Hi David,
I've checked and checked the service records for Albert Moller but with no luck. It looks like the records didn't survive the Blitz and must have been with the 60% that were destroyed. I'm afraid this is a blow because we can't pinpoint Albert's personnal details but all is not lost we have some information to go on.
I found his Medal Index Card (MIC)
Name: Albert Moller
Regiment: ASC (Army Service Corp)
Regiment no: DM2/112656
Rank: Private
Medals awarded:
Victory medal: roll Rasc/107B76 page 7738.
British medal: roll Rasc/107B76 page 7738.
Theatre of war first served in: Blank
Date of entry there in: Blank
Remarks: Died
UK, soldiers died abroad 1914-1918
Name: Albert Moller
Birth Place: Peckham, S.E.
Residence: London
Death Date: 19 Oct 1918
Enlistment Location: Peckham
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps
Number: M2/112656
Type of Casualty: Died
Theater of War: British Expeditionary Force
The medal card information and death entry is the same information you have already got but we can obtain a little more information:
We know that Albert didn't serve overseas until at least 1916 onwards because no 1915 star medal was awarded and the theatre of war and date of entry is blank which was only completed for service abroad prior to 1916. He enlisted at Peckham recruiting station so I think would have joined up not been conscripted.
The ASC or RASC (Royal was added in 1918) wasn't a fighting Corp but still played a very important role during the war. They transported all types of supplies to the frontline troops by every means possible and in every theatre of war. At the peak of the war the ASC numbered an incredible 10,547 officers and 315,334 men.
The organisation of the ASC
Horsed Transport Companies (including Companies in Divisional Trains and Reserve Parks)
435 Companies were used during the war to transport supplies, guns, ammunition and men.
Mechanical Transport Companies (including Companies in Divisional Supply Columns and Ammunition Parks, Companies attached to the heavy artillery, Omnibus Companies, Motor Ambulance Convoys, Bridging and Pontoon units and Workshops)
All types of motorised transport used to transport supplies, guns, ammunition and men. A Company initially comprised 5 officers and 337 other ranks of the ASC, looking after 45 3-ton lorries, 16 30-cwt lorries, 7 motor cycles, 2 cars and 4 assorted trucks for the workshop and stores of the Supply Column itself.
The Army Remounts Service (Companies involved in the provision of horses)
The ASC Remounts Service was responsible for the provisioning of horses and mules to all other army units. A Remount Squadron consisted of approximately 200 soldiers, who obtained and trained 500 horses.
The ASC Labour Companies
Labouring duties to support frontline troop but most were posted later in the war to the newly formed Labour Corp.
I would guess the reason Albert was posted to the ASC would have been one of the following but without his service records I can't be 100% sure.
1. Older recruit or not passed as fully fit for frontline service.
2. Trade or skill required by the ASC (maybe driver or mechanic).
We know Albert was in the 1013th M.T. Coy and someone kindly gave us the following information:
The 1013th MT Coy ASC was formed on the 11th October 1917 as Mesopotamia Army Troops. The unit was a supply column (Ford vans) for the Persian Lines of Communications. There is a War Diary available at the NA under WO 95/5006.
It's almost certain Albert was a lorry driver taking supplies for the frontline troops and given this I would say that he wasn't killed in direct action but died of disease, illness or accident. The main killers during the Mesopotamia campaign were cholera and dysentry but other horrible diseases were also rife. If he had been killed in action it would give type of Casualty: Died of wounds or killed in action.
I would guess that prior to embarking for Persia Albert would have been based in the UK but it's possible he could have seen service abroad prior to serving in Persia. If you check the medal rolls it may give some extra information but the problem is they're only kept at the Nation Archives at Kew so a pain to check. I wouldn't recommend you ordering Albert's death certificate which would be available via the GRO 'death overseas' because they give very little information.
I would recommend you obtain the war diary for the 1013th MT Coy because this was written by officers who served with the Company and can give detail day to day activities of the Companies movements etc (worth the £3.50). I don't think the War Diary is available to download online so you would need to order a copy at the NA under WO 95/5006. Check out
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk for further details.
I recommend you look at
http://www.mespot.net This site is made up of 300 pictures taken by Captain Charles (Chas) Henry Weaver during his service in Persia during The Great War. This was the time of the creation of Iraq out of "Southern Turkey". If you google World War One Campaign in Mesopotamia you get loads of other great websites.
Interestingly I found Medal Card Index for another A.A. Moller whos address is given:
11 Eaton Terrace, London, SW1
This chap seemed to have done well for himself joining in 1914 Private of the 28th London Regiment and ending the war Captain. Just wondering could he be a relative?
I hope this helps David but without Albert's service records it has made it alot harder to confim details.
Any questions please feel free to ask.
Regards
Adrian
by Silver surfer » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:29 pm 
)
. I've had the same problem with most of my relatives' service records never suvived the Blitz and it really limits the research you can do. The Medal Index Cards (MIC) were stored in a different building during the Blitz and 99% of them suvived. Oh well all is not lost because I've found both Medal Index Cards (MIC) so maybe I'm able to give you a little more information:
