TR stands for Training Reserve All the reserve battalions that had been created as Kitchener battalions were transferred to Training Reserve as of 1st September 1916. The battalions were brigaded in groups according to the home command structure which were numbered 1 to xx thus a man in a TR battalion would have a number like TR/8/16012. where 8 was the brigade. Part of the idea was to ensure that the effects of Pals battalions being destroyed and concentrating enormous losses upon specific communities were avoided. When men returned after being wounded in England, or when they thy were recruited for general service they went to a TR instead of an ordinary reserve battalion and were then despatched in batches to battalions in the field which needed reinforcing. This way men from different geographic areas got thoroughly mixed up Regards John -----Original Message----- From: greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:greatwar-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Claire Kerr Sent: 02 August 2007 18:39 To: GREATWAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GREATWAR] What is the "TR" Battalion? And a question aboutdownloading war diaries from the website of the National Archives. This is the entry for my great grandfather in Soldiers Died: Name: KEELER, Frederick William Regiment, Corps etc.: King's Royal Rifle Corps Battalion etc.: 13th Battalion. Surname: Keeler Forename(s): Frederick William Initials: F W Birthplace: New Cross, Kent Enlisted: Deptford Residence: New Cross Rank: RIFLEMAN Number: R/33756 Date died: 01 October 1917 How died: Killed in action Theatre of war: France & Flanders Supplementary Notes: FORMERLY TR/13/26695, 109TH T.R. BATTN. Can someone tell me please what "T R Battn" means - I can guess battalion, but don't know what "TR" is. What is it and why would he formerly have been in a different battalion? I would like to know more about where he served and where he died. Online at the National Archives, I have found a reference to a War Diary for the 13th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, but the link I have doesn't seem to break down by month. A while ago, I was able to find War Diaries by month for another Great Grandfather of mine (2nd Battalion DLI), and could download individual months for a set fee each. Am I doing something wrong this time? Or have they changed the system? Many thanks in advance for any help. Claire HYPERLINK "mailto:claire@clairekerr.com"claire@clairekerr.com No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.2/931 - Release Date: 01/08/2007 16:53 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message