343 SEIGE BATTERY RGA

[BIFFO]

I cannot find a war diary for 343 siege batt,or 262 ?.

I have a man William Liddle Swan started off acting bombardier 110047   sent to France poss with 262 siege battery rga. 8-2-1917

Commissioned  10-3-18 2nd lnt with 343 siege battery rga,I believe this was a railway mounted 122 howitzer unit,I have a piece of his service history but cannot make head nor tale of it,I would like too know where/what

he was born in Edinboro  1889 I have looked on a well known ite and cannot find a census for him  1900 and 1911 and cannot find a Scottish census

is this correct ?

[PJS]

There is a William L Swan in the 1901 Census here: https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1101&h=4411575&tid=150877240&pid=402008238981&usePUB=true&_phsrc=aPZ3126&_phstart=successSource

 

Name:	William L Swan
Age:	11
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1890
Relationship:	Son
Father's name:	Andrew Swan
Mother's name:	Isabella L Swan
Gender:	Male
Where born:	Edinburgh
Registration Number:	685/5
Registration district:	Newington
Civil Parish:	Edinburgh Robertson Memorial
County:	Midlothian
Address:	70 Warrender Pk Rd
Occupation:	Scholar
ED:	104
Household schedule number:	128
LINE:	7

 

And a William Swan in the 1911 Census here attached to the 2bn Cameron Highlanders here: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/2352/rg14_34991_0531_35/32804781?backurl=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/150877240/person/402008238981/facts/citation/1102010008423/edit/record 

 

 

[rflory]

Biffo:  The war diary for 343 Siege Battery, RGA has not been traced.

 

The item you illustrated is from Allocations of Siege Batteries, RGA (WO 5494). RGA batteries served under the administration of Heavy Artillery Brigades (HAB), later called Heavy Artillery Groups (HAG) and near the end of 1917 became Brigades, RGA.  WO 95/5494) uses the term HAG throughout.  You will need to obtain the war diaries of the HAGs under which 343 Siege Battery, RGA served throughout the war in order to trace that siege battery's service.

 

27 May 17 to 14 Jun 17: on the Lines of Communications.

15 Jun 17 to to 22 Jun 17: under XIV Corps Heavy Artillery

22 Jun 17 to 2 Sep 17: under 85 HAG (WO 95/479)

2 Sep 17 to 16 Oct 17: 66 HAG (WO 95/395)

16 Oct 17 to 22 Nov 17: 22 HAG (WO 95/389)

22 Nov 17 to 12 Dec 17: 10 HAG (WO 95/300)

12 Dec 17 to 20 Feb 18: 73 HAG (WO 95/476)

20 Feb 18 to Mar 18: 11 HAG (WO 95/539)

Mar 18 to end of war: Army Troops

 

Swan was educated at George Heriot School from 1901 to 1906, you might want to query the archivist at that school.

 

Swan's service papers are available at The National Archives under WO 374/66612.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BIFFO]

ank you both for your help

rflory thank you for interpreting 

PJS I have found this record what I cannot find is a Scottish census for 1900  , 

have just looked at 1911 that's probably my man,explains why I couldn't find him in census

Biffo

Edited 27 May , 2018 by BIFFO