The Labour Corps was raised in 1915 and disbanded in 1921, today thier roles are undertaken by the Royal Logistics Corps.
The Corps grew to some 389,900 men (more than 10% of the total size of the Army) by the Armistice. Of this total, around 175,000 were working in the United Kingdom and the rest in the theatres of war. The Corps was manned by officers and other ranks who had been medically rated below the “A1” condition needed for front line service. Many were returned wounded. Labour Corps units were often deployed for work within range of the enemy guns, sometimes for lengthy periods.
In April 1917, a number of Infantry Battalions were transferred to the Corps. The Labour Corps absorbed the 28 ASC Labour Companies between February and June 1917. Labour Corps Area Employment Companies were formed in 1917 for salvage work, absorbing the Divisional Salvage Companies. In the crises of March and April 1918 on the Western Front, Labour Corps Units were used as emergency infantry. It became the 18th -19th Labour Corps in May 1917.
The Corps always suffered from its treatment as something of a second class organization: for example, the men who died are commemorated under their original Regiment, with Labour Corps being secondary. Researching men of the Corps was made more difficult by this until the publication of the mammoth ‘Soldiers died in the great war’ collection where the Labour Corps was finally given it’s own section in volume 80.
Private
Private, 27082, James Brown, Labour Corps, died on 22/11/1918. (HDM 23/11/1919), Son of James and Emma, of 97 Wassand Street, Hull (War Pension Address). A former dock labourer. Formerly served as Private, 34863, 7th Lincolnshire Regiment. James (Jim) Brown, reported as died of influenza, in France, on 22/11/1918, aged 36. His death and […]
Private
27, Well Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire, UK
Died on
20/12/1918
Aged
25
Born Beverley, 1893. Son of Jack and Elizabeth Addy, of 27, Well Lane, Beverley. He had two brothers, William and John and a sister, Elizabeth. A former Gardener and Horse breaker. Described as 5 foot, 7.5 inches tall, and 35-37 inch chest. He enlisted in the 1st/1st East Riding Yeomanry on 29/03/1911. Enlisted at Beverley when war beg […]
Private
9 EMMAS TERRACE, TOMLINSON STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
24/10/1919
Aged
26
BORN HULL 1893. SON OF JOHN & MARY ALLEN, OF NEWCASTLE. MARRIED 1916. WIFE ALICE (HARRISON) ALLEN LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS. ENLISTED HULL. EX 19058, LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. TRANSFERRED TO THE LABOUR CORPS. DED AT HOME 24/10/1919, AGED 26. BURIED HULL WESTERN CEMETERY.
Sergeant
BORN HULL 1896. ELDEST SON OF JESSE ALLITT AND JULIA ETA CLARK, OF 2 WESTERN VILLAS, HESSLE ROAD, HULL . HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AND FOUR SISTERS. WORKED AS A TUG FIREMAN, MOTOR VAN MAN AND EX HULL & BARNSLEY RAILWAY WORKER. WIFE ETHEL MAY ALLITT LIVED AT 2 WESTERN VILLAS, HESSLE ROAD, HULL (ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS) AND LATER THE POLICE STA […]
Private
BORN HULL 1887. STEPSON OF THOMAS S. LOWTHER AND EMMA ANDREW, OF 83 BLENHEIM STREET, HULL (1901 CENSUS) & 5 VICTORIA AVENUE, HAWTHORNE AVENUE, HULL (1911 CENSUS). HE HAD ONE BROTHER AND TWO SISTERS. HE WORKED AS AN ELECTRIAN, BOARDING AT 11 FRANCIS STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS). HE ENLISTED IN HULL. EX LINCOLN REGIMENT, NO: 33962. TRAN […]
Private
BORN HULL 1898. SON OF JACOB & MARY ANNOWITCH. THIS WAS HIS ARMY PENSION AND CWGC ADDRESS. HIS GRANDPARENTS ISSAC & JANE LIVED AT 49 AND 51 COURTNEY STREET. ENLISTED HULL. TRANSFERRED FROM THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY TO THE LABOUR CORPS. DIED AT HOME AGED 21. UNMARRIED. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS MOTHER, MARY. HE IS BURIED A […]
Private
10, STEPHENS TERRACE, STRICKALND STREET HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Area
Died on
31/08/1919
Aged
33
BORN MOSBRO, YORKS, 1886. SON OF ANNIE BAGLEY OF 112, MANCHESTER STREET, HESSLE ROAD, HULL. MARRIED HANNAH M. KING, AT HULL, IN 1918. HUSBAND OF HANNAH BAGLEY, 10, STEPHENS TERRACE, STRICKALND STREET HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESSES). DISCHARGED ON 23/02/1919. DIED ON 31/08/1919, AGED 33. HIS NAME WAS RECORDED IN ST BARNABAS CHURCH BOOK OF […]
Private
BORN HULL 1879. SON OF HENRY BAXTER (1851-1911) & MARY HANNAH SKELTON (1853-1929), OF 31, EXMOUTH STREET, HULL, 44, GRANVILLE STREET AND 6, ROLAND AVENUE, ARTHUR STREET, HULL. HE HAD SEVEN BROTHERS AND FOUR SISTERS, THAT LIVED AROUND THE NEWLAND AREA OF HULL HE WAS WELL KNOWN ON HULL FISH DOCKS. MANAGER OF A HIGH CLASS FISH AND GAME […]
Private
12 Massey Street, St Georges Road, Hull
Died on
10/04/1918
Born Bubwith, Yorks. His Auntie and foster mother, was Harriet Newham, of 12, Massey Street, St Georges Road, Hull (War Pension address) He enlisted in Hull. Formerly 22180, E. Yorks Regt. Transferred as Private, 82888, 139th Labour Corps. Died of wounds, on 10/04/1918. His army effects were left to his Auntie, Harriet Newham. No CWGC […]
Private
73 Raywell Street, Hull
Died on
18/03/1925
Aged
44
Born Hull 1881. Son of Mrs Isabella Longdon, of 73 Raywell Street, Hull (War Pension address) Posted to Salonika, on 30/06/1915. Served as Private, 6885, EYR and 609288, Labour Corps. Died of Pneumonia, on 18 Mar 1925.
Private
BORN HULL 1879. SON OF JASPER COLLIER (1835-1900) AND ELIZABETH COLLIER (1839-1895), OF 23 WAVERLEY STREET AND 106 HAVELOCK STREET, HESSLE ROAD, HULL. A GENERAL LABOURER (1901 CENSUS0 AND FISH SALESMAN, LIVING AT 11 FLORENCE AVENUE, WALCOTT STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS). HE ENLISTED IN HULL. FORMER, GUNNER 196429, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. TRA […]
Company Sergeant Major
Raywell House, Cottingham, Hull
Died on
02/03/1921
Aged
26
Born Skipton, Yorkshire, 1895. Eldest son of Walter William and Ellen Cooper, of Raywell House, Cottingham, Hull (War Pension address). His father was a sales Manager for a sewing Machine Company. He had four brothers and two sisters. Worked as a Clerk. He resided in Morpeth and Darlington. Served as CSM, 402008, Labour Corps. Died on […]
Private
1 Industrial terrace, Bean Street, Hull
Died on
01/04/1923
Aged
45
Born Hull, 1878. Son of Emma Davis, at 1 Industrial terrace, Bean Street, Hull (war Pension address). An optical galss worker (1901 Census). Served in the Army Service Corp and Labour Corps. Discharged 28/03/1919. Died 01/04/1923
Private
Private, George Henry Eldon, No. 19332, 6th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment. Transferred to the Labour Corps, Reg No. 398086. Previously served in the South African Campaign. Born: Beverley 1874. Son of Charles Eldon & Sarah Ann Scruton, of Keldgate, Beverley. Son of a cow keeper. He had two brothers and three sisters. George married El […]
Private
10 ALFRED TERRACE, VAUXHALL GROVE, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Area
Died on
06/04/1918
Aged
40
BORN HULL 1878. SERVED AS 'MARSHALL'. SON OF MARY ANN EMMETT (NEE MARSHALL) & THE LATE JAMES MARSHALL, OF 10, ALFRED TERRACE, VAUXHALL GROVE, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). FORMERLY, OF THE 5TH YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE TRANSFERRED TO 237996, 360TH LABOUR CORPS. DIED AFTER DISCHARGE, ON 06/04/1918, AGED 40. HE IS BURIED IN HULL WESTERN CEMETER […]
Warrant Officer (2nd Class)
10 BRIGHT TERRACE, BRIGHT STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
28/07/1920
Aged
55
BORN ASPATRIA, WHITEHAVEN, CUMBRIA, 1865. A REGULAR SOLDIER AND COLOUR SERGEANT WITH THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE ENLISTED AT BEVERLEY, ON 13/06/1883. SERVED AT GIBRALTA, WEST INDIES, SOUTH AFRICA AND EGYPT. WAS DISCHARGED AFTER NEARLY 23 YEARS SERVICE, ON 31/03/1906 AND THEN WORKED AS A NIGHT WATCHMAN. HE MARRIED MARY HERBERT, AT S […]
Private
3, Victoria Avenue, Stepney Lane, Hull
Died on
30/05/1921
Aged
39
Born Hull, 1882. Son of Walter and Elizabeth Hare, of 3, Victoria Avenue, Stepney Lane, Hull (War Pension address). Son of a retired Mill Hand. He had one brother and two sisters. He ran his own Fruit business. Served as Private, 48612, 32642, Lincolnshire Regiment, & Labour Corps. Discharged on 29 Jun 1919. Died at the Tuberculosis […]
Private
12, Dryden Street, Hull
Died on
26/02/1919
Aged
39
Born Hull 1880. Son of George Leonard Hart (1844-1917) and Mary Hart (1861-1941), of 12, Dryden Street, Hull (War Pension address). An Occasional Assistant Weigher for the Hull Corporation Served as Private, 19388, Suffolk Regiment and Private, 403760, Labour Corps. Died at Calais hospital, on 26/02/1919. His war pension went to his mo […]
Private
10 Bowling Street, Aldboro Street, Hull, UK
Died on
27/06/1923
Son of Ann Hewitt, of 10 Bowling Street, Aldboro Street, Hull (Pension Ledger Address). Enlisted Hull. Transferred to the Labour Corps. Discharged with disability. Died of wounds on 27/06/1923.
Private
BORN HULL 1875. SCULCOATES. SON OF WILLIAM HOTCHKIN & JANE ANN IRELAND, HULL. WIFE ADA WADE HOTCHKIN ABOVE. BAKER Transferred. to (334137) Labour Corps. Son of William and Jane Hotchkin, of Hull; husband of Ada Wade Hotchkin, of 17, Ockley Terrace, West Parade, Hull. Alternative Commemoration - buried in Hull General Cemetery.
