Sapper of No 3 Airline Section - Royal Engineers

[Andy Wellow]

I'm in the throws of finding further information regarding a Zachariah Baker (16667). A friend of mine, who's father this is, is wanting to know exactly where he served during WW1. I thought this would be a fairly straight forward process through the on-line maps available now, but is proving more problematic than I thought because despite the info we have, everything refers to Royal Engineers No 3 Airline Section. That doesn't seem to match anything. I'm guessing he would have been attached to some regiment or another but I'm just finding no end of blind alleys in trying to nail this down. There are clues in his casualty form as it lists a casualty clearing station and a few hospitals, but none of these are listed as being on the Western Front. He arrived in France on 15th Aug 14, but also embarked from Marseilles at some point, early 1916 I think, and there is reference to going home on leave from Salonika and Taranto in 1918/19. I assume therefore he was on the Western front until 1916 and the Balkan front thereafter, I assume the C.C.S (25) and hospitals (42, 29, 63) were there. He survived the war and my friend seems certain he served at Mons early on. Any suggestions on how to take this forward would be gratefully received.

[JulianR]

The Royal Engineers Journal for August 1919 has an orbat in it which gives the location of all RE units on 11 November, 1918, and No.3 Airline section is a horsed unit in Salonika.

 

I cannot find a War Diary for them at PRO. 

 

The RE Library would appear to have at least part pf a War Diary for them, although it does not state when the Diary finishes and is also noted as having or being a summary.

 

Julian

Edited 30 December , 2018 by JulianR
additional reference)

[JulianR]

Looking at the 1911 Census he is already enlisted in the Royal Engineers and serving at Brompton Barracks, Chatham as a telegraphist (Line). Born about 1890 in Grays, Essex

[sotonmate]

Andy

 

Welcome to the Forum !

You seem to have an advantage over us and have papers which may help us to inform you more of what you need but may not understand the hieroglyphics ! I have tried to find references for Zachariah's service but to no avail,as yet. I have seen his Medal Card and Rolls neither of which help with his unit at first war posting. He certainly landed in France in some of the earliest troops to land on 14 August 1914 and earned the 1914 Star. Julian has found his RE 1911 Census station at Chatham, so a Regular soldier.I also noticed that he had a second service number (344381) also RE. It just might be that he had two separate jobs over his war service,or had re-enlisted for some reason (such as time-expired and rejoined ?).

His duty then, as a telegraphist (line) seems to have been carried on during the war, as he would have assisted in the upkeep of a network of telephone lines in an RE Signals unit. Can't yet see if he was in the same unit throughout the war as yet.

The medical references you post are indeed ones which served in Salonika, CCS/hospitals apart from the 42 bit which was an Ambulance train (AT42) on that station. There were a couple of hospitals with 42 in the description, but these seemed to be in the Mesopotamia sector further north in the Mid-East.

If you can advise on what you have and where it can be found,or provide more info here it would be good to help further.

[JulianR]

I thought that the second army number was part of the general renumbering, but could be wrong.

 

AT42 was renumbered as part of the general renumbering of the Ambulance Trains in early 1918, so any references to that are probably 1916-1917

 

I could not find a Service Record for him on Ancestry.

 

I have it in mind that the Airline Sections were what we would call radio/wireless, where the antennae were held up between two poles.

 

Julian

[sotonmate]

Julian

 

I did hope that the second number may confirm a unit in a re-number,but he was a Regular and in any case the 1917 numbers were for TA and began at 400000 .

AT42 Salonika was on station there from Oct 1915 to Feb 1918 according to the Discovery database.

There is a bit about airline here on Topic 183862 where a member whose relly served suggests its poles and wires installation and maintainance.

[JulianR]

Thanks,  I haven't looked at the 2 Salonika Ambulance Trains yet, was a bit put off by the handwriting in the War Diaries, but yes AT 42 was renumbered to AT52 commencing 1st March, 1918.  

 

Julian

[Terry_Reeves]

Airline sections were responsible for erecting telegraph poles and stringing and connecting the telegraph wires.

 

TR

[JulianR]

Terry,

 

Thanks

 

Julian

[Andy Wellow]

Julian, Sotonmate and Terry,

 

That's really helpful all of you, really appreciate your help. I've read a fair bit on here about Airline Sections and what they did, fascinating stuff. I know that Zachariah had three horses over the period of the war.

 

He did indeed have a second service number as he served in the 2nd WW also, in the Royal Signals as it was by then. He later received an MBE in civilian life for services to the P.O.

 

I have some service records which I include here. My friend tells me that his father frequently told his story of shooting at a French aircraft and there it is on his record, seems a colourful character.

 

Thanks again everyone, hope you can make sense of the attached.

 

Andy

Zach Baker.pdf

[Andy Wellow]

Julian,

 

I've made contact with RE Museum regarding W001/223 & 224 war diaries and booking an appointment to view these. Thanks for the information.

 

Andy