Essex RHA (TF)

[battiscombe]

I was wondering if anyone has definitive information on senior NCOs of the Essex RHA in 1914. I have formed a list of some likelies from medal rolls, but can confirm few from surviving records. Any definite names for BSM, BQMS and other senior NCOs would be welcomed. I have, I believe, an image of the Battery Sgts in late 1914, and would like to try and confirm some names of 15 men shown. any suggestions welcome. some may well have ended up in 2/1st Essex RHA. thanks

[David Porter]

Probably the same list that you have, but take your pick:

Harris, William J

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 21 Staff Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622001 Staff Serjeant

Taylor, H W

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 622002 Serjeant

Whittle, Walter

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 85 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622003 Serjeant

Royal Engineers 273441 Serjeant

Royal Engineers WR/193890 Serjeant

Brown, Alfred H

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 87 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622004 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622004 Serjeant

Leech, Percy G

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 116 Acting Warrant Officer Class 2

Royal Horse Artillery 622005 Acting Warrant Officer Class 2

Smith, Hamles

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 125 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622006 Serjeant

Sitch, Stephen H

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 126 Warrant Officer Class 2

Royal Horse Artillery 622007 Warrant Officer Class 2

Wilson, Samuel

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 204 Staff Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622010 Staff Serjeant Wheeler

Bishop, Jacob

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 235 Staff Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622014 Staff Serjeant

Johnson, G

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 622015 Battery Serjeant Major

Clements, Walter S

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 622019 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622019 Serjeant

Kearton, Edwin H

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 369 Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622040 Serjeant

Jenkinson, Louis G

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 421 Warrant Officer Class 1

Royal Horse Artillery 622063 Warrant Officer Class 2

James, Arthur

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery 428 Staff Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery Transport 622066 Wheeler Staff Serjeant

Burnham, George H

Corps Regiment No Rank

298th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery 622071 Serjeant

298th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery 622071 Serjeant

298th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery 723270 Serjeant

Gifford, George Reginald

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery Transport Royal Artillery 589 Battery Quarter Master Serjeant

Royal Horse Artillery 622158 Battery Quarter Master Serjeant

Royal Field Artillery Second Lieutenant

Royal Field Artillery Second Lieutenant.

At a rough guess the numbers got to around 600 by late 1914 so all these are possibles.

George Gifford enlisted at Colchester 4.8.1914, promoted Battery Quarter Master Sergeant 29.5.1915.

All of these were renumbered in early 1917 so were still with the battery then.

As you say, some would have been transferred to the 2/1st when that was formed (e.g. by not signing E.624)

[battiscombe]

thanks. Yes I have these. I was looking for some confirmation from another source, as few of their records survive. thanks again.

[rivergirl]

My Great Grandfather was Arthur JAMES, SGT Wheelwright.

He was in the VF/Territorial from 1898, signing on for overseas service in 1915.

He was a Wheeler Staff Sergeant in 1/1 Essex R.H.A.T. late of the 263 bde (Brigade RFA), EEF.

He served at Home until 17 Feb 1916. I think in Woodbridge Suffolk. (Have some old postcards of him and other guys in a row boat, and outside tents looks like the UK)

Egypt Exp Forces Feb 1916 to 4 April 1917.

Palestine 5 April 1917 to 26 June 1917

Furlough and en route till August 1918??

EEF August 1918 to 16 April 1919

Then returned to England. with Malaria.

[David Porter]

Welcome to the forum, rivergirl

There is a good chance your great grandfather is in the photograph that Battiscombe has. Hopefully you will be able to give him a positive ID at some point - can you post a close up?

The 1/1st Essex RHA (TF) joined with the 1/1st Hants RHA (TF) and 1/1st West Riding RHA (TF) to form 1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA at Leicester in January 1916. The Brigade left on 3 ships for Egypt along with other RHA batteries during February 1916.

"Kabinga" - Embarked Devonport 15-02-16, Disembarked Alexandria 01-03-16

Carrying

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA Ammunition Column

Capt H. Pultenay

2nd Lt. H. M. Powell

50 ORs (4 NCOs, 2 corporals/bombardiers, 44 gunners/drivers)

204 horses, 26 x 4 wheel vehicles, 1 x 2 wheel vehicle

1/1st Somerset Battery RHA

Capt. M. Clowes

2nd Lt. E. C. B. Elliott

Capt. G. B. Gill RAMC

Lt. A. D. Morgan Veterinary Officer

70 ORs

266 horses, 4 x guns, 20 x 4 wheel vehicles, 3 x 2 wheel vehicles

"Manitou"- Embarked Devonport 18-02-16, Disembarked Alexandria 01-03-16

Carrying

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA Ammunition Column

Capt. Harry Whitworth (West Riding RHA)

Lt. R. Bazell (Hants RHA)

80 ORs

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA HQ

Lt. Col. Charles Chetwode Robertson

Capt. and Adj. A. E. Kirk

Lt. Claude A. Burrell

Capt. A. L. Hewer RAMC

Lt. W. F. Garside AVC

44 ORs

1 x 4 wheeled vehicle, 2 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 39 horses

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA 1st Battery

Maj. W. A. B. Daniell

Capt. E. N. Buxton

Lt. R. F. Squirl Dawson

Maj. Ernest Powles (Chaplain)

Lt. R. Worrall

135 ORs

4 guns, 8 x 4 wheeled vehicles, 2 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 114 horses

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA 2nd Battery

Maj. T. K. Jeans

Capt. N. M. Elliott

Lt. R. D. Badcock

2nd Lt. A. P. Franklin

136 ORs

4 guns, 8 x 4 wheeled vehicles, 2 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 114 horses

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA 3rd Battery

Maj. H. Walker

Capt. J. S. Elwis

Lt. B. H. Jackson

2nd Lt. N. Hawkins

136 ORs

4 guns, 8 x 4 wheeled vehicles, 2 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 114 horses

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA 1st Reinforcements

2nd Lt. J. A. Buckley

2nd Lt. A. L. Kenning

2nd Lt. T. E. Holberton

3 ORs

3 horses

1/1st Inverness Battery RHA

Capt. D. Fraser

Lt. C. Reggall

Capt. H. McVean

3 ORs

1/1st Leicester Battery RHA

Lt. Malcolm Douglas

Capt. Charles Fawcett Bennion

Lt. R. H. Whitehead

2nd Lt. Ernest Walter Garry

4 ORs (Gnrs. Macarthy, W. A. Johnson, V. W. Marsh, Drv. Vidor)

1/1st Somerset Battery RHA

Maj. F. Aikenhead

Capt. R. Bath

Lt. H. B. Way

Lt. S. H. B. Blandy

Lt. H. S. White

2nd Lt. E. M. Grimsdale

162 ORs

plus

53rd Division, 1st Line Transport

Lt. K. B. Powel

Lt. C. G. Marriott

34 ORs

54th Division, 1st Line Transport

Lt. H. S. Catchpole (1/5th Suffolk, 163rd Inf. Bde)

Lt. G. St. J. Rands (1/4th Northants, 162nd Inf. Bde)

2nd Lt. H. R. Robertson (1/11th London, 162nd Inf. Bde)

127 ORs

619 MT Coy. ASC

1 Officer (Johnstone), 34 ORs

346 MT Coy. ASC Supply Col.

1 Officer (Jackson), 117 ORs

Intelligence

2nd Lt. P. F. J. Burter

58th Rifles, Indian Army

Maj. A. G. Lind

197th Pioneers, Indian Army

Capt. C. A. Shute

R.F.C

Lt. G. H. Morton

Lt. W. R. S. Humphries

"Karoa" - Embarked Avonmouth 24-02-16, Disembarked Alexandria 05-03-16

Carrying

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA

2nd Lt. H. A. Pease

2nd Lt. A. M. Bradley

2nd Lt. R. W. Fleming

57 ORs

1/1st Inverness Battery RHA

2nd Lt. A. Bailey

2nd Lt. Geoffrey James Henry Shenton

20 ORs

1/1st Leicester Battery RHA

2nd Lt. R. M. Watson

2nd Lt. Samuel J. Worthington (KiA 28/11/1917)

19 OR Embarked 20 ORs Disembarked

1/1st Somerset Battery RHA

2nd Lt. F. C. Edwards

20 ORs

347 MT Coy. ASC Ammunition Parks

2 Officers (Noott, Creese), 1 WO (Lacey), 268 ORs

346 MT Coy. ASC Supply Col.

3 Officers (Mustard, James, Robertson), 1 WO (Harrison), 198 ORs (197 Embarked?)

R.A.M.C.

Capt. W. Campbell

R.A. Personnel 303 & 347 MT Coys Amm. Parks

2 Officers (Jones, Gow), 160 ORs

A lot of these men would return from Palestine with malaria.

Interesting that Arthur James seems to have spent a year in the UK on furlough during the time his battery was overseas.

Do you know if he was posted to the RHA (TF) reserves during this time?

[David Porter]

Battiscombe,

Sorry to divert the thread a bit with the sailings info. I only typed it out recently and I thought this was a good a place as any to post. Another ship carried the Ayrshire battery and rest of the Inverness battery.

"Port Macquarie" - Embarked Southampton 10-02-16, Disembarked Alexandria 22-02-16

Carrying

1/1st Inverness Battery RHA

Lt. A. M. Spence

Lt. G. Evans Baillie

2nd Lt. W. E. Macrae

95 ORs (incl. 1 attached from RAMC)

7 NCOs (sergeants)

1 trumpeter

12 corporals & bombardiers

19 gunners

56 drivers

158 horses, 3 x 4 wheeled vehicles

1/1st Ayrshire Battery RHA

Battery - 5 Officers, 162 ORs, 177 horses, 4 guns, 2 x 4 wheeled vehicles, 19 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 3 bicycles

Amm Col. - 2 Officers, 77 ORs, 88 horses, 6 x 4 wheeled vehicles, 9 x 2 wheeled vehicles, 1 bicycle

1 field officer (Maj. J. Hamilton Meikle)

2 captains (A. F. Bryant, W. G. Dunlop - AC)

4 subalterns (W. M. Gartshore, G. T. Morris, A. Smith, H. S. G. Kiernander - AC)

20 NCOs (incl. Sgt. Maj. C. J. Morley & Sgt. Maj. Mansfield)

3 trumpeters

23 corporals & bombardiers

102 gunners

91 drivers

265 horses

A.M.C

Capt. C. Douglas

A.V.C.

Lt. W. McLeod

[rivergirl]

Hi David,

Thanks for the information on the ships to Egypt. I guess my Gt Grandfather was possibly on the "Manitou".

I'm not sure about his year furlough, I think I may have missed somethiing in the record, I shall have to look that up. the records are with other family members at the moment.

I have a photo of my GGF, taken with other men I think in England. I had the impression it was taken at Woodbridge Suffolk.

He is sitting in the bottom row, middle man with pipe in mouth.

cheers

[battiscombe]

nice picture - he is not in my picture i think, but there are some faces in common! I will get some faces scanned.. very interesting,

[battiscombe]

Apologies for my last post - I think this must be Sgt Arthur James (428/622066) - on a card posted 3rd October 1914, from Woodbridge! By this time with 3 Sgt stripes (not apparent in your photo, I think). The gloomy staff Sgt above him is also in mine - still avoiding looking at the camera .. This is him?

[battiscombe]

And here is another face Essex RHA - would this man be a Farrier Quartermaster Serjeant? with that badging? Interesting to have KSA and QSA medal ribbons and a black button designating a lost relative already by this date (October 1914). These Essex gunners like their pipes!

[battiscombe]

The Sgt behind GGF James, I think

[David Porter]

Great close-ups, battiscombe.

The only farrier in the list is 21/622001 Harris, William J. He has a second MIC as W. J. Harris, Farrier Staff Serjeant.

This is also the first time I have seen a black mourning button, thanks for pointing it out.

One must presume his relative died before the end of September 1914.

Woodbridge in Suffolk would have been their main "war station" befor going overseas. Pre-war camps should have included Salisbury Plain or maybe Okehampton. I'd be surprised if the earlier group photo was also taken at Woodbridge.

[battiscombe]

I notice now that the Farrier has 'proper' RHA ball buttons while several others have flat buttons. But my picture has various Sgt saddlers, wheelers and at least 2 farriers, so I am still lacking several names I think, but image 10 the only farrier with a crown badge..

[rivergirl]

Very nice photos Battiscombe,

#9 is defiantely GGF James.

#11 does look like the guy behind GGF, obviously doesnt like his photo being taken.

I have another postcard, very faded, so you may not be able to tell much from it.

This was posted from Woodbridge, (not sure of date) but not to say it was taken there I guess.

GGF is 2nd from left, smiling and no pipe in mouth!!

David,

I had a quick look at GGF service record for his movements.

It lloks like they have him down for furlough in June 1917 but no return date and no days counted in the end column.

In the next line they have him for furlough 5 June 1918 to 26 June 1918, for 21 days

Then he is enroute.

So maybe his 1917 furlough was cancelled or they just didnt fill in the record.

[David Porter]

Image 10 could be of a member of the Permanent Staff drawn from the regular artillery. Each territorial RHA battery had a few of these, one would be the Captain & Adjutant but there were also Serjeant Instructors. I know what a difficult task naming the men is as I have been trying to do the same with several postcards of Somerset RHA (TF) and recently bought one of a pre-war group of Sgts from Hants RHA (TF) - so you are not alone!.

One of the Somerset RHA postcards, from Hamilton Camp in 1913, also features a group of Sgts. Looking at it today, I was amazed to find yet another example of the black mourning button. So, contrary to what I surmised, the practice was not confined to relatives lost during the the war.

EDIT: Thanks for the extra picture, rivergirl. You can just make out his three stripes, so yes, that is more likely to be at Woodbridge in 1914 or 1915 - like #9. Regarding the incomplete record - have you found all the pages? There might be a duplicate record, like so many are on Ancestry.

[rivergirl]

David, Ive never tried ancestry for Army records, I had a researcher look for my GF, GGF and GGGF army records at Kew when the WW1 records became available.

He found GGF WW1 records and my GGGF 1860s records, but GF WW1 records were not found.

I might try them next time I take up a subscription.

I'll email Battiscombe a scan of the cards, hopefully he can make things out a bit better.

[battiscombe]

the group of sailing NCOs is interesting - with an officer by the mast it looks like to me. Several of the same faces...

As David Porter says, that some are permanent staff is likely. It is possible that Long Service Good Conduct Rolls may give some clues there .. with regard to black buttons there are two in this image of 15 NCOs..

thanks

[battiscombe]

with regard to Hants RHA - while searching the LSGC rolls I encountered a Sgt Frederick Mead on permanent Staff, who was later BSM of 1/1st Hants RHA 25/5/1915-July 1916.. is that name of use?

[David Porter]

You were lucky to find a unit mentioned for Frederick Mead - the later LSGC awards seem to omit that bit - but his was in January 1913.

The postcard I have of Hants RHA is from Rollestone Camp in 1913 with 4 Staff Serjeants, only one of which has the ball buttons. Could he be Frederick? Nice if it was. For Somerset RHA one of the Pemanent Staff was Sgt. Charles J. Rogerson Hunt. He can be found in the rolls for

01-01-15 as 15788 Sgt. R. Hunt RHA with no unit given. Incidentally, he was also made BSM on 25-05-15 (under AO 70 of 1915) and was posted to Essex RHA on 09-03-18.

Rivergirl, Arthur James does have a service record on Ancestry, under his old 428 number, but I let my membership lapse last month so cannot examine it. TIP: Searching in Service Records put unit as "Essex RHA" but for Pension Records put "Essex R H A" as they indexed those with spaced initials.

[David Porter]

Battiscombe,

Here is another man for your list:

Faircloth, Robert

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Horse Artillery R17/87292 Acting Warrant Officer Class 1

Royal Field Artillery Captain

LSGC rolls for 1910 have him as Permanent Staff in Essex RHA (No. 87292) - don't know what R17/ is, probably a poorly written RFA.

AFAIK the term Warrant Officer Class 1 was introduced in 1915 so he might still have been in the Essex RHA then. 1911 Census has him as Sergeant Instructor RHA of 63a High St Chelmsford. With him is his mother, 77 year old Maria Faircloth, who could possibly be the same Maria Faircloth who dies aged 88 in September qtr of 1914 (hence the mourning button?).

The only likely Officer Service file, a 2 Lt. R. Faircloth, is at the NA under WO 339/81806

[battiscombe]

Thanks for that on Faircloth - commissioned as a S-M 4/9/1916 I see from London Gazette. A good candidate for photo 10, perhaps? - with his KSA/QSA medal ribbons, in view of his service number which is probably early 1890s (?). MIC is RA/87292, transcribed incorrectly. Arrived Egypt 2/3/1916 according to MIC..

[David Porter]

Great, fits very well. So that could be two down already.

Now what about one of the other Permanent Staff Serjeants, 95382 William Green, LSGC award 01-07-11. Living at 26 Hamilton Road, Colchester in 1911. Did he also stay until they were at Woodbridge? Anything of note about the other man with a black button?

[battiscombe]

No 10 also has a TF star badge on rt wrist - could he have that as RHA Perm Staff? I cant remember what their significance is.. most of them seem to have them ..

here is Sgt with black button (no star), beside him a Wheeler staff Sgt ?? (if that is right) who I think is also in the boat picture ??.. has star badge

[rivergirl]

Rivergirl, Arthur James does have a service record on Ancestry, under his old 428 number, but I let my membership lapse last month so cannot examine it. TIP: Searching in Service Records put unit as "Essex RHA" but for Pension Records put "Essex R H A" as they indexed those with spaced initials.

Thanks for the tip David. I'll get another subscriptiion and have a look. cheers

[David Porter]

No 10 also has a TF star badge on rt wrist - could he have that as RHA Perm Staff? I cant remember what their significance is.. most of them seem to have them ..

Territorial Force Efficiency Stars - being returned "efficient" or "qualified" four times, need not be consecutive years or in the same unit. Additional stars for every further aggregate of four years. I've seen men with 4 stars in 1914 as previous yeomanry or volunteer service also counted towards the award. So it is more likely that No.10 is not Faircloth - but No.23 (left) might be!

here is Sgt with black button (no star), beside him a Wheeler staff Sgt ?? (if that is right) who I think is also in the boat picture ??.. has star badge

Serjeant Instructors didn't have the crown until they became Staff-Serjeant Instructors (or Battery Serjeant Major Instructors). No.23 with the black button now fits more with Faircloth if he wasn't yet a Staff Serjeant. The smart money is on the other chap in No.23 being Staff Serjeant Wheeler Samuel Wilson. We are back to No.10 being Farrier Staff Serjeant William J. Harris.