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
6, Ellen's Place, Blundell Street, Hull
Died on
20/11/1924
Aged
43
Born Hull 22/01/1881. Son of Mark Rennardson (1844-1922) and Mrs Harriet Forman Rennardson (1850-1933), of 2, Ripon Terrace, Liddell Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 6, Ellen's Place, Blundell Street, Hull (War Pension address). An Assistant Butcher. Served as Private, 35646, 260169, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment and Lab […]
Private
4 Russell Place, Norforlk Street, Hull, UK
Died on
16/12/1923
Aged
38
Born Sant'Elia Fiumerapido, Caserta, Italy, on 28/03/1885. Real Name Vincenzo Risi. Son of Lorenzo Risi & Restituta Fusco. One of ten children. His father came to England as aan ice cream vendor and street piano player. The family lived in Leed and Bradford. Moved to Hull in 1891 aged 6. The family living at 11 Damaris Square, Gard […]
Private
BORN HULL 1877. SON OF WILLIAM & MARIA RICHARDSON, OF 12 CLEVELAND STREET, HULL. WORKED AS A LABOURER. LIVED WITH HIS WIFE JANE FRANCIS RICHARDSON & 4 CHILDREN, AT 2 ASTLEY STREET, DUKINFIELD, CHESHIRE. SERVED WITH THE WEST COMMAND SERVICE CENTRE, LABOUR CORPS. DIED ON 06/07/1918, AGED 41. BURIED AT DUKINFIELD CEMETERY, CHESHIRE […]
Private
Died on
13/12/1918
Aged
32
Born Hull, 1885. Son of Thomas William Richardson and Annie Elizabeth Richardson, of 2, York Terrace, Hodgson St. He had an elder brother, Thomas and four sisters. Married at St Mary's, Hull on 14/10/1905. Husband of Jane Elizabeth Robinson, of 5, Wawne Terrace, Hodgson Street, Hull (Army address) 11, Paradise Place, Myton Street, Hull […]
Private
3, Beaconsfield Street, Queens Road, Hull
Died on
05/08/1920
Aged
41
Born Crookes St Thomas, Sheffield, 1879. on of Henry and Hannah Roadhouse, of 26 Woodseats House Road Sheffield. He had three brothers and a sister. Married at Ecclesall Bierlow, in 1900. Husband of Annie Winterbottom, of 3, Beaconsfield Street, Queens Road, Hull (War Pension address). They had two sons and a daughter. Worked as a Mason […]
Private
1 DISCOUNT COURT, ST JAMES STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
12/04/1919
Aged
19
BORN HULL 1900. SON OF CHARLES SCREETON (1877-1924) & MARY ELLEN SCREETON, OF 9 JOHNS TERRACE, ADELAIDE STREET (1911 CENSUS) AND 1 DISCOUNT COURT, ST JAMES STREET, HULL. SON OF A GENERAL LABOURER. ELDEST OF SIX CHILDREN. HE ENLISTED IN HULL. FORMERLY OF THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. TRANSFERRED TO THE LABOUR CORPS. DIED OF INFLUENZA, […]
Private
16, Lorne Terrace, Alexandra Street, Hull
Died on
16/05/1928
Aged
35
Born Hull 1893. Served in the Labour Corps. Discharged on 17 Dec 1918. Died of war aggravated asthma on 16/05/ 1928, aged 35 Married at Hull in 1918. Husband of Mary Ann at 16, Lorne Terrace, Alexandra Street, Hull (War Pension address).
Private
10, Rutland Terrace, Norfolk Street, Hull
Died on
04/05/1920
Aged
37
Born Wigan, Lancashire, 1883. Husband of Selina at 10, Rutland Terrace, Norfolk Street, Hull (war pension address). he was a former soldier and coal miner. Enlisted on 7 August 1902. served with the Lincolnshire Regiment, Royal Engineers and 297th Labour Corps. Discharged on 21 Feb 1918. Awarded Silver War Badge (No:331614). Died of gun […]
Private
11 HERBERT'S TERRACE, STRICKLAND STREET, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK
Died on
12/02/1920
Aged
43
BORN HULL 1878. SERVED AS JOHN WILLIAM 'BANKS, 22998 WYR. TRUE SURNAME WAS SHARKETT. SON OF LATE JOHN SHARKETT & MARGARET CONBOY, OF 6 SPRING TERRACE, SPRING STREET, HULL. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS, PATRICK, WILLIAM AND THOMAS AND SISTER ELLEN. A PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER. HE SERVED 14 YEARS IN INDIA WITH 1ST WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE RE-E […]
Private
3 Albion Buildings, Edwards Place, Hull
Died on
13/05/1924
Aged
35
Born Hull, 1889. Son of Elizabeth Smith of, 3, Albion Buildings, Edwards Place, Hull (War Pension address). A Labourer. Described as 5 foot, 6.5 inches tall, 35-37 inch chest, tattoos on both arms, blind in left eye. Enlisted on 27/02/1917. Posted to France, on 12/03/1917. Served as Private, 33370, 24419, Lincolnshire Regiment, and Labo […]
Private
46, Clifton Terrace, Day Street, Hull
Died on
05/06/1926
Aged
43
Born Goole, 26 Apr 1883, Son of George Whitehouse Smith and Fanny Wareham (1858-1913). Husband of Lily Isabella Williams (1883-1943). They had one son, George Whitehouse Smith (1920-1994). They lived at 46, Clifton Terrace, Day Street, Hull (War Pension address). He served in the Royal Garrison Artillery. transferred to the Labour Corp […]
Private
1, Ripon Grove, Brunswick Avenue, Hull
Died on
03/01/1924
Aged
44
Born Goole, 1879. Son of Frederick Walters (1852-1897) and Betsey Jane Westoby (1856-1933), of 1, Ripon Grove, Brunswick Avenue, Hull (War Pension address). Enlisted at Hull, on 31/08/1914. Served as Private, 615108, Labour Corps. Discharged on 7 May 1919. Awarded Silver Badge (N0:B278236) Died of Lung cancer, on 03/01/1924, aged 44.
Sergeant
9. Commercial Buildings, Waverley Street, Hull
Died on
26/10/1921
Aged
48
Born Thurgoland, West Yorkshire, 1873. Worked as a Miner near Sheffield. Husband of Amy Wilcock, at 9. Commercial Buildings, Waverley Street, Hull (War Pension address). They had four children, May, Albert, Fred and Stanley. Served as Acting Sergeant in the Labour Corps. Discharged on 11 April 1919. Died of Nervous Debility, on 26 Oct 1 […]
Private
155 PERTH STREET, HULL, UK
Died on
19/01/1921
Aged
40
Stalybridge, Lancashire, 1880. He joined the army in 1899. Previously serving in the Royal Field Artillery aged 21 and based at Farnborough, Hampshire, (1901 Census). He married a Hull girl, living in Hull, with daughter, Mary. Employed by the National Radiator Company in Hull and living at 5 Roxburgh St Perth St Hull (1911 Census). He […]
Private
BLACKSMITH COTTAGE, SOUTHGATE, HESSLE, EAST YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
Area
Died on
06/02/1920
Aged
45
BORN HULL, 29/10/1875. SON OF WILLIAM WOOD (1849-1905) AND PRISCILLA MEDD (1854-1928). HE HAD THREE BROTHERS AND FOUR SISTERS. HE MARRIED AT HESSLE, ON 25/11/1899. HUSBAND OF SARAH JANE BONTOFT, OF 1 SOUTHPLACE, HESSLE (ARMY ADDRESS) AND BLACKSMITH COTTAGE, SOUTHGATE, HESSLE (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). THEY HAD FOUR SONS AND A DAUGHTER. WORK […]
4, Cobden Place, Porter Street, Hull
Died on
02/03/1925
Aged
60
Born Bath, Somerset, England, 1865. Married at Clevedon, on 16 Nov 1889. Husband of Amelia Hobbs, at 4, Cobden Place, Porter Street, Hull (War pension address). A Plater's Helper, for Earls Shipyard, Hull. Described as 5 foot, 7 inches tall, 119 lbs weight, 34 inch chest, Hazel eyes, brown hair, Church of England religion, Very Good Char […]
