Guest Posted 19 March , 2019 Share Posted 19 March , 2019 OK, I am familiar with most of the prefixes to service numbers for infantry regiments but could any kindly member tell me what the prefix "L" before a RFA service number actually stands for and whether it betokens any particular type of enlistment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 19 March , 2019 Share Posted 19 March , 2019 It denotes those enlisted into the locally raised New Army RFA brigades, i.e. 148th - 190th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 19 March , 2019 Share Posted 19 March , 2019 Thank you David-Obvious when you know-hopeless when you don't. May I ask if this had any practical consquences for the nature of enlistment- always posted to a local artillery brigade? It does beg the question as to why some men had this prefix and others did not. For me, my local RFA/RGA casualties are the most difficult of the lot. Is there a golden source which might explain all this RFA number and prefix stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 19 March , 2019 Share Posted 19 March , 2019 As far as I am aware they were all on Duration of War terms (Form B 2505) and each new brigade or divisional ammunition column was initially given a block of L prefix numbers to work from. When these ran out a new block was issued with a different range of numbers. The Welsh Army Corps artillery, being raised separately, were given a W prefix which ran as one continuous block. I do hold what you might call key information for RHA and RFA units and numbering. I am working on getting this guide published later in the year. If you can send me a list of your difficult ones I will have a go. Give me an L number and I could most probably tell you his enlistment unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 12 August , 2020 Share Posted 12 August , 2020 I'm trying to find details of L/13904 173 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Would he have joined in London? all I can find is medal card and silver war badge list showing that he was wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 12 August , 2020 Share Posted 12 August , 2020 Welcome to the Forum, L/13904 would have enlisted in the Hull area around March 22, 1915. You may be thinking of someone else with a similar name coming from London. Who is the focus of your search? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 12 August , 2020 Share Posted 12 August , 2020 I'm not sure where this man came from I have a trio of medals belonging to John W Witham. Someone told me that the L prefix was a London based brigade. There are a number of John W Witham's in the census. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 12 August , 2020 Share Posted 12 August , 2020 7 minutes ago, DGP/RLP said: Someone told me that the L prefix was a London based brigade No, the L prefix represents locally raised units from all over the UK. In this instance Hull Divisional Ammunition Column which became 31 DAC on May 14, 1915, and 32 DAC on December 20, 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 12 August , 2020 Share Posted 12 August , 2020 What records would be available to show their movements in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 The War Diary for 32nd Divisional Ammunition Column is here - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353738 The War Diary for 173rd Brigade RFA is here - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353998 The Silver War Badge list does give his unit at discharge as 173rd Brigade RFA, but we don't know when this posting happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 I have just downloaded the War Diary for 173 brigade and I will be very interested to read it. I have another question this time about Gnr 81547 George E S Pullman. Enlisted 11th Aug 1914. France 30.1.1915. Discharged 5th Apr 1919 Base details Salonica 3 Res Bde. (per silver War Bade List) From his number would you know where he enlisted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 25 minutes ago, DGP/RLP said: From his number would you know where he enlisted? The number is associated with No. 3 Depot RFA, Hilsea, and issued around mid August 1914. His actual place of enlistment cannot be narrowed down further than the Southern Command area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 (edited) Hi DGP/RLP, With reference to L/13904 John William Whitham. FIndmypast have a hospital admission/discharge record for him (link) which gives his apparent age, and might help you to tie him back to the 1911 census. The record reads as: First name(s): J W Last name: Whitham Age: 23 Service number: 13904 Rank: Gunner Unit: 32 DAC, Royal Field Artillery Admitted to 2 General Hospital (Quai D'Escale, Le Havre) on 30.12.1915 suffering from 'Abscess ICT Thigh R'. Discharged to Reinforcements [Depot] at Le Havre on 23.1.1916. 9 months completed service, 1 day completed with the field force. His SWB record shows that he was discharged due to wounds in January 1918. Fold3 has a pension index card for him which gives a couple of addresses. Image sourced from Fold3 I think that he might be this man in the 1939 Register (Ancestry link) ...and this man in the 1911 census (Ancestry link). Images sourced from Ancestry Regards Chris Edited 13 August , 2020 by clk hyperlink added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 Thank you for the image That's our man. delighted to the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 Would there be a pension record card for Gnr 81547 George E S Pullman. RFA. He is on the silver war badge list but do not know why? many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 Hi, Yes there is - the link is here. Essentially the card reads as: Name: George Pullman Service number: 81547 (Gunner, RFA) Date of discharge: 5.4.1919 Year of birth: 1892 Marital status: Single Address: Waxway Cottage, East Hill, Ottery St Mary, Devon Disabilities: [1] "Def Vision (Corneal Ulcer)", and [2] "Malaria". Both are shown as being attributable to service. FMP also have a hospital record for him (link), 11.12.1918 to 1.2.1919, where he was treated for a reoccurrence of malaria?? At the time of his admission he was serving with: Images sourced from Findmypast Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGP/RLP Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 Great thank you for the information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 M.A.D. North stands for Main Ammunition Depot in Salonika (Northern Section). This would likely be regarded as an attachment from their usual unit in Salonika. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 On 13/08/2020 at 17:17, David Porter said: M.A.D. North stands for Main Ammunition Depot in Salonika (Northern Section). This would likely be regarded as an attachment from their usual unit in Salonika. Many thanks David. That's interesting. I didn't know what it was short for. On the same record there are some other men that show the same thing... Image sourced from Findmypast I saw service files for a couple of them, one of which was silent on the matter, the record just reading his postings to Battery/Brigade. The other one of which indicated that he was indeed 'attached' to 'MAD' from his unit. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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