Guest Stoner Posted 22 March , 2004 Share Posted 22 March , 2004 Would any one know where the 70th Btty were sited at Mons, or could anyone point me towards any good reliable references to RFA dispositions. I am looking into 20149, Fitter Corporal, Walter Forrest of Stanford in the Vale who has the dubious distiction of being the first casualty amongst the men that I am researching. 2 other men from the battery were killed on the same day. Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 22 March , 2004 Share Posted 22 March , 2004 The British Official History says that the Battery unlimbered in Vellereille le Sec. There they were heavily shelled by enemy batteries they were unable to locate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stoner Posted 22 March , 2004 Share Posted 22 March , 2004 thanks for that Chris, excellent!! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 22 March , 2004 Share Posted 22 March , 2004 Mark. This section of map taken from the "History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery" shows their displacement on 23rd August. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stoner Posted 23 March , 2004 Share Posted 23 March , 2004 Dave Thanks for that. Once again the forum comes up trumps!!! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 24 March , 2004 Share Posted 24 March , 2004 Mark. Here's another for you! This time from the Official History, 70/Bty can be found in the centre of my scan... Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stoner Posted 24 March , 2004 Share Posted 24 March , 2004 Wow! Thanks Dave Really appreciate you taking the time to sort that out for me. At the risk of sounding like a really cheeky chappie, would it be possible for you to send me a full size scan of the second map, as that also contains the positions of several other battalions (namely, Berks and Glousters) that I am interested in and it would be nice to see where my "old contemtibles" were in relation to one another? Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 24 March , 2004 Share Posted 24 March , 2004 Great maps. I especially appreciated them as one of the medal groups in my collection is the DSO/Mons Star trio/Defence Medal group to Capt.E.J.Bather, who was with HQ, 34 Brigade at Mons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 25 March , 2004 Share Posted 25 March , 2004 At the risk of sounding like a really cheeky chappie, would it be possible for you to send me a full size scan of the second map, Sorry Mark. I would if I could . Unfortunately (for you), it's actually from the "official history maps" CD-ROM from the N&MP. I can only save and/or print small sections at a time (roughly half a size of A4 at full scale) so can only see the whole map on my PC screen by scrolling all over it. Tell you what I'll do though. I'll see how many "saves" it takes to cover the whole map and see if it's feasable to email it to you bit by bit. Bear with me though, and give me a nudge if you haven't heard from me in a fortnight. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Estinian Posted 8 October , 2013 Share Posted 8 October , 2013 I am in fact looking at the same events but for the 9th battery RFA, also part of the 41st brigade RFA. The maps in the items above are not available anymore - do you still have these ? I know that the 9th battery was also very strongly hurted 23 august 1914 but the concrete conditions of this fight are not clear to me yet - I think that the diary of the 41st brigade exist but I could not find a copy - do you have any indication of where I could find it would be interesting - great thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 8 October , 2013 Share Posted 8 October , 2013 Estinian War Diary reference at Kew is WO95/1326,covering Aug 1914 to Dec 1916. Not digital yet so needs to be read at Kew,which I will try to do for you next week sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 9 October , 2013 Share Posted 9 October , 2013 there is nothing in the war diary of 41st Bde for that day except to note 9th Bty was attached to 6th Infantry Bde. The next day it is reported as rejoining the Bde having lost 2 killed and 11 wounded. Nothing else in relation to what happened. I dont know if there is a battery diary [several of regular brigade kept battery diaries for at least the first months of the war] I find I have some other notes, i think drawn from an account from the infantry.. probably posted on the forum " with 6th Infantry Brigade defending Harmignies-Estinne station – heavily shelled all day – lose 2 officers killed (Lt Rose and Major Wylde?) and 10 men killed and wounded" if you search the forum you may well found the personal account from one of the infantry of what happened.. the battery being heavily shelled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 9 October , 2013 Share Posted 9 October , 2013 as for the 70th Bty - the KRRC diary [available online] I think mentions the artillery experience that day.. 34 Bde Diary has .. "50th and 70th batteries in action ....The two first named batteries were subjected to very heavy shell fire during the afternoon, 70th Battery having two howitzer batteries turned on it; both batteries however maintained their fire. Lieutenants Robertson and Durand 70th Battery wounded, 3 NCO’s and men killed 27 wounded. .. [70th Bty withdrawn during night as 3 guns damaged, 1 repaired at battery, 2 others returned to base.]" The fitter may well have been trying to repair a damaged gun? my notes Fitter Corporal Walter FOREST (20149) killed Bombardier George LOWTHER (31597) killed Acting Bombardier Lewis WOOD (55240) killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Estinian Posted 9 October , 2013 Share Posted 9 October , 2013 thanks to all of you for this swift and qualitative support. I found too that the 9th battery was detached from the XLI Bde and was attached to the 6th infantry brigade during august 23. A description by the corporal Bernard John Denore (1st Royal Berks Regt., 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, I Army Corps) give me some insights on what happened but I would have liked to cross check his information and above all to get a more detailled view on the localisation of the events. Why is this ? The soldier I am investigating on is the corporal Albert Kenneth BASSFORD (RFA - 9th battery). I indeed found several references that the battle found place between Harmignies and Estinnes, mainly around a small village called Vellereille-le-sec. The "enigma" I am working on is that Albert is the only BEF soldier buried in my village (Estinnes au mont) at 4 or 5 km from the place where the events are supposed to find place (vellereille-le-sec). What I try to get trought by detailling the circumstances of his death through a deeper understanding of the events around the 9th battery is why is he buried so far away from the battle place and alone and if there is any indication that in fact he may have died in Estinnes and not in Vellereille. Thanks again for your kind support. It is more than appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 9 October , 2013 Share Posted 9 October , 2013 Estinian War Diary reference at Kew is WO95/1326,covering Aug 1914 to Dec 1916. Not digital yet so needs to be read at Kew,which I will try to do for you next week sometime. E I will withdraw my offer as you have an answer ! I have checked Soldiers Died in the Great War database as I thought there might be a died of wounds but it shows KIA. This might have accounted for the single burial if he died with an ambulance unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Estinian Posted 10 October , 2013 Share Posted 10 October , 2013 just to make sure I understand what you mean by 'you have an answer' - you refer to 'there is nothing in the war diary of 41st Bde' - is this correct ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_mtk Posted 30 May , 2014 Share Posted 30 May , 2014 More re the aforementioned 31597 Lowther now at https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/2717383 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Estinian Posted 18 January , 2015 Share Posted 18 January , 2015 dear all, thanks to a.o. your support , I managed to rebuild to history of the Corporal Bassford of the 41st artillery brigade - 9th batt RFA. You can find all the détails on www.estinnes.org - tab "Le 23 août 1914 Mort d'un soldat anglais". It is in French, my native language, but I am working on the English version thanks to the support of the family of the Corporal. It is now time to open some new inquiries on what happened in Estinnes the 22 - 23 - 24 August 1914. On the side of the 9th batt, 2 batteries of the 34th artillery brigade have been heavily attacked by the germans. I read above some information on these events but I cannot access anymore the war diaries extracts. Would anybody be able to help me to get a copy of what is said in the books of the 34th brigade or in the ones, if any, of the 50 and 70 artillery batteries ? Thanks for any help you can provide The Estinian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 18 January , 2015 Share Posted 18 January , 2015 the 34th brigade diary account for 23rd Aug is provided in a post above post 13 Monday 24th during the night 70th battery which had had 3 guns damaged was withdrawn .. about 9am a retirement was ordered . there is also a 70th Bty war diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 18 January , 2015 Share Posted 18 January , 2015 handwritten diary for 70th Battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Estinian Posted 20 January , 2015 Share Posted 20 January , 2015 Great thanks for the support ... I will cross this information with the 9th battery and KRRC information. I was also reading too fast item 13 ... sorry for re asking what you already provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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