TerryP Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 My grand uncle served in this unit. I have found information via Wikipedia although some of it seems incorrect. Apparently one of the guns blew up on 10th November 1917 killing or wounding the whole unit, however no deaths are recorded on CWGC. No specific diary on the national archives site. Hoping somebody can help me gleam more information ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 Welcome to the forum. From Long Long Trail (tab link top of page) The raising of 99 to 106 Siege Batteries RGA - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk) regards Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 (edited) David Philp 107773 kia 6/11/17. James Hender 137028 kia 6/11/17. Frederick Storey 77191 d.o.w 6/11/17. Could this be the event? Can you tell us anything about your GtUncle? Edited 4 November , 2022 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 4 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 4 November , 2022 1 hour ago, TerryP said: My grand uncle served in this unit. I have found information via Wikipedia although some of it seems incorrect. Apparently one of the guns blew up on 10th November 1917 killing or wounding the whole unit, however no deaths are recorded on CWGC. No specific diary on the national archives site. Hoping somebody can help me gleam more information ? Yeah I have that info... gunner Henry Pitman 67672 attestation 8th nov 1915, southampton to le havre on 18th may 1916, limited info on his movements other than via wiki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 (edited) 20 minutes ago, TerryP said: Henry Pitman 67672 There is a service record on Ancestry, if you subscribe UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 - Ancestry.co.uk Name: Henry Pitman Gender: Male Enlistment Age: 22 Birth Date: abt 1893 Document Date: 1915 Residence Place: 22 Franchise St, Derby Military Date: 1915 Relationship to Soldier: Self (Head) Regimental Number: 67672 Regiment Name: Royal Garrison Artillery Number of Images: 37 Edited 4 November , 2022 by jonbem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 (edited) He was only in 105 Siege Bty 15/2 -5/10/16. Evacuated, suffering from dysentery and thus posted to Depot in UK and subsequently to a different unit once he had recovered. Edited 4 November , 2022 by charlie962 Detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 30 minutes ago, TerryP said: attestation 8th nov 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 4 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 4 November , 2022 12 minutes ago, charlie962 said: He was only in 105 Siege Bty 15/2 -5/10/16. Evacuated, suffering from dysentery and thus posted to Depot in UK and subsequently to a different unit once he had recovered. Ahhh, I've seen that too... but didn't realise he had been transferred. To 180 siege ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 Just now, TerryP said: 180 siege Yes when he returned to France as in that extract provided by jonbem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 There is more info if you go through the 37 pages of service record for example Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 November , 2022 Share Posted 4 November , 2022 Note also that he was a qualified Signaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 5 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2022 7 minutes ago, charlie962 said: Yes when he returned to France as in that extract provided by jonbem. I find the records hard to decipher, 5/10/16 dysentery 22/3/17 180 siege those 5 months in-between cant seem to see where he was ? 5 minutes ago, charlie962 said: Note also that he was a qualified Signaller. Saw that also but records show "gunner" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 22/3/17 joined 180 Siege Bty. 16/12/17 posted to 228 Siege Bty. Gunner is a rank. Signaller is a qualification, earning extra pay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 5 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2022 New to this forum, but really appreciating all the help you guys are providing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 3 minutes ago, TerryP said: 5 months in-between cant seem to see where he was ? Recovering until end Dec, then goes to Signalling School , Bexhill where he qualifies in January 1917. He goes back to France 8/3/17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 Terry check out the tab at top of page for hints and tips on research and loads of info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 You are fortunate his record survives and is quite detailed. Several versions of the same basic events but each gives a little bit more. Keep looking at the detail. Try to draw up a timeline. We can then correct or explain as you wish. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 5 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2022 4 minutes ago, charlie962 said: 22/3/17 joined 180 Siege Bty. 16/12/17 posted to 228 Siege Bty. Gunner is a rank. Signaller is a qualification, earning extra pay! That’s great thank you… any idea on the 5 months prior to posting to 180 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 Posts crossing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 5 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2022 2 minutes ago, charlie962 said: You are fortunate his record survives and is quite detailed. Several versions of the same basic events but each gives a little bit more. Keep looking at the detail. Try to draw up a timeline. We can then correct or explain as you wish. Charlie Thank you I've been trying to do that...my father didn't even know that his uncle existed !!! I've just returned from my second trip to belgium this year, and am going again next april hopefully with a better understanding of his whereabouts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 5 November , 2022 Share Posted 5 November , 2022 (edited) I note that he must have been in 228 Siege Battery in March 1918 when the Germans launched their Operation Michael, the spring offensive. The battery was overrun and lost 4 of its guns. @ororkepis the expert on this... There is also a battery history but copies look pricey! Edited 5 November , 2022 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 5 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2022 2 minutes ago, charlie962 said: I note that he must have been in 228 Siege Battery in March 1918 when the Germans launched their Operation Michael, the spring offensive. The battery was overrun and lost 4 of its guns. @ororkepis the expert on this... wow.. thank you, im still trying to work out how to use long long trail for searching... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianjonesncl Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 The War Diaries of the Batteries are available in the National Archives. They will give an a record of the unit abd their activities. Normally OR's are not mentioned by name, but sometimes their names do appear. Reference: WO 95/540/3 Description: Army Troops. 180 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Army Troops. 180 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery | The National Archives Reference: WO 95/477/8 Description: Army Troops. 228 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Army Troops. 228 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery | The National Archives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 Unfortunately the 228 diary is not available for the period he served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryP Posted 6 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2022 (edited) Bit confused where the 228 SB came from ? I now understand that following his recovery from dysentery he qualified as a signaller and was then posted back under 180 SB. His medical record that jonbem posted above dated 13/09/18 seems to indicate he was with 218 SB ? As his service record shows an entry for 16/12/17 i presume that is when he left 180 but the writing is smeared and I cant make out which battery he switched to. Edited 6 November , 2022 by TerryP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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