James Tormey Royal Garrison Artilley

[LOUGHREE]

Hello,

James was a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, no 60679, 15th Siege Bty. and died on the 25th April 1916, aged 30 and is buried in Berles au Bois Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Can anyone advise how to go about getting his unit diary if possible, to try and find out how he died.

Thanks

Loughree

[Coldstreamer]

or you could check out the local paper of the time - might be a more personal account

he lived Athlone, westmeath

war diarys are held at the NA, Kew

[LOUGHREE]

or you could check out the local paper of the time - might be a more personal account

he lived Athlone, westmeath

war diarys are held at the NA, Kew

Thanks for that,

I need to find the WO reference number of the Diary if possible, I can't seem to find it by searching the NA.

With regards to the local paper, I don't know when his parents where notified so it could be several months of papers to sort through even if it is mentioned, but might be worth a try.

Thanks

Loughree

[Coldstreamer]

paper reports can be a quick as a few weeks or months or never!

I tend to flick through quick by looking at the pictures and then go through slower if time allows

good luck with the paper search

[ororkep]

Loughree,

The 15th Siege Battery only has the one diary at the NA under ref WO95/323 which unfortunately is only a pre entry to a theatre of war diary covering Dec 1914 through to Mar 1915. The 15 SB, a 6 in howitzer battery, went out to the Western Front in July 1915. Therefore try the higher formation diary of the 19th HAG which they were with until June 1916. The period you want is fully covered at ref WO95/217.

Regards Paul

[essdee]

Loughree

19th Heavy Artillery Group - April 16

Bailleulmont

11.4.16 - Nothing unusual to report

12.4.16 - Quiet day and night

13.4.16 - Trench registrations carried out. No reply

14.4.16 - Except for spasmodic shelling of back areas nothing to report

15.4.16 - Quiet day. Harassing fire carried out on enemy tracks at night

16.4.16 - Normal activity

17.4.16 - very quiet day, intermittent trench mortar activity at night

18.4.16 - Bad weather hindered trench registrations

19.4.16 - Nothing to report

20.4.16 - Trench registrations carried out

21.4.16 - Very quiet day

22.4.16 - Nothing to report

23.4.16 - Improvements in battery positions carried out, quiet day

24.4.16 - Intermittent machine gun activity during the night

25.4.16 - Quiet day nothing to report

26.4.16 - Usual trench registrations carried out nothing to report

This two week period leading upto the 25th doesn't shed much light on things. The entries of the 14th & 17th may be significant but as Ian has already suggested the local papers may be a better option.

Stuart

[LOUGHREE]

Loughree,

The 15th Siege Battery only has the one diary at the NA under ref WO95/323 which unfortunately is only a pre entry to a theatre of war diary covering Dec 1914 through to Mar 1915. The 15 SB, a 6 in howitzer battery, went out to the Western Front in July 1915. Therefore try the higher formation diary of the 19th HAG which they were with until June 1916. The period you want is fully covered at ref WO95/217.

Regards Paul

Thanks for the information, perhaps the death came about be accident, I will try and find the other diarys in case there might have been any shelling etc.

[Coldstreamer]

Thanks for the information, perhaps the death came about be accident, I will try and find the other diarys in case there might have been any shelling etc.

soldiers died confirms "killed in action" - an accident would usually be "died"