From the Western Front to Salonika - Silver War Badge roll

Below is shown a transcript from the Silver War Badge roll that contains Herbert Halliday's name. It is kept at the Public Record Office as WO329-2979 page 3958.

No. RA/3958 Date 2. 10. 19 WAR OFFICE	ROLL OF INDIVIDUALS entitled to the "WAR BADGE"

Regtl. No.	Rank	Name (in full)	Unit discharged from	No. of Badge and Certificate (To be completed at War Office)	Date of :--		Cause of Discharge (Wounds or Sickness and para. of K.R.)	Whether served Overseas (Yes or No)
Regtl. No.	Rank	Name (in full)	Unit discharged from		Enlistment	Discharge	Cause of Discharge (Wounds or Sickness and para. of K.R.)	Whether served Overseas (Yes or No)
`82,791`	`Dr.`	`Berry. Edwd. Albt.`	`4b Res Bde`	B/310 304	`19-1-15`	`16-4-19`	`Age 23`	`Yes`
`54,841`	`Corpl.`	`Greenslade. Percy Wm.`	`5 Res Bde`	B310 305	`20-1-09`	`26-4-19`	`29`	`Yes`
`59,509`	`Sergt.`	`Field. Wm. Chas.`	`83 Bde`	B310 306	`29-9-09`	`11-6-19`	`30`	`Yes`
`63,236`	`Gr.`	`Walker. George`	`19 Bde`	B310 307	`25-11-10`	`10-7-19`	`27`	`Yes`
`61,227`	`Sergt.`	`Symons. John`	`1b Res Bde`	B310 308	`21-2-10`	`5-5-19`	`28`	`Yes`
`53,011`	`Gr.`	`Playle. Fredk.`	`6 Res Bde`	B310 309	`4 -11-08`	`3-5-19`	`30`	`Yes`
`75,261`	`Dr.`	`Lane. Thos. John`	`4b Res Bde`	B310 310	`1-12-13`	`21-2-19`	`24`	`Yes`
`79,709`	`Dr.`	`Halliday. Herbt.`	`4a Res Bde`	B310 311	`12-8-14`	`12-3-19`	`26`	`Yes`
`60,341`	`pd/1/Br.`	`Bell. Chas. Henry`	`6b Res Bde`	B310 312	`15-11-09`	`15-6-19`	`28`	`Yes`
`32,822`	`Dr.`	`Oliver Aubrey, M. M.`	`Base Details France`	B310 313	`6-5-15`	`5-3-19`	`27`	`Yes`
`51,553`	`Sergt.`	`Baxter. Wm.`	`11 Bde`	B310 314	`15-9-08`	`13-9-19`	`31`	`Yes`
`*254,200`	`Gr.`	`Shannon. Arthur B.`	`4a Res Bde`	B/310 315	`15-2-18`	`16-9-19`	`38`	`No`
`* All`	`service`	`prior to 13/2/19 for`	`feited on convictio`	`n of desertion`

I certify that the particulars furnished hereon are correct.		COLONEL ________________________i/c R. H. & R.F.A. RECORDS
Place____`WOOLWICH`______	Date__25_`SEPTEMBER_1919`

		Signature and Rank of Officer certifying Claiments' service.
I certify that Badge and Certificates, numbered as above, have been issued to the individuals concerned.
Place______________________	Date______________________	________________________________________________
		Signature and Rank of Office certifying issue.

The roll shows that on discharge Herbert held the rank of driver and lists his unit on discharge as 4a reserve brigade.

Probably the most difficult task in researching an ordinary soldier in the RFA is to determine his brigade or battery. Once this has been established, the soldier's movements can be determined from his unit's movements. So where did 4a reserve brigade serve? Reserve brigades did not see active service, they were stationed in Britain and were used for training or receiving men back from active service. 4a reserve brigade was based in Woolwich and cannot therefore be the unit Herbert served with at Ypres or Salonika. It seems likely that Herbert was transferred to 4a reserve brigade when he was invalided out from active service.

The roll confirms his date of enlistment and discharge. The paragraph of the King's regulations used for discharge (Para 392(xvia) K.R.) and the Army Order used for the issue of the Silver War Badge (A.O. 29 of 1919) are listed under the "Cause of Discharge" heading (not shown on the transcript).