Stacgil Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 (edited) Hi I am trying to find any thing out about my great grandad Henry Eric Gilbert 159794 I know he was with the Royal Garrison Artillery and was with the 247 battery and went to Italy late 1917 Edited 16 November , 2016 by Stacgil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 (edited) This link will tell you how to find any information that may be out there. it will also explain how the bits of information fit together, as well as explaining the jargon and abbreviations you're bound to come across. http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/how-to-research-a-soldier/ You're already way ahead of many people who post similar threads - you know his army number and his unit (quite a rarity for people researching artillery soldiers. Edited 16 November , 2016 by John_Hartley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 Stacgil This would be 247 Siege Battery, which first landed in France in Dec 1916 and went off to Italy later in 1917. I am getting a block on the War Diary reference for this unit in France. There would be a second one for Italy too, again no hits seen. It may be that it fought inside another,largfer group. Hopefully someone from the Artillery experts can help here. You can learn from the Diaries where the unit fought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacgil Posted 16 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2016 When he was just outside Ypres he was gassed he was with a Lance bombardier Robson I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 (edited) His Service Record survives, its here on FindmyPast Charlie962 Edit He seems to have been 172 Siege Battery ?? Where did you find 247 ? A man of many talents: previously a Railwayman then qualified Signaller RGA then off to Cookery School ! EDIT EDIT: ah I suspect you misread the Medal Index card which gives a Roll reference 249B ? Or did you have another source? Do you know if he really went to Italy ?This (Roll reference) is nothing to do with the battery he served in. Any way you are in luck with the Service record that survives despite its water damage. I am not aware that 172SB went to Italy although LongLongTrail says 171 did. Edited 16 November , 2016 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 There is a L/Bdr (Thomas) ROBSON Royal Garrison Artillery (but 350 Siege Battery) who died in the Ypres area on 29.3.1918. He died and is buried in Duhallows ADS (Advance Dressing Station) Ypres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 Although his records only show 172 SB, it would have been quite possible that he also served with 247 SB, although there is no indication in his records he did. Another signaller he went out with was actually posted from 172 SB to 247 SB at the time they both went to Italy on the 17th Nov. 1917. The war diary you need is 24 Brigade which at the moment you can only view at the Nat. Archives, Kew. Reference WO 95/4205 Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacgil Posted 16 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2016 yes he did go to Italy he mentions montello ridge and knocking out Austrian guns in the valley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 Looks like Kevin has it worked out correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 16 November , 2016 Share Posted 16 November , 2016 Highly likely the Robson you refer to was 60910 Andrew Robson MM, also a signaller, and someone he would certainly have been working with. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacgil Posted 16 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2016 He also mention about the menin road saying they called it "Clapham Junction" and there being a Australia dugout near by and about the 1st Warwicks with there 60 pounders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Cove Posted 17 November , 2016 Share Posted 17 November , 2016 16 hours ago, Stacgil said: yes he did go to Italy he mentions montello ridge and knocking out Austrian guns in the valley Do you have a diary or some other personal record of his service days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacgil Posted 17 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2016 A local writer spoke to him on tape and then put these memories in a booklet (the memories of a countryman) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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