279612 Gunner John Crowder

[Mark Crowder]

Hi 

I'm looking for directions towards my Great Grandads service history ,where he went etc . We know he was in Africa and also The Battle of Cambrai where he is buried.

505th Bty.68th Bde  Royal Field Artillery.

Buried in Cambraii East Military Cemetery. Died 18th Dec 1918 

 

Many Thanks 

Mark 

[PRC]

Hi @Mark Crowder and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately looks like his records were part of the majority that went up in flames in WW2. when German bombs hit the London Warehouse where they were being stored.

What I can tell you from his service medal record is that he didn't serve in a Theatre of War until some point on or after the 1st January 1916, as he only qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. An additional service medal was available to men who served in a Theatre of War before then.

There is a document called the Register of Soldiers Effects which can be found on Ancestry. It may give a tiny bit more information about place and cause of death, (although that is not guaranteed). It should however show you the amount of his War Gratuity which whizzy people on the forum can use to calculate the four week period in which he would have enlisted.

Hopefully the Artillery bods will be along shortly as for me the unit is a bit of a headscratcher. As far I'm aware the 505th Battery didn't serve with the 68th Brigade, but it did serve with the 65th Army Brigade. According to this previous thread the 505th Battery wasn't even raised until July 1916, and went overseas in May 1917, which would tie in the service medals award.

To add to the confusion, 65th Army Brigade, RFA, is not the same as 65th Brigade, RFA.

And while the 68th Brigade did serve in France & Flanders in the early part of the war it went to Egypt, then Salonika and then back to Egypt and on to Palestine. Unless he was in transit for leave in the UK it's difficult to see why he would be at Cambrai in December 1918 if he was with the 68th Brigade.

So I shall look forward to the responses from other forum members - I can see I'm going to learn something

Cheers,
Peter

 

[david murdoch]

There are two soldiers effects entries - one notes he died at 22nd Casualty Clearing Station. He died of Broncho Pneumonia  by the date probably brought on by Spanish Flu. Pension card is for his widow and two children. Nice picture of his headstone from Find a Grave. 

Edited 21 June , 2022 by david murdoch

[Mark Crowder]

Thanks for quick responses.

ive attached 2 doc that i have that say the the battery and brigade  "Jack" served in.

We had an idea he died of spanish flu as he died after the end of the war 

[David Porter]

His number was not issued until late May or early June 1918. This would indicate 505th Bty was probably his one and only posting and he only served with them for a short period. I doubt very much his service was also in Africa during that period.

[jay dubaya]

The 68th Bde which appear on the Grave Registration Report is a typo and should read 65th Bde. Sadly the unit war diary ends on 11th November 1918 when the brigade is recorded as being at Maritz and pick ups again in March 1919 when the leave Cambrai. 
Where does the ‘Africa’ connection come from?

[PRC]

2 hours ago, david murdoch said:

There are two soldiers effects entries - one notes he died at 22nd Casualty Clearing Station.

Thanks David.

@Mark Crowder may be worthwhile downloading the 22 Casualty Clearing Station war diary from the National Archive, as it goes through to July 1919. It may not mention him by name but it may reveal if there was an influx of men from 505th Battery or 65th Army Brigade during the fortnight prior to his death.

The War Diaries can currently be downloaded for free from the National Archive. You do need to sign in with your account, but if you don't have one, even that can be set up as part of placing your first order. Just click on "sign in" and follow the instructions - no financial details are requested.

The relevant page for 22 CCS in the National Archive catalogue can be found here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/936e69f38f034e5bafdded8bc424a534

Cheers,
Peter

[Mark Crowder]

33 minutes ago, jay dubaya said:

The 68th Bde which appear on the Grave Registration Report is a typo and should read 65th Bde. Sadly the unit war diary ends on 11th November 1918 when the brigade is recorded as being at Maritz and pick ups again in March 1919 when the leave Cambrai. 
Where does the ‘Africa’ connection come from?

The Africa connection comes from a piece of tapestry / needlework that Jack did/ brought back from Africa with the RFA badge on it etc.

That was always the story told that he was in Africa before he came for a break then went to France ???? 

I will try and get a picture of the artwork ,it's in the safe at my parents house 

23 minutes ago, PRC said:

Thanks David.

@Mark Crowder may be worthwhile downloading the 22 Casualty Clearing Station war diary from the National Archive, as it goes through to July 1919. It may not mention him by name but it may reveal if there was an influx of men from 505th Battery or 65th Army Brigade during the fortnight prior to his death.

The War Diaries can currently be downloaded for free from the National Archive. You do need to sign in with your account, but if you don't have one, even that can be set up as part of placing your first order. Just click on "sign in" and follow the instructions - no financial details are requested.

The relevant page for 22 CCS in the National Archive catalogue can be found here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/936e69f38f034e5bafdded8bc424a534

Cheers,
Peter

Superb thanks 

[clk]

Hi Mark,

It probably won't tell you much, if anything at all, but a B&W copy of what was accepted as being his Will is available for a small fee from here - link.

Regards
Chris

[Mark Crowder]

FAEJ660617-1.pdf

I've downloaded Jack's will which say 68th BDE 

The will was Oct 18 

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

7 minutes ago, Mark Crowder said:

FAEJ660617-1.pdf 73.5 kB · 1 download

I've downloaded Jack's will which say 68th BDE 

The will was Oct 18 

Hmm. It also says 65 Bde on the last page.

[Mark Crowder]

3 minutes ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said:

Hmm. It also says 65 Bde on the last page.

Cheers I missed that .......