squirrel Posted 26 May , 2011 Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Have tried to find a war diary for this battery at the PRO without success. Can anyone give me a pointer as to where I might find where the battery were and actions involved in October 1918? Any help much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peridot Posted 26 May , 2011 Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Hi Squirrel You will need to find out which Heavy Artillery Group or Brigade RGA the Battery belonged to and there should be a War Diary for that. I'm having similar problems myself. I am sure the experts will be along soon. Good luck Peridot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 26 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Thank you - will have to do a little more delving then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 26 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Have now delved and it is 3 Mixed Brigade RGA - any help appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 26 May , 2011 Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Have now delved and it is 3 Mixed Brigade RGA - any help appreciated. I was about to tell you: 3rd mixed Bde. but you found it yourselves. I'm also looking for info about the 268th Bty RGA. And I particulary would like to know where they were on 31st october 1918. I was thinking about Ingoyghem but I don't know anymore. Dear Squirel, I hope you won't mind I'm following up your topic. with kind regards from Flanders, Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 26 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2011 Thanks Jef - no problem at all. Every little helps.I think we are both looking for the same information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 26 May , 2011 Share Posted 26 May , 2011 The War Diary of 3rd HAG (Brigade), RGA for the period October 1915 to December 1918 is available at TNA under WO 95/297. Dick Flory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 26 May , 2011 Share Posted 26 May , 2011 The War Diary of 3rd HAG (Brigade), RGA for the period October 1915 to December 1918 is available at TNA under WO 95/297. Dick Flory Thank you Dick. Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 27 May , 2011 Share Posted 27 May , 2011 The War Diary of 3rd HAG (Brigade), RGA for the period October 1915 to December 1918 is available at TNA under WO 95/297. Dick Flory Hello Dick, A close friend of squirrel as well of mine has tried the the pages you mention. This was his answer: Jef, I've checked on WO 95/297 – it does refer to 286 Battery RGA, but only up to January 1918. I knew this was tried before. That's the reason why my friend Squirrel and I are looking desperately for information about two men ( killed on 31st october 1918) buried on Vichte military cemetery, amongst the battlefield graves on that cemetery . Later, fieldgraves from all over the place were concentrated on this MC . I think, I'm afraid it's only a guess, they must have been killed in the sector of the 31st or 34th Divisions. Vichte MC was erected by the 9th div. ( but they were put in reserve fron 26th october 1918) The 31st div buried their casualties mainly on Deerlijk churchyard ( later reburied in Ypres). And the 34th Div....???? Please artillery specialists, I would be grateful if anyone of you could shed a light on this. Kind regards from Vichte, South West Flanders Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 27 May , 2011 Share Posted 27 May , 2011 Your friend is probably referring to the 268 SB WD and not 3 (HAG) Brigade WD which ends as per the the dates of the catalogue, but is out of sequence. Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 27 May , 2011 Share Posted 27 May , 2011 Hello Squirrel, A strange thing happened, cannot send PM's anymore. Message : Hello again squirel,Saw you are interested in 1/18th London Rgt. Was wondering if you have info about them ( Rgt. History or war diaries) on 8/9/10 and 11 November 1918. I am making a study about the last days of the war on a front between Audenaerde and Tournai ( The British Second and Fifth Armies stood against the 4.th and 6.st German Armies. Don't know if the 18th Bn. London Rgt. was involved in the fightings. Do you know kind regards,Jef In this way I send the message this way Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjjobson Posted 27 May , 2011 Share Posted 27 May , 2011 Squirrel e-mail the Librarian at Firepower, he has a list of all War Diaries and can tell you who has copies of what. Principally they can be in two places, Kew, Firepower, copies at both, or non-existant. He can be reached on research@firepower.org.uk He's running a one man show, so don't expect too fast a reply. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 31 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2011 Thanks Phil - already been tried and with no result. Jef - PM sent and I have now cleared out my in box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 31 May , 2011 Share Posted 31 May , 2011 Hello Squirrel The file WO95/297 contains the diary of 3 Mixed Brigade (formerly 3 HAG), and those of its constituent batteries for periods up to Feb 1918. From that time onwards the battery diaries stop (this is quite usual) so battery activities should be described in the brigade war diary. All of the diaries are in the same file but they will probably be in separate folders, so you may have overlooked parts of them. WO 95/297 3 Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery 1915 Oct. - 1918 Dec. WO 95/297 48 Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1914 Aug. - 1917 Mar. WO 95/297 112 Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1914 Sept. - 1915 Oct. WO 95/297 21 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1915 Jan. - 1917 July WO 95/297 88 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1916 May - 1918 Feb. WO 95/297 152 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1917 May - Nov. WO 95/297 268 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery 1917 Feb. - 1918 Jan. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 31 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2011 Thank you Ron - always a help when someone can explain what to look for and where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 31 May , 2011 Share Posted 31 May , 2011 I would like to thank Ororkep for sending the pages we would like to see. Squirrel please PM me your mailaddress thenI will forward it to you. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 1 June , 2011 Share Posted 1 June , 2011 I e-mailed Firepower about the war diary for 4th siege battery RGA last night after they had closed. I recieved the usual auto reply last night and the full reply to my query this morning. That is excellent service. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 1 June , 2011 Share Posted 1 June , 2011 Nigel, Does Firepower hold part, or parts, of the war diary for 4th Siege Battery? Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 1 June , 2011 Share Posted 1 June , 2011 This is what I received from them. The war diary of the 4th Siege Battery RGA is held at the National Archives, Kew . Stored under reference WO95/543 it covers September 1914 to January 1918. Should you wish to research their actions during 1918, their next level of command, the heavy Artillery Group diary is the next best source. From December 1917 to the end of the war they served with 46th HAG. Their diary is also at Kew , also stored under reference WO95/543 it continues to December 1918. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 1 June , 2011 Share Posted 1 June , 2011 Just as I thought. For future reference http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp . Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toontraveller Posted 26 January , 2021 Share Posted 26 January , 2021 On 26/05/2011 at 11:35, von Smallhausen said: I was about to tell you: 3rd mixed Bde. but you found it yourselves. I'm also looking for info about the 268th Bty RGA. And I particulary would like to know where they were on 31st october 1918. I was thinking about Ingoyghem but I don't know anymore. Dear Squirel, I hope you won't mind I'm following up your topic. with kind regards from Flanders, Jef Hi, I was wondering if you did manage to locate the WD pages for the 31st October 1918 ? Recognise it was a long time ago . I am currently researching Frank Allan Bartlett 140423 268 Siege Battery RGA KIA on 31 st October 1918. Any assistance on locating the pages of the WD or where they were located on this day gratefully received . Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 26 January , 2021 Share Posted 26 January , 2021 Hello Toontraveller, Yes I managed to find the WD, but it was very hard to read, handwritten and very pale. Since I am a non native speaker I was not able to read it. But my good friend Trefor Jones ( Unfortunately passed away in june 2019) typed it out. Again thank you Trefor. So if you PM your mailaddress I send you the scans. May I ask why you are interested in Frank Bartlett, perhaps he was a policeman in Kent? Frank is buried here in my neighbourhood and I am researching every casualty of Vichte MC. With kind regards from Fanders, Take care stay safe, Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toontraveller Posted 26 January , 2021 Share Posted 26 January , 2021 Jef, good evening. Thank you I will PM you. I am researching the Metropolitan Police ( London) Officers who were killed or served in WW1 and submitting the updated information to the Metropolitan Police Museum. I am pretty convinced he is one of our Officers but I am still researching him at the moment. He originally lived in Kent but was not employed by Kent Constabulary. Sorry to hear the news about Trevor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Smallhausen Posted 26 January , 2021 Share Posted 26 January , 2021 Information sent. Hope you like it. Jef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toontraveller Posted 27 January , 2021 Share Posted 27 January , 2021 Jef, good morning . I have replied to your email. Thank you very much for the information. It just confirms how good this forum is - something that was posted over 9 years ago can help someone today!! I doubt I would have located the information without the assistance of Jef and others who have contributed to this thread. Thank you so much. I have attached a short update to this thread below so that if someone is researching Frank Allan Bartlett in the future the information hopefully will be available to assist them. The information along with other research I have confirms that Frank Allan Bartlett ( 140423 RGA) 268th Siege Battery was Metropolitan Police Constable 759 "P" Division (Warrant Number 104959 (Camberwell) based at Peckham Police Station in SE London . He enlisted on 12th January 1917 aged 21 years and 11 months and at the time was living at 177 Peckham High Street, SE London at the Police Station- Single mans accommodation. MP Police Orders dated 17th January 1917 show over 500 MP Officers joining the Army ,few to the Navy the same day. PC 759 "P" Bartlett Warrant number 104959 is amongst this draft, no regiments are mentioned, first names or initials. Killed in Action 31st October 1918. 2 O/R and 2 O/R wounded according to the WD . Frank Allan Bartlett obviously one of them and buried in Vichte Military Cemetery, Belgium buried alongside Arthur Lynton Harris,( 131639) 268th Siege Battery killed same day. His elder brother Edward Bartlett RE was also killed in WW1. The family were originally from Rainham in Kent and both Frank and his brother Edward are recorded on the Rainham War Memorial. The family were living at Bloors Wharf. Lower Rainham, Kent. He is also included in the Metropolitan Police Roll of Honour at Westminster Abbey, and MPS Memorial Boards. All information will be written up and submitted to the Metropolitan Police Museum. Thank you. 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