JackLunt Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 My grandfather, John Frederick Lunt fought in the BEF, 527 Siege Battery. He was gassed on 2nd June 1918 and we cannot find where this may have taken place. His service number was PLY 18647 How can we find this information? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 This is the entry for 527 Siege Battery in WO95/5494; Allocations of Siege Batteries. I cannot find any records for John Frederick Lunt, can you tell us the source of your information regarding service please? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Your grandfather served in the RMLI - see http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7826389 and I am not at all sure how this fits in with Siege Battery 527? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 You may already have a copy of the above document if so, then it would help if you can let us see the details describing his 1918 service and gassing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Found his service record. It certainly looks like he was with 527 SB. I note he was a qualified gunner which would explain why he was in a battery with 6" guns which the Navy would be familiar with I assume. I wonder how many other RMLI were with this battery? I'm a bit out of my comfort zone with artillery serving as Army Troops but looking for the relevant Army Troops war diary would be my next step. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, petwes said: I wonder how many other RMLI were with this battery? I'm a bit out of my comfort zone We are all out of our comfort zone with this case Over my evening meal I have peeked into General Blumberg's 'Britain's Sea Soldiers' and I see there on page 349 in my copy that RMLI personnel were indeed loaned to the RGA to complete their Seige Batteries 525, 526, 527 & 528 This is the very first time that I have heard of this 'Loan' and I look forward to enlightenment from the RA experts Edited 8 February , 2018 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 All four batteries you mention were equipped with 6" guns whether Mark VII or XIX I cannot say. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackLunt Posted 7 February , 2018 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Thank you all for the information. We do have my Grandad"s service record but I'm unsure of how to find where he was gassed. We are visiting the war graves in March and I would like to see where he fought if possible. Luckily he did survive the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackLunt Posted 7 February , 2018 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2018 I am new to researching as I"m sure you can tell....Peter, how van you tell he was a qualified gunner? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 From his record here: Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 The 6in Guns were Mk XIX. The battery only went overseas 21 May 1918 although formed at Aldershot 19.1.18. It joined 26 Army Brigade at Gouy Servins on 1.6.18. Formed with 2/3 RMA to 1/3 RGA personnel offered to make up for the wastage of Mar18. The gassing occurred before they even had time to get into action. rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 45 minutes ago, ororkep said: formed with 2/3 RMA ? to 1/3 RGA personnel offered to make up for the wastage of Mar18 A small point but important nonetheless Both Blumberg and this man's record suggest RMLI rather than RMA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 (edited) To answer my own earlier question. Frederick's Lineage Book of British Land Forces notes: "525 to 530 Siege Batteries formed partly from Royal Marine Light Infantry personnel" Peter Edited 7 February , 2018 by petwes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 (edited) I have just checked Commonwealth War Graves. In September they were still in the vicinity of Gouy Servins. Two men were killed and are buried in DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN which is about 14 km away. Edited 7 February , 2018 by petwes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 An Attestation Pack of papers for him is in the archive of the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 80 x RMA and 20 x Plymouth Division RMLI were drafted to Lydd on 3 April 1918 for service in 527 Siege Battery RGA where they made up 2/3 of the 150 battery personnel. From Blumberg (p.405):- "527 Battery ... arrived in France on 22nd May. ... gun positions were prepared at Lievin about 4,000 yards west of Lens and when the guns arrived from Calais they went into action on 6th June, remaining here for two months firing on the areas Carvin - Seclin - Henin. During the latter part of the time they had heavy casualties from mustard gas. ... On 15th August they moved to the Arras front ... and came into action at Villers Gagnicourt on 30th, and subsequently took part in the breaking of the Drocourt - Queant Line on 2nd September when the RN Division so distinguished itself. ..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 18 hours ago, michaeldr said: Both Blumberg and this man's record suggest RMLI rather than RMA Correction As pointed out by H2 in his post No.16 above, in fact the men loaned to the RGA were taken from both the RMLI and the RMA Blumberg (p.403) gives the following numbers for the other batteries: 525 Siege Battery - 1 Lieutenant RMA + 100 other ranks (RMLI) 526 Siege Battery - 1 Lieutenant RMA + 100 other ranks (RMLI) 528 Siege Battery - 1 Lieutenant RMA + 100 other ranks (80 RMA & 20 RMLI) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackLunt Posted 8 February , 2018 Author Share Posted 8 February , 2018 15 minutes ago, petwes said: Thank you all so much for all the information. I am so pleased to be able to piece together more of what occurred and where my Grandad was during this time. He never talked about his experiences during the war. Could anyone explain how he was gassed before they became involved in the action? Where would they have been before the action started? Thanks Hilary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 I would assume that they suffered a gas attack while preparing the gun lines at Lievin in early June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeJ Posted 21 November , 2019 Share Posted 21 November , 2019 Hi everyone. I am new to this forum (joined today). I'm in Canada researching my grandfather. He was attached to the 527th Siege Battery as well. I'm having a bit of a challenge reading the details, but it appears that he was sent to hospital wounded on July 13, 1918. Any idea where he may have been stationed at the time or which files in the Archives I should be asking for? Any assistance would be appreciated. Sincerely, George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeJ Posted 21 November , 2019 Share Posted 21 November , 2019 4 minutes ago, GeorgeJ said: Hi everyone. I am new to this forum (joined today). I'm in Canada researching my grandfather. He was attached to the 527th Siege Battery as well. I'm having a bit of a challenge reading the details, but it appears that he was sent to hospital wounded on July 13, 1918. Any idea where he may have been stationed at the time or which files in the Archives I should be asking for? Any assistance would be appreciated. Sincerely, George He was stationed on the Emperor of India from Oct 14, 1914 - Mar 7, 1918, then assigned to the RMA from Mar 8 1918 - Apr 2 1918 and then attached to the 527th Siege Battery from Apr 3 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 21 November , 2019 Share Posted 21 November , 2019 Hi GeorgeJ, Welcome to the forum. To help people to help you, and to avoid duplication of effort, you should post all information you have. This obviously means his name, and the sources of information that you have already consulted to obtain the information you have in your possession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeJ Posted 22 November , 2019 Share Posted 22 November , 2019 14 hours ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said: Hi GeorgeJ, Welcome to the forum. To help people to help you, and to avoid duplication of effort, you should post all information you have. This obviously means his name, and the sources of information that you have already consulted to obtain the information you have in your possession. Hi and thanks for the welcome. My grandfather's name was Walter Stott. His regiment number was 13677. I looked at his attestation papers (ADM 159/87/13677) and have a page check in progress for his folio (ADM 157/3201/33). I have done searches for orders of battle but there is little mention of the 527th. I did find a PDF of what appears to be and old manuscript that shows the 527th as one of several"unbrigaded bridged" siege batteries attached to the first army. I downloaded a copy of that manuscript buy am having difficulty finding it online again so I can't give the url. I also downloaded my grandfather's pension card and there was no reason for his discharge - on 2-10-19. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 22 November , 2019 Share Posted 22 November , 2019 Thanks GeorgeJ, I see his attestation form and service record is a naval one which unfortunately I can't access, but I'm sure there are naval experts here who can access them. Likewise I think his medals will have been administered by the navy, I can't find his Medal Index Card at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeJ Posted 22 November , 2019 Share Posted 22 November , 2019 Yes, he was originally enlisted with the Royal Marines and was part of the Royal Marine Artillery from 1913 until he was attached to the 527th on April 3, 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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