90th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

[Guest trev86]

I'm researching 90th Heavy Battery, R.G.A during WW1 and have come unstuck. I know they served at Gallipoli and then following that campaign moved to Egypt for a short period of time but I'm wondering if any one knows what happened to them after that. I'm fairly sure they served in both France and Italy but I can't seem to find any details.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rory

[spof]

Hi Rory

Their movements in a nutshell from WO 95/5494 Allocation of Units held in TNA.

Glen

[Guest trev86]

Glen,

That's really helpful and has given me a great starting point for future research. Thank You.

[Guest Alan83]

Hello Glen,

I was looking at the Doc image you supplied above can you explain to me what HAG stands for? or am I reading this wrong "Joined 22nd HAG 18.4.16".

My great uncle served with the 90th Heavy Bty, RGA throughout WW1 however he was killed by a shell after the Battle of Messines on June 11th, 1917, so according to the above he would have been with the 29th HAG when he was killed, what does that stand for?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Alan

[jay dubaya]

HAG - Heavy Artillery Group

[kevinrowlinson]

Alan,

Hopefully you have his records if you are researching 73546 Albert Edward Mead, which give some clue to what he may have been doing at the time of being wounded. The next thing would be to obtain the war diary for 90th Hvy Bty which is only available at the Nat Archives at Kew. The ref. would be WO 95/325 for the period you are interested in.

Kevin

[Guest Alan83]

Hello Kevin,

Yes I have the War diary, my great uncle's name was Sergeant Denis Timothy Drake, according to the diary it states the place of the battery was Neuve Eglise (Petit Pont) on June 7th, 1917 and on June 8th the place was Le Rossignol, U7C37, on June 11th the place is not stated beside the date however the entry in the diary states " the enemy put several H.E. Shells from a 10cm gun into the battery. Sergt Drake was severely wounded and died in a few minutes, Br Bullen and gr Caines were wounded, gr mead was wounded and died in hospital on this day". 2nd Lieutenant WH O'Brian was killed at about 2am on the 12th while asleep".

So if I understand this correctly according to Glen's document above the 90th Heavy Battery would have been attached to the 29th Heavy Artillery Group at this time and then the rest of the Battery would have been sent to rest and refit on the 26th of June. I am correct in this? Also no photos are in my family's possession of Denis Drake, does anyone know if there are any group photos of the men in the 90th Heavy battery? it would be great to be able to put a face to his name.

[Guest Kevinjquinn]

Hello Alan, allow me to introduce myself, as I suspect we are related. My name is Kevin Quinn, grandnephew of Denis Drake. I visited is grave some years back thinking I was the first relative since my grandfather (Maurice), who visited it in 1919. It was with great interest that I read the detail on Uncle Denis' story as I have scant detail on what happened to him that day in 1917. What I do have is a photo of him along with a scroll picturing the menu gate at Ypres. It would be my pleasure to send copies to you. My email address is kjquinn@eircom.net. Be sure to get in touch. Very best, Kevin