123286 Private
37th Company, Labour Corps (Transferred to the Labour Corps. 19144 Private, 3rd Battalion A & SH)
Age: 21
Date of Death: 15 August 1917
Buried: Canada Farm, II.F.23
Family history: The son of Mr & Mrs Mitchell of 77 James Street, Laurieston. He was employed as a clipper at Meadowbank Colliery before enlisting in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in February 1916 and was subsequently transferred to the Labour Corps.
The action that lead to his death
His Commanding Officer, in a letter to his parents that was featured in the Falkirk Herald, obviously hiding the truth of his death from a German shell, wrote:
He is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery. His headstone does not mention he was a member of the Labour Corps. In 1919 it was decided that the headstone of a member of the Labour Corps, who previously served in any other unit, should record his connection with his previous regiment.
What was a Labour Company?
The Labour Corps company was defined in Army Orders when the Labour Corps came into existence in 1917. Its standard composition was defined in Army Council Instruction 611 of that year.
Composition
1 Major, commanding the company
4 Lieutenants or Second Lieutenants
1 Company Sergeant Major and 1 Company Quartermaster
Sergeant
8 Sergeants
18 Corporals (of which, 1 a Corporal-Cook and 1 a Corporal-Clerk)
461 Privates (of which 6 were appointed to Lance-Corporal)
6 officers’ batmen (normally Privates)
Attached
1 Medical Officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps
8 Drivers of the Army Service Corps (of which 1 a Corporal)
Organisation
The company was structured into:
Company Headquarters
4 Platoons (under a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant), each of 2 Sections (under a Sergeant). Each Section made up of 2 Sub-Sections (under a Corporal).
Transport
The company was provided with three carts and four General Service wagons and a total of 13 draught and heavy draught horses.
The officer commanding would be provided with a riding horse or bicycle at his discretion.
Medals Awarded
British War Medal, Victory Medal
