Austin Challice James WW1 Captain RE

[gr23051917]

I am trying to trace war records of the No 6 Group ( observation?) of the 4th FSB Royal Engineers, of which my Grandfather Austin Challice James was a Captain at the end of WW1.I have seen that he said they were at Mons,Dottignies, Herseaux,Tourcoing, Messines, St Sylvestre,Borre, Hazebrouck,Ypres, and Newport. I know from oral tradition in the family that he was involved with Hill 60.

He continued after the inter war years from May 1940 mapping in Wynnstay Hall for WW2.ending up as Lt Colonel (including Dambuster raid).I have read that the records may have been destroyed in the blitz as a serving officer in WW2.

If there is any information on this 4th FSB Royal Engineers I would be pleased to see it. This is my first go on the forum! I am recently returned from Ypres and curiosity is growing!!

[Terry_Reeves]

Fortunately, there is a history of this unit at the National Archives:

WO 181/388 History of the Fourth Field Survey Battalion, Royal Engineers, by Lieutenant Colonel M N MacLeod 1918 Jan 01 - 1919 Dec 31

The general movements of 6 Observation Group are below:

09.11.17 XV Corps

02.12.17 4th Army

01.05.18 - 11.11.18 2nd Army

A Lt A C James also gets several mentions in Peter Chasseaud's "Artillery's Astrologers - A History of British Survey and Mapping on the Western Front 1914-1918." Mapbooks 1999., ISBN 0 -9512080-2-0.

I would also recommend as background reading "Flash Spotters and Sound Rangers" originally published in 1935 by George Allen and Unwin Ltd, compiled by John Innes for the old comrades of the Field Survey Battalions. It was published in a facsimile edition in 1997 to mark the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Military Survey by Redwood Books Ltd, Trowbridge, Wilts. ISBN 0 9531565- 0 - 08. It has a chapter on the work of Observation Groups.

TR

[gr23051917]

Fortunately, there is a history of this unit at the National Archives:

WO 181/388 History of the Fourth Field Survey Battalion, Royal Engineers, by Lieutenant Colonel M N MacLeod 1918 Jan 01 - 1919 Dec 31

The general movements of 6 Observation Group are below:

09.11.17 XV Corps

02.12.17 4th Army

01.05.18 - 11.11.18 2nd Army

A Lt A C James also gets several mentions in Peter Chasseaud's "Artillery's Astrologers - A History of British Survey and Mapping on the Western Front 1914-1918." Mapbooks 1999., ISBN 0 -9512080-2-0.

I would also recommend as background reading "Flash Spotters and Sound Rangers" originally published in 1935 by George Allen and Unwin Ltd, compiled by John Innes for the old comrades of the Field Survey Battalions. It was published in a facsimile edition in 1997 to mark the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Military Survey by Redwood Books Ltd, Trowbridge, Wilts. ISBN 0 9531565- 0 - 08. It has a chapter on the work of Observation Groups.

TR

To Terry Reeves, a big thank you for this information- this looks really interesting- GR