RFA 280 Bde Arras 1918

[trucker]

I am trying to research my great uncles service history I have the following information Gunner Frank Cartlidge 148876 served in RFA 280th Bde. Killed in action 6/6/1918 buried in Dainville military cemetery near Arras( which we visited in Jan 2005) came from Stoke-on-Trent aged 21 when he died . I am a total novice with this so any help anyone can give me would be most welcome

[Guest Mark allison]

hi

My grandfather served in 281Bde RFA. I belive both 280 & 281 were part of the 56th division. There are a couple of good books on the 56th available from the naval and military press (type the naval and military press into a search engine and you'll get the URL).

cheers

Mark

[RobertBr]

My Grandfather Gunner Henry (Nelson) Townsend served in the 281 Brigade of the 56th Division.

I do not have any direct information about the 280 Brigade but, on the supposition that they were operating in the same area, I do have my Grandfathers 1918 Diary. I can trace some of the 281 positions from 1/1/1918 to 28/3/1918 (when he was gassed).

Date || Place || Diary Entry / (Comments)

Tue 1 Jan. || Arleux (-en-Gonelle) to Bailleul (-Sur-Berthoult) || (Front Line to) Rear Position

14 Jan. || - || (Raid on Lens)

15 Jan. || - || Came out of action

16 Jan. || - || Day on march

17 Jan. || Caucourt || For rest

18 Jan. || Caucourt to Boulogne || On leave

19 Jan. || to London || 10pm slept the night there

21 Jan. || (Home) || 11am

3 Feb. || - || Left England for France

4 Feb. || Boulogne || Rest Camp

5 Feb. || Aubigny (-en-Artois) to Caucuort || Battery still out a rest

16 Feb. || to St Catherine (Arras) || Wagon Lines

17 – 18 Feb. || - || Wagon Lines

25 Feb. || - || Wagon Lines

2 Mar. || - || Line building gun pits

4 Mar. || - || Line building gun pits

11 Mar. || - || Line building gun pits

14 Mar. ||- || Div(isio)n Wagon Lines

15 –16 Mar. || - || Wagon Lines

17 – 18 Mar. || - || On the Gun

21 Mar. || - || Lively (German Michael Offensive)

22 Mar. || - || Zip (?) of Night

24 Mar. || - || Plenty doing Caught a G(as) B(arrage)

25 – 27 Mar. || - || Lively

28 Mar. || - || Heavy Gas attack (German Mars Offensive)

29 Mar. || - || Hospital (Good Friday)

30 Mar. || Etaples || -

31 Mar. || - || Bound for England. London 6pm (Easter Sunday)

From the other information I believe the 56th Division was just outside Arras (Arleux - Bailleul-Sur-Berthoult) in the latter part of March, with the Canadians on their left. I have read one account that puts thier field artillery to the east of Vimy, but that wsa more of an aside than a definite statement.

I do not have any information about the period when your Grandfather was killed. My Grandfather did not return to duty until September.

(my first post!)