robbie knight Posted 15 October , 2013 Share Posted 15 October , 2013 MY GREAT UNCLE..EARNEST JAMES KNIGHT..ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY..SERGEANT 786357..DIED 26TH MAY 1917.. ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS ON THE FORUM WHO HAS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE IN D BATTERY 312 BRIGADE? ARE THERE ANY DATES FROM... JOINING UP AT NEWPORT ..TRAINING...AND GOING TO FRANCE. MANY THANKS ROBBIE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 16 October , 2013 Share Posted 16 October , 2013 Robbie, I'm afraid Earnest is a difficult one to research. He came from Portsmouth, enlisted in Newport, Monmouthshire and ended up in a 2nd Line West Riding Brigade. "D" Battery of 312th Brigade became a 6 gun Howitzer battery, but was originally part of 313th (Howitzer) Brigade. It is difficult to judge where and when he joined the West Riding Brigade but it must have been prior to the six figure renumbering and them going overseas in January 1917. The 4 West Riding Brigades (310 - 313) were in Somerleyton, Flixton Park, Darsham & Bungay during the Summer of 1916. You could be looking at a transfer from regular to territorial as Arthur Smart 786355 used to be 125713 and Samuel Roberts 786356 used to be 115967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 16 October , 2013 Share Posted 16 October , 2013 War Services 62nd West Riding Divisional Artillery, pages 16 - 17 states: "On the 26th May a sad disaster occurred in D/312 Howitzer Battery. The camouflage over one of the howitzers caught fire and blazed up. It was merely a question of a few moments when the flames should reach the ammunition and cause a terrible explosion, but there was a slight chance of the fire being put out in time, and Capt. H B Gallimore, who was temporarily commanding the battery, with Lieut. G. Hardy and a party of N.C.O.s and men, made a gallant attempt to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately their efforts were in vain, and there was a tremendous explosion. Poor Gallimore was killed, and also ten others (including all six "Numbers One" of the battery), while Hardy was dangerously wounded, and also five gunner more or less severely. The loss of two such officers and six of the most valuable N.C.O.s was a very serious blow to D/312, but the splendid act of devotion, in which they sacrificed their brave young lives, conferred a lustre not only on their own battery, but on the whole of the Divisional Artillery, and will not soon be forgotten. Hardy, unhappily, died of his wounds on the 28th." I think that it is almost a certainty that Sjt. Knight was one of those killed that day. Dick Flory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doug Utting Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Can anyone help with providing information on the involvement of 310 brigade RFA between april - may 1917. I am aware of the action around Bullecourt at this time. My ancestor - Fitter Cpl Frank CLARK (775205) was awarded the MM for actions 6-22 april 22/4/17 but then died of wounds 11/5/17 and is buried at Achiet Le Grand. I intend to vista the NA to check the War Diary - but someone may already have info about the specifics of this time. For example I am trying to identify the battery he was in and understand what his role was and what artillery piece may have been in use. Thanks Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Doug As this relates to a different Brigade, can I suggest you start a new topic otherwise it might be overlooked. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest philiptodd666@hotmail.com Posted 26 August , 2014 Share Posted 26 August , 2014 My Great Uncle, Acting Bombadier Frank Hardaker (786024) also of D Battery, 312th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was one of the casualties on May 26th 1917. He is buried at Ecoust-St. Mein probably along side his comrades from the battery. He is also remembered in his home village at the cenotaph at Greengates, Idel now a part of Bradford. I would like to visit my family war graves (5) this year to pay my respects if at all possible. Phil Todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummell Posted 26 August , 2014 Share Posted 26 August , 2014 As a serving officer on a gun line now, I can well imagine this incident and how completely it would gut a battery. Terrible. I shall certainly make a pilgrimage to the HAC Cemetery next time I am in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 7 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2014 HI ALL IHAVE SOME NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRAGIC DAY, MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS CAN VERIFY WHO WAS KILLED ON THIS DAY 26TH MAY 1917 CAPTAIN.. H GALLIMOR SERJEANT E J H KNIGHT 786357 J BOYD...44865 F HARDAKER..786024 [ ACTING BOMBARDIER] SERJEANT J H JENKINS..687422 CORPORAL B PEPPER..786074 H STOTT..786096 N VAUGHAN..837250 MY INFO I HAVE A B C AND D BATTERYS THERE SERVICE NUMBERS MOSTLY BEGIN WITH 786, WAS THESE NUMBERS JUST CONNECTED R F A... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 14 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2014 ALL OF THE ABOVE MEN DIED TOGETHER .AND ARE BURIED TOGETHER.. H A C CEMERETY PLOTS J BOYD 111-B-26 F HARDNAKER 111-B-19 JH JENKINS 111-D-23 E JH KNIGHT 111-D-21 B PEPPER 111-B-29 H STOTT 111-B-27 N VAUGHAN 111-B-28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 23 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 23 April , 2015 HI ALL I AM OFF TO THIEPVAL AND ECOUST-SAINT-MEIN TOMORROW, A SPUR OF THE MOMENT THING, WILL BE TAKEN SOME PHOTOS ON THE WAY, AND WILL POST. AND TO TOP IT ALL IM GOING WITH A RELATION OF CAPTAIN ROBERT CAMPBELL, I WILL BE LAYING MY FLOWERS, AND THINKING OF THEM ALL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 D BATTERY 312 BRIGADE R F A ALL DIED ON THE 26 MAY 1917, THEY ALL DIED TOGETHER AND ARE BURIED TOGETHER. R I P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 ALL UNKNOWN I PAID MY RESPECT 'S TO THEM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 TWO VERY YOUNG LADS. ...ONLY SIXTEEN...C F RITCHEY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 29 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 April , 2015 J KEMPLAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 29 April , 2015 Share Posted 29 April , 2015 Robbie Well done ! Nice clear photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsc Posted 30 April , 2015 Share Posted 30 April , 2015 Hi Robbie I have a set of medals from Driver Willie Ellis 786012 who also served in 'D' Battery 312th Brigade he won the Military Medal on 6th April 1917 along with Gunner E Leaf 786049 Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 30 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2015 HI COLIN MEDALS ARE CHERRISHED ITEMS TO HAVE, I ONLY WISH I COULD FIND MY GREAT UNCLES, SO MANY ARE SOLD. FOR A FEW POUND, AND THE MAN WHO EARNED THEM GAVE SO MUCH. ROBBIE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsc Posted 30 April , 2015 Share Posted 30 April , 2015 Hi Robbie Driver Willie Ellis and his Medals ~ just for interest Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 25 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2015 Hi Robbie Driver Willie Ellis and his Medals ~ just for interest Colin great photos colin.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 25 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2015 HI ALL IN ONE OF MY PHOTOS ABOVE,,,, J KEMPLAY 44842 ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY DIED ON THE 26 MAY 1917. CAN ANYONE COMFIRM IF HE WAS PART OF "D" BATTERY 312 BRIGADE. MANY THANKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 25 May , 2015 Share Posted 25 May , 2015 Robbie Yes he was D/312. Grave no.III B 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie knight Posted 27 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2015 Robbie Yes he was D/312. Grave no.III B 30. many thanks for that..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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