Gnr. John Rees (Landore) 80087. M.M. 204th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery.

[GWF1967]

Hi,

 I have a photo postcard dated to the back Oct. 1916 and gives an address,

 "c/o 80087 Bdr Jack Rees, 204th Siege Battery R.G.A., B.E.F, France."   

John Rees came from Swansea, he lived at 83 Trewyddfa Road, Landore. He has surviving service papers which show he attested 10/12/15 and was posted to No.2 Depot 16/5/16.  He proceeded to France 8/1/17, joining 109th S.B. on 25/1/17.  Admitted 6th Gen. Hospital, Rouen 26/3/1917 "P.U.O, Severe", his NOK were informed.  Posted to S? Army Pool 14/4/17, he joined 204th S.B on 2/5/17. 

 John was awarded the Military Medal which was announced in the London Gazette 21/8/1917.

I downloaded the 204th War Diary which runs Aug 1916 - May 1917 but consists of only 6 pages including the title page and ends rather abruptly "On 11th May the new position was". 

 Any help with information regarding the award of the M.M, where 204th S.B. were at the time, a local newspaper report or photograph would be most welcome.

[ianjonesncl]

According to WO95-5494 Allocation Units 204 SB was attached to 91 / 57 / 30 HAGs between him joining the battery 2/5/17 and the announcement of the MM in the London Gazette on  21/8/1917.

The HAG war diaries may have some information on the battery's locations and activities. 

Edited 8 September , 2022 by ianjonesncl

[Ivor Anderson]

His MM index card at The National Archives' - reference WO 372/23/158165 shows his schedule number - 99420.

Bate and Williamson identify this gazette as 'awards for Messines and some minor actions' - c.June 1917.

Ian's HAG list indicates 204th SB were with 57th HAG during Messines. Siege battery MMs are often for gallantry under shell-fire?

Edited 9 September , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

There do not seem to have been any men of 204th SB killed during May-June 1917, but there could have been injured/wounded, often from gas shelling of the batteries:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/search-results/?Surname=&Forename=&Initials=&ServiceNum=&Regiment=&Unit=204th+siege+bty&CountryCommemoratedIn=null&Cemetery=&Rank=&SecondaryRegiment=&AgeOfDeath=0&DateDeathFromDay=1&DateDeathFromMonth=January&DateDeathFromYear=&DateDeathToDay=1&DateDeathToMonth=January&DateDeathToYear=&DateOfDeath=&Honours=null&AdditionalInfo=

[GWF1967]

10 hours ago, ianjonesncl said:

.The HAG war diaries may have some information on the battery's locations and activities. 

 

Many thanks Ian, another for your blog. 

 

2 hours ago, Ivor Anderson said:

Bate and Williamson identify this gazette as 'awards for Messines and some minor actions' - 

 

Thank you Ivor. 

[ianjonesncl]

The 57th HAG were part of Ninth Corps Artillery during the Battle of Messines.  

I obtained that information from an American Army War  College book Artillery Operations of the Ninth British Corps at Messines, June 1917 . Page 71 shows a distribution list for orders, this was a quick reference point. Locations are listed on page 44 onwards (Appendix A3), but it looks look they will need some interpretation 

Artillery Operations of the Ninth British Corps at Messines, June 1917

https://archive.org/details/artilleryoperat01goog

 

[ianjonesncl]

2 hours ago, ianjonesncl said:

it looks look they will need some interpretation 

From what I can see, the Schedule (page 74) has 204 SB allocated to the La Clytte Group.

The locations of the La Clytte Group are detailed in the locations listing (page 48).

From WO95-5494 Allocation Units they are equipped with 6 inch (26cwt) Howitzers, so in one of the four gun positions listed. 

 

 

[charlie962]

7 hours ago, Ivor Anderson said:

There do not seem to have been any men of 204th SB killed during May-June 1917, but there could have been injured/wounded, often from gas shelling of the batteries:

One man shell gas wounded slight was 113186 Gnr George Wilkinson,  72 Field Ambulance 15/6/17, admitted 18GHosp 20/6/17, age 26, 8mths FieldForce. I couldn't see a svc record .

Edited 9 September , 2022 by charlie962

[GWF1967]

1 hour ago, ianjonesncl said:

From what I can see, the Schedule (page 74) has 204 SB allocated to the La Clytte Group.

 

 

Many thanks once again. 

 

53 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

One man shell gas wounded slight was 113186 Gnr George Wilkinson,  72 Field Ambulance 15/6/17, admitted 18GHosp 20/6/17, age 26, 8mths FieldForce. I couldn't see a svc record .

Thanks Charlie.