Un- named Officers 251 Bde RFA?

[David_Blanchard]

I have recently come across a group photograph of officers, whom I believe are from the Northumbrian 251 Brigade R.F.A.

I think the man top row on the right maybe Lieutenant Leigh Roslin Williams KIA 27th May 1918:

Or is this just wishful thinking on my behalf?

I would welcome suggestions for the identities of the other officers.

Regards

David

[David_Blanchard]

Below is another group of officers from the 251 Brigade in captivity at, I think Rastat Camp. Three have been identified as Colonel Moss-Blundell front row middle, Lieutenats A S Witherington back row second right and Tudhope, back row right.

I was wondering if any of the UN-named officers in this photograph correspond with the officers in my first post?

Lieutentant Tudhope 2nd from right top row in the first photograph?

Regards

David

[Old Owl]

Hi David,

I think that you may mean R.F.A. rather than R.F.C.?

The officer on the top right of the first photo is wearing 3 pips on his cuff rank so he may not be Lieut.Williams? I think he is another officer--but whom I cannot say!!

I am also struggling to find any likeness between the officers on the two groups. Sorry not to be more helpful.

Regards, Robert

[David_Blanchard]

Thanks, Robert. I have changed the topic to RFA.

David

[rflory]

David: I have the same photo as the first one that you posted and it is titled "Officers of 'C' Battery, 251st Brigade, RFA 1919" so that would make it impossible for it to be Lieut. Williams as he was killed in May 1918 (in addition to the fact that the officer in the photo has the three pips of a Captain). If the first photo is from 1919 it is unlikely that any of the POW officers in the second photo would be on it, as most of them were repatriated home, rather than back to their units. Interestingly four of the officers in the photo are wearing MC ribbons and the Major appears to have a rosette indicating a bar to the MC.

Dick Flory

[David_Blanchard]

Dick,

Thanks for your help with this one. At least with you having the top photograph it confirms that the men were from 251 Brigade- but sadly still remain anonymous. Interestingly in C H Ommanney's book on 250th Northumbrian Brigade he states that on 27th May 1918 the entire 251 brigade were taken prisnoer (page 207). So would I be right in thinking that these men would have come in to the brigade from other units after May 1918, or they were on leave and returned to action after the Aisne battle?

David

[rflory]

David: Ommanney appears to be correct as the list of POWs for that date includes a Lt Col, numerous Majors and Captains and a whole page of Lieutenants. I have checked to see if they are all from 251 Brigade, but imagine that many are. With that many officers being POWs they certainly would have had to bring in many officers from other units. I will have my researcher copy the war diary of the brigade the next time I send him a list of war diaries and see if I can find the names of the officers who served with C Battery, 251 Brigade. Regards, Dick Flory

[David_Blanchard]

Hello Dick,

I am not sure if the War Diary exists for the 251 Brigade for the latter half of 1918. I think all records were lost on the retreat from the Aisne.

Just found this as a reference which could be explored:

Private Papers of Lieutenant A F D Darlington MC MA MB BCh MRCS LRCP who served from May to October with the 251 Brigade

Papers at the IWM

IWM Reference

Regards

David

[rflory]

David: According to the index to Great War Diaries at TNA the war diary of 251st Brigade, RFA TF from April 1915 to December 1916 is at WO 95/2828 and from January 1917 to June 1919 is at WO 95/2819. My reading of the introduction to the papers of Lt. Darlington is that from May to October he served with 251st Siege Battery, RGA and not with 251st Brigade, RFA TF. Dick Flory