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
Swanland, East Yorkshire
Died on
16/02/1922
Aged
32
Born Swanland, East Yorkshire, 1889. Son of Baumber and Sarah Crawford, of Swanland. Husband of Mary Jane at Swanland, near Hull. Transferred to the Labour Corps. Discharged from the army on 5 Jul 1918. Died on 16 Feb 1922, aged 32.
Private
9, Emma's Terrace, Marmaduke Street, Hull
Died on
11/02/1923
Aged
43
Born 1880. Son of William George Creighton (1846-1907) and Matilda Wilkinson (1849-1899). He was one of 15 children. Married at Sculcoates, Hull 1910. Husband of Lucy Hayes (1883-1982), at 4, Woodcock Street, Hull and 9, Emma's Terrace, Marmaduke Street, Hull (War Pension addresses). They had one daughter, Alice, born on 13 Nov 1914. H […]
Private
159, Chiltern Street, Hull
Died on
11/08/1923
Aged
33
Born Hull 1890. Son of Charles M. and Margaret Darby of 5 Humber Avenue, West Dock Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 159, Chiltern Street, Hull (War Pension address). Son of a widowed Charwoman. He had two brothers and a sister. He worked as a Dock Labourer. He enlisted in Hull. Served in the Labour Corps, West Riding, and East Yorkshire r […]
Private
2, Bell Vue crescent, Harrow Street, Hull
Died on
20/09/1927
Aged
55
Born Hereford, 1873. Son of George Davies, of 14A Eign Street, Hereford. Married Isabella Atkinson Wadlsey Allbones, on 7 Dec 1896, at Great Grimsby, Lincoln Husband of Isabella, at 3 Kingston Gardens Kingston Street, Hull, 2, Bell Vue crescent, Harrow Street, Hull and 8, Laurel Grove, Wellsted Street, Hull (War Pension addresses). He […]
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
5, Wordsworth Avenue, Bournemouth Street, Hull
Died on
17/05/1923
Aged
32
Born Patricroft, Lancashire, 6 Jan 1891. Son of Frederick and Sophia Dewberry, of 80, Sculcoates Lane, Hull (1911 census). Married 1916. Husband of Clara Elizabeth Hamshaw, at 5, Wordsworth Avenue, Bournemouth Street, Hull (War pension address). A Fisherman. Described as 5 foot, 5.5 inches tall, 118 lbs weight, 35-38 inch chest, blue e […]
Private
Springfield, North Street, Anlaby, Hull
Died on
01/07/1918
Aged
40
Born Caistor, Lincolnshire, 1878. he was a Bkaer. Husband of Alice Dixon, at Springfield, North Street, Anlaby, Hull (War pension address). Enlisted on 5/3/1917. Served overseas, in the N.C.L.C. ex Lab. Co. Lincs. Discharged with insanity. Died Insane, on 01/07/1918, aged 40. Awarded the Silver War Badge (No: 415299).
Private
9, Long Entry, Salthouse Lane, Hull
Died on
17/01/1919
Aged
34
Born Hull 1885. Married at Hull in 1905. Husband of Mary Marion Bridges (1885-1940). of 7, Eleanor's Terrace Oxford Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 9, Long Entry, Salthouse Lane, Hull (War Pension address). They had three children. He was a General Labourer. Only 5 foot tall, 134 lbs weight, 35-37 inch chest. Enlisted at Hull, on 10/3/15 […]
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
13, Cogan Street, Hull
Died on
20/05/1930
Aged
48
Born Sheffield 1882. Married in 1910. Husband of Grace Olive Precious and three daughters at 64, Lister Street, Hull (1911 Census); 13 Cogan Street, Hull (1921 Census) and 1, Myton Place, Hull (War Pension address). He was a Casual dock Labourer for the Ellerman Wilson Line. Enlisted on 26 Aug 1914. Served with the East Yorkshire Regime […]
Private
West Parade, Hull
Died on
18/11/1921
Aged
38
Born Hull, 1880. Eldest son of William (1860-1939) and Jane Feeney (1858-1898). Married in 1912. Husband of Jessie Harness, at West Parade, Hull (War Pension address). They had four children, Emily, John, Charles and Annie Elisabeth Served in the Royal Field Artillery and the Labour Corps. Posted to France, on 29 Jan 1915. Discharged o […]
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 and 168, Spring […]
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 […]
Private
2, Claremont Avenue, Scarborough Street, Hull
Died on
22/06/1923
Aged
33
Born Beverley, Yorkshire, 1890. Son of Walter and Clara Grasby at 6 Hampden Terrace, Lockwood Street, Hull (1911 Census). He had four younger sisters, Elsie, Irene, Bernice and Doris. He worked in the Oil Mills. Described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 36-39 inch chest, good physical development Husband of Margaret Grasby, of 2, Claremont A […]
Private
26, West Street, Hull
Died on
09/03/1919
Aged
41
Born 1877. Married on 8/3/1896. Husband of Marie Corbett Gregg (born 14/11/1869), of 4, Clifford's Cottage, Walkergate, Beverley and 26, West Street, Hull (War Pension Addresses). He enlisted on 16/9/1915. Served in the Labour Corps, 515th Company and formerly Northumberland Fusiliers. Discharged from the army on 13/3/1918, aged 40. Awa […]
Private
22, Mary Ans Terrace, Sculcoates Lane, Hull
Died on
01/01/1967
Aged
75
Born Hull, 1890. Son of Thomas and Mary Groke, of 22, Mary Anns Terrace, Sculcoates Lane, Hull (1911 Census) and Little Albion Street, Hull (Army NOK records). He was a Bricklayer Labourer at Greenwoods, Hull. Described as 5 foot 5.5 inches tall, 133 lbs weight, 36-38.5 inch chest, blue eyes, brown hair, Roman catholic religion. Enlist […]
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 […]
