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, 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 […]
Private
4, Arnett's Square, North Street, Hull.
Died on
29/07/1924
Aged
49
Born Hull, 18 Feb 1875. Only Son of Bartholemew Godfrey (1857-1889) and Mary E. Thompson. He had two sisters, Ellen and Catherine. He married Alice Jeffreys (1876-1929), at Hull, on 12th December 1896, aged 21. They had five sons and four daughters. He was a Dock Labourer, living at 4, Arnett's Square, North Street, Hull. Posted to Fr […]
Private
4, Derwent Avenue, Lansdowne Street, Anlaby Road, Hull
Died on
01/09/1924
Aged
48
Born Harrogate, 1876. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Welsh, at 7, Eva's Terrace Adelaide Street Hull (1911 census), and 4, Derwent Avenue, Lansdowne Street, Anlaby Road, Hull (War Pension address). Worked as a Porter for the North Eastern Railways. He joined the army, aged 23. Enlisted on 12 Jun 1899 • Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He was 5 foo […]
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 (1850-1916) & JANE ANN IRELAND (1852-1912), OF 15, REED STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS) HUSBAND OF ADA WADE HOTCHKIN, OF, 17 OCKLEY TERRACE, WEST PARADE, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN, ETHEL, ALFRED, MAJORIE AND VALENTINE WILFRED HOTCHKIN. HE WORKED AS A BAKER. HE […]
Private
4, Ask Grove, Withernsea Street, Hull
Died on
08/03/1922
Aged
44
Born Eynsford, Yorkshire, 1875. Son of George David Howard (1850-1922) and Jane Bulmer Dawson Carmichael (1853-1907). Married on 04 Feb 1906, at The Parish of St Mark's, Hull. Husband of Mary Ann Casey (1885-1962) known as Carrie Howard, of 2 Walton Villas Brunswick Av Hull (1911 census) and 4, Ask Grove, Withernsea Street, Hull (war Pe […]
Private
1, Kates Cottages, Regent Street, Hull
Died on
13/05/1922
Aged
50
Born Hammersmith London, 1872. Son of Robert Hughes, of 61 garland Road, Red Hill, Surrey. Married at Reigate, in 1901. Husband of Florence Elizabeth Parton, of 1, Kates Cottages, Regent Street, Hull (1911 census & war pension address). He was a Glazier and Labourer. He had joined the army (Rifle Brigade & royal Garrison regime […]
Private
3, Spvee Terrace, Spyvee Street, Hull
Died on
10/08/1924
Aged
32
Born Hull, 1892. Son of Emily Dearing. Stepson of Ada Dearing, 18 Hedon Road, Hull. He was a seaman (1911 Census). Married at Hull in 1913. Husband of Fanny Amelia Sayers, of 3, Spvee Terrace, Spyvee Street, Hull (War Pension Address) Served as a Gunner, in the Royal Field Artillery. Posted to France, on 29/12/15. Transferred as Priva […]
Private
4, Elma Avenue, Edinburght Street, Hull
Died on
12/12/1925
Aged
41
Born Hull, 1884. Fourth Son of James Jordan (1848-1909) and Margaret Jordan (1856-1928), of 12, Norwood Terrace, Stanley Street, Spring Bank, Hull (1911 Census). He had six brothers and three sisters. Two sons would die in WW1. He married at Hull, in 1906, aged 22. Husband of Helen Purcell, of 4, Elma Avenue, Edinburght Street, Hull (1 […]
Acting Company Sergeant Major.
Emma's Buildings, Worsley Street, Hull
Died on
23/02/1919
Aged
25
Born Hull 1894. Son of John and Henrietta Kelly, on Emma's Buildings, Worsley Street, Hull (War Pension address). A Single man. Warehouse packer. Lived with his sister, Isabella Sharp, at 27, Lee Smith Street, Hedon Road, Hull (army record address). Enlisted at Hull, on 07/09/1914. Served as Private, 249, with the Hull Pals in Egypt and […]
Private
16, Alfred Street, Hull
Died on
04/03/1923
Aged
43
Born Hull, 1880. Married at St Silas, Church, Hull, on 28 Apr 1904. Husband of Hannah Elizabeth at 16, Alfred Street, Hull (War Pension address). He was a Master Asphalter. described as 5 foot 7 inches tall, 36-38 inch chest, Wesleyan religion. Enlisted at Hull, on 11/12/1915. Posted to France, on 2/4/1917. Served in the Lincolnshire Re […]
Private
36, STANIFORTH PLACE, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
12/06/1921
Aged
26
BORN HULL 1895. SON OF CHARLES HENRY & MARIA LONGTHORNE, AT 36 , STANIFORTH PLACE, HULL (WAR PENSION & CWGC ADDRESS). EMPLOYED AS A WEIGH BOY.TRANSFERRED AS 57383, ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS. TRANSFERRED TO 655041, LABOUR CORPS. DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS, ON 12/06/1921, AGED 26. BURIED HULL WESTERN CEMETERY. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-d […]
Private
22 BRIDGE GATE, HEBDEN BRIDGE, WEST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
24/05/1917
Aged
38
BORN HULL AND WELL KNOWN AS A PORK BUTCHER BEFORE THE WAR. HE MOVED TO HEBDEN BRIDGE, BRADFORD AND ENLISTED IN HALIFAX., WHEN WAR BEGAN. HE WAS FORMERLY, PRIVATE, 29327, OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. TRANSFERRED TO THE LABOUR CORPS. HE LEFT WIDOW, SOPHIA MOST LIVING AT 22 BRIDGE GATE, HEBDEN BRIDGE, WEST YORKSHIRE . HE DIED AT NO: 5 STA […]
93, Wassand Street, Hessle Road, Hull
Died on
24/08/1922
Aged
41
Born Hull, 1881. Married 1906. Husband of Alice Maud Novis, of 12 Florence Terrace, Wassand Street, Hessle Roadd Hull (1911 Census) and 93, Wassand Street, Hessle Road, Hull (War Pension address) He was an Oil Miller. Had two daughters, Hilda and Alice. He enlisted in Hull. Served with the East Yorkshire Regiment and Labour Corps. Dis […]
Private
8, Kates terrace, Wassand Street, Hull
Died on
01/12/1921
Aged
22
Born Hull, 1899. Son of Edith Wayne Pine, of 4, Marshall Court Walker Street Hull (1911 Census) and 8, Kates terrace, Wassand Street, Hull (war pension address). Served as Private, 578946, Labour Corps. Died of epileptic fits on 07/12/1921, aged 22.
Private
32, ST JAMES PLACE, ENGLISH STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
01/04/1920
Aged
41
BORN HULL 25/05/1879. ONLY SURVIVING SON OF SARAH GAFFEY & CHARLES AUGUST ADOLF QUADE. ALL HIS SIBLINGS DIED IN INFANCY. SON OF A TAILOR. HE MARRIED 01/08/1903. WIFE GERTRUDE KIPLING & SIX CHILDREN, THREE OF WHICH ALSO DIED IN INFANCY, LIVED AT 4, FRANKS PLACE, OSBORNE STREET, HULL AND 32, ST JAMES PLACE, ENGLISH STREET, HULL (W […]
