DRV.L.Campbell R.F.A. #1614

[Guest firepuppet54]

New to all this. Researching from Canada, my grandfather. Leslie Campbell, on back of 1914-15 star:

1614

DRV.L.Campbell

R.F.A.

I was told he was in the artillery so this makes sense. I just pulled his medals out of a frame and found this info. He would have been very young in 1914 as he was around 73 when he died in early 70's. Only thing he ever told my father was he was buried alive by artillery fire (counter battery likely) for 20 minutes, trapped between dead bodies. Was dug up and went crazy briefly (chasing fellow soldiers with an axe if I remember the storey). That's the only thing he ever told him about that war. He came to Canada, maybe 1922 and served here in Ordnance corp in WW II.

Was interested in finding anything out, where he seved etc.

Any assistance appreciated.

[Stebie9173]

Each man who was awarded medals had a Medal Index Card which references the Medal Rolls which give information about medal entitlements, and sometimes some useful extra information (though not often with the RFA). Quite often the MICs are more useful than the Medal Rolls, however.

A 1914-15 Star card will at least tell you where he first served overseas and when he went there.

Medal card of Campbell, Leslie

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Field Artillery 1614 Driver

Royal Field Artillery 935453 Driver

 

The Medal Index Cards are downloadable at a cost of £3.50.

His RFA numbers denote him as a Territorial Force artilleryman. These were renumbered in early 1917 from 4-digit numbers to 6-digit numbers. Some of the members here can tell you what unit the 6-digit number was allocated to.

If you pop over to the topic below, someone might help you out.

 

In common with the other enlisted men in WW1 there is a 30% chance that his Service Record survived the Blitz in WW2, and will detail wounds, illness, transfers, etc.

Once you know the unit(s) he was attached to you can follow their war by checking tle Long, Long Trail to locate which Division they belonged to. The National Archives still hold many of the units original War Diaries which will tell you where they were and what they were doing (but don't expect other ranks to be mentioned except for gallantry medals &/or casualty lists)

Hope this helps,

Steve.

[rflory]

An RFA TF number of 935453 indicates that he enlisted in the 3rd London Brigade, RFA TF which formed two RFA brigades: 1/3 London Bde, RFA which became 286 Bde, RFA in the 56th Division and 2/3 London Bde, RFA which became 292 Bde, RFA in the 58th Division (broken up in September 1916). Dick Flory

[Guest firepuppet54]

Each man who was awarded medals had a Medal Index Card which references the Medal Rolls which give information about medal entitlements, and sometimes some useful extra information (though not often with the RFA). Quite often the MICs are more useful than the Medal Rolls, however.

A 1914-15 Star card will at least tell you where he first served overseas and when he went there.

Medal card of Campbell, Leslie

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Field Artillery 1614 Driver

Royal Field Artillery 935453 Driver

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...1&resultcount=1

The Medal Index Cards are downloadable at a cost of £3.50.

His RFA numbers denote him as a Territorial Force artilleryman. These were renumbered in early 1917 from 4-digit numbers to 6-digit numbers. Some of the members here can tell you what unit the 6-digit number was allocated to.

If you pop over to the topic below, someone might help you out.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...topic=42191&hl=

In common with the other enlisted men in WW1 there is a 30% chance that his Service Record survived the Blitz in WW2, and will detail wounds, illness, transfers, etc.

Once you know the unit(s) he was attached to you can follow their war by checking tle Long, Long Trail to locate which Division they belonged to. The National Archives still hold many of the units original War Diaries which will tell you where they were and what they were doing (but don't expect other ranks to be mentioned except for gallantry medals &/or casualty lists)

Hope this helps,

Steve.

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