Driver John W. Aspinall RFA

[Mark Hone]

A colleague at work has asked me to try and discover more about her ancestor 1449 (later 71043) Driver Aspinall. The MIC confirmed some of the family legends she told me: He first served in Egypt, arriving on 26/7/15. He was eventually invalided out , having, according to the family, been injured in a gas attack, applied for the Silver War Badge on 18/8/17, and apparently ended the war working in a munitions factory at Euxton, Lancashire. The RFA references given on the MIC are RFA/121B and RFA 1 A+B but I don't know what significance they have in determining the unit or otherwise. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Peridot]

The references you quote look like the original pages where the Medal Roll entries will be found and these may or may not give details of the Battery or Unit. Not on line unfortunately and an attendance at Kew would be necessary to inspect them. Hope this helps tho I am sure there are RFA experts on the Forum who know much more than I.

Peridot

[rflory]

Mark: Actually his second number is 710613 (six digits, rather than the five-digit number you indicated). This is important as six-digit Territorial Force numbers can be used to determine the unit. His number, 710613 indicates that in late 1916 he was servicing with the 3rd East Lancashire Brigade, RFA TF which contributed two overseas brigandes:

1. The first line of the 3rd East Lancashire Brigade, RFA TF became 212th Brigade, RFA TF in the 42nd Division. It went to Egypt on 9 Sept 1914.

2. The second line of the 3rd East Lancashire Brigade, RFA TF became 332nd Brigade, RFA TF in the 66th Division. It went to France on 17 March 1917.

From what you indicated in your post it would appear that Dvr. Aspinall served with 212th Brigade, RFA TF.

Regards, Dick Flory

[Mark Hone]

Fantastic. That certainly ties in with the known facts about him. I shall carry on research from there. His MIC indeed records him as TF which I forgot to mention in my original post. If I can get access to the War Diary at some point I may be able to identify the incident in which he was gassed, although I suspect that the date of application for the SWB may bear no relation to the date on which he was actually wounded.

[David_Underdown]

There's no indication on his medal card that he actually received the SWB, and I can only find the one medal card for him.