156th Heavy Battery, RGA - 1916

[Ken Lees]

Can anyone tell me where the 156th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, were serving from their arrival in France in June, 1916 through to their arrival in Ypres area for the Battle of Messines in June, 1917?

I have searched on-line for their war diary, without success. Can anyone point me to it?

Thanks in advance,

Ken

[ororkep]

Ken,

The official WD for this HB is not online, what survives is for May 1917 only and consists of one page and a cover and is at the NA ref WO95/326. You therefore have to piece together their movements from the various HAG’s they came under, the ones that concern you are:

To WF June 1916

Joined 12 HAG 23.6.16

To Loring's Group (II Anzac) 15.7.16

To 12 HAG 22.7.16

To 55 HAG 29.7.16 (joined 31^st).

To 10 HAG 18.3.17 (joined 24^th).

To 32 HAG 12.4.17

To 17 HAG 19.5.17 (joined 23^rd).

The Bty was made upto 6 guns 6.10.16 with a section joining from 172 HB.

Rgds

Paul

[yeokeith]

Hi Ken,

I'm a volunteer researcher with the Soldiers of Oxfordshire and have started to research the Oxford Heavy Batteries (128,132,135,156) and am presently focusing on 156 (Oxford) Heavy Battery. As Paul says the battery was in a number of HAG's. I have been to the PRO and gone through all the relevant diaries and produced an extract 'diary' for 156 Battery. Some HAG diaries were missing.

I can tell you the following:- The battery was in the Ypres Salient from 23rd June to 29th July 1916, then Bouzincourt/Senlis 31st July to 1st August, Albert from 3rd Aug to 18th November, La Boisselle from 1st December 1916 to 11th March 1917, Pozieres from 12th March to 18th March 1917, Arras from 24th March to 12th May 1917, then via Aubigny and Bailleul to Oosthove Farm from 23rd May 1917. They took part in the attack on Messines Ridge on 7th June 1917. They took a lot of casualties. The battery was pulled out to rest on 17th June and rested to 24th June when they went to Vlamertinghe remaining there throughout June.

If you require details on a specific day do let me know. I have also identified many men in the battery and in process of completing this particular task. I hope the info. is of help to you.

Keith

[Ken Lees]

Thanks Paul and Keith for the very useful information.

The man I am looking for information on is Second Lieutenant Humphrey Warwick Arden. I believe he was with the unit when it first deployed to France and he died of his wounds on 6^th June 1917 near Messines.

Ken

[ororkep]

Ken,

“In the Field. 7.6.17. 2Lt H W Arden 156HB wounded, subsequently died of wounds”.

Is the entry from 17 HAG WD for the 7th. As this HAG was one of the Counter Battery Goups of II ANZAC Corps for the Messines Ridge battle, it may also be worth a look on the Australian archive website for free.

Rgds

Paul

[yeokeith]

Ken,

2nd Lieut Arden's service papers are in the PRO under WO 339/34313. He did indeed go to the BEF with the battery landing at Le Havre on 19th June 1916. His casualty form shows that he was granted leave to the UK from 16th Dec 1916 to 26 Dec 1916. The next entry was from the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station stating that he had died from his wounds. I have photo copies of this form and of his will taken from his papers and would be pleased to send you copies if you wish.

Keith

[rflory]

2nd Lieut. Humphrey Warwick Arden, RGA

Born in British Columbia on 13 May 1892, the only son of Rev. William Henry Percival Arden, vicar of Whiteparish, Salisbury

Student at Dragon School from 1904 to Dec 1905 (prizes for a diary, Recitation and Church History; XV; sang at school concerts)

Elected to a scholarship at St. Peter's College, Radley which he attended from December 1905 to 1911 (Prefect; prize for Greek Iambics; stroke for the Senior IV; rowed for the School at Henley).

Exhibitioner at Queen's College, Cambridge from 1911 to 1915 (rowed twice in University Trial Eights; stroked his boat to victory in the Wyfold Cup at Henley in 1912; Second Class Classical Tripos, 1914)

About to enter Cuddesdon to prepare for holy orders when the war broke out

Commissioned 2nd Lieut., RGA SR in 1915

Went to France with 156th (Oxfordshire) Heavy Battery, RGA on 11 June 1916

Died of wounds received near Messines on 6 June 1917 and buried at Bailleul

His CO recommended 'that he be mentioned in despatches for attending to a wounded man under fire on June 2nd and for going across at the time he was wounded under heavy fire to restore the telephone communications.'

Sources: Memorials of Old Boys and Masters of the Dragon School, Oxford Who Fell in the Great War; The War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1919; St Peter's College, Radley Register 1847-1933; The Roll of Honour, volume II, Part III.

Arden as a young student

[yeokeith]

Rflory,

Brilliant information. I'll use the C.O. remarks and photo if I may. Haven't really started 156 Battery officers yet so will store.

Keith

[rflory]

Keith: The photos and the CO's remarks are from the first-named source.

[Ken Lees]

Dick,

Thank you very much for the additional information which I will share with Arden's family later this week.

Ken

[Ken Lees]

I have photo copies of this form and of his will taken from his papers and would be pleased to send you copies if you wish.

Keith, I would be very grateful if you would send me copies. My e-mail address is Lees dot Ken at BTinternet dot com

Many thanks,

Ken

[yeokeith]

Ken,

I have just emailed the items to you.

Regards,

Keith

[BereniceUK]

Thanks Paul and Keith for the very useful information.

The man I am looking for information on is Second Lieutenant Humphrey Warwick Arden. I believe he was with the unit when it first deployed to France and he died of his wounds on 6^th June 1917 near Messines.

Ken

There is a memorial to him and the Arden family in the churchyard at Yoxall, Staffordshire.

In Thanksgiving to Almighty God

for the

beautiful life and glorious death

of Humphrey Warwick Arden B.A. Cant.

F O O R C A

Killed at Messines June 6 1917 aged 25

Laid to rest at Bailleul France

Sed miles sed pro patria

R I P

[Guest]

I wonder if someone could help me, please.  I've enjoyed reading helpful material from volunteer researcher Sergeant-Major yeokeith from E Sussex.

 

I'm trying to find out more about Joseph Arthur Hill, Gunner with Royal Garrison Artillery, Reg Nos 8837 and 297099.  Joseph Hill was born in July 1889 at Bedminster, Bristol.  He worked at the South Liberty Lane Colliery, Bedminster as a coal haulier and then a miner-carter, before enlisting.  During WWI he rose to the rank of sergeant and enjoyed boxing - he became a boxing champion.  His fists unfortunately led to his downfall.  Someone abused Joseph's mother and Joseph knocked him out with a single blow.  He was disciplined and reduced to the ranks.  I have not been able to find when this demotion took place.  Not long after a German shell landed amongst their ammunition and Jospeh Hill was severely injured: losing an eye, badly damaging his hip, and he had shrapnel in his head, but too close to his brain to be operated on.  Most of his colleagues were killed outright.  Joseph Hill died in 1977 but I can still picture that jagged shrapnel next to his skull.  He suffered constant headaches all his life - but never once complained and was never bitter towards the Germans.  I would love to know what in which battle this occurred.  I've wondered if it was at the battle for Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917 when the 156 Heavy Battery took a lot of casualties - but this in merely guesswork.

 

I would dearly love to know more about the disciplinary action taken against Sergeant Hill (time, location, who he hit, etc), and also more about his wounding (time, location, circumstances, etc).

 

I would be grateful if anyone has any helpful information or suggestions.

 

With thanks in advance,

 

Andy Bradley

 

Edited 7 September , 2019 by Guest

[Mike Cross]

June 1917 was  significant time, I think seven of the battery died that month.  May 1918 saw the death of Heber Slatter and others -

 

see https://www.readingfc.co.uk/club/history/royals-remembered/reading-fc-players/cpl-heber-hp-slatter/

 

The Nominal Roll is limited to just a list of the men who died.

 

MC

[Guest]

I'm doing some research into former Reading FC footballers who died whilst serving in the Great War and I am trying to ascertain where Corporal Heber Slatter of 156th Heavy Battery actually died. He was wounded at Fonquevillers on 3rd May 1918, died on 7th May 1918 and is buried in Coiun New British Cemetery. Presumably in the days between being wounded and succumbing to his wounds he would have been in a hospital/casualty clearing station, but I can't find where. Please can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

[ss002d6252]

22 minutes ago, Paul Ellix said:

I'm doing some research into former Reading FC footballers who died whilst serving in the Great War and I am trying to ascertain where Corporal Heber Slatter of 156th Heavy Battery actually died. He was wounded at Fonquevillers on 3rd May 1918, died on 7th May 1918 and is buried in Coiun New British Cemetery. Presumably in the days between being wounded and succumbing to his wounds he would have been in a hospital/casualty clearing station, but I can't find where. Please can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

The soldiers effects records don't help in this case as they give the generic 'France or Belgium' - they do state 'In action' though.

 

Craig

[ororkep]

Hi Paul

what do you hold that indicates Slatter was wounded on the 3 May and DoW on the 7 May, when CWGC, Soldiers Died, Effects and his service records all show KiA 7 May?

P

[Guest]

Many thanks for the replies. As you have pointed out the issue that I'm having is the lack of primary evidence from his service record, effects and CWGC etc. 

 

There was some research done a few years ago for Reading FC, which has led to archived articles on its website that record the date of 3rd May as him being wounded and one of which tantalisingly refers to "Slatter's war diary", which I suppose leads me to see if the 156 Heavy Battery war diary is available at the National Archives.

 

A contemporary newspaper report (Reading Mercury) indicates that he "died of wounds" on 7th May, but a report in the Reading Observer some weeks later mentions "killed in action".

 

If anyone can think of any other avenues that I might follow I'd grateful for the pointers.

[Amk86]

Hi all, I wonder if someone could help provide any more information. I’ve just discovered my great grandmother’s brother was killed and is buried in Albert 8th September 1916. Name Charles Cooke, Gunner 8990. Any information on what his unit might have been doing at that time gratefully received.

[charlie962]

Welcome to the forum. I see he was a Driver* in the Royal Garrison Artillery and that a fellow Driver, Cecil Baker 8869 of the same Oxfordshire battery, died same day and is buried alongside him. 

This might suggest an incident whilst say bringing up ammunition or even guns. The War Diary for 156 Heavy Battery may throw some light. I will look up the reference later but hopefully another forum member will do this sooner. (Edit, I see in post2 that Paul O'Rorke has given the only diaries available. Very limited!)

Charlie

* well that's what the cwgc grave registration document says although other docs suggest gunner.

Edited 11 November , 2023 by charlie962

[charlie962]

On 30/09/2013 at 15:38, yeokeith said:

can tell you the following:- The battery was in the Ypres Salient from 23rd June to 29th July 1916, then Bouzincourt/Senlis 31st July to 1st August, Albert from 3rd Aug to 18th November

That's what is posted for 1916 earlier in this thread.

@yeokeith may have more, or the Soldiers of Oxford Museum by the look of it.

Edited 11 November , 2023 by charlie962

[ororkep]

Amk86,

No official WD for 156 Hvy Bty survives covering his (Cooke) date of death. The higher formation WD you require that 156 Hvy Bty were a component battery within at the time is 55 HAG (Heavy Arty Group). That records the Brigade was based at Albert, and its horse drawn 60 pounder batteries were preparing to place desultory fire on Courcelette & Martinpuich in support of attacks by the 1^st Canadian division. It does not mention any casualties.

As Charlie said CWGC records two 156 HB gunners were killed that day; 8990 Cooke and 8869 Baker. Remembering that these are recorded fatalities and not wounded. 156 HB had just come through the Battle for Pozieres (25 July-3 Sept). Local newspaper reports from where Baker and Cooke hailed from may be your best bet of finding out exactly what happened.

Rgds Paul

[yeokeith]

As previously mentioned the 55 HAG war diary in which 156 Battery was a member in September 1916  last specifically mentioned 156 Battery on 26th Aug 1916 when it was employed with 146 Battery "on road barrage support of an attack by 4th Australian Division on line through Mouquet Farm". The HAG was engaged in neutralising hostile batteries right up to and including 8th Sept on which day 12 hostile batteries were neutralised and "desultory fire maintained on nights 8th/9th". Regretfully, there's no other information of events on that day.

I had a look at the newspapers in findmypast but did not find any entries for Charles Cooke.

[ororkep]

I note Amk86 has yet to respond.

Here is what happened to Cooke and his compatriot Baker:

Rgds Paul