202 Heavy Bty RGA in Salonika

[Jim Hastings]

Good afternoon/evening all,

My Grandfather was a signaller with 202 Bty before being poached by the RE. I believe the Bty served in Salonika and Egypt. Have any members any photos of 202 Bty or information about it's war please, as I'd be interested to understand what my Grandfather experienced?

Many thanks

Jim

[Terry_Reeves]

Jim

I have no knowledge about the battery being in Salonika, but below is some information about its time in Egypt:

To Egypt May 1917 - left Marsailles 22.5.17 arrived 6.17

Remained at Alexandria until 24.6.17

Joined 96 Heavy Artillery Group (HAG) 26.6.17

To 97 HG 8.7.17

To 100 HAG 6.9.17

To 102 HAG 16.12.17

Attached Desert Mounted Corps 22.7.18. to 13.8.18 then moved to rest camp until 29.8.18 rejoining 102 HAG

No subsequent change.

TR

[Jim Hastings]

Thank you Terry

My Grandfather was posted to the Bty on 8th Feb 1917 and was drafted to the RE on 27th Oct 1917. His Statement of Service is very faded, and I cannot decipher which theatre he served in. Did units posted to Egypt supply drafts to Salonika - or is my thought that he was in Salonika an error? If his war with the Gunners was spent in Egypt solely, what was the role/tasking of 202 Bty? Was it defensive - ie the canal? Or offensive?

I know very little about Egypt during WW1 and just assumed it was a training/ recuperation / staging post for other close theatres, eg Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Palestine etc. I'd be very interested to know the truth, if anyone could direct me

Many thanks

Jim

[kevinrowlinson]

Hi Jim,

His records make interesting reading, and does take some understanding. As I see it;

Transferred to Woolwich

Posted Hvy Art Sig Depot Winchester

Posted 178 HB 31-1-1917

Posted 202 HB 21-2- 1917

Embarked Southampton 26-4-1917

Disembarked Alexandria 1-6-1917

Attached 97 HAG HQ 10-7-1917

Returned 202 HB 20-8-1917

2(?) Heavy Artillery Sig. Section 3-10-1917

Transferred to RE 27-10-1917

Attached 134 SB 8-3-1918

Joined SIg. Dase Depot 20-10-1918

to Hospital 22-10-1918

Rejoined SBD 9-11-1918

Posted U Corp Sig. 3-2-1919

Posted L of C Sigs. from U Corp 17-5-1919

Temp. Attached A?SD Mustapha 22-7-1919

Posted Base Sig. Depot 26-7-1919

Embarked Alexandria 15-10-1919

Some lovely units mentioned... "DADAP & SS". Something to do with Army Printing and Stationary. Also interesting he is called Signalman twice in his records.

I think you can forget Salonika, although 134 SB had been there, and was possibly the usual destination for the batteries that were going to Alex.

The war diary for 134 SB can be found at Kew under WO 95/4499.

Diary for 202 HB under WO 95/4500

Best I can do.

Kevin

[Jim Hastings]

Wow Kevin!

That is amazing, thank you! He was a newspaper compositor on Fleet St before the war, so may explain the Army Printing posting. So he spent his war in Egypt - how enlightening! Think I need to have a look at those WDs. He certainly moved about a bit!

Lots more to dig into, as you say lots of lovely units.

Appreciate you looking into him for me, thank you

Best wishes

Jim

[kevinrowlinson]

Jim,

You could have a read of this, http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/gaza3.htm .

Kevin