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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

84TH Battery Royal Field Artillery


STEVE C

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Hello

Could anybody please help me with the 84TH Battery Royal Field Artillery.

I know they were in Belgaum India in 1911

Where did they serve in the war ????

My Great Grandfather served in this Battery.

What exactly did a Battery consist of. ???

Thankyou

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Hello Steve

84 Battery RFA (six 18-pounder guns) was part of 11 Brigade RFA, which came to France from India with the Lahore (3rd Indian) Division in November 1914. When that division left the Western Front at the end of 1915, 11 Brigade was attached to 4th Canadian Division, and remained with them until September 1917 when it became an Army Field Artillery Brigade - part of a general pool and not attached permanently to any particular division.

All the Brigade's service was on the Western Front. You can consult its War Diary at Kew in the following files:

WO 95/3918 11 Brigade Royal Field Artillery 1914 Aug. - 1915 Dec.

WO 95/3889 11 Brigade Royal Field Artillery 1916 Jan. - 1917 July

WO 95/293 11 Army Field Artillery Brigade 1917 Sept. - 1919 Jan.

War Diaries rarely mention men by name, but the location of the unit, and a brief description of its activities, is usually given for each day.

Good hunting!

Ron

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  • 3 weeks later...

just before war outbreak the 84th Battery was at Jubbulpore, and was commanded by Major Henry Melville Thomas, with Captain W K Blair, Lt E Pease-Watkin, 2Lt E F Carne, 2Lt A F Marriott;

I know of a Serjeant William Anderson and Serjeant Alfred Eggleton amongst NCOs, although not many other NCOS from 1911 seem to have still been with it in 1914.

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  • 5 months later...
Guest jegsy84

My great grandfather Edward Fifield was a member of the 84th Battery; he served with them India, and was a sergeant throughout the War during which he won the DCM and the MM and at the end of the war was given a commission. I would love to know more about the battery during their time in India and later France if anybody has any information?

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There is a unit history for 84th Battery, RGA titled: 'The War Diary of 84th Battery, R.F.A. 1914-1919' that was evidently originally produced by Major W. W. Green but was reprinted in 2006 by Armchair Auctions. It is 94 pages long. The right-hand pages contain the war diary while the left-hand pages contains 'Notes' on awards, casualties and transfers. My copy has green, card covers. On 12 October 1914, the Battery embarked at Bombay on the SS Mashroba (except for the left section which embarked on the SS Rajput) and landed at Marseilles on 7 November 1914. The officers at the time were: Major H M Thomas, Lieut. J S Barkworth, Lt H Russell and 2nd Lieut. F E Morgan (the Battery Captain was on leave in the UK) and was replaced by Capt F S Pyne on 3 December 1914). Dick Flory

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  • 1 year later...

There is a unit history for 84th Battery, RGA titled: 'The War Diary of 84th Battery, R.F.A. 1914-1919' that was evidently originally produced by Major W. W. Green but was reprinted in 2006 by Armchair Auctions. It is 94 pages long. The right-hand pages contain the war diary while the left-hand pages contains 'Notes' on awards, casualties and transfers. My copy has green, card covers.

Re: Sgt. 88389 John William Earp 'C' Battery 84th Brigade RFA

I am finalising the biography about Sgt. John William Earp who is commemorated on the war memorial in Broadway for my book 'Broadway Remembers'. Sgt. Earp was killed in action on 17th November 1917 and was buried the following afternoon in Tyne Cot Cemetery (18th Nov). HIs officer was Capt. F.B. Bennett. John W. Earp, born Keyham, Leics, enlisted in Feb 1915.

Would be it be possible for you to see whether there are any references to Sgt Earp in the book you refer to? I would be very grateful. I am trying to find the time before publication to get ot Kew to read the WO/95/455 but am running out of time.....

Many thanks

Debbie

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Debbie: The book is about 84th Battery, RFA; your man is in 84th Brigade, RFA - they are two different units. That said, I do have the war diary for 84th Army Brigade, RFA for the period of his death. On 17 November 1917 the brigade was in the St. Julien area where the 'batteries continued fining harassing fire by day and night.' There is no mention of Sgt. Earp's death; just a note at the end of the month that seven other ranks were killed, 12 wounded and four gassed during the month of November. Dick Flory

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Oops! But thank you for the information about the whereabouts of the 84th Army Brigade on 17 Nov 1917.

Debbie

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  • 4 months later...

Hi Dick

I have Percy Herbert Townsend,Lance Bombardier 53886, 84th Battery, 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery who was killed 25th April 1918 - I wonder if the book mentions where the 84th were then or any other information?

According to the 1911 census, he was with the 139th at Bulford Camp so presumably transferred at some point.

Many thanks

Matt

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84th Battery, RFA War Diary 1914-1919 indicates that Lance Bdr P H Townsend was killed in action during the Battle for Kemmil Hill. On 25 April 1918 84th Battery was in action just below the crest about 250 yards south of Mont Rouge Windmill, under the orders of the French IX Corps whose infantry the battery was covering. It appears that Bdr Townsend was with 'A' sub gun when a German 5.9 shell exploded at the trail of the gun. The entire detachment and Lieut. W. Howe were killed except for the acting No. 1, Cpl Davies. There were five others killed besides Lieut. Howe and Bdr Townsend: Gnr S Bosworth, Gnr O'Hara, Gnr C Townsend and Dvr F Royle.

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  • 5 years later...

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