Royal Field Artillery - diary?

[lynwhelan]

My Grandfather Robert Allison (104252) of St Cyrus Scotland enlisted on 22 Sep 1915 just short of his 19th birthday. He appears to have gone into 6B Reserve and then 4A reserve after which he went off to france with the REF on 5 Dec 1915. I am trying to work out where exactly he went from there. We understood he was in the horse artillery as the only time he ever spoke of the war was when he spoke about how his first horse was a good one but got shot and he never had one that came close. He was a Gunner with 15 battery on 29 Dec 1915.

By 15 Dec 1916 he was a bombadier in what appears to read 36 Brigade 15th Battery. then it looks like he was promoted to corporal and 3 weeks later sergeant. He remained with this outfit until May 1919 where he went to 245 Brigade, then 113 Brigade in Nov 1919 and then 286? 4 depot in Dec 1919.

I have no idea what all this means but we understand that he was at the Battle of the Somme. He received the Milatary Medal but we do not have his orignal citation as my aunt threw this out when the house was cleared after his death. His war record specifies the medal was for Bravery in the Field. I would be interested to know if this is recorded in a war diary. I have found reference to this in the London Gazette - but there is no detail. I don't know if he was injured during his time in France. One of the pages in his record indicates hon 29 Aug 1918 he may have gone on furlough but I am not sure. Familylore suggests he was the under enemy fire and was the last man at his machine gun - but this is not verified. he spent a total of 268 days in France. I have no access to war diaries as I am in NZ - Is there a war diary for this brigade/battery and would it have info on why my grandfather received his Military Medal. Any help appreciated. Lyn

[ianjonesncl]

The 15th Battery was a Regular Army Battery and formed part of 36 (XXXVI) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (RFA).

The LLT details what a RFA Brigade consisted off. All the Batteries of the RFA used horses so the reference to being in the Royal Horse Artillery is probably not correct. Being the last man on his "machine gun" again sounds incorrect, it could be last man on his field gun as the Brigade was equipped with 18 pounders.

The 36th Brigade RFA were part of the 2nd Divisional Artillery, and remained with the Division throughout the war. Details of the Division's battles can be found HERE

[sotonmate]

Lyn

You are under-recording his time in France, it was 2 yrs 268 days !

He landed in France on 6 Dec 1915 and served with 36 Brigade RFA of 2 Division until well into 1918.

The War Diary is at Kew under WO95/1325 and runs from Aug 1914 to Dec 1918, but unfortunately it is not yet digital,and thus not downloadable at this stage.

The London Gazette date for his MM notice was 16.7.1918,and the medal itself was posted to him on 25.1.1920. He had a choice of having it presented to him or merely posted !

I think that the date of Aug 1918 was for when he left the Brigade and returned to a home unit,as it fits in with the 2 yrs 268 days mentioned here.

Sotonmate

[lynwhelan]

Lyn

You are under-recording his time in France, it was 2 yrs 268 days !

He landed in France on 6 Dec 1915 and served with 36 Brigade RFA of 2 Division until well into 1918.

Sotonmate

Thanks for your reply - I have gone back to the documents and see very very faintly on the downloaded copies a "2" and it says on his military history sheet he was in France from 5 Dec until 29 Aug 1918. He actually chose to have his medal posted to him rather than receive it in person. I have a copy of the Gazette entry but it does not offer more. I think I can make out Albermarle on one document - apart from refering to France is this where he would have gone initially, before the front line. Do you know if there is anyone who looks at the diaries in person. regards

Lyn

[sotonmate]

Lyn

I will try to make time to look at the Diary shortly,it coincides with one of my periodic visits to Kew,but as it's so close and I have a long list I can't be sure I'll get to it,but I'll try.

The problem is not knowing when his gallantry action took place and even if it is mentioned in the Diary. If I get time I will work backwards from May 1918,as I have seen people here state that three months seems to be the feed time from act to Gazette entry.

Albemarle may not necessarily be France,it could be the name of a UK Barracks, for instance.

You might have to read the page again and try to piece together any dates and how they fit into his BEF time etc.

Sotonmate

[sotonmate]

Lyn

Just noted Battiscomb's post to you in Interpret/MICs here,so will withdraw my offer to look,as he has details of the WD.

Sotonmate

[lynwhelan]

Lyn

I will try to make time to look at the Diary shortly,it coincides with one of my periodic visits to Kew,but as it's so close and I have a long list I can't be sure I'll get to it,but I'll try.

The problem is not knowing when his gallantry action took place and even if it is mentioned in the Diary. If I get time I will work backwards from May 1918,as I have seen people here state that three months seems to be the feed time from act to Gazette entry.

Albemarle may not necessarily be France,it could be the name of a UK Barracks, for instance.

You might have to read the page again and try to piece together any dates and how they fit into his BEF time etc.

Sotonmate

Thankyou for your offer and also pointing me to the other reply- as I had not realised there was one. I now have a better idea of Gpa's movements and service and also of where he most likely was during the time frame. I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post and your help. Regards

Lyn