Siege Batteries, R G A

[John(txic)]

My grandfather served with 431 (S) Battery from April to December 1917.

Are there any memoirs or other books dealing with these heavies? I would like to get a better idea of what my Grandad experienced. (I have the battery's War Diary for that period, btw)

[ororkep]

Hello John(txic),

There are no specific books concerning this battery. Exact specification for a 12 in How on Road Mts can be found in a copy of Hoggs.

The references I gave you for the two HAG diaries some 18 months ago will certainly increase your three pages worth, covering from 13 days after the Sept 17 arrival of 431 on the Western Front to the return of Gnr Westwood back to England.

The real story, and one still to be covered in detail by any author, is the reason their diary ends abruptly in Oct. That was because of the Cambria German counter attack on Nov 30th, when 431 are recorded (see attached) as having lost their guns but subsequently recovered them with the help of the 3rd Coldstream Guards. I would perhaps try a post covering this option; with a suitable request also to Woolwich to see what they may hold and see if any available Corps diary offers up anything more. I know this is exactly what happened to 100 SB.

Rgds Paul

Extract from Farndale, though the reference to13 HB is a Typo as they were in Macedonia.