241st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery location request.

[Gunner 87]

Hi Guys. 

I am researching a Gunner William Spierling 51616 killed on the 14th May 1918 near to Poperinge while serving with the 241st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. William is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3. There are only twelve men buried at this location killed between the 13th and 15th May 1918, two of which are RGA but different Battery's. 

I can only find the War Diary for the 241st Siege Battery between the dates 1st January 1917 to 31st January 1918 and though we know the Battery sat in 30 Heavy Artillery Group at this time I can't locate the War Diary for the HAG either.

Can any of our expert members point me in the right direction to either the 241st SB WD or 30 HAG WD covering 14th May 1918 so I can try and confirm the location of the Battery at the time of Williams death. 

Thank you in advance.

Gunner 87

@ianjonesncl

@kevinrowlinson

@battiscombe

@David Porter

 

Edited 7 September by Gunner 87

[MrEd]

I think 30th HAG became 30th Brigade feb 1918 with the second army, probably doesn’t help at all, sorry 

Edited 7 September by MrEd

[Gunner 87]

22 hours ago, MrEd said:

I think 30th HAG became 30th Brigade feb 1918 with the second army, probably doesn’t help at all, sorry 

Thank you MrEd. I will try and locate the WD for the 30th Brigade.

Gunner 87

[Gunner 87]

23 hours ago, MrEd said:

I think 30th HAG became 30th Brigade feb 1918 with the second army, probably doesn’t help at all, sorry 

Unfortunately the location is given as recorded at G25 b 6.4 but there don't appear to be any appendix.

Edited 8 September by Gunner 87

[Gunner 87]

On 07/09/2023 at 20:52, MrEd said:

I think 30th HAG became 30th Brigade feb 1918 with the second army, probably doesn’t help at all, sorry 

The brigade were at Ouderdom which is in the vicinity of Poperinge the month before and it doesn't appear they moved so your help has been of great assistance. Thank you.

Gunner 87. 

[ororkep]

Gunner 87,

you have the Brigade location but the precise battery position of their (241) 6in Hows was:

G24c.72.51.

Also remembering that Spierling was originally with 187 Sge Bty.

Rgds Paul

[WhiteStarLine]

31 minutes ago, ororkep said:

G24c.72.51.

Which is due north of Ouderdom, as has been mentioned, shown on a March 1918 map.

[Gunner 87]

On 12/09/2023 at 14:35, ororkep said:

Gunner 87,

you have the Brigade location but the precise battery position of their (241) 6in Hows was:

G24c.72.51.

Also remembering that Spierling was originally with 187 Sge Bty.

Rgds Paul

HI Paul. @WhiteStarLine. Thank you both for your help. It's very much appreciated. 

Checked the WD and on the 14/05/18 241 SB were at 28.G.25.b.6.7 which I entered into Trench Mapper That I now have and found the position had obviously been shelled. 

Gunner 87

Edited 15 September by Gunner 87

[ororkep]

We may be at cross purposes here. Your cited ref is the 30 Brigade HQ position (f: HAG) which they had occupied since May 1st. Not the position of 241 SB which was a component battery within 30 Bde. The Bde HQ position is well West of Ouderdom.

Rgds Paul

 

[Gunner 87]

11 minutes ago, ororkep said:

We may be at cross purposes here. Your cited ref is the 30 Brigade HQ position (f: HAG) which they had occupied since May 1st. Not the position of 241 SB which was a component battery within 30 Bde. The Bde HQ position is well West of Ouderdom.

Rgds Paul

 

Paul, that is appreciated. Thanks for the correction.