Berkshire Territorial Royal Horse Artillery.

[David Porter]

Dave,

 

I may not be able to explore it with you, but I can send you a copy of Albert Avery's diary as mentioned in post #15

[ddycher]

David

 

That would be great. Will send again my email by PM.

 

Regards

Dave

[Jethro Tull]

Hello,

Apologies for re-opening an old thread but I have only just discovered this one!! I am currently in the process of researching the war graves in my local cemetery in Fakenham, one of the graves is of Gunner 568 Claude Samuel Cheney. It would appear this young man died during training before seeing action etc and was not entitled to any medals, I have found a description of his funeral too. The "soldiers effects" details I have list him as serving with 2/1st Bty Berks R.H.A. My reason for this post is the photos posted at the start, is there anyway of knowing what date this is or where it was taken? I am wondering if there is my chap in there somewhere.

Many thanks 

Dan 

[David Porter]

Hi Dan,

 

The photos in post #1 were probably taken at pre-war camps. Claude Cheney enlisted in mid September 1914 and only served for a short period before his death. You are unlikely to find him in most group photos. What is interesting is that although his unit is given as 2/1st Berks RHA, they remained in the Reading area well into 1915. So I would guess he was posted to the first line at Walsingham prior to his untimely death and saw no service overseas.

[Jethro Tull]

Hi David,

 

Many thanks for the reply. I knew it would be a long shot on the photos but you never know!!

Are you aware of any regimental records etc that may have survived to give more detail of movements etc?  

 

Dan.

[MAW]

In Post #21, the officer first left in the back row of the group photograph can be identified as James Hartnoll.

 

Portrait photograph attached.

The photograph of the memorial is contemporary - it is not the one in his local church (St. Mary, Ipsden) and its locality has not been identified.

 

James Hartnoll

Lieutenant - Captain

1/1^st Berkshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

 

Born Holborn, Middlesex, 10^th Mar 1883.

Educated Harrow School and Oxford University, BA 1904.

Resided Ipsden, Oxfordshire.

Occupation farmer.

Joined Army 1910.

Married Winifred Bardsley Blackett, 1913.

Served Egypt 1915-17, Aden 1915 and Palestine 1917.

Arrived Egypt, 25^th Apr 1915.

Died of enteric fever, Kantara, Egypt, 20^th May 1917, age 34.

Buried Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

Commemorated St. Mary’s Church, Ipsden.

 

Mark

Edited 10 November , 2017 by MAW

[Charley Boots]

Just found this thread while researching my grandfathers military service and wish I’d seen it before. His name is Charles Henry Church nbr 470/616173 he was a Farrier with 1/1 Berks RHA. I don’t have any photos of him until about 1922 but he looks similar the the guy on the left of Articifers photo but I’m really not sure.

if anyone has any info about him I’d be really interested.

i have attached a few photos that may be of interest.

Bruce

[Wayne Ratcliffe]

The medals to Battery Sergeant Major John Edward Ransley sold by South West Medals 1914/15 Star, BWM, VM & TFEM. The TFEM is particularly nice as its inscribed to "Berks RHA" on the rim and one of only 3 named this way listed in 'Jul 1912 Page 25'. It is the earliest TFEM of the 3 and indicated that Ransley enlisted in 1900, so had pre 1908 service with another Territorial unit before he was appointed BSM in Berkshire RHA.

I have not managed to get his service papers copied from Kew NA yet but hope to find out more. I am guessing he is the cheerful BSM in the centre of at least 3 of the photos. Commissioned 2Lt in 1915 and transferred to 119th Bde RFA then 301 Bde RFA where he served in France. Discharged with shellshock and Malaria (I didn't realise soldiers caught Malaria in France and always associated this with Palestine, but Ransley went straight to France).

I would be very pleased of any further info and high quality images.

Wayne

[Muerrisch]

Two observations: your man in the photo is very unusually badged. He wears the crown and four chevrons of an Acting Sergeant Major [usually, perhaps always, a Regular Army Colour or Staff Sergeant serving posted to a VF or TF unit]. Additionally, and this also is very unusual, he wears the Farrier's horseshoe. The context and date of the group photo would help me to analyse further. Of course examples abound of soldiers "wearing badges incorrectly" ......... he might, for example, be a qualified farrier clinging to his qualification. He might be serving in an HQ post above regimental duty. He may have a thin beard. His medal ribbons look like QSA and KSA to me.

 

I suspect the photo is not of your man. However, I am neither expert on the Royal Artillery nor medals so will leave others to pontificate.

 

My second observation is merely pedantic:  There was no TF before 1908, the loose equivalent was the VF. I expect that service in the VF could count towards a TFEM, and in that case Tamplin is the expert: I have his books in the attic and could look for you if asked.

 

I suspect that this thread might attract a lot of attention, so good luck!

[Wayne Ratcliffe]

Hi Muerrisch, thanks for your observations and I agree and thought the same as you on both points.

1. Farrier's horseshoe badges of rank are unofficially worn as its an appointment and you would not normally be BSM and Farrier at the same time .. however there are very many examples of Territorials bending the dress regulations rules, especially with badges.

 

The photos I refer to are previous shown in this same thread and the BSM which I believe to be Ransley is cropped from one of same.

2. I also wondered if there was a second medal ribbon and reason why I asked for a clearer photo. I cannot be certain either way.

 

I've added a shoulder title as this is not often seen

Wayne

[Muerrisch]

Of course farriers could rise to Farrier Sergeant Major in the regular army, as Warrant Officers, but from 1902 to 1915 would wear crown and horseshoe, thereafter Royal Arms and horseshoe as WO Class I.

I now have seen the group photo: even odder, as he is in the "senior soldier" seat in the middle.

 

[FROGSMILE]

Muerrisch has explained very well that Ransley is not wearing the rank and appointment badges of a BSM in the latter photo shown alongside his medals, and is instead seen as an Acting Sergeant Major of RA (in this case RHA) Brigade.  The configuration of his badges, and what he’s decided to portray is clear to me, but it’s not clear if he has authority to do so.  It’s useful I think to bear in mind that the basic configuration of 4-stripes and crown in the RA VF is linked historically with the same badge arrangement used by the regular RA between 1864 and 1881.
 

In the earlier photo, stood in a group, he wears a crown over gun, over 4-stripes with the farriers horseshoe superimposed on his stripes, a ‘layout’ of insignia that would be similar for other trades like wheeler and collar maker.  This suggests to me that he was at that time the Brigade Farrier Major, i.e. the senior farrier in the whole Brigade. 
 

In the latter photo he is instead another step up, as the Acting Sergeant Major of the Brigade (what would today be RSM), as explained by Muerrisch.  In this case he has no gun badges, which was correct only for the most senior position (after 1915 WOI) in the unit, but has I think chosen to wear his horseshoe badge separately (i.e. not upon the stripes) merely to show his origin as a specialist [farrier].  I don’t think this is regulation, but I’m not 100% sure, it might be that it was a concession peculiar to the VF, although that seems to me unlikely.  It’s significant that the other senior permanent staff sat each side of him have their badges on only the right arm.  I think this is deliberate and intended to show that they are the more junior men of those with 4-stripes and crown, i.e. of the regular permanent staff instructors (as opposed to auxiliaries).  
 

The RA regulars had previously had a similar tradition between 1864 and 1881 that their sergeant majors and QMS of Brigade (nowadays Regiment) had worn badges on both arms, whereas the sergeant majors and QMS at battery level, who had the same crown over 4-chevrons, wore them on the right arm only*.  There were other differences in lace, etc. but the two arm versus one arm configuration was immediately apparent from a distance.  When the TF was formed in 1908 these badges had long changed in the regular RA, whereas the TF badge arrangement had remained largely the same as it had been in the VF.  It was not until 1915 that the TF finally came in line with the regulars and simultaneously made their sergeant majors warrant officers, but from the outset within two classes, class one and class two, whilst adopting the regular badges of rank and appointment at the same time.

*Reference: page 117, The Dress of the Royal Artillery, D Alastair Campbell. 

Edited 19 October , 2020 by FROGSMILE

[Muerrisch]

On 06/11/2015 at 16:10, AndrewFrench said:

Stephen has kindly shared his grandfather Bert's diary with the museum.

One or two entries are a little puzzling. Can any Royal Artillery experts translate entries "Rough exercise" These seem to occur first thing in the morning. Also "Dress Exercise" I assume the latter is everything polished up as for a smart parade & inspection ?

Regards

Andrew

 

Roughs were untrained, sometimes unbacked, new young horses. Hence " rough rider" appointment for soldiers and NCOs, attracting extra pay.

Edited 18 October , 2020 by Muerrisch
erratum

[Muerrisch]

A few thoughts.

If the medal ribbons are QSA KSA they are missing from the group.

Ransley need not always have been an artilleryman, which increases the likelihood that he went to S Africa as a member of a VF company integrated into a regular infantry battalion: Only one VF artillery unit went to the war, from Northumberland. Volunteer VF men to SA were numbered temporarily as a subset of regulars, so if he became VF artillery he would receive a new regimental number.

Assuming that he volunteered and went to SA in 1900 and served into 1902 he would indeed qualify for both war medals.

If his TFEM is inscribed to Battery Sergeant Major in 1912 there has to be great doubt that he is the Farrier A/RSM [or whatever the title was] in the 1913 photo, although at the time a substantive BSM was at staff sergeant level which equates with the usual A/RSM level in the TF.

I continue to doubt that the subject in the photo is Ransley ........ roll on the service papers but, regarding service pre-war, they may disappoint.

 

[Wayne Ratcliffe]

Evening Gents, Thanks for your thoughts and nothing is a surprise (although I did not know the detail) and I suspected that the photo was "not right"... but question remains which of them is the BSM as while  I am more than happy not as I showed - I question that a BSM would not appear on the photos? Berkshire Battery formed 1908 was only 4 guns and some 120 men in 2nd South Midlands Mounted Brigade so would not hold a large number of SNCO's in the way that a Regular RHA brigade may - as its just a small unit?

So my logic is working on basis on most likely and as you have pointed out it does not "fit" well... I would be pleased to find a photo which did fit and there must be several for BSM.

Ransley was from a family of coal merchants in Caversham, Reading who would have had delivery so the trade may fit but again only guessing.

Wayne

[stroudpete]

On 11/03/2012 at 13:12, David Porter said:

Dave,

Here is a short list of places I have compiled. By no means complete.

Churn Camp - September 1914 (signed E.624)

Walsingham - February and March 1915

Embarked Avonmouth 09-04-15, Disembarked Alexandria 25-04-15

Abu Gandir - 01-07-15

Embarked Suez 13-07-15, Disembarked Aden 18-07-15

Sheikh Othman - 25-08-15

Embarked Aden 17-09-15, Disembarked Suez 24-09-15 joined MEF

(reinforcements from Devonport 23-10-15, Alexandria 13-11-15)

Higginstown, Ismailia - October to December 1915

Abu Gandir - 04-02-16

Deir El-Azzab - May to October 1916

Ayun Musa - October to December 1916

War Diary for 1917 - here

(reinforcements Southampton 24-07-17, Alexandria 09-08-17)

Beirut - March to May 1919

Port Said - 10-06-19 (1914 men embarked on "Ellenga" for UK)

Hi David, 

I'm researching my great uncle Cecil Herbert Harwood who was a gunner with the 1/1st Berks Battery of the RHA. He fought in Egypt and his record precisely matches the list you have compiled above up to the point at which he disembarked at Suez on 24-09-15 and joined the MEF. After that it gets confusing so I've attached the record for you to look at. Places and dates mentioned are :  El Azzab Aug\Sept 1916; Ayun Musa Aug 1916; Palestine May 1918 to Dec 1918. 

I'm trying to fill in the gaps in the timeline i.e. where he fought, with whom and in what battles etc. 

I'd be very grateful if you could assist or point me in the right direction.

Kind regards,

Pete

 

 

[David Porter]

Welcome to the Forum Pete,

 

I think the date they have given for Ayun Musa is incorrect as the report date is November 19, 1916. So it is more likely to be November based on the other events.

 

From the Diary of Albert Avery:

November 3, 1916

"11 a.m. we leave El Azzab for Fayoum and entrain. Dept. 3 p.m. Arr. Cairo 6 p.m. & water & feed. Dept. 7 p.m. for El Kubri."

November 4, 1916
"Arrive El Kubri & cross the Suez Canal & track to Ayun Musa 15 miles. We arrive at Ayun Musa 2 p.m. Sleep in YMCA hut. We are by Moses Springs."

 

I see my link to the 1917 War Diary is broken. New link here., 

[stroudpete]

2 hours ago, David Porter said:

Welcome to the Forum Pete,

 

I think the date they have given for Ayun Musa is incorrect as the report date is November 19, 1916. So it is more likely to be November based on the other events.

 

From the Diary of Albert Avery:

November 3, 1916

"11 a.m. we leave El Azzab for Fayoum and entrain. Dept. 3 p.m. Arr. Cairo 6 p.m. & water & feed. Dept. 7 p.m. for El Kubri."

November 4, 1916
"Arrive El Kubri & cross the Suez Canal & track to Ayun Musa 15 miles. We arrive at Ayun Musa 2 p.m. Sleep in YMCA hut. We are by Moses Springs."

 

I see my link to the 1917 War Diary is broken. New link here., 

Thanks David that's very helpful and thanks for the welcome.

[stroudpete]

On 04/04/2013 at 10:26, Guest said:

Dear David,

Thanks for your interest. I will reply separately to your email address with a full transcript.

My grandfather's full name was "Albert Sydney John Avery", so you have obviously found the right record.

Best wishes,

Stephen

Hi Stephen, Would you please send me your transcription of your grandfather's diary? I am trying to produce a timeline of my great uncle and this may help a great deal. many thanks,

Pete

[stroudpete]

On 06/11/2015 at 18:03, Wayne Ratcliffe said:

Stephen,

I notice online you grandfather has a second medal index card WO 372/24/110830 MID TFEF MSM but I don't have access to it.

Is this card for his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal or another award? Maybe someone will confirm...

I have an interest in Berkshire RHA because they are a local unit and I can research in Reading locally.

I have been collecting details on their exploits for over a year and most of my info comes from a publication by Reading Standards newspaper called "Berkshire and the War" (B&TW) which printed a very good account of the Berkshire Battery's exploits from August 1914 through the end of the war in 1918 on pages 953 through to 963 (Volume 4).

If you were to overlay this account with the entries in you grandfathers diary then it would add a lot of meaning and background to the events described.

There is no direct reference to Albert Avery but B&TW is an easy to read publication which was aimed at the general public and also has some Berks R.H.A illustrations and info on pages 744, 827, 892, and 978

If you have difficulty getting access to B&TW I can forward

Regards

Wayne

Hi Wayne, you have referenced 'Berkshire and the War' which I can access online. Unfortunately page 954 is missing from the site for some reason. Do you have a copy that you can share with me? Thanks,

Pete

[ddycher]

David

 

Not wanting to hijack the thread but do you know who the 1/1st Berks Bty relieved at Ayun Musa and who in turn relieved them ?

 

Regards

Dave

[Wayne Ratcliffe]

Hi Pete,

Yes I have the complete text...

Page 963           Berks Royal Horse Artillery - continued.

Temples of Baal and Bacchus.

The armistice news was received at Baalbek and hailed with what little enthusiasm the men could muster. Baalbek was an interesting place, with its temples of Baal and Baachus and other ancient ruins, but Syria was bitterly cold after the Palestine sun. There was snow on Lebanon, and banks of foggy cloud and cold hill winds swept through the camp, which was on high ground. Naturally everyone was glad when winter clothing put in an appearance, as "dril" and sun helmets were hardly fashionable in cutting winds and sleet. Another very acceptable feature of Baalbek was the plentiful supply of green vegetables, including such things as cauliflowers, carrots and other delights that had not been seen, let alone tasted, for nearly four years. The Ammunition Column were billeted in a hotel that had been used by tourists in the piping days of peace, and one driver, after studying the inscription for several minutes, asked laconically "What tourists?" as though he could not conceive of people actually coming there for pleasure. Meanwhile the divisions which had suffered less severely from the epidemic had pushed on northwards and occupied Homs and Aleppo, thus putting the final touches to the break-up of the Turkish Empire.

 

Lebanon's Scenery.

No move could be made from Baalbek until reinforcements had arrived, and it was very slow work getting them there. At last sufficient men were got together to move all the vehicles, although, as a fighting force, the division was hopelessly short of numbers and lacking organisation. The seaport of Beyrut was the destination and this was two day's march away across the mountains of Lebanon. The first day carried the division to Shtora and then the hill climbing began. It was stiff work for the horses, but luckily a good hard road, and by mid-day the worst was over. The scenery on these mountains is indescribably beautiful. From the road one can look almost sheer down to the plains 8,000 feet below, where the pine forests make a carpet of green and villages peep, white and red, from unexpected corners or hang ridiculously from the face of the mountainside. A halt for the night in a large village on the plateau at the summit and then the downhill journey to Beyrut began. The town could be seen from this halting place, white houses and red tiles, surrounded by the green of the pines, and all gleaming in the sun, but all day long the column wound laboriously down in loops and spirals, and the end of the journey seemed to draw no nearer. How some of the mountain dwellers climb up and down to and from their abodes is somewhat of a mystery. Here there are no trams to drop them at their doors, only a rugged path worn by the shepherds and their flocks, the shaggy mountain sheep that somehow contrive to crop a living from the sparse grass and herbage that clothe the steep slopes of this wild district. A mountain railway winds its circuitous way from Beyrut over these mountains to Damascus and for half of its journey the train has to run on a cogged rail fixed between the other two, so that it cannot slip when puffing up steep gradients or running down a sudden decline.

 

[photo, building] THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS, BAALBEK. The Berks Battery Reached "Farthest North" Here.

 

[photo, view] BEYRUT ROADS, WITH THE LEBANON CHAIN IN THE BACKGROUND. (Reprinted from "The Bible in the World".) [Photo by Dr. Van Dyck.]

 

Weeks of Waiting.

When Beyrut was reached the division passed right through the town and away several miles to the south, where a camp was made on the sand dunes among the pine forests. It was a healthy spot, although rain fell almost continually for several weeks. Something was soon done to arouse the interest of the men and keep them amused in these weeks of waiting for they knew not what. Race meetings, mounted steeplechases, sports, football and boxing, besides many concerts, were organised and stimulated everyone's enthusiasm. At Beyrut there were two excellent race-courses and many exciting meetings were carried through. Horses from the Artillery brigade competed and took a fair share of the honours. In the divisional football contest the Battery were beaten by the Dorset Yeomanry in the second round, while the Ammunition Column succumbed to the Staffordshire Yeomanry, who eventually won the trophy. In a competition afterwards, which was held to pick a team to represent the division in the Theatre of War Championships at Cairo, the Artillery Brigade team were successful in defeating all opposition and had the distinction of playing at Cairo, although they were beaten in the first round. Demobilization was now getting well under way and many of the older service m en were leaving for "Blighty" by weekly batches. By April the majority had left and the battery was now the Berks R.H.A. in name only. It is still serving in Syria, but all the old Territorials have now returned to their homes and civil occupations, and the history of the Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery in connection with the great war should draw to a close with the demobilization of the "Terriers" who formed its personnel on mobilization and were the chief actors in all its journeyings and tribulations. Here, then, we will leave them, and we hope that readers of this brief history will agree that the Battery has played a part worthy of Berkshire men in the fight against tyranny, and although spared the carnage of Flanders, has faced the rigours of climate and campaign in the inimitable Berkshire style, in the sphere of action assigned to them.

 

Happily the majority of the men who served throughout the war with the unit have lived to come home again, but there are, nevertheless, faces which will be missed, and it is gratifying to know that the names of those who died in battle or of sickness, will be inscribed in St. Laurence's Church, together with those of the gallant dead of the 2/1st Battery, who served in France.

G. F. BREACH.

[photo, portrait] [lacking caption, probably G. F. Breach]

---::---

[stroudpete]

Fantastic! Thank you so much Wayne

 

Pete

[stroudpete]

Sorry Wayne - just noticed that you've posted page 963. It's page 954 that I'm after.

 

Pete

[Eagle Eye Op]

On 06/11/2020 at 17:57, stroudpete said:

Sorry Wayne - just noticed that you've posted page 963. It's page 954 that I'm after.

 

Pete

Page 954

Breach author of the article and Reporter with the Reading Standard.