202545 L/Cpl Peter Penman, 2/5th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

202545 Lance-Corporal Peter Penman of the 2/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment was killed in action on this day, 1st September, in 1917. Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he had previously served with the Royal Scots Regiment (number 882) but does not mention which battalion.

Peter was born in Bathgate, Linlithgow, and enlisted there. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) tells us that he was 23 years old when he was killed, which places his year birth as 1893 or 1894. His Royal Scots number cannot belong to a service battalion or a regular battalion, and whilst Linlithgow was the HQ for the 10th (Cyclist) Battalion, it was numbering in a higher sequence. So by a process of elimination, 882 must belong to another Territorial Force battalion and dates to 1909. This is confirmed by Peter's medal index card which notes that he was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals and the Territorial Force War Medal. (You can read more about the TF War Medal by clicking the link to my British Army Medals blog).

In the absence of a surviving service record, it would appear that Peter remained in the UK with the Royal Scots and transferred to the 5th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in late 1916 (possibly whilst overseas). CWGC adds that Peter was the brother of David Penman, of Smith's Buildings, Bridgend, Bathgate, East Lothian; that he has no known grave and is commemorated on the memorial at Tyne Cot.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot image from Trip Advisor.