Artillery Brigades

[Ian McCallum]

Hi guys,

looking for info on 466 Bty, 65th Brigade RFA on or around 5 October 1917. 

Any info appreciated. 

Ian

[Colin W Taylor]

Ian,

 

65th Bde RFA War diary should be here for £3.50 - this diary is not on Ancestry.

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/dfea91fa5a294c909b3f4ed959f42deb

 

There is unlikely to be a battery diary within.

 

Regards

 

Colin

[MaxD]

Deleted

Edited 13 April , 2019 by MaxD
see below

[MaxD]

Deleted. Confused the two versions of 65 Bde RFA.

 

Max

[rflory]

The war diary of 65th Brigade RFA for 5 Oct 1917 states:

 

"466 and 504 Batteries come under the tactical control of Guards Divisional Artillery, and 465 and 505 Batteries under the tactical control of 29 Divisional Artillery"

 

Are you looking for something specific?

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for that. Downloaded the war diary as suggested and it was a great help. Anyone any thoughts on the origins of the 65th "Field Army" Artillery Brigade. According to the War Diary, they only arrived in France at the beginning of May 1917. The man I am researching was wounded on 5th October and died the next day, he was previously in the Royal Garrison Artillery and appears to have been conscripted. 

 

Ian

[Ron Clifton]

For the early part of the war, four field artillery brigades formed part of each division, but there was a major reorganisation at the end of 1916 and one brigade was withdrawn from each division to form a reserve pool under Army control. These brigades were designated Army Field Artillery Brigades. (One of the remaining three brigades was broken up to make the batteries in the remaining two brigades up from four guns to six.) In some cases, such as 65 Bde, the original brigade was disbanded and a new brigade created with the same number.

 

Many of these brigades therefore have two War Diaries, one for their divisional service, available online from both TNA and Ancestry and one for service from Jan 1917 which are only available from TNA.

 

Ron

Edited 13 April , 2019 by Ron Clifton

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Ron,

 

Thanks for that. Doesn't get any simpler does it. My man was formerly No 95080 R.G.A. He was only entitled to the War Medal and the Victory Medal so don't think he was in France prior to the end of 1915. Took a mortal wound with legs practically blown off on 5 October, but made it to Dozinghem where he died the next day. His battery, 466th was supporting the Guards Division but no attack going on when wounded?

 

Ian

[Alan24]

14 hours ago, Ian McCallum said:

 he was previously in the Royal Garrison Artillery and appears to have been conscripted. 

 

 

Checking Kevin Rowlinson's RGA service number chart, 95080 joined/mobilised/embodied between 2 &13 June 1916 and reported to the depot at Great Yarmouth.

Check his age and marital status.

If he's was married and over 30 he could have been at the tail end of Derby Scheme mobilisations rather than a consript. If he turns out to be young and single he may have been conscripted under the MSA.

 

Regards 

Alan 

 

Edited 14 April , 2019 by Alan24

[Ian McCallum]

Hi guys

 

Thanks again for all the help.It really is appreciated. Could I ask a final question? As already mentioned, the 466 Bty was in support of the Guards Division on 5 October when my man was wounded, but as far as I can see the Guards were not in action on that date. Would the battery be involved in another attack? How could he get so seriously wounded?

 

Cheers

 

Ian 

[Chris_Baker]

Ian, the diary of the Commander Royal Artillery of Guards Division includes information that says

 

- two groups of batteries were formed. The two batteries of 65 Brigade were placed into the "Right Group" along with 11 Brigade, 92 Brigade and one brigade from 59th Divisional Artillery.  The two batteries were placed under tactical control of 92 Brigade RFA.

 

- B Battery was located at C.3.a.15.30 and C Battery at C.2.b.94.86.

The diary of 92 Brigade RFA reports that its batteries moved into position 1-3 October and then carried out harrassing fire (it lists targets). On 5 October they also fired a short period of concentrated fire on one location (defined in the diary). It makes no mention at all of any retaliatory fire but you can bet you boots they were not left alone.

 

Edited 14 April , 2019 by Chris_Baker

[Ron Clifton]

What was sometimes called the "artillery duel" could be almost continuous, even if there was no fighting by the infantry that day. Gun positions on either side of the front were prime targets for enemy gunners. It was worthy of a note in the Official History that, during the build-up to the Battles of Arras in April 1917, before the British attack began on 9th, the British and Canadian artillery actually suffered NO casualties from German shelling.

 

Ron

[Ian McCallum]

Guy, again thanks for the info. Picture is much clearer. Just for your interest. My man lost his right leg below the knee and part of his left foot. He died the following day in the CCS at Dozinghem.