Indian Army Reserve Brigade and/or 342nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

[Passey]

Dear Forum,

 

I have a distant relative, Ethelbert Lancelot Rossiter, who served with the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War. He died of Influenza on 9 December 1918 in Newcastle. According to CWGC and his Soldiers Effects record he was serving with the Indian Army Reserve Brigade. Recently, however a newspaper article (transcript below) has come to light suggesting he served with the 342nd Brigade after being invalided home from France in May 1917. It does not make any mention of the Indian Army Reserve Brigade.

 

I have not been able to find much on either the Indian Army Reserve Brigade or the 342nd Brigade. I was wondering therefore, if any forum members could shed any light on the two brigades, there locations in December 1918 and if they were related in some way.

 

Many Thanks,

 

Simon

 

P.S. If you find a hit for a service and pension record it is because his name is listed on his brother’s records.

 

Newspaper Transcript:

 

East Kent Gazette - 14 December 1918

 

GUNNER E. L. ROSSITER, R.F.A.,

 

MILTON.

 

Another young local soldier has fallen a victim to influenza in the person of Gunner Ethelbert L. ROSSITER, R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. ROSSITER, Chalkwell road, Milton Regis. The young soldier, who was 21, entered the Army at the early age of 17, at a time when he was serving an apprenticeship in the engineering department of the Sittingbourne Paper Mills. He joined the Howitzer Brigade that was organised at Sittingbourne, and went to France early in 1916, and served with his unit in 63rd R.N. Division until May, 1917, when he was invalided home. He had since been stationed in different parts of England, serving with the 342nd Brigade, R.F.A. Gunner ROSSITER was admitted to hospital at Newcastle on the 2nd instant, suffering from a severe attack of influenza. Pneumonia followed, and on the case assuming a grave turn his parents were telegraphed for. Mr. and Mrs. ROSSITER travelled to Newcastle and they were with their son till his death, which took place at 12.30 a.m. on Monday. Much sympathy will be felt for the bereaved family.

 

http://www.passeyfamilytree.org.uk/getperson.php?personID=I3901&tree=passey1

[David Porter]

From the newspaper description it is pretty certain he joined 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade comprising:
1/4th Kent (Howitzer) Battery which became A (H)/223 then D (H)/223 on July 31, 1916
1/5th Kent (Howitzer) Battery which became B (H)/223 then D (H)/316 on July 18, 1916

They went to France on March 10, 1916 and joined 63rd (Royal Naval) Division in July 1916 - broken up to provide two "D" batteries

 

342nd Brigade RFA was part of 68th (2/Welsh) Divisional Artillery based at Bedford then Norfolk. It was disbanded in November 1918 with some men being sent to ASC Remounts, Swaythling or to Anti Aircraft Command, Newcastle. The brigade never went overseas, but some batteries did being replaced by others.

 

The reference to Indian Army Reserve Brigade has me confused too, but I'll look into it.

 

EDIT: I now believe it should be 1A Reserve Brigade, which was at Newcastle.

[Passey]

Hi David,

 

Many thanks for the information. So, the CWGC has seemingly miss-interpreted the 1A Reserve Brigade on the soldiers effects register (or some other record) as Indian Army Reserve Brigade? That makes so much more sense as you say, the 1A Reserve Brigade was in Newcastle. At some point then, possibly in November 1918, Ethelbert transferred from the 342nd Brigade to the 1A Reserve Brigade.

 

Also many thanks for the information about the 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade.

 

Best regards,

 

Simon

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Simon

 

The transfer to 1A Reserve Brigade may have been the first step in the demobilisation process or, in this case, when it became apparent that he would have to be discharged because of his illness.

 

Ron