WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
29846 William Wilford – Labour Corps
The Labour Corps was formed on 1 April 1917. Personnel employed in the Labour Corps were medically of a lower grade or older than infantrymen at the front. Generally personnel over 35 were also enlisted into the Labour Corps. Personnel of the Corps had to be fit to undertake manual labour but generally could not march (with full kit) over 5 miles or maybe had bad eyesight etc. A lot of personnel were wounded infantrymen recovering their strength. Every member of the Labour Corps was medically re-examined every month to see if they were fit enough to return to the Front. As the war progressed the medical standards kept on reducing and many men found themselves in the Infantry.
In France there were two main types of Company – a Labour Company (450 men under 5 officers) for labouring duties and Area/Employment Coys (2 officers and 270 men). A number of companies (between 4 and 20), located in the same geographical area, would come under command of a Group Headquarters (under a Lt Col).
Wilford’s number suggests that he joined the Labour Corps on formation in April 1917.
Labour Companies did not retain War Diaries but Lieutenant Colonel John Starling of The Royal Pioneer Corps Association has identified the following for 50 Company:
| Formed as 11th Infantry Labour Company Lincolnshire Regiment | |
| 1 Apr 17 | Arrived France 5 Officers & 495 ORs |
| 2 Apr 17 | 11 Coy Lincolns (50 Coy) – tos BOULOGNE for BETHUNE (1st Army) – GHQ AQ Diary |
| 5 Apr 17 | 11 Coy Lincolns (50 Coy) – tos BETHUNE to relieve C Coy SANLC – 1st Army Diary |
| 5 Apr 17 | 11 Coy Lincolns (50 Coy) – tos 1 Corps – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 5 May 17 | 11 Coy Lincolns (50 Coy) – 5 killed, 7 wounded – I Corps AQ Diary |
| 15 May 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary 1 Corps 24 Gp – ½ 30, 50, 81, 99 & 116 Coys |
| 21 May 17 | Redesignation: – I Corps AQ Diary 30, 50, 81, 82, 99, 116, 128 & 130 Coys |
| 1 Jul 17 | Serving 24 Gp (Gp HQ at VERQUAIN) – 24 Gp Diary |
| 10 Jul 17 | 50 Coy – sos 24 Gp tos 22 Gp – 1st Army Diary |
| 10 Jul 17 | 50 Coy – sos 24 Gp (I Corps) to 22 Gp (Canadian Corps) – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 15 Jul 17 | Sos 24 Gp to FOSSE 10 (22 Gp) – 24 Gp Diary |
| 16 Jul 17 | 50 & 82 Coys – sos to Canadian Corps – I Corps AQ Diary |
| 22 Jul 17 | 50 & 82 Coys – sos 22 Gp tos 23 Gp (Canadian Corps) – 1st Army Diary |
| 22? Jul 17 | 50, 82, 147 Coys tos. Tos MT ST ELOI (23 Gp) – 23 Gp Diary |
| 3 Aug 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 23 Gp – 50, 66, ½ 82, 100 & 122 Coys I Corps 24 Gp – 30, Det 50, 99, 116, 128 & 130 Coys and 32 Coy CLC |
| 10 Aug 17 | Serving FOSSE 10 (24 Gp – Canadian Corps) – 24 Gp Diary |
| 30 Aug 17 | 1 pl 50 Coy – move from FOSSE 10 to BOYEFFLES – 1st Army Diary |
| Aug 17 | 1 killed & 8 wounded in August – 23 Gp Diary |
| 1 Sep 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 23 Gp – 50, 66, 82, 86, 100, 122 & 147 Coys and 6 & 7 Canadian Coys I Corps 24 Gp – 30, Det 50, 99, 116, 120 & 130 Coys and 32 Coy CLC |
| 10 Sep 17 | Sos to I Corps – 23 Gp Diary |
| 10 Sep 17 | 50 Coy – moves 23 Gp (Canadian Corps) to 24 Gp (I Corps) – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 12 Sep 17 | 50 Coy - sos? – 24 Group Diary |
| 12 Sep 17 | 50 Coy – move to VAUDRICOURT, Det (1 & 95) from BOYEFFLES and Det (50 ORs) from MAROC – 1st Army Diary |
| 1 Oct 17 | 50 Coy – 1 wounded – I Corps AQ Diary |
| 6 Oct 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary I Corps 24 Gp – 30, 35, 50, Det 89, 99, 116 & 120Coys and 32 & 79 Coys CLC |
| 20 Oct 17 | ½ coy sos to 23 Gp for work at FOSSE 10. Detachment at MAROC capture 2 escaped German PWs – 24 Gp Diary |
| 21 Oct 17 | HQ & ½ 50 Coy – moves from FOSSE 10 (24 Gp) to CITE COLONNE (23 Gp) – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 21 Oct 17 | HQ & ½ 50 Coy – move from 36B/R.8.a.6.5 (24 Gp) to CITE DE CALONNE (23 Gp) – 1st Army Diary |
| 21 Oct 17 | Tos 23 Gp – 23 Gp Diary |
| 24 Oct 17 | 23 Gp – 38, 50, ½ 52, 82, 89, 100, 122 & 147 Coys –
V Corps AQ Diary 50 Coy – CITE, CARLONNE |
| 31 Oct 17 | 1 pl 50 Coy – move from FOSSE 10 to SOUCHEZ – 1st Army Diary |
| Oct 17 | 2 ORs killed on a detachment on the LENS-ARRAS road – 23 Gp Diary |
| 1 Nov 17 | Coys in Gp 1 Nov 17: – 23 Group Diary 50, 54, 82, 100, 122 & 147 Coys |
| 3 Nov 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary V Corps 23 Gp – 38, 50, HQ & ½ 54, 82, 86, 100, 122, & 147 Coys |
| 1 Dec 17 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 23 Gp – 38, 50, 82, 86, 100, 122, 147 & 155 Coys and 6, 7 & 8 Canadian Coys |
| 31 Dec 17 | 2Lt A E Smith – MID – I Corps Diary |
| 5 Jan 18 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 23 Gp – 50, 77, 82, 86, 100, 122, 147 & 155 Coys and 9, 33, 74, 84 & 118 Coys CLC and 6, 7 & 8 Canadian Coys |
| 9 Feb 18 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 23 Gp – 50, 77, 89, 100, 122 & 147 Coys and 9, 33, 74, 84 & 118 Coys CLC and 1 & 4 Canadian Bns and 6, 7 & 8 Canadian Coys |
| 1 Mar 18 | Units: – Canadian Corps Diary 23 Gp (GRAND SERVINS), 50 Coy (SOUCHEZ), |
| 28 Mar 18 | HQ 23 Gp and 50 Coy and 74 & 84 Coys CLC – sos to XIII Corps – Canadian Corps Diary |
| 30 Mar 18 | 23 Gp and 50 Coy and 74 & 84 Coys – tos again from XIII Corps – Canadian Corps Diary |
| 30 Mar 18 | Following sos to Canadian Corps: – XIII Corps AQ Diary 21 & 23 Gp HQs and 50, 54, 122, 127, 149, 169, 179 & 186 Coys and 42, 46, 74, 84, 107 & 114 Coys CLC and 947 Area Coy and 1 Canadian Bn. |
| 31 Mar 18 | 50 Coy – moves to CAVALLIER TUNNEL (36C/S.21.c.2.8) – Canadian Corps Diary |
| 1 Apr 18 | 50 Coy – move from SOUCHEZ to CAVALIER TUNNEL (36B/S.21.c.2.8) – 1st Army Diary |
| 6 Apr 18 | Breakdown: – 1st Army AQ Diary Canadian Corps 50 Coy – 156 men DGT roads & 70 men on Corps tasks |
| 12 Apr 18 | 50, 77 & 89 Coys and 9 & 33 Coys CLC and 2 Canadian Bn and 6 & 8 Canadian Coys and Civil Labour Coy – move from I Corps to Canadian Corps – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 15 Apr 18 | 50 Coy – building a artillery plank road 51C/F.3.cent to 51C/F.3.d.1.0 – Canadian Corps Diary |
| 28 Apr 18 | 23 Gp (50 & 152 Coys and 84 Coy CLC and 2 Canadian Bn and 6, 7 & 8 Canadian Area Coys) – due transfer to XVIII Corps – Canadian Corps Diary |
| 30 Apr 18 | 50 & 152 Coys and 2 Canadian Bn and 7 Canadian Area Coy – sos
to XVIII Corps – Canadian Corps Diary 23 Gp – GRAND SERVINS (36B/Q.34.a) 50 Coy – CAMBLAIN L’ABBE (36B/W.16.d.9.3) |
| 3 May 18 | 23 Gp HQ – located GRAND SERVINS – tos from Canadian Corps
– XVIII Corps AQ Diary 50 Coy – located CAMBLAIN L’ABBE |
| 6 May 18 | Units sos to XVIII Corps – Canadian Corps Diary 23 Gp – GRAND SERVINS 50 Coy – CAMBLIN L’ABBE |
| 7 May 18 | Following move from Canadian Corps to XVIII Corps: – 1st Army AQ
Diary 23 Gp HQ – located GRAND SERVINS (36B/Q.34.b.2.2.) 50 Coy – located CAMBLAIN L’ABBE (36B/W.16.d.8.2.) |
| 7 May 18 | 23 Gp – tos GRAND SERVINS – XVIII Corps Diary 50 Coy – CAMBLAIN L’ABBE |
| 12 May 18 | Det 50 Coy – GOUY SERVINS rejoins HQ at CAMBLAIN L’ABBE – XVIII Corps Diary |
| 15 May 18 | Det 50 Coy – 20 ORs loading coal COLONNE – XVIII Corps Diary |
| 30 May 18 | 50 Coy – dets at ACQ Station and LA TARGETTE and GIVENCHY – XVIII Corps Diary |
| 20 Jun 18 | 2, 50 & 169 Coys and 737 Area Coy – SUMMIT Dump – XVIII Corps Diary (2) |
| 30 Jun 18 | Units: – XVIII Corps AQ Diary 23 Gp HQ – located GRAND SERVINS 50 Coy – located CAMBLAIN L’ABBE & GRAND SERVINS |
| 2 Jul 18 | Units 23 Gp – 2, 50,152, 169 & 195 Coys and 737 Coy and 84 Coy
CLC 1 Canadian Works Bn & 6 Canadian Area Coy – VIII Corps Diary |
| 13 Jul 18 | 22 Gp – MAISNIL BOUCHE - 2, 39, 50, 80, Det 165, 195 & 718 Coys 121 Coy CLC and 8 Canadian & 737 Area Coys – VIII Corps Diary |
| 26 Jul 18 | 50 Coy – CAMBLAIN L’ABBE – VIII Corps Diary |
| 8 Aug 18 | 50 Coy – working on Lt rail CAMBLAIN – GOUY LINE – VIII Corps Diary |
| 28 Aug 18 | Det 50 Coy – ACQ stone siding – VIII Corps Diary |
| 7 Sep 17 | 50 Coy – 1 injured (run over by a lorry) – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 13 Sep 18 | 50 Coy – move from CAMBLAIN L’ABBE to FORT GEORGE 51C/A.1.d.1.1 – VIII Corps Diary |
| 23 Sep 18 | 50 Coy – Camp shelled LA TARGETTE – 1 killed 5 wounded – VIII Corps Diary |
| 24 Sep 18 | 50 Coy – 1 injured (boxing) 50 Coy – 1 killed & 6 wounded – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 4 Oct 18 | 50 Coy – Dets:- 30 ORs ROCLINCOURT Dump, 30 ORs CAM DUMP (East of ATHIER) and 1 & 40 A2 Dump (44?/G.16.d.6.3) – VIII Corps Diary |
| 7 Oct 18 | Det 50 Coy – 30 men ROCLINCOURT Dump – 8 Division Artillery Refilling point – VIII Corps Diary |
| 11 Oct 18 | 50 Coy – 1 injured – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 13 Oct 18 | 50 Coy – move from LA TARGETTE to ROLINCOURT with a det of 50 men at VIMY – roads – VIII Corps Diary |
| 24 Oct 18 | Regrouping: - 1st Army Diary VIII Corps – 22 & 23 Gps 37, 39, 50, 51, 54, 80, 89, 169, 170, 192, 193, 718, 733 & 735 Coys 6 & 8 Canadian Area Coys |
| 25 Oct 18 | 50 Coy – move from ROCLINCOURT to CUINCY – VIII Corps Diary |
| 26 Oct 18 | 50 Coy – move to RACHE – VIII Corps Diary |
| 28 Oct 18 | 50 & 54 Coys – move from RACHE to COUTICHES – VIII Corps Diary |
| 30 Oct 18 | Units: – 1st Army AQ Diary VIII Corps 22 Gp – 50, 54, 80, 129, 170, 195 & 718 Coys and 6 & 8 Canadian Coys |
| 30 Oct 18 | Reorganisation as follows: - 1st Army Diary VII Corps – 22 Gp - 50, 54, 80, 129, 170, 195 & 718 Coys 6 & 8 Canadian Area Coys |
| 30 Oct 18 | 22 Gp – 50, 54, 80, 129, 170, 195 & 718 Coys and 6 & 8 Canadian Employment Coys – VIII Corps Diary |
| 4 Nov 18 | Det 50 Coy – (3 & 178) move from COUTICHES to LA BRUYERE (44/O.18.c) – VIII Corps Diary |
| 4 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – moves from COUTICHES to LA BRUYERE – VIII Corps AQ Diary |
| 4 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – move from COUTICHES to LA BRUYERE – 1st Army Diary |
| 1 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – 1 wounded – 1st Army AQ Diary |
| 6 Nov 18 | 1 pl 50 Coy – working on Lt rail at BAILLEUL & FLINES moves to DOUAI – VIII Corps Diary |
| 10 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – moves to CUBRAY (44?/P.4.d.) – VIII Corps AQ Diary |
| 10 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – move from LA BRUYERE to CUBRAY – VIII Corps Diary |
| 10 Nov 18 | 50 Coy – move from LA BRUYERE to CUBRAY – 1st Army Diary |
| 26 Nov 18 | Det 50 Coy – 40 ORs move to MILLONFOSSE from CUBRAY – bridging with 1 Siege Coy RE – return 5 Dec 18 – VIII Corps Diary |
| 31 Jan 19 | Administration: – VIII Corps AQ Diary 11 Div – 22 Gp HQ and 50, 90 & 195 Coys. |
| 17 Feb 19 | 50 Coy – move from CUBRAY to ST AMAND – 1st Army Diary |
| 25 Feb 19 | Following amalgamations take place: (to be known by Latter number?) –
VIII Corps AQ Diary 80 & 50 Coys |
| 8 Mar 19 | Amalgamations (to be known by the Latter number) – VIII Corps AQ
Diary 39 & 50 |
| 29 Mar 19 | 50 & 718 Coys – moves to NAMUR (63 Gp) – guarding enemy material dumps – 4th Army AQ Diary |
| 31 Mar 19 | 50 Coy – move from SOMAIN to NAMUR – 1st Army Diary |
| 21 Jun 19 | Locations: – 4th Army AQ Diary NAMUR Sub-Area HQ – NAMUR 63 Gp – NAMUR 50 Coy – SALZINNES |
| 23 Jul 19 | Units: – 4th Army AQ Diary 50 Coy – DINANT (Namur/3.K.) – 63 Gp – guards |
| 13 Sep 19 | HQ 50 Coy – moves to CHARLEROI (62 Gp) – 4th Army AQ Diary |
| 8 Oct 19 | Units: – 4th Army AQ Diary 37 & 50 Coys – CHARLEROI |
| 19 Nov 19 | 160 Coy – all remaining labour (9, 16, 37, 50, 65, 114 & 729 Coys) in No 4 Area joins Coy and entrains at CHARLEROI SUD at 1400 hours – 4th Army AQ Diary |