Royal Ulster Rifles / Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Nicoletjj85, Sep 5, 2016.

  1. Nicoletjj85

    Nicoletjj85 New Member

    Hi, I've found some photos of my grandas uncles with his service number on the back, the photos say Royal Ulster Rifles, but when I put the service number into the war forces records it says he was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
    Would anyone be able to help me with more information on him, or point me in the right direction.
    William Wilson, 7013687, died 2 / 9 / 1945 in a hospital in Belfast. He was 34 years old.
    Thank you
    Nicole
     

    Attached Files:

  2. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello Nicole and welcome to the forum. Lovely picture of your GF uncle:)
    His death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, and he was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
    Casualty Details

    Not my area of research but I am sure someone will be along soon to help.

    Lesley
     
  3. Nicoletjj85

    Nicoletjj85 New Member

    Thanks very much.
    Just had a look at his grave, he's buried with his father, so hopefully within the next week I'll get up to see my great great uncle and great great great grandfathers grave.
    This is the other photo I found.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. ClankyPencil

    ClankyPencil Senior Member

    Hi Nicole

    I had a similiar dilemna when researching my grandad.

    He moved to the London Irish Rifles when his original battalion was disbanded, but all his documents referenced the Royal Ulster Rifles. The way i had it explained to me was that although the regiments like the LIR & RIF were distinct, they were linked together under the Royal Ulster Rifles 'banner' for administration purposes.

    See this previous thread for more details
     
  5. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hello Nicole, APPENDIX 1 " THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE" From the THE ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS
    IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 39-45. BY SIR FRANK FOX, O.B.E.
    No service number given, or date that he died! The three battalions that are covered are the 1st, 2nd, & the 6th.

    Wilson, L/Cpl. William
    Hope this helps you out in some way?
    Stu.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    7013687 is a Royal Ulster Rifles number, it shows he enlisted into that regiment & was transferred at a later date.

    Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 6972001 - 7006000

    Royal Ulster Rifles 7006001 - 7040000


    Army Number Block Allocations
     
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    A bit of addition, if needed.

    The 1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles (LIR) became part of the "Corps of the Royal Ulster Rifles" after 1937 when the London Regiment was disbanded. A second battalion of the London Irish Rifles was re-formed in April 1939. Until casualties started to occur in the field during 1943, most of the officers of the LIR had been commissioned into the RUR. At the outbreak of war, Riflemen were usually recruited directly into the LIR although some (especially) NCOs transferred from the "core" RUR and later, as the RUR were not on overseas service from 1940 to 1944, there were plenty of drafts sent over from training bases to Tunisia and Italy to augment the two battalions of LIR.

    Completely separately, the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers formed part of a single Corps" from 1922 to 1937 - the Irish Fusiliers were due to be disbanded then but were saved by the Inniskillings agreeing to lose one of their battalions to allow the maintenance of the Irish Fusiliers. In 1937 both Regiments were able to re-form their second battalions.

    The LIR and the Inniskillings didn't ever have any formal links but clearly there were plenty of transfers between the Irish connected Regiments - in fact, from 1942 to 1947, the Skins, Faughs and Irish Rifles provided the three component battalions of 38(Irish) Brigade and were prone to plentiful personnel transfers between the units on route from Algiers to Villach.

    This overview is a bit long winded but hope it gives a flavour of what went on....tomorrow I'll be at a CWGC cemetery where over 100 men from the Faughs, Skins and Irish Rifles are buried "side side" as they fell in battle - men from all parts of England, Wales, Scotland and the island of Ireland... amongst them an Irish Fusilier serving with the London Irish Rifles, a London Irish Riflemen with the Inniskillngs and an Inniskilling with the Irish Fusiliers,

    Best
     
    4jonboy likes this.

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