1st/1st London Heavy Battery

[T8HANTS]

Hi All

You will see from my signature at the bottom of this post I have a family interest in the 1st/1st London Heavy Battery, and apart from two small references in Lt/Col Farndale's history, that is all I know about them. Are there any other pals with an interest, or have a copy of that elusive battery photograph, that they would be willing to share. I do not have a picture of my great uncle, as all that sort of thing was lost during the blitz, when the family home was emptied by a nearby parachute mine.

Gareth

[Wienand Drenth]

Hello Gareth,

Not a real 1914 - 1918 related answer, but perhaps you find the following lineage of the 1st London Bty, RGA of interest.

Cheers

Wienand

London Heavy Bde, RGA

(1st London Engineer Volunteers)

Formed 19 Mar. 1862 as 1st London EVC with HQ at Old Jewry, comprising six coys by 1871. Attached to 1st Middlesex EVC between 1863 and 1868. HQ to Barbican in 1868, and to Islington in 1877. Two more coys formed by 1892. Redes 1896 as 1st London RE (V). Reduced to seven coys by 1908. Tsfd 1 Apr. 1908 to the TF forming 1st and 2nd London RGA. These btys united 26 Jan. 1909 as London Hy Bde, RGA with HQ at Barnsbury Pk, Islington. Later to Offord Road, Islington. Btys emb 4 Aug. 1914, see below. Btys disemb 1919. Amalg with two btys from late 3rd London Bde, RFA and reconst 7 Feb. 1920 as 14th (London) Med Bde, RGA. Redes 1921 as 53rd (London) Med Bde, RGA with HQ at Barnsbury (initially at Leonard St) with

209 and 210 (London) Btys (H) at Offord Rd, Barnsbury, from former London Hy Bde, RGA.

211 and 212 (London) Btys (H) at Leonard St, from former 3rd London Bde, RFA. Later btys at Barnsbury.

Redes 1 Jun. 1924 as "Med Bde, RA". Rede 1 Nov. 1938 as "Regt". Reorg 1939 with 209 and 210 Btys upon formation of duplicate 64th Med Regt, RA. Regt with btys S/A 1 Mar. 1946 in BAOR, complete 9 Mar. 1946. Reconst 1 Jan. 1947 as 353rd HAA Regt, RA (London) with HQ at Offord Rd, Barnsbury. Regt was adopted in 1951 by the Borough of Islington. Reorg 1 Jan. 1954 as 353rd (London) Med Regt, RA. Amalg 31 Oct. 1956 with Essex Btys of 415th (Thames and Medway) Coast Regt, RA w/o change of title. Regt disb 1 May 1961 with bty at Canvey and Southend amalg as part of 304th (Essex Yeomanry RHA) Fld Regt, RA, and remainder of regt formed Q (53rd London) Bty, 254th (City of London) Fld Regt, RA.

1st London RGA

Formed 1 May 1908 with HQ, Hy Bty and Amm Column at Barnsbury Park, Islington, part of London Hy Bde, RGA. Emb 4 Aug. 1914 and numb as 1/1st later. Joined 27th HA Group, RGA 5 Mar. 1916. Absd 12 Feb. 1917 section of 193 HB. Disemb 1919.

2/1st London RGA

Formed 1914 as 2nd Line unit. Disb 1919.

3/1st London RGA

Formed 1915 as 3rd Line unit. Disb later.

2nd London RGA

Formed 1 May 1908 with HQ, Hy Bty and Amm Column at Barnsbury Park, Islington, part of London Hy Bde, RGA. Emb 4 Aug. 1914 and numb as 1/2nd later. Joined 1st Group, HAR 31 Mar. 1915. Absd 1 Mar. 1917 section of 199 HB. Disemb 1919.

2/2nd London RGA

Formed 1914 as 2nd Line unit. Disb 1919.

3/2nd London RGA

Formed 1915 as 3rd Line unit. Disb later.

64th Med Regt, RA

Formed 1939 at Offord Rd, Barnsbury as duplicate of 53rd Med Regt, RA with 211 and 212 Btys of that regt. Subtitle "London" added 17 Feb. 1942. Regt and btys S/A 3 May 1946. Disb 1 Jan. 1947.

[KONDOA]

Theres a brief mention of 1/1 Londons in 28th Brigade RGA diary July -September 1918. At this time the battery was in the Forest of Nieppe.

Roop

[MIDMED]

Hi All

You will see from my signature at the bottom of this post I have a family interest in the 1st/1st London Heavy Battery, and apart from two small references in Lt/Col Farndale's history, that is all I know about them.  Are there any other pals with an interest, or have a copy of that elusive battery photograph, that they would be willing to share. I do not have a picture of my great uncle, as all that sort of thing was lost during the blitz, when the family home was emptied by a nearby parachute mine.

Gareth

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not Great War but around 1908-10 many wear Boar war medals

Iknow a little of the battery history with 58th London Div during 1917 will post when time allows.

very best

MIDMED