What pier? What unit? RFA?

[Simon_Fielding]

Could this be Eastbourne? Any RFA units stationed nearby?

[Simon_Fielding]

And some interesting but common names...

[tharkin56]

Brighton?

[tharkin56]

remember brighton west pier burned down. Next book Brighton and the Great War

http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Brighton/WestPier.htm

[IPT]

Blimey, there were a lot of piers.

[Ron Clifton]

Brighton was also the home of an RFA brigade in 1914 IIRC.

Ron

[battiscombe]

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=199432&hl=pier

Victoria Pier Blackpool - see previous post .. nice to see their names

[bill24chev]

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=199432&hl=pier

Victoria Pier Blackpool - see previous post .. nice to see their names

I would agree probably Blackpool South Pier, note the sandy beach, int he previous post photo. Brighton as a pebble beach.

The South (Victoria) pier at Blackpool can be identified from the other two, Central & North Piers, because I don't think it ever had an extended landing stage. The North Pier retained a landing stage into at least the 80's with an Helicopter pad at the end. It was damaged beyond economical repair by a storm.

[centurion]

But what's the equipment? The closest match I can find is the 2.75 inch mountain gun with a modified shield. I know some were tried as infantry support guns in 1915.

[Simon_Fielding]

Yikes! Unbelievable! This forum never ceases to amaze me. Would really like to know a little bit more about Noyes' colleagues....

[Noyes16]

Just been notified about this thread by Simon Fielding. It's definately Blackpool South Pier. Amazing that a photo of my great great uncle, Frederick Joseph Noyes, has appeared on the forum. Frederick was a younger brother of my great grandfather. Sadly his service record hasn't survived. According to his medal index card and his Z.21 discharge form (which survived with the family) he only ever attained the rank of Gunner. His service number, W/4709, indicates that he served with the Royal Field Artillery of the 38th (Welsh) Division. They did their training in North Wales not Blackpool, so I'm guessing Frederick was initially sent to a RFA training unit before being posted to the 38th Div. What training unit this was I have no idea. After the war Frederick returned to his home in Pontypridd, South Wales, before emigrating to Canada. Amazingly it was only yesterday that I met one of his grandaughters who I traced through my research. She was visiting from Canada and it's the first time anyone from either side of our families has met since Frederick emigrated!

[Karsten]

What might they have been doing at the beach? Any possibility this being a landing exercise? (The Army Manoeuvres of 1904 took place at Clacton-on-Sea and there are photos showing the pier of Clacton and landed troops.)