Regiment. However 10 school masters from the Ogmore and Garw School Board ended up in the Royal We h Fusiliers. I know of one relative, incidentally from the Ogmore, who served in the KSLI along with at least one neighbour, as well as the man mentioned above. To sum up, it would appear that the poor blessed infantryman went where they sent him rather than his local regiment. Although Pals Battalions were formed, there was no guarantee you would know let alone be friends with your fellow billet occupiers.