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What battle did he die in?


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Posted

Hi, I have recently found my Great uncles service records and his death record..

My Great gran has written letters etc and they were in his service records..

I do get confused when im trying to work out which regiment he was in!.. So im hoping that some kind person will help me!

His details are : WALTER HENRY CHALMERS, Born 1894, died 4th July 1915... He was with the 29th Battery RFA 42nd Brigade , His regiment number was 71334.. It states killed in action, and i know his grave is in Ramparts Cemetery , Lille Gate..

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kelly

Posted

Hello Kelly ,

Welcome to the Great War Forum, Have you looked through the Long long Trail the button is on the top left of you screen. It will help you with your research

and here is Walters details from CWGC

http://www.cwgc.org/...casualty=446824

Best regards

Ian

Posted

Hi, I have recently found my Great uncles service records and his death record..

My Great gran has written letters etc and they were in his service records..

I do get confused when im trying to work out which regiment he was in!.. So im hoping that some kind person will help me!

His details are : WALTER HENRY CHALMERS, Born 1894, died 4th July 1915... He was with the 29th Battery RFA 42nd Brigade , His regiment number was 71334.. It states killed in action, and i know his grave is in Ramparts Cemetery , Lille Gate..

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kelly

Hi Kelly. Your Great Uncle is buried in Ypres or Ieper as it is now known. He was killed after the close of the 2nd battle of Ypres and before the actions at Hooge. It is possible that he was wounded in 2nd Ypres and died of his wounds or he may have been hurt in the day to day fighting in the Ypres salient. The Salient was never quiet and it was a rare day without casualties. Some of the RFA experts may have specific information on his death.

Posted

Kelly

Not an RFA expert despite the following detail which I researched for another member here ! It looks as though your GU was a regular soldier. At mobilisation on 4 Aug 1914 his unit was at Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain. Up to the 16th they were preparing for shipment to France,on that day they arrived in Southampton by rail ready for the sea trip to Le Havre. Sailed on 17th,via Le Havre,up the River Seine and into Rouen where they unloaded. On 21st by rail to Aulnoye and Hautmont,then marched to Nouvelles, arriving on 23rd. Guns in first action on 24th August 1914.

Adding to Truthergw's post,Walter was killed in action,together with a colleague from the same Battery,69196 Gunner Harrison. They are buried side by side, D2 and D3 in Ramparts,and also were both in from the start at landing in France on 19 Aug 1914. This suggests either a shell hit on their gun,or that they were hit whilst moving the gun,Walter was a Driver and his mate was a Gunner. There will likely be an entry in the Brigade War Diary to explain the loss. It is at the National Archives under WO95/1401 which runs from mobilisation in Aug 1914 through to war's end.

Sotonmate

PS Just in case you are wondering RFA=Royal Field Artillery.A small field gun towed by a horse team with a small crew to operate it.

Posted

Thank you very much... I will enquire about the War diary... and yes i did try the Link about researching a soldier... I got very confused by the brigades and numbers from the RFA!...

Thats a good theory about them getting hit together... I would love to know more

Thanks again

Edit to add - Just had a look on TNA and i cant find a link anywhere to the war diaries.. Can you down load them or do you have to send off for them?

Posted

Hi Kelly

Your Great Uncle is buried in one of the nicest cemeteries in the salient

post-34757-0-76649600-1321125508.jpg

Posted

kelly

The War Diary is not digital as yet,so needs to be read on site at Kew.I am due there next week and will see if I can get a look at it.

Sotonmate

Posted

Wow, that would be amazing if you could... I am never likely to get to Kew!...

Ill pm you my email address... thanx again

Posted

Hi Kelly

Your Great Uncle is buried in one of the nicest cemeteries in the salient

Unitedsound , Yes that's a great picture :thumbsup:

regards

Ian

Posted

Hi Kelly

Your Great Uncle is buried in one of the nicest cemeteries in the salient

US

This is the first one I ever visited. On a work exchange with a colleague from Bruges (someone has to do it !)and we went to Ypres on 11.11.1992 for the morning service and then a walk around town before lunch in the square. Took a walk through Rampart,along the street,on a very windy day. I shall remember that,a gust of wind tore a small metal sign off a wall about 2 metres in front of us and it crashed onto the pavement,chipping the pavings. Was someone telling us something ?!!

Sotonmate

Posted

Sotonmate and Ian

This was my first CWG CEMETERY too.

I arrived late at Hortensia the night before and got up at the crack of dawn.

This was also my first photograph on the Western Front.

I hope Kelly makes the trip one day too, as it is a most rewarding and memorable experience.

David

post-34757-0-63061400-1321205336.jpg

Posted

Kelly

Copied pages for 1-6 July,not a very descriptive War Diary,basic spartan information,and no ref to Other Rank deaths but did mention and name 1 Officer who was killed,thus I can't substantiate my theory that the two soldiers died together,which I think very likely as they were shelling and under shelling for the days mentioned.

Will send once camera card processed.

Sotonmate

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