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what is this official letter from the War Office??

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Jan.jan

Jan.jan Report 28 Jan 2007 19:21

I have been given a really old paper that has aged badly and am a bit confused. Do you think each man that went to France received one? It reads..... War Office, London SW1. 10th April 1918. Sir. I am directed to inform you that the Officers named below should be ordered to proceed to Southampton and report themselves personally to the Embarkation Commandant before 3pm for passage to France for Reinforcements. They should be instructed to report their departure in writing to A.G.6 War Office. They should carry rations for the journey to Havre. If proceeding to Southampton via London they will travel by the 11.35am trian from Waterloo. Royal Garrison Artillery. From Officers Siege Course Lydd. To embark 18th April 1918. Thanks

Heather

Heather Report 28 Jan 2007 19:28

I should imagine everyone would have received joining instructions similar to this? (Though this one is a bit posher due to the chaps being Officers!) Thing is only about 7 months to the end of the war. Nice to have though.

Keith

Keith Report 28 Jan 2007 21:15

This relates only to the Officers who have been on a course at Lydd and are entraining to France as reinforcements for units already there. This specific letter will be only to a small number of officers, but everyone going to France individually, as opposed to being part of a formed unit, will have received such a letter. Keith

Researching:
Fletcher May Allison Ashcroft Moore

An Olde Crone

An Olde Crone Report 28 Jan 2007 21:16

These notices are what we now call 'Marching Orders'! OC

Jan.jan

Jan.jan Report 28 Jan 2007 21:25

Thanks for the replies. The bottom of the letter is signed by H.Moore. Capt RGA Adjutant. This letter was in my Dad's papers when he died last year and all of his family were in the Royal Marines at Plymouth. The only name hand written on the letter is Lt C.H Atkins RGA (TF), so now I have a puzzle, as I have never heard the name mentioned and he isn't on the family tree!

Janet in Yorkshire

Janet in Yorkshire Report 28 Jan 2007 21:36

Perhaps it was just a byegone collected by your father, rather than a specific family document? Jay

Heather

Heather Report 28 Jan 2007 22:48

Try googling the name to see if anything comes up -

Gwyn in Kent

Gwyn in Kent Report 29 Jan 2007 08:06

Just a little aside..... Lydd is still a training area and it's interesting that the men would sail from Southampton, when Dover or Folkestone are so near Lydd. Folkestone, ..between Lydd and Dover, still has a road named in honour of the people who went off to the War. The Road of Remembrance is lined for part of the way with rosemary plants. The road stretches from the town,by the war memorial, down the hill to the harbour, where many embarked never to return. Gwyn