RFA Rank Question re. Driver

[saw119]

Were ranks in the RFA an indication of the job that was done by the man eg. a driver drove the horse team that pulled the limber and gun or is the rank driver more equivalent to being called a private in the infantry? I have read both of these explanations recently and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on here. I am finding it quite difficult to find a good book that deals with how the RA was organised and operated, what each member of a brigade did.

[ss002d6252]

A driver was a role rather than a rank and was often interchangeable with a gunner - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78564

[bill24chev]

My understanding is that there were two ranks equivilent to Private in the RFA, Gunner and Driver. I beleive that the Driver was skilled in driving the Gun and limber and was a specialist in all things horsey; the Gunner was trained to man the gun and other tasks within the Battery/Brigade that did not directly involve horses or driving the gun team. However the two ranks could be used to carry out each others xduties in an emeergency.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello saw119

Gunner and Driver were both ranks in the RFA (and RHA and RGA), equivalent to the infantry Private. The gunners served the guns and the drivers drove the gun carriages, wagons and limbers, but there does seem to have been a crossover in duties in many cases. The pay rates were the same, except in the RHA where the gunners, being also expected to ride horses, were paid a penny a day more.

Ron

[saw119]

Ok, thanks for those responses. However, a natural question does arise as far as I am concerned. Did drivers ride the horses of the gun limber or merely walk beside the horses steering them? I ask this because the particular relative I'm researching fits all the usual traits of being a driver, namely on the 1911 census his occupation is "Pony Driver" and his army record lists him as "Coal Miner" (obviously still working with the pit ponies). Now, I don't think that a pony driver would have ever ridden his horse but he would have known how to handle one, so the question remains; did RFA drivers ride on the horses or simply walk beside them?

[bill24chev]

Ok, thanks for those responses. However, a natural question does arise as far as I am concerned. Did drivers ride the horses of the gun limber or merely walk beside the horses steering them? I ask this because the particular relative I'm researching fits all the usual traits of being a driver, namely on the 1911 census his occupation is "Pony Driver" and his army record lists him as "Coal Miner" (obviously still working with the pit ponies). Now, I don't think that a pony driver would have ever ridden his horse but he would have known how to handle one, so the question remains; did RFA drivers ride on the horses or simply walk beside them?

The "drivers" would have rode the horses as can still be seen with Kings Troop RHA in there ceremonial and display duties.

bill

[AdrianBruce]

My grandpa had a rank / role as a corporal fitter in 86th Brigade, RFA, essentially because he was a fitter in civilian life at the Crewe Works of the LNWR. He was taught to ride while he was in the RFA, which we know because one day he surprised his sons on the beach at Rhyl by borrowing a horse that had spent the day walking kids up and down and giving it a good gallop - first time he'd ridden since the War.

So if a fitter gets taught to ride, I guess everyone / many / most(?) in the RFA would be....

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Adrian

Probalbly many gunners were taught to ride (interchangeability of roles in case of mneed being an important consideration) but I suspect that in your grandfather's case it had more to do with his being a corporal than his being a fitter. Most corporals, sergeants and senior NCOs in the RFA were provided with a horse.

Ron