431 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

[wheeler]

Hi

Can anyone help me with any information regarding the 431 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery.

I also would like to find out any information regarding a Harry Maurice Head 128946 who was in the same unit and a relative of mine.

Thanks so much.

Richard

[kevinrowlinson]

Hi

Can anyone help me with any information regarding the 431 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery.

I also would like to find out any information regarding a Harry Maurice Head 128946 who was in the same unit and a relative of mine.

Thanks so much.

Richard

Richard,

I assume you have your relatives service records? You could also look in the records of 152074 Hitcham where he is also mentioned. The battery was formed at Hilsea from the 21st April 1917 and its embarkation is in his records. From that time you would need various war diaries that can be viewed at the Nat. Archives at Kew so it is a question of whether you are going to Kew before going through the various archive references you would need to look up.

I would strongly suggest you read the following link which will explain a lot of the basic RGA training and duties, including what this officer thought of signallers, at http://www.archive.org/stream/makingofgunner00streiala/makingofgunner00streiala_djvu.txt .

Kevin

[John(txic)]

My Grandad was in the same unit: Gnr 154224 Benjamin Westwood.

Send me a Private Message.

John

[wheeler]

Kevin

Thanks so much for the reply back to me.

Yes I do have some service records for Harry Maurice Head 128946 I found on Ancestry website although some of which are a little hard to read.

Because I am not very experienced about where to find any more information I thought I would post on here as you all seem to know a lot more about finding records than me.

One question I have is where do I find or start looking for the records of 152074 Hitcham as mentioned.

Thank you so much for the information you have supplied I will go and take a look now.

Richard.

Hi John

Thanks for the reply back

I have sent you a private message.

Thanks

Richard

[petwes]

Richard

In case you don't have access to the following I have transcribed the following excerpt. Hope it helps.

History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery

Western front 1914 -1918;

Published 1986

Author: General Sir Martin Farndale, KCB

Chapter: The German counter attack, November - December 1917, p250.

(This was at Cambrai)

30^th November 1917

“The German advance pressed on at an unprecedented pace until it came to Gouzecourt. This was held by a pioneer company, without weapons, and five batteries, the 13^th,33^rd, 57^th Heavy and 100^th and 431^st Siege. A loaded supply train stood in the station and HQ 29^th division escaped in the nick of time. The Germans occupied the town eventually, the guns were lost firing to the last, but later many were recaptured after a spirited counter attack by the Guards. “

Regards

Peter

[John(txic)]

The only occasion that 431(S) get a mention in print, Petwes!

On our WFA Branch Tour a few weeks ago, we passed through Gouzeacourt and I was able to see where Grandad's battery was on that day.

[wheeler]

Peter

Thanks for the message back to me its great to get some information and helps to build a better picture for my family.

Regards

Richard