Mea Posted 10 February , 2020 Share Posted 10 February , 2020 Hi My grandfather Egbert Jackson, was in the Royal Garrison Artillery 244th siege battery and fought at Epehy in September 1918. I am trying to find out more about what happened, especially around 18th September when he was injured. Any advice welcome. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmbab Posted 11 February , 2020 Share Posted 11 February , 2020 Dear Mea, Dont know if you already have it but from Allocation of Siege Batteries in WO95/5494 at The National Archives 244th Siege Went out to Western Front 29th January 1917, joined 35th HAG 7.2.17, to 70th HAG 30.5.17, (joined 4.6.17) to 81st HAG 9.6.17, to 79th HAG 6.8.17, to IV Corps H.A (not grouped) 29.9.17, to 81st HAG 8.10.17, to 44th HAG 7.11.17, to 58th HAG 17.11.17, to 4th HAG 25.11.17, to 90th HAG 15.12.17. No subsequent change. 4, 6 inch Hows (26cwt). Made up to 6 guns Feby 1918. Personnel jd. (?joined?) from 365th, 29th June 1917. Thus at the time he was injured your grandfather was in part of 90th Heavy Artillery Group. That might help you find a war diary. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 11 February , 2020 Share Posted 11 February , 2020 Mea: Do you have his service number and rank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 On 11/02/2020 at 15:55, bmbab said: Dear Mea, Dont know if you already have it but from Allocation of Siege Batteries in WO95/5494 at The National Archives 244th Siege Went out to Western Front 29th January 1917, joined 35th HAG 7.2.17, to 70th HAG 30.5.17, (joined 4.6.17) to 81st HAG 9.6.17, to 79th HAG 6.8.17, to IV Corps H.A (not grouped) 29.9.17, to 81st HAG 8.10.17, to 44th HAG 7.11.17, to 58th HAG 17.11.17, to 4th HAG 25.11.17, to 90th HAG 15.12.17. No subsequent change. 4, 6 inch Hows (26cwt). Made up to 6 guns Feby 1918. Personnel jd. (?joined?) from 365th, 29th June 1917. Thus at the time he was injured your grandfather was in part of 90th Heavy Artillery Group. That might help you find a war diary. Good Luck Many thanks for this, I had been trying to work out which group they were part of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 I don’t have a service number but he was 2nd LT, RGA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 To keep life interesting, the HAGs are catalogued at the National Archives under the alternative title of Brigade RGA they carried for a period of time so the one you want is 90 Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/a0a42ffd64274cafb495a3b3b50eaf3a Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Brilliant, many thanks for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Military Cross awarded?? Egbert Joseph William Jackson of 244 Siege. London Gazette 11 Jan 1919 Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 When you track the location, could you post it? For interest I looked at two members of 244 Siege who were killed on that day. These were initially buried near to Ruyaulcourt, about 8 miles north of Epehy. They were brought in after the war to the cemetery where they now lie. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 Yes, he did get the MC, thanks for the London Gazette ref. I will post the location when I find it. Many thanks for all the info. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 28 September , 2023 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2023 Ref of the War Diary at NTA is WO-95-397-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 29 September , 2023 Share Posted 29 September , 2023 Mary, three years have passed since your queries and in that time unfortunately MaxD passed away. I was curious to see what you may have discovered as the 90 Brigade war diary does not offer much detail to help you in your original quest. However there are other avenues for research and if you still wish to know the precise battery location it can be found. Rgds Paul you are aware that the service record of Jackson survives at the NA, though based on the WO339* reference he cannot have been with 244 Sge for very long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 29 September , 2023 Author Share Posted 29 September , 2023 Paul Thank you for your reply, I have managed to get the service record for Jackson from the NA. As you say the war diary doen't give much detail. I would be interested to know of any other sources I could go to, to find the location of the battery for the short time he was with them. Many thanks Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 29 September , 2023 Share Posted 29 September , 2023 Mary, 244 Sge at the time came under control of 90 Brigade within IV Corps. In the IV Corps CHA diary it shows they (244) were engaged in Counter Battery work and gives a precise location of P4c.70.30 (Sheet 57c SE) which is near Havrincourt Wood. Of possible further interest may be found in the Adjutant and Quarter–Master General IV Corps file that shows as well as the two gunners killed that day from 244 Sge, 9 other OR’s were also wounded on the same day as well as one Officer i.e. Jackson. It records he was wounded in the Shoulder, arm and face (Shrapnel). Researching where the two 244 Sge gunners who died hailed from and finding local papers of the period may tell you the circumstances that led to their deaths. I do not have the new NA references for the Corps WD’s as I had them long before digitisation, so if you want the relevant pages please PM me. Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 30 September , 2023 Share Posted 30 September , 2023 9 hours ago, ororkep said: engaged in Counter Battery work and gives a precise location of P4c.70.30 (Sheet 57c SE) which is near Havrincourt Wood Mary, This is where the battery was. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mea Posted 1 October , 2023 Author Share Posted 1 October , 2023 Paul Many thanks for this information. I think I have located the Adjutant and Quarter–Master General IV Corps file on the NA, so will order it. Bill This is brilliant, many thanks. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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