144298 Landels W T or W Y RFA

[hlough]

Information needed on this soldier whose CWGC headstone is in a local churchyard.

CWGC listing reads

Name: LANDELS

Initials: WT

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Shoeing Smith Corporal

Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery

Unit: 33rd Reserve Bty

Age: 29

Date of Death: 05/03/1917

Service No: 144298

Additional Information: Son of George Landels, of Springwood Park, Kelso,Roxburghshire

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Ref: NewGround 9.I (North of East end of Church)

Cemetery: SWinton Parish Churchyard

CWGC have him as W. T. Landels. The locals have the initials as W. Y. on Church newsletter which is requesting information from anybody who has some.

Could someone also tell me please where were the 33rd Reserve Bty Royal Field Artillery on 5th March 1917 when he died.or how I can find out please.

Thanks in advance

[ss002d6252]

SDGW states

Name: W. Landels Birth Place: Jedburgh, Roxburgh Death Date: 5 Mar 1917 Death Location: Home Enlistment Location: Edinburgh Rank: S/S. Corporal Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Number: 144298 Type of Casualty: Died Theatre of War: Home

[hlough]

SDGW states

Thank you so much. I will pass this on. Now just to find out more about his service, where and how he was wounded and about the 33rd Reserve Bty. I'm also interested in his job so any information would be appreciated.

[ss002d6252]

The records show he died at home and I couldn't find a medal card so it looks possible he died in the UK before he proceeded abroad.

A shoeing smith made horse shoes.

[hlough]

Thanks for this. I thought that might be the case. He was living in an agricultural area so may have been involved with horses before call up but will need to check the census to make sure.

I 'm just getting back into researching. Does anyone know if I can access his service records on the Library version of Ancestry.

Heather

[rflory]

I have to agree with ss002d6252. Reserve batteries were primarily used for training recruits and as he died at home and does not appear to have a medal index card it is quite likely that he died during training. Dick Flory

[hlough]

I have to agree with ss002d6252. Reserve batteries were primarily used for training recruits and as he died at home and does not appear to have a medal index card it is quite likely that he died during training. Dick Flory

Thanks for all the help. Does anyone know would the details of 33rd Reserve Bty be listed in any of the diaries I would not know which to start looking in. What started as a query for the church has now got my curiousity going as to what this man was doing. As a Corporal I would imagine he may have been involved in the training of others? As with everything though I'll try not to assume anything.

Thanks again

Heather