Genealogy Chat

With out all the relevant records it's hard to tell but,
Michele Said, I was told 5Th battalion were the reserves?

Did he leave? because once trained as a soldier on discharge you are then classed as a reserve for the next 5 years, Then on the out brake of war reserves would be called upon to re-enlist


Roy

can confirm his reg number is : 5/8217
Royal Irish Rifles
Christopher McDonnell

Michele, When i asked you to confirm his number i was referring to whether that same number was on his enlistment doc's?

If he did leave and then was called up as a reserve when war was declared then he may have been called to serve with a different regiment,

even during the war years a soldier could be transferred to another regiment due to heavy losses and would always then upon transfer receive a new regimental number,

That's why when you view army medal cards some soldiers have more than one regimental number listed

on TNA web site and also on Ancestry their are 6 Christopher McDonnell's listed,

here is one from TNA that could fit but as i said before it's hard to tell with out his service record,

Description Medal card of McDonnell, Christopher
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Dublin Fusiliers 7160 Private

Date 1914-1920
Catalogue reference WO 372/12


their are 2 service records for a Christopher McDonnell's listed on Ancestry but as i said i don't have sub's any more so cannot check these for you
their are also 2 for a Charles McDonnell but none for a Chris McDonnell




none of this explains why TNA would have army number 5/8217 for a man in the same regiment as your Christopher or Chris, but with the name Charles McDonnell


Roy

The Medal card for Chris McDonnell looks" different" because it's purely for the Silver War Badge, The reference on the card B/68 refers to the Medal Roll for the Silver War Badge, the image of which as I said, is on Ancestry. It's marked B/68 which obviously fits in with the Medal Card.