Frederick Charles Kent RGA

[Guest]

Hi,

First time I've used this sort of medium, so hope I am complying with any conventions. I'm trying to find out about my grandfather's WW1 service. Frederick Charles KENT, service No:  170658, joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1917 as a gunner/bombardier and served until end of the war (plus 3 months with occupying forces in Germany). His war record was destroyed in the blitz during WW2. Family say they wrote letters to him at 355 Siege Battery, B.E.F, France. Any information on my grandfather, 355 siege battery and where/when it was in action would be very gratefully received. Thank you in anticipation, Russell Kent.

 

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[1] British Expeditionary Force

[Michelle Young]

Hi Russell. I have split this into a separate topic and moved it to Soldiers, where hopefully it will get some answers for you.

 

Michelle 

 

[ororkep]

Welcome Russell,

Frederick was a replacement who joined  355 Sge Bty on 24.11.1917 at Pont Petain, serving through until armistice which found the battery at Elincourt; he was demobilized 20.01.1919. He resided in Chalfont St Peter, Bucks. He would mainly have been involved in the retreat from 21.03.1918 and the final 100 days advance. 355 was a mechanised battery with armament of 6in Howitzers (26 cwt) that had been serving on the Western Front since May17.

You obviously hold more information as you refer to service in Germany (355 was disbanded May19 in Ripon but was not in Germany) and you mention he was a Bombardier which was also correct.

Rgds Paul

Three Higher formation war diaries (23 Brigade RGA) that 355 Sge came under from 11.12.1917 survive and can be downloaded for a small sum off the NA website ref: WO95/469/3, and parts 4 & 5). These would cover your ancestor’s time through 1918 with the battery allowing you to track its movements.

[charlie962]

Excellent detail from Paul.

 

Men with close RGA service numbers seem to have joined at No 3 Depot Plymouth on 26/7/17 and then been posted elsewhere a few weeks later.  However some of the older men seem to have originally attested back in 1915 and been transferred at the time to reserve before being mobilized in 1917. Was Frederick an old un or a young un ?