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 […]
15, Arthur's Terrace, Courtney Street, Hull
Died on
22/01/1924
Aged
37
Born Hull, 1884. Son of William L Harper (1851-1890) and Harriet Harper. Husband of Jane Ellen Harper (1885-1955). They had one son, William and four daughters, Beatrice, Elizabeth, Dora and Florence. They lived at 15, Arthur's Terrace, Courtney Street, Hull (War Pension address). He was a General Labourer, 5 feet 71/2 ins tall. Enlist […]
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 (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). THE FAMILY ALSO LIVED AT 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 FI […]
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
9, Springfield Avenue, Brighton Street, Hull
Died on
14/12/1919
Aged
39
Born Hull, 1880. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Brown (born 27/8/1883), of 9, Springfield Avenue, Brighton Street, Hull (War Pension address). They had six children. He worked as a Labourer. Described as 4 foot, 11 inches tall, 90 lbs weight, 32 inch chest, poor physique. He enlisted at Hull, on 9/12/1915. Despite being classed as "under St […]
Private
8, Nelson Terrace, Bean Street, Hull
Died on
01/01/1927
Aged
48
Born Norfolk, 1879. Son of Ellis Bush (1848-1888) and Maria Elizabeth Gooch (1845-1898). Married on 4 Mar 1907 • St, Matthews, Church, Hull. Husband of Julia Binks (1881-1938), of 8, Nelson Terrace, Bean Street, Hull (Army Address). They had five children. He worked as a Tanner and Bark Presser. He enlisted at Beverley, on 24/06/1916. […]
Private
1, Providence Row, Walker Street, Hull
Died on
26/05/1921
Aged
37
Born Hull 1884. Son of Mrs Stratford at 1, Providence Row, Walker Street, Hull (War Pension address). Boarded at 7 Georges Grove Northumberland Avenue Hull. Was A Rullyman contractor (1911 Census). described as 5 foot, 8.5 inches tall, 36-39 inch chest, good physical development, Church of England religion, "very Good" character. He E […]
Private
20, Montrose Avenue, Gibson Street, Hull
Died on
14/03/1924
Aged
48
Born Bradford, 1876. Married at Hull, in 1908. Husband of Elizabeth at 8, Belle Vile Terrace Alexandra Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 20, Montrose Avenue, Gibson Street, Hull (War Pension address). They had two children, Elizabeth and John. He was an Assistant Colour Servant at a local Paint works. Served in the East Yorkshire Regiment […]
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
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
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
