311th Siege Battery RGA

[Guest]

I am researching my great-grandfather who was in the RGA during WW1. We initially knew relatively little information having only his medals. We also knew that he was injured during the war and came home before heading back out. 

 

Below is a summary of what I have found so far.

 

Frederick John Hunt, born 15/04/1897 in Castor, Northamptonshire. Living in South Luffenham, Rutland by 1914.

 

Medal index card:

Corps - Royal Garrison Artillery

Rank - Gunner

Regimental number - 344502

Victory Medal Roll - (TF)RGA/115B Page 1435

British Medal Roll -  (TF)RGA/115B Page 1435

 

No other information or marks on the medal index card.

 

Medal Roll (TF)RGA/115B Page 1435:

Regimental number - 344502

Rank - Gunner (acting Corporal)

Name - Hunt, Frederick J

Theatres of war - Blank

From - 0

To - DLS(?)

Remarks - Issue from this role also on RGA/161.B/6135 authy RGA/159.B

 

Medal Roll RGA/161.B/6135:

Regimental number - 108523

Rank - Gunner

Name - Hunt, Frederick John

Unit previous served with - 311 Sge Bty RGA

Remarks - Issue will be from RGA/(TF)115.B page 1435 authy RGA/159.B

 

I would like to review the field diary for 311 Siege Battery RGA but am struggling to find any references to it. Can anyone help point me towards it?

 

Would also welcome any other information on Frederick.

 

Many thanks

[charlie962]

15 hours ago, moorland6 said:

I would like to review the field diary for 311 Siege Battery RGA but am struggling to find any references to it.

Moorland6, welcome to the Forum.

 

The brief histories of unit attachments of the different Siege Batteries are summarised in WO95 5494 at National Archives.

According to this, 311 SB RGA (consisting of 2 sections each of 2 8" Howitzers) went out to France May 1917 (joineing X Corps Heavy Artillery)  but was broken up on arrival and one section went to 249 SB RGA and one to 391 SB. So your problem, in that War Diaries only cover the active service period, is to work out which section he went with .

 

charlie

Edited 22 August , 2019 by charlie962

[charlie962]

I had a quick look at nearby service numbers, some of whom have surviving service files:

 

Hunt, Frederick John         , 108523, 344502

Tarlton, Alfred                  ?, 108522, 344503  posted from 311 SB to 391 Siege Bty

Rawnsley, William      5391, 108520, 344504  posted from 311 SB to 249 Siege Bty 2/6/17

Thirkell, Ernest          5394, 108530, 344506  posted from 311 SB to 249 siege Bty 2/6/17

Moore, Geo Harry     5396, 108526, 344508  posted from 341 SB to 413 Siege Bty 11/7/17  ie not a typical 311 man

 

There are doubtless others to be found. What does seem to be evident is that they were all in the Forth RGA in UK before posting, in UK, via various rotes, to 311 SB 30/12/16 (except Moore). But my limited sample above gives no guide as to where next, ie 249 or 391.

 

@ororkep is particularly hot on these Garrison Artillery units and may be able to help ?

 

Charlie

 

 

Edited 22 August , 2019 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Old discussion of 249 SB here on this Forum

 

Old discussion of 391 SB here on this Forum

 

 

Charlie

[charlie962]

16 hours ago, moorland6 said:

he was injured during the war and came home before heading back out

have you any idea if this was with the RGA ?

 

I've had a look at casualty reports using 108523 and 344502 but nothing obvious found ?