XLV Brigade RFA

[Chris_Baker]

Can any RFA or 8th Division expert tell me exactly where XLV (ie 45th) Brigade RFA was located when it took part in the opening bombardment for the Somme offensive, in late June 1916?

I am specifically interested in where No. 5 Battery RFA was.

[stevefarmer]

Chris

How far have you got with 5th bty RFA? I think my great uncle might have been in it as all the dates tie up.

.....Steve

[Ron Clifton]

Hi Chris

Neither the OH (including the maps) nor Farndale are any help - although you've probably found that out already! The best I can say is that the division was between Authuille Wood and Mash Valley, so its artillery was probably somewhere around Aveluy, probably to the south or west.

The War Diary is in WO95/1694 at Kew.

Ron

[SFayers]

Hi Steve,

I think Chris' original posting was when he was doing some research for me on my gg uncle who died of wounds whilst serving with 5th Bty (see my signature below). I'll need to check the report he wrote for me, but if memory serves 45th Brigade artillery was positioned on both sides of the Ancre Valley between Authuille Wood and Aveluy, with one battery on Bouzincourt Ridge. The exact locations of the batteries are apparently not mentioned in the 45th Bde war diary. Sadly the NA does not have the 5th Bty war diary.

cheers

Steve