bmac Posted 2 June , 2009 Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Can anyone confirm what howitzers this battery was equipped with in June/July 1916 as the War Diary and other sources say 12" howitzers whilst Hogg and Thurston say such guns were not in France until August. Sure the War Diary is correct but wonder when these pieces were delivered and was this their first use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essdee Posted 2 June , 2009 Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Bill The right section of 65 Siege went out to F & F 19th Jan'16 armed with one 12" Howitzer, Road Mounted. The Left Section went to F & F on the 5th Feb'16 armed the same. These two 12" Road Hows. were condemned in Dec'16 & Feb'17, with two replacement 12" MK VI BL Howitzers (Vickers) arriving at the railhead on the 23 Mar'17 The first 12" Hows. to arrive in F & F were the two Railway Mounted Hows. of 18 Siege, arriving in Sept & Oct. 1915 In June/July'16 the battery was allocated to 1 HAG, VIII Corps HA, Fourth Army and had previously been operating with 31 HAG, VI Corps HA ( Rx ) and 8 HAG, VI Corps HA (Lx) again Fourth Army. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 2 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Stuart, As ever, thanks for that. Just as needed. Cheers Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgladders Posted 10 October , 2010 Share Posted 10 October , 2010 Hi, My grandfatherwas in the 65th siege battery in World War I as Gunner 338605 in the Royal Artillery (RGA) inthe 65th Siege Battery unit.He served with them for three years from 17 May 1916 to 26 May 1919. I have a photo of him with his "howitzer" (I think). According to family "folklore" he servedat Mons and Ypres. He was the sole survivor when the gun; a 9.2”Howitzer received a direct hit. Is there any way I can find corroboration of this event? Regards, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 11 October , 2010 Share Posted 11 October , 2010 Welcome to the forum Mike, Quote: Is there any way I can find corroboration of this event? Not where 65 SB is concerned. This battery as mentioned in the previous posts on this thread was not armed with 9.2 Hows. If you could perhaps post the photograph so the forum can confirm the armament, and if you could also confirm your GF was Gnr Wm GLADDERS, a Territorial from Durham, and what you hold that mentions 65 SB? Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgladders Posted 11 October , 2010 Share Posted 11 October , 2010 Hi, Will look out photo and post it next but in the meantime I can confirm that my Grandfather was William James Gladders actually from SAltburn by the Sea North Yorkshire. I have the following items that mention the 65th siege battery: 1. A copy of his "Certificate of Employment during the War" 2. A copy of his Unit Register Card 3. Copy of what I assume is a discharge certificate dated 20 May 1919 certifying that he was free of Vermin and Scabies, signed by Captain Stewart RAMC 31st Army Brigade RGA 4. A small 1918 diary of his with various entries mentioning various places he was moved to during the year including a comment that on Dec10th (could have been in 1917 as it is written on a blank page before the diary starts) 9 were wounded at St Julien. Hope that helps, now I will look out the photograph! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgladders Posted 11 October , 2010 Share Posted 11 October , 2010 Hi, I now have the photo (more of a postcard really) but my grandfather is not on it! However, he has written on the back: "Marchiennes Xmas 1918. To Alan, with love & xxxxx From Daddy What do you think of our popgun" Note that Alan was his 4 year old son, my father. The diary I mentioned in the earlier post says that he moved tp Marchiennes on 1st December 1918 Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 11 October , 2010 Share Posted 11 October , 2010 Mike, I think it is a 12 in How; basically a scaled up 9.2 hence the striking similarities apart from the size! I cannot verify anything that sounds like a possible direct hit as recorded in his diary page with that many casualties, wounded or otherwise; either from the official 65 SB WD or the one for the Heavy Artillery Group they were part of at the time. Nor unfortunately any mention of a Gnr GLADDERS. One possible good avenue of research is a file of a junior NCO of 65 SB, held at the IWM. Some 27 pages of private papers that cover from Nov 1917 to Jan 1919, and includes recollections of their experiences in the Ypres Sector during 1917, and later the Arras sector during 1918, and the battery's Armistice celebrations are also recounted. (IWM ref: 4221) Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgladders Posted 11 October , 2010 Share Posted 11 October , 2010 Thanks, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 12 October , 2010 Share Posted 12 October , 2010 Mike, As Paul indicated, 338605 would indicate someone belonging to the Durham RGA TF. This may be be explained by Gnr. Gladders being mobilised/conscripted at the beginning of November 1916 to No. 4 Depot, Ripon, where he was then posted to the Durham RGA. Why a batch of these gunners were renumbered and some were not is not easy to explain, but it is my opinion that he was probably posted on, after training to an Army Pool in France where he was then sent as a replacement to the 65th Sge Bty. His original number was probably in the 127000 to 127100 range. Unless you have any further papers, and without his records, it would be very difficult to prove but is a likely route for him. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjgladders Posted 12 October , 2010 Share Posted 12 October , 2010 I'm afraid I have no other information at this time. On the fly leaf of his diary he has written his name and number followed by 65 Siege Battery and a rifle number 2392 (I think). Prior to writing 65 he had written some other regiment number which could be 70 or 108 or both! His recorded movements during 1918 are: Jan 6 at Lilles France, baths nearby at Busnes Feb 3 left with guns for Bethune Feb 5 Left with guns for Mazingarbe March 31 Took gun to Noeux les mines June 10 Vermelles trenches helping sappers June 13 moved to what looks like Minx but I cannot find such a place June 30 went to Bruay (probably just a trip) Aug 25 Moved from Minx? to Estree-Cauchy Oct 2 moved to Boiry? south of Arras Oct 8 moved to Escauviries? Oct 12 moved to Roeux Oct 24 moved to Saulzoir Nov 13 moved to Valenciennes 1919 March 11 Loaded guns for Germany March 12 arrived Mons March 13 arrived Duren, Germany Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11kilo Posted 24 April , 2013 Share Posted 24 April , 2013 Hello Mike: Thanks for posting this information, I am researching a chap in the battery too. Would I be able to use your photo in my notes? If I am ever published (I hear laughter in my head) I would, of course, acknowledge the source. Do you have any other photos of the battery? Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 25 April , 2013 Share Posted 25 April , 2013 Quote: "I am researching a chap in the battery too". Andy, I think it is always a good idea to mention the name/ number of the man you are researching, just so others can verify. Because for example in the thread above, I now know that the gun shown IS a 9.2 How, that belonged to D sub section of 158 Sge Bty. Likewise the movements cited (including Minx) apply to that battery up until the card was sent from Marchiennes Xmas 1918 , with only those for 1919 applying to 65 Sge bty. So the photo has actually nothing to do with 65 Sge bty and would not be suitable for your proposed work. Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11kilo Posted 2 October , 2013 Share Posted 2 October , 2013 Thanks Paul, much appreciated and sorry for the slow reply. Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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