peterkennedy Posted 18 April , 2010 Share Posted 18 April , 2010 A Record of D/245 Battery RFA 1914-1919 by Sergeant A E Gee and Corporal A E Shaw. Please can anyone who has a copy of this book let me know if it contains a photo of the battery. I am trying to find a picture of the battery which includes my grandfather. Alexander James Kennedy (Driver, number 820) enlisted in the 11th (Ilkley) Battery, IV West Riding (Howitzer) Brigade RFA on 7th September 1914. He arrived in Le Havre with them (16th April 1915) on HT SS Anglo-Canadian. On 20th May 1916, when the RFA batteries were rearranged and renumbered, 11th Battery became D Battery of CCXLV (I West Riding) Brigade. When members of the Territorial Force were issued new numbers on 1st March 1917, Alexander became number 776216. He was posted to D Battery 149 Brigade RFA on 4th March 1918. As the book is quite expensive, is it worth obtaining a copy? Thank you for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 18 April , 2010 Share Posted 18 April , 2010 Hi There is a photo of 11th W R Battery RFA taken at Doncaster April 1915. It seems to be the full unit, however, there are no names attached. If you have a portrait of your grandfather and can identify him in the line-up from that, it might just be worth buying a copy, though again, the photo is small. Could scan it and enlarge if you like? Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 18 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2010 Hi There is a photo of 11th W R Battery RFA taken at Doncaster April 1915. It seems to be the full unit, however, there are no names attached. If you have a portrait of your grandfather and can identify him in the line-up from that, it might just be worth buying a copy, though again, the photo is small. Could scan it and enlarge if you like? Regards Martin That would be great. Thanks for the quick reply. That would probably be the 14th to 15th April when the whole brigade were in Doncaster before entraining for Southampton and France. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 18 April , 2010 Share Posted 18 April , 2010 Hi If u PM me your email address I'll send it that way Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 19 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2010 Hi If u PM me your email address I'll send it that way Regards Martin Thanks again, I have sent a PM. Looking forward to seeing the picture. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper Posted 21 April , 2010 Share Posted 21 April , 2010 Just to let you know that Otley Civic Museum has a photo album which belonged to a member of the Otley Battery of the WR Battery, however there are many named pictures of men from ilkley and the ilkley battery also. Unfortunately the museum has had to close due to funding, therefore is no longer accessible. Before it closed, however, I did manage to obtain a digital version from the museum. I will have a look through to see if your Grandfather is listed there. Additionally at the Liddle Collection at Leeds university there are the records, photos plus many more details and papers which previously belonged to Sgt A E Gee, you can make an appointment to view them and possibly take pics or copies if allowed. Kind Regards Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 21 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2010 Cooper, Thanks for the interest. My grandfather enlisted in Otley but in the Ilkley Battery. He was born in Edinburgh and lived in the Dulwich area of London. He appears to have been in Otley from 1911 as he was a machine minder for a printer. I have copies of his service record from The National Archives (from both the "burnt" and "unburnt" series!) and the 245 Brigade War Diary. Great War Forum member Connaughtranger was kind enough to send me a photo of the Ilkley Battery from April 1915. Any other info or photos would be much appreciated. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper Posted 21 April , 2010 Share Posted 21 April , 2010 According to the Record of D245 your Grandfather was wounded during the battle for Passchendaele on 7th November 1917, presumably was reposted to 145 bde upon recovery. I hope this is of help. regards Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 8 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 8 May , 2010 According to the Record of D245 your Grandfather was wounded during the battle for Passchendaele on 7th November 1917, presumably was reposted to 145 bde upon recovery. I hope this is of help. regards Cooper Cooper, Just want to thank you, again, for the photos from Otley. I have managed to find my grandfather in two of them (scan 006). It also confirmed that the photo I was given (from 1911) of possibly him definitely was. The likeness was unmistakeable. Now I have one of him in uniform as well! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper Posted 10 May , 2010 Share Posted 10 May , 2010 Cooper, Just want to thank you, again, for the photos from Otley. I have managed to find my grandfather in two of them (scan 006). It also confirmed that the photo I was given (from 1911) of possibly him definitely was. The likeness was unmistakeable. Now I have one of him in uniform as well! Peter Peter, You are most welcome, I am glad I could be of help. Kind regards, Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 19 July , 2010 Share Posted 19 July , 2010 Otley Museum's archival collection is still available though it has decamped to the Ron Kitching library, Crow Lane. Opening times as before i.e. from 10:00 on Mon, Tues and Fri. mornings. The archive is fully catalogued and catalogue numbers should be referenced when appropriate. For example, images from the Old Comrades photograph album (noted above), are catalogued as O/OC/ph/xx - the /xx relating to particular numbered postcards in the album. Important information on provenance and notes are included in the catalogue. Just to let you know that Otley Civic Museum has a photo album which belonged to a member of the Otley Battery of the WR Battery, however there are many named pictures of men from ilkley and the ilkley battery also. Unfortunately the museum has had to close due to funding, therefore is no longer accessible. Before it closed, however, I did manage to obtain a digital version from the museum. I will have a look through to see if your Grandfather is listed there. Additionally at the Liddle Collection at Leeds university there are the records, photos plus many more details and papers which previously belonged to Sgt A E Gee, you can make an appointment to view them and possibly take pics or copies if allowed. Kind Regards Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 20 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2010 Otley Museum's archival collection is still available though it has decamped to the Ron Kitching library, Crow Lane. Opening times as before i.e. from 10:00 on Mon, Tues and Fri. mornings. The archive is fully catalogued and catalogue numbers should be referenced when appropriate. For example, images from the Old Comrades photograph album (noted above), are catalogued as O/OC/ph/xx - the /xx relating to particular numbered postcards in the album. Important information on provenance and notes are included in the catalogue. Thanks for the update. I'm also interested in the printing exhibits. Are they still on show? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 20 July , 2010 Share Posted 20 July , 2010 I will find out - the name index should still be available which would point you in the right direction if nothing else. I indexed the Old Comrades photo album for the museum in 2002, the index is stored with the album and I can look him up easily. I also indexed and transcribed the original diary of Eric Cowling, I will look him up if you like. Note there are major discrepancies between Eric's originals (O/O/dy/3-11) and his own edited transcription which he must have typed up quite close to the end of his life. Some people appear in one version and not in the other. It is still worth a look though. My transcript of the original is O/O/dc/86. The museum has multiple sources on the printers engineers, your relative will no doubt appear throughout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 20 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2010 Simon, It would be a great help if you could find anything. Thanks to other members I know he appears in three photos in the album - but any other info would be most welcome. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 21 July , 2010 Share Posted 21 July , 2010 Dear Peter, Drv. A.J. Kennedy does not appear in my index for the old comrades photograph album. If you let me know which photos he appears in I can add him to the index and archive it with the album itself. I can then also give you appropriate catalogue numbers for the photographs which you can then reference. He does appear on p.106 of O/O/dc/86, transcript of Eric's diary '13th August 1917. Have been teaching Bertha English since the tenth. Kennedy, Bart., Johnson wounded' On p.117 O/O/dy/1 Eric says this of the same date; 'Enjoying things down here but the officers mess has been shelled at Pelican Bridge and burnt out. Bart., Kennedy, Johnson wounded' I corroborate D245 has him as wounded 7th Nov. 1917 - no mention in the diaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 21 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 21 July , 2010 Simon, Thanks for the info. Alexander appears in three photos of the 4th WR Howitzer brigade (my avatar is taken from one of them). Photos 39, 41, 46. I have the war diaries - thanks again for your help. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 22 July , 2010 Share Posted 22 July , 2010 Peter, 39 (with pipe) = O/OC/ph/18 41 = O/OC/ph/14 46 = O/OC/ph/15 I will look tonight to see if he appears in my newspaper cuttings, I think I have parts for November when he was wounded. Will check August too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 22 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 July , 2010 Peter, 39 (with pipe) = O/OC/ph/18 41 = O/OC/ph/14 46 = O/OC/ph/15 I will look tonight to see if he appears in my newspaper cuttings, I think I have parts for November when he was wounded. Will check August too. Simon, The August wound is new info so anything further would be much appreciated. The November wound is shown on Alexander's service record as he was admitted to No. 18 General Hospital , Camiers. It was a wound to his upper left arm, and he left hospital on 29th December 1917. Once again, thanks for your interest. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 23 July , 2010 Share Posted 23 July , 2010 Peter, Several references to him in the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer - images attached below (hopefully). 1. Cutting from W&AO Sept. 11th 1914, not included is tag line (at bottom of 1st column) 'Wharfedale Territorials New Recruits'. 2. Cutting from W&AO Jan. 29th. 1915, 'Cook A. Kennedy' present at the funeral in Pool Road Cemy. of Gnr. George Lawson who was tragically killed in training at Doncaster. The gun limber he was riding on (5" how.) overturned on him as it went into action in a field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 23 July , 2010 Share Posted 23 July , 2010 More, 3. Drv. A. Kennedy (820) serving with the 1-4th W.R. (How.) Bde., W&AO 26th Nov. 1915 4. 'Pte. A. Kennedy... wounded in action... formerly employed as machineman at Wm. Walker & Sons Victoria Works' (making printing machines). W&AO Nov. 16th 1917 I do not have cuttings for August, will obtain some. Letters are often published in the W&AO during the war, as are 'personal pars about Otley men'. He may well appear in other cuttings not noted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 24 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 24 July , 2010 More, 3. Drv. A. Kennedy (820) serving with the 1-4th W.R. (How.) Bde., W&AO 26th Nov. 1915 4. 'Pte. A. Kennedy... wounded in action... formerly employed as machineman at Wm. Walker & Sons Victoria Works' (making printing machines). W&AO Nov. 16th 1917 I do not have cuttings for August, will obtain some. Letters are often published in the W&AO during the war, as are 'personal pars about Otley men'. He may well appear in other cuttings not noted here. Simon, The cuttings are absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for all your help. My grandfather died 14 years before I was born and we knew virtually nothing about him or his family - this all helps to build up a picture of him. Once again, thank you very much. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 27 July , 2010 Share Posted 27 July , 2010 Thank you Peter. I will find some August cuttings and get back to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james drury Posted 23 September Share Posted 23 September On 21/04/2010 at 13:04, cooper said: Just to let you know that Otley Civic Museum has a photo album which belonged to a member of the Otley Battery of the WR Battery, however there are many named pictures of men from ilkley and the ilkley battery also. Unfortunately the museum has had to close due to funding, therefore is no longer accessible. Before it closed, however, I did manage to obtain a digital version from the museum. I will have a look through to see if your Grandfather is listed there. Additionally at the Liddle Collection at Leeds university there are the records, photos plus many more details and papers which previously belonged to Sgt A E Gee, you can make an appointment to view them and possibly take pics or copies if allowed. Kind Regards Cooper Hello I realise this post is a fair few years old. I was wondering if you still had the digital copies of the photos. I am researching a relative who served with they Otley Battery. May thanks James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkley remembers Posted 25 September Share Posted 25 September Hi James, I have copies of the digital photographs of the Otley Battery (246 D RFA) which 'Cooper' passed on to me a few years ago. Don't think that he has accessed this site since last year so if you give me the name of your relative then I can check through the album to see if there is a mention of him I R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james drury Posted 25 September Share Posted 25 September Hi thanks for the reply that’s very kind of you :-) name is Joseph (Joe) Cross thanks again J. This is the chap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now