David Seymour Posted 22 November , 2006 Share Posted 22 November , 2006 Planning for next year's Remembrance Service at Thetford Grammar School has begun and we will focus on those lost in the artillery. I would be grateful for any advice about 149th Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery with whom one of my Old Boys died as a 2nd Lt in 1917: SURNAME: Cole C/NAMES: Cecil C. DOB: 3/89 UNIT: 149th Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery DATE OF DEATH: 13/10/17 AGE AT DEATH: 28 RANK: Second Lieutenant MEMORIAL: Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Westvleteren, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium CAUSE OF DEATH: Died of Wounds Many thanks for any help. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 24 November , 2006 Share Posted 24 November , 2006 David, You could really do with information from R Flory here as they are Officers from your school. But here is what I have. 2nd Lt. Cecil Clarke COLE. Went out to the Western Front from England on the first of March 1917, to serve with 149 SB He was killed in action on the 13/10/1917. There is no mention of what happened at all in the official 149 battery diary which is a particularly poor one giving no information other than rounds fired. In fact the 13th is not mentioned either, curiously the dates jump from the ….10/11/12th directly to the 14th, with the missing day being… You’ve guessed…. Friday the 13th and no names are mentioned in that month. The diary is no better in its description of their position indicted only by ‘in the field’ through out the month of October. However the higher HAG formation diary that they were part of , the 72 HAG, while again not mentioning a specific incident, gives the Brigade location around Wilsons Farm, Reigeisebey (cannot read) near Ypres. For the previous three days they had been supporting the infantry attacks on Poelcapelle as part of the battle of third Ypres by laying down barrages, along side the other Brigade siege batteries the 45, 109, 158, and 198. The weather on the 13th is shown as wet and dull. The 149 SB at the time of his death was a 4 gun battery of 6 in Howitzers (26 cwt). Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 26 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Paul, Thank you very much for your help on this. There is lots of useful material here. My next step must be to visit the PRO and look at his service record, which I have looked up in the catalogue. With best wishes, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 12 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2007 Went out to the Western Front from England on the first of March 1917, to serve with 149 SB Paul, I've looked in the Gazette and only found a Dec 1916 entry for Cecil. Where did you find his departure from England, and assignment to 149? Many thanks, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essdee Posted 12 July , 2007 Share Posted 12 July , 2007 David 12th October 17 – 149 Siege – 72 HAG – XVIII Corps Hostile Artillery Only slight shelling was reported up to day break; since then the enemy has naturally been very active. A hostile barrage was put down 12 minutes after zero and was strongest between Retour & County Cross roads. During the greater part of the day special attention has been given by the enemy to areas where our Infantry has been located. Casualties Killed 13 OR Wounded 9 Other Ranks Wounded 9 Officers, ……..2 L/t C C Cole 149 Siege Battery Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 13 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2007 Stuart, Thank you very much for that. Presumably from the war diary? Do you have an NA ref for it. Many thanks again. Best wishes, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essdee Posted 13 July , 2007 Share Posted 13 July , 2007 David It's from a page of the Corps Commander Royal Artillery diary of XVIII Corps Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 15 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2007 Stuart, Many thanks. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 15 July , 2007 Share Posted 15 July , 2007 2nd Lieutenant Cecil Clarke Cole, RGA SR Enlisted as a Private (Regt. Number 7108) in the 3rd Bn, Artists Rifles on 7 Mar 1916 Commissioned as a 2nd Lieut., RGA SR on 1 Dec 16 Died of wounds on 13 Oct 17 from wounds received the previous day, while serving with the 149th Siege Battery. Dick Flory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 15 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2007 Dick, That's great - moves the research a lot further forward. I'd be grateful for a source ref. for this material. With best wishes, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 15 July , 2007 Share Posted 15 July , 2007 David: The sources are "The Regimental Roll of Honour and War Record of the Artists Rilfles, 1914-1919" and "The Artists Rifles Journal, 1917". Regards. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 16 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 July , 2007 Dick, Many thanks for the refs. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 17 April , 2017 Share Posted 17 April , 2017 David, how did you get on with your research? Cecil & Edward Cole were my great uncles & I am now the keeper of various documents, letters, pictures, lapel badges & tags. Cecil was struck by a shard from a HE shell on 11/10/17. He had his legs trimmed & dressed at Dozinghem CCS, but DOW on 13/10/17. I would be very interested to learn more about his time serving with the 149th - It is my intention to travel out to mark the centenary of his death. Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 18 April , 2017 Share Posted 18 April , 2017 Hello David While you are at Kew: 18 CORPS WO 95/955 Commander Royal Artillery 1917 Feb. - 1918 June WO 95/955 Commander Heavy Artillery 1917 Jan. - June WO 95/955 Commander Heavy Artillery 1917 Oct. WO 95/955 Commander Heavy Artillery 1918 Jan. - June The diaries will all be in the same box. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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