Driver 1738 Lawrence Bannister Diamond RFA

[Mick M]

There is no file for above, we have medal card (pic Ancestry) SWB and a pension record which shows him joining the RFA on 3.12.14 at Preston Lancashire, he was a local lad born in 1898 making him 16!

He went to Egypt 4.6.15 and the only clue to his unit is the TF renumbering, that block from 696001 went to 57th Divisional Ammunition train.

I'm looking for suggestions as to what this unit were doing, I can't find a diary at NA or Ancestry, and a couple of hours googling was fruitless.

Edited 8 March , 2023 by Mick M
Add pic.

[charlie962]

35 minutes ago, Mick M said:

can't find a diary at NA o

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354975

I don't think it's on Ancestry but will check.

[David Porter]

He is more likely to have been in 42nd (West Lancs.) Divisional Ammunition Column that embarked at Devonport for Egypt on May 17, 1915.

[charlie962]

1 hour ago, Mick M said:

that block from 696001 went to 57th Divisional Ammunition train

His number is 695006.

That is in the block that went to 55 Div and 57 Div, Ammunition Columns, according to the LongLongTrail.

[brianmorris547]

As David says, more likely East Lancs Div Artillery, later 42 Div, there was a re inforcement in June 1915 to Egypt.

TLLT does show 695001 as 55 and 57 Div  but I have seen men who went out to Egypt with the East Lancs Div RFA with 695xxx numbers in 1917.

Brian

[busterfield]

9 hours ago, David Porter said:

He is more likely to have been in 42nd (West Lancs.) Divisional Ammunition Column that embarked at Devonport for Egypt on May 17, 1915.

From familysearch.

 

[charlie962]

He had an accidental injury to shin with an ammunition box 7/8/16 and by Dec 1916 he was back in UK at Manchester. 

Courtesy Findmypast

Edit..

It looks as though he had severe leg problems from then on. Unlikely he went back overseas.

Edited 9 March , 2023 by charlie962

[David Porter]

The above picture shows he was No. 7 in West Lancashire Divisional Ammunition Column. You will find that around 570 men were transferred to form a DAC for 42nd East Lancashire Division in Egypt. When renumbered there were still 322 left in the DAC (i.e. 695001 - 695322). The LongLongTrail is a good guide but is not infallible.

[Mick M]

Thanks all that gives me a good start...

[charlie962]

5 hours ago, David Porter said:

570 men were transferred to form a DAC

That many! Were these men often described as 'details', a title I've not quite got to grips with for gunners?

Edited 9 March , 2023 by charlie962

[brianmorris547]

Mick

On Ancestry under War Diaries Gallipoli search under RFA 42 East Lancs Div and you will find in Piece 4314 Div Ammunition Column. It is the WD for 42 West Lancs DAC. It is only 13 pages long and covers the arrival in Egypt in June 1915 up to December 1915.

Brian

Edited 9 March , 2023 by brianmorris547

[David Porter]

13 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

That many! Were these men often described as 'details'

Actually, and I have to correct an assumption I made, the 570 men were transferred over the period December 18, 1914 - May 13, 1915 and not all went to Egypt. As for "details", another assumption on my part, is that it was a section of a unit given details of a move or task away from the main body. For example, "6 men were detailed to form a guard over the ammunition dump". The term would not have be used for this piecemeal transfer as far as I know.

[charlie962]

2 minutes ago, David Porter said:

a move or task away from the main body.

David, That sounds helpful. Not related to this thread but I had a hundred gunners/drivers under Seige inside Kut who must have been part of a Battery or DAC of the 6th Div but were described as 'details'. Using your suggestion it would fit well that they were employed on 'other duties' during a siege. 

Back on this thread, I had noted some men in their service records being described as details. 

Charlie

[Mick M]

4 hours ago, brianmorris547 said:

Mick

On Ancestry under War Diaries Gallipoli search under RFA 42 East Lancs Div and you will find in Piece 4314 Div Ammunition Column. It is the WD for 42 West Lancs DAC. It is only 13 pages long and covers the arrival in Egypt in June 1915 up to December 1915.

Brian

Thank you Brian...

[Mick M]

3 hours ago, charlie962 said:

David, That sounds helpful. Not related to this thread but I had a hundred gunners/drivers under Seige inside Kut who must have been part of a Battery or DAC of the 6th Div but were described as 'details'. Using your suggestion it would fit well that they were employed on 'other duties' during a siege. 

Back on this thread, I had noted some men in their service records being described as details. 

Charlie

Unfortunately that's how the OR were thought of, I was trying to piece detail from a Middlesex diary recently where 500 went in 80 to 100 came out, there was a detailed account of the officer casualties but not even a number for the men. We need to think of it in the mindset of the day....sad.