Driver: 50th (R) Battery

[Henry's-Daughter]

I am researching my father’s role in WW1 as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery. My father was a quiet man who would never talk about the 1^st World War and could not be drawn to speak about it.

The only authentic archived document is from the N.A.which is his Medal Index Card - Ref WO/372/5/188161, so assume that his other authentic records were lost during WW2. The Medal Index card has his 2 numbers - the 1^st substantiate that he is a Driver and the 2^nd - his unique Regimental Number. It indicates that he did not serve overseas. Also,I have my Dad’s following original documents: Soldiers Pay Book, Certificate of Employment During The War and his Soldier’s Demobization Account. The Date of Attestation was 14 June 1915 (aged 19) so he was not conscripted.

I also have 2 photographs of him – a) in uniform (with cap) seated upon a horse and (astride a horse in a team of two horses that are attached to a wagon with driver. Both photographs appear to have been taken in the same place, with single storey wooden shiplap buildings with corrugated roofs in the background. In the further background there also appears to be more substantial buildings behind the single storey buildings. Hazarding a guess – it appears to be a Depot.

The Certificate of Employment stated that he joined the Unit 50^th Res Battery of which I find very little information but making educated guess that 50^th Reserve Battery was part of 5c Reserve Brigade, Royal Artillery at Home which could possibly have been stationed at either Charlton House in Greenwich or Charlton House in Wiltshire or both?

Would he have chosen to be in this regiment? At the back of his Pay Book the Industrial Group 17 Code No 289 is listed. Would he have had health problems?

According to his census records he was a milk deliverer when he left school so I wondered if he would have had any former experience with horses may be in the milk distribution depot?

So, I was wondering what would have been his role at this depot?

Would the photographs help?

[sotonmate]

If you have a medal index card he received medals and served in a war zone. If he stayed only in the UK he wouldn't have a card.

Can you post his numbers and name,this detail may enable some fruitful info to surface.

Later: I guess it is Henry Davies Driver RFA 1550 and 971153.

You may have assumed that as the two boxes at bottom left of the form aren't completed he wouldn't have served overseas. These boxes are to indicate any service before 1.1.1916 to allow for the issue of a Star medal,so we can take it that he earned his British War and Victory Medals for service from that date.

The numbers on the card indicate the original Medal Roll the medals were issued from,in this case the ledger WO329/255 which is filed at Kew.

[Henry's-Daughter]

Many thanks for your speedy reply. Yes, you are right - it is my father. I had made the assumption that he did not serve overseas, so thank you for for straightening that out. Presumably, it would mean a personal visit to Kew as I have tried to access this ledger online and it seems not to be available? Would they be able to tell me where 50th Reserve Battery was posted throughout the war?

[David Porter]

Henry's-Daughter,

50th Reserve Battery was indeed part of 5C Reserve Brigade (home based artillery) at Charlton Park, nr Greenwich & Woolwich and probably from where he was discharged. The numbers given for your father indicate a Territorial unit which he would have chosen. The six figure number belongs to 2nd London Divisional Ammunition Column. As he did not go overseas before 1916 he was most likely in 60th Divisional Ammunition Column (the reserve or 2nd line) serving in France, Salonika and Palestine from June 1916. The movements of 60th Division are seen here - http://www.1914-1918.net/60div.htm

EDIT: If you have access to Ancestry there is a Pension Record for 1552/971155 Harry Davis who was initially numbered 2267 in 2/6th London Brigade.

This is NOT your father but it does seem that the numbering was in surname alphabetical order.

[sotonmate]

HD

There won't be a lot to glean from the original Medal Roll as it only gives the detail which you already know and, in the case of Artillery British War and Victory medals,doesn't show a unit served.

As David has kindly indicated that his number goes with service in 60 Division's Ammo Column you can at least see it's War Diaries if you are set on visiting Kew. As you don't have a date into war theatre it will be difficult to know from what date the diary entries will relate to his experience,but at least you will get a flavour of the day-to-day activity. The references are:

WO95/3027/7 France from 1Jun to 30 Nov 1916.

WO95/4927 Salonika from 1Dec 1916 to 31 Jan 1917.

WO95/4663 Egypt and Palestine from 1 Jun 1917 to 31 May 1919.

As you will see there is a 4 month gap in early 1917,the dates are as shown in the NA database and in actuality may well tie together !

None of these diaries are digital so a visit seems appropriate.

[Henry's-Daughter]

I must apologise for overlooking to thank you both for giving me the above information, I honestly thought that I had and would not have known otherwise had I not revisited this post to check some of the information that that you so kindly took the time to find for me.

Acceptez vous mes excuses s'il vous plait