Career Soldier in Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery

[Daveyboy]

Hello, I’m researching the life of my 2xGreat Uncle, a soldier who served in the Royal Artillery between 1892 and 1931.  I have traced the ‘when’s’ and ‘where’s’ of his career from his Service Records, Army Lists etc, but am now trying to fill in the ‘what’s’ and ‘why’s’.  Apologies that much of his Service career falls outside the scope of this forum; could anyone recommend an appropriate site I might try for those time periods?

 

Frederick Bolton initially served in the Royal Horse Artillery and in 1893 completed a Wheelers’ Course at Woolwich.  Try as I have, I haven’t been able to find out what this training actually entailed – does anyone know?  Upon completion, he was assigned to E Battery, RHA.

 

From 1899 to 1914 he was stationed in India, marrying my 2xGreat Aunt, Marie Bound, who had been a Music Hall performer from London prior to running away and joining him in 1900.

 

He was initially based in Kirkee, where he was appointed E Bty’s QMS.  He moved with the battery to Mhow in 1901 and Meerut in 1904.  He was still there in 1911, having been promoted to RMS, as part of X Div, rather than E Bty.

In 1912, he commissioned and became a District Officer, being posted to back to Kirkee, as part of No 6 (Kirkee) Ammunition Column, part of 6^th (Poona) Div, RFA.  I would be fascinated to know what that unit would have been doing.

 

Frederick moved with Poona Div to Mesopotamia at the start of WW1.  I’ve found the actions they were involved in there and so am assuming he would have been involved in those too?  He was appointed 2i/c a Mounted Maxim Gun Battery in the Spring of 1915, although I can’t find any reference to what this would have comprised.  He contracted Beri-beri by the Summer and was invalided back to England, landing a desk job in Woolwich Military Academy.  By 1917 he had been promoted to Captain and became its Acting Adjutant.

 

His Service Record states that he was Mentioned in a Despatch in the London Gazette for 14^th August 1918, although I cannot locate this on the Gazette website.  He was also awarded in MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours List for 1919 but, again, I have not been able to discover why.

 

He remained Asst Adj of RMA Woolwich until his retirement in 1931.

 

 

Whilst I know where Frederick was based, I don’t have context to his postings, or his roles during his time in India, Mesopotamia or Woolwich.  I would also dearly like to know what life would have been like for his family in India at this time, being dependents of a SNCO/Junior Officer.

 

I don’t suppose anyone can shed any light into any of this, or could recommend any publications or additional resources that could give me a clearer idea please?

 

I’ve added a couple of photos from the family photo album which I think are of Frederick.  They look like the uniform of the RHA but I am not an expert in these things.  From the information above, could they be of him?

 

Thanks very much.

[battiscombe]

As  a detail  I would note that I think he only became Assistant Adjutant at Woolwich sometime in 1919 when he replaced  LtCol (D.O) David Smith.. I have a photo of the RMA  Staff  in 1918 but Bolton is not on it by that date [which I thought he might have been] .. and Smith was still there in Dec 1918 according to the Army List.

 

In fact I see Bolton was listed Dec 1918 as Adjutant of the 'School of Instruction for Non-Commissioned Officers RHA and RFA'..as a District Officer Lt [as of 3 Feb 1912] , [temporary Captain as of 30 July 1916]..  I dont know where that was but possibly the Woolwich Artillery Barracks, rather than the RMA. Dont know if that all shows on his service record?

 

Top photo is fine for early career in RHA.

 

MBE was probably for general  long and distinguished service in a long and varied career. 'The Shop Story' the history of RMA - lists him at back and mentions his role as assistant adjutant but i cannot spot mentions by name.. The RMA magazine [hard to find] may also have mentions, and indeed possible photos of him with other staff ..

If you subscribe there may well be a picture of him here??.. this looks like it may be picture of the RMA Staff..

https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk/online-collection/magazines/the-royal-military-academy-magazine/1921-0/april-1921?

 

[FROGSMILE]

The first photo shows a Gunner/Driver of the Royal Horse Artillery wearing the full dress dolman short jacket.  His headdress is the coloured forage cap adopted in 1905.  He is dressed for walking-out [of barracks] in pantaloons, ankle boots with spurs and is carrying his dress gloves and a riding whip.  The colour image below shows review order, where headdress and netherwear were different.

 

The second photo shows a theatrical uniform, and appears anyway to be a different man.

 

Edited 9 July , 2020 by FROGSMILE

[Daveyboy]

14 hours ago, battiscombe said:

As  a detail  I would note that I think he only became Assistant Adjutant at Woolwich sometime in 1919 when he replaced  LtCol (D.O) David Smith.. I have a photo of the RMA  Staff  in 1918 but Bolton is not on it by that date [which I thought he might have been] .. and Smith was still there in Dec 1918 according to the Army List.

 

My mistake, Battiscombe! I've gone back over the Service Records and see he was appointed Acting Adjutant School of Instruction NCOs RHA & RFA at Depot RHA on 17 Mar 1917.  He was there until appointed Assistant Adjutant RMA on 25th Jan 1919.

 

I will have to look into getting a subscription to the Sandhurst Collection, as that looks like a great resource for his latter years in the Army.  It may mention his MBE too.

 

Many thanks.

[Daveyboy]

14 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

The first photo shows a Gunner/Driver of the Royal Horse Artillery wearing the full dress dolman short jacket.  His headdress is the coloured forage cap adopted in 1905.  He is dressed for walking-out [of barracks] in pantaloons, ankle boots with spurs and is carrying his dress gloves and a riding whip.  The colour image below shows review order, where headdress and netherwear were different.

 

The second photo shows a theatrical uniform, and appears anyway to be a different man.

 

Thanks Frogsmile.  I had been thinking the second photo showed the same man but maybe 15-20 years later.  However, the pseudo-uniform that you mention would suggest otherwise.  Back to the drawing-board with identifying that photo then!

 

A date of post-1905 would also throw doubt over the man in the other photo being Frederick.  I had interpreted the single chevron on his sleeve as meaning he had completed 2 years’ Service?  If that’s correct, Frederick he would have worn it 1894-5, meaning this would be of another, unknown family member.

 

The patch above the chevron I had interpreted as crossed swords and a crown, which denoted the wearer as being the best shot in his regiment or depot?

[FROGSMILE]

6 minutes ago, Daveyboy said:

 

Thanks Frogsmile.  I had been thinking the second photo showed the same man but maybe 15-20 years later.  However, the pseudo-uniform that you mention would suggest otherwise.  Back to the drawing-board with identifying that photo then!

 

A date of post-1905 would also throw doubt over the man in the other photo being Frederick.  I had interpreted the single chevron on his sleeve as meaning he had completed 2 years’ Service?  If that’s correct, Frederick he would have worn it 1894-5, meaning this would be of another, unknown family member.

 

The patch above the chevron I had interpreted as crossed swords and a crown, which denoted the wearer as being the best shot in his regiment or depot?

 

The cap was definitely issued from 1905.  The cuff stripe on left lower sleeve was a good conduct badge for 2-years blemish free service, yes.  The other badge is I think crossed gun barrels with crown over which was a gunnery prize (best battery I think but will need to check).

Edited 10 July , 2020 by FROGSMILE

[Daveyboy]

Thanks Frogsmile.  I think this confirms that the young soldier is not Frederick, as he would have been 31 in 1905.  Luckily, the lead from battiscombe has provided me with a photo of Frederick taken at the end of his career, so I now know what he looked like (I had no other photographs).

[FROGSMILE]

5 minutes ago, Daveyboy said:

Thanks Frogsmile.  I think this confirms that the young soldier is not Frederick, as he would have been 31 in 1905.  Luckily, the lead from battiscombe has provided me with a photo of Frederick taken at the end of his career, so I now know what he looked like (I had no other photographs).

 

Glad to help Davey.