Liz Cullen Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 My grandfather was Gunner R G Clark. He joined the Warwickshire RHA in 1912 and trained in Aldershot before going to France to join the 29th Division B.E.F. I am in the process of transcribing his diaries, written during 1917 and 1918. They give chilling details of life on the Front. He was mainly involved with transporting supplies and ammunition and moving artillery. He told me he was the lead horseman of the 3 pair team. He was allowed leave in September 1917 to return home to marry my grandmother, Harriet (Hetty) Crocker. He survived the Great War, though many of his chums did not. He returned home to married life, had two children (my father being one) and passed away in 1976, aged 85. I am wondering if the information in his diaries would be useful as archive material? I am interested in both the history and the family connection and would be grateful for any advice. I have noted the posts on the Hon Major Robert Evelyn Eden (I have a photo of the Major, signed and dated Cologne 1918 - 1919 “Gr. Clark with best wishes for 1919”) and I note the books recommended but I cannot find copies as yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 13 August , 2020 Share Posted 13 August , 2020 Welcome to the Forum Liz, I assume you are referring to Ronald George Clark. He first enlisted on November 20, 1909 as No. 205 and, I assume, left either when his four years service was completed or before for other reasons. He re-enlisted on August 6, 1914 as No. 417 and served with the battery in 15th Brigade RFA. He was renumbered 614407 from January 1, 1917 along with the rest of the Territorial Force artillery. I would be very interested to read the diaries, I have a longish list of members of the battery and the information would be a useful addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Thank you so much for the extra information about my grandfather’s service history. I didn’t know about his earlier enlistment. At the moment, I have 2 of his original pencil written diaries and a handwritten transcript of mine that I am in the process of typing up. As soon as I finish, I can post it here or send a copy. I will look through today for names and dates of his fallen comrades, which might be of interest? I have a large number of postcards that he sent from France and Belgium during the war which may also be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tharkin56 Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 could you supplement the diary with any info from local papers etc, sometimes letters home were published in the paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 The picture on the postcard was taken at Annual Camp sometime between May 18, 1912 and June 1, 1912. Other Annual Camps were held at Salisbury Plain, but they went back to Aldershot in Summer 1914. You should be able to find Ronald's service record(s) on either Ancestry or Findmypast under the numbers I've given. You will also find a few threads about the battery on this Forum if you use the search function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Thank you both for the suggestions. I have addresses on the postcards sent from the Front, so might be able to link that to local papers. Some of the pictures are not in good condition, unsurprisingly. I’ll post some more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 This is dated 1910, so must be the first time RG Clark was enlisted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 (edited) Hi Liz, Welcome to the forum. I think that there would be plenty of others that would enjoy reading the diaries, and seeing the images. His service papers (FMP link) allow you to date the 1910 photo to within a fortnight. Image sourced from Findmypast Regards Chris Edited 14 August , 2020 by clk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 The 1910 camp was apparently at Windmill Hill Camp, Andover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Thank you again for more details, especially the Service record, which I’ve never seen before. I’ve posted a picture of my Grandfather sitting proudly on the General’s horse. No idea when or where this was taken, but probably at the Traing camp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Here follows a table of the ranks and names of personnel written in my Grandfather's diary for 1917: Record of named personnel killed/injured in diary of Gunner Ronald George Clark, 614407, 15th Brigade RHA 1917 Date Killed Injured Apr 9 Bombardment Of Arras Corporal Edwards, Bombardier Dc Harries, Gunners Peterkin, B.Eaton, B.Cope, Coldicote & Bain. Lieutenants Duckworth & Nicholls Sergeants Winyard & Leampton, Gunners H.Williams & Symes, Bombardier Davies Apr 10 Bombardier Facer & Corporal Jackson George Nicholls, Bombardiers Rolleston & Eaton, Corporal Smith Apr 22 Archie Priest Blackburn Apr 23 Gunner Shelly May 3 Sergeant Horswell gassed May 4 Pat Fitzgerald & Gunner Bull July 18 D.A.C. driver (& 2 mules) July 24 Corporal Jimmie Holehinge Bailey, Sailor, Becks & Nixon July 25 460th Bombardier Simpson & Jimmie H buried Aug 4 L Battery Captain & a Gunner Aug 7 Napper Clements Aug 13 Ginger Hunt missing Jock Smith badly wounded Aug 14 Jock Smith died of wounds Oct 9 Corporal Keen, Bombardiers Taylor & Nicholls, Mr Palethory – Officer B Battery – direct hit Bombardiers Checkley & Hugh, Gunners Emmers, White, Townsend & more 460 Battery - casualties Oct 19 Mick Bartley, L arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Here are a few casualties from April 9, 1917: 2/Lt George Arthur Nicholls, KIA 09-04-17 124/614021 Saddler Staff Sergeant Harry Winyard, Died of Wounds 09-04-17 257/614034 Frederick Walter Caldicott, KIA 09-04-17 281/614035 Frank Oliver Cope, KIA 09-04-17 307/614044 George Ernest Edmunds, KIA 09-04-17 683/614325 John Eaton, (Died) 09-04-17 I'll add more later. The picture on the horse is pre-war. The bandolier is an old pattern that was used in the Boer War and the Territorial Force finally updated them around 1913. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Thank you, you are very knowledgeable about this. I hope my table was not too stark; I appreciate the sacrifice of these young men and feel their names should be remembered. I’m adding your details to my notes. It will take me some time to type up the whole diaries but I will continue to post the images that I have. I’m not sure how to post the diary entries. Perhaps I should post a few days of detail at a time. Some of grandad’s spellings of places are phonetic; I would appreciate a link with particular “pushes” that he took part in, as I’ve only identified a few of the battles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 More for April 9 - 11, 1917: 2/Lt Percy Blexard Duckworth, KIA 09-04-17 726/614439 Cyril Ralph Vane Smith Deheriz, KIA 09-04-17 849/614547 James William Peterkin, KIA 09-04-17 (ex Inverness RHA) 852/614550 David Bain, KIA 09-04-17 (ex Inverness RHA) 73/614059 Paul Jackson, KIA 11-04-17 277/614105 Harold Eugene Rollason, KIA 11-04-17 371/614364 Hedley A Facer, KIA 11-04-17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 The rest for April and May 1917: 692/614333 Ethelbert Blackburn, GSW Back 21-04-17 693/614334 George Henry John Nicholls, KIA 11-04-17 695/614336 Hugh Morris Williams, GSW L. Elbow 07-04-17 715/614431 William Archibald Priest, KIA 21-04-17 202/614132 Thomas Alfred Horswill 306/614049 Patrick Fitzgerald, KIA 04-05-17 810/614511 Thomas Henry Bull, KIA 04-05-17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Hi Liz, Possibly this chap?? ...a bit stuck on the names of the mules though . Do you already have the unit war diaries, to cross reference to the diary that your grandfather kept? Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 14 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2020 3 hours ago, Liz Cullen said: Thank you, you are very knowledgeable about this. I hope my table was not too stark; I appreciate the sacrifice of these young men and feel their names should be remembered. I’m adding your details to my notes. It will take me some time to type up the whole diaries but I will continue to post the images that I have. I’m not sure how to post the diary entries. Perhaps I should post a few days of detail at a time. Some of grandad’s spellings of places are phonetic; I would appreciate a link with particular “pushes” that he took part in, as I’ve only identified a few of the battles. Hi, Chris, thanks for the possible I/D. Interesting that my grandad was also concerned about the mules! He was fond of the horses and mules in his care! Where can I access the unit war diaries, please? Apologies from a newbie to this research....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 I would suggest the other wounded serjeant (read as 'Leampton') was Sgt Charles Scampton [89] from Coventry, and I wonder if 'Hugh' may in fact be H.C. Pugh (126) from Leamington, both prewar members of the Bty. There were 2 Checkleys in the battery, both from Leamington, but Edward Checkley (276) was probably the wounded Bdr, [ later a Sgt]. The other was the trumpeter of the ammunition column, along with Ronald Clark. Shelly was maybe Gunner Robert A Shelley (320) Great photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Hi Liz, They are available as free downloads from the National Archives, after (free) registration - the form is here. The 1/1 Warwickshire RHA kept a separate war diary (link) until October1916, after which time I think that you'd need to try to follow them through the 15 Brigade RHA diary (link).To add more detail/context to them it would be worth considering downloading the diaries of the appropriate Divisions for the Commander Royal Artillery. and the Division Headquarters (General Staff) as they often contain things such as orders. maps, and reports on operations that aren't included in 'lower level' diaries. The National Archive search page is here. If you haven't picked up on on it, when Ronald joined up again in August 1914 he was allocated the service number of 417 (prior to his 1917 renumbering). On Ancestry under that number his 14 Star medal roll record is here. The medal roll for his British War and Victory medals is here. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 14 August , 2020 Share Posted 14 August , 2020 Could Ginger Hunt who was missing be this : William Hunt Regiment or Corps: 15th Bde Royal Horse Artillery Regimental Number: 12793 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Cullen Posted 15 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2020 Once again, thank you all so much for your replies and great knowledge. I feel like I’ve struck gold here! Your help and suggestions have broadened my research hugely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 15 August , 2020 Share Posted 15 August , 2020 9 hours ago, battiscombe said: the other wounded serjeant (read as 'Leampton') was Sgt Charles Scampton [89] from Coventry 89/614004 Charles Scampton, well-known in Rugby football and swimming circles in Coventry, is now in a military hospital - Coventry Evening Telegraph 23-04-17 9 hours ago, battiscombe said: I wonder if 'Hugh' may in fact be H.C. Pugh (126) from Leamington No, he was discharged 05-04-17 Physically Unfit, Myalgia The diary misses out these two: 308/614079 Walter Westwood, Gas SW 22-07-17 317/614015 Alfred Ernest Smith, Gas Shell Wnd R Hand 22-07-17 More mentioned in July 1917: 450 George William Bex, Died of Wounds 25-07-17 379/614360 Arthur William Bailey, Died of Wounds 07-08-17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1959 Posted 15 August , 2020 Share Posted 15 August , 2020 (edited) You might also want to read https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brookes-Battery-Story-Warwickshire-Artillery/dp/1858584221 Somewhere I have a transcript of a talk the author gave on the unit. I was looking into Alfred Bennett Smith who died 14/8/17. May be the “Jock” Smith in your list but by this time was a QMS. Native of Stratford-upon-Avon so not sure where “Jock” would come from. I have several pictures of him. Edited 15 August , 2020 by Mark1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 15 August , 2020 Share Posted 15 August , 2020 14 hours ago, Liz Cullen said: Corporal Jimmie Holehinge This must be 414/614127 Cpl John George Hotchin, KIA 25-07-17, buried at BLEUET FARM CEMETERY Buried next to him is 29717 Bdr George Simpson, KIA 24-07-17 (460 Bty) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 15 August , 2020 Share Posted 15 August , 2020 Those killed on October 9, 1917: 349/614366 Frederick Keen 938/614633 Bertram Francis Taylor 291/614064 William Henry Nichols Lt. Edwin Donald Palethorpe All buried next to each other at CANADA FARM CEMETERY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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