ASCMT D Corps Siege Parks

[Guest melissa banthorpe]

I'm trying to find out where my Great Grandfather - Pte Charles Fortune, M2/265637 - was during WW1. We have several postcards sent by him and to him from the period March 1917 to April 1919. He was in the ASCMT though we don't know which company.

The cards from July 1917 to July 1918 all have the address of ASCMT D Corps Siege Park(s). I would like to know where this was located between these dates, and is there anything I would be likely to find at Kew?

Thanks

Melissa

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Melissa

This unit, otherwise known as 562 Company (MT) ASC, was responsible for moving around the various heavy artillery units attached to IV Corps, on the Wesytern Front.

The War Diary is in the National Archives at Kew in file WO95/741, covering the period from Sept 1917 to April 1919. You may be able to get a copy online via the NA website, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.

War Diaries rarely mention men by name other than officers, but the location of the unit, and a description of its activities, should be given for each day.

Ron

[Guest melissa banthorpe]

Hi Ron

Many thanks for this. Having the Company number and the association with IV Corps has enabled me to get an idea of where he was and it fits with the postcard subjects which he sent back home during this period which were of places in the Somme area (Albert, Authuile, Corbie Chateau), Arras and Le Cateau - generally showing previous bombardment damage.

Thanks for giving me the reference for the war diary at Kew, which I shall definitely be going to have a look at.

Regards

Melissa