39 Siege Battery RGA

[RedCoat]

Hi all,

Could anyone give me any details about 39 Siege Battery please, as my Great Grandad served with the Battery until he was wounded in July/August 1916. Does anyone have a copy of the war diary that covers these months? Also what was the acctual rank structure within a battery I.E how many officers? and their responsibilities.

Thanks, Donnie

[ororkep]

Donnie,

The HAG diaries for 39 SB you require covering that period, are that of 24 Brigade from 7/5/16 to 27 Brigade on the 9/6/16 which they were with until Jan 1917.

Formed in 1915 at Sheerness it went out to the Western Front 2/11/1915 and a diary survives for them from Nov 1915 to early 1918 at WO95/220. A battery of 4 x 8in Hows, some of the best sequence of IWM action photos of them in Aug 1916 can easily be found on the internet. (indeed of any 8 in How battery) The added bonus being the photos give you the exact position of 39 SB. In Aug 1916 they should of had a compliment on paper of 220, inclusive of 8 Officers, 1 BQMS, 10 Serjeants and 2 trumpeters. In reality it was 108 inclusive of 7 Officers and 5 Serjeants, with 103 reinforcements about to join indicative of the scale of action at the time.

Rgds Paul

[Hoplophile]

I have electronic copies of the war establishments for various kinds of siege batteries that were in force in the autumn of 1916. I am happy to send these to you via e-mail, but must give fair warning that the each page takes up nearly a megabyte of memory.

[RedCoat]

Thanks for the info paul, cheers.

thanks Hoplophile, by all means send a copy to me via email,

Donnie

[terryb95]

Hoplophile,

My interest is 7th Siege Bty RGA ( 4 X 6" Guns) Could you please send me a copy of their establishment.

Thanks

Terryb95

West Aust

[Hoplophile]

Dear Terry,

If you send me a PM with your regular e-mail, I can send you the establishment for 1916.

Best wishes,

Bruce