Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Royal Artillery Unit Histories


rflory

Recommended Posts

What an amazing wealth of information you hold! From your lists I don’t see the 56th Division 281 Brigade mentioned, but I wonder whether you (or possibly other followers of this thread) may have come across anything on my Grandfather (details below.)

THOMAS WILLIAM HALL - 56 Division (formerly 1st/2nd London) 281 Brigade

I'm 'Remembering' him on https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/1525093

DOB: 07/02/1891

DOD: 16/12/1975

Enlisted 18/12/1909 RFA(TF)

Mobilized 15/08/1914

Re-enlisted in the Field (Rouveroy, Belgium) 25/02/1919

Went on to serve in Regular Army & Reserve until final demobilization in 1948

Army numbers: 442 & 930168 (WW1) and then 1019470

Awarded Croix de Guerre (avec Palme) – Gazetted Issue 300431 – 1 May 1917 Supplement p 4159 for an actions on night of 1/2nd October 1916 somewhere near Morval. I have a photo of an un-named young soldier with a note written by my GF on the back indicating that he was involved in rescuing him, but that he died of wounds some days later.

Below is a transcript of a hand-written letter from Capt. G M Hamilton which refers to the events:

‘Dear Sgt Hall, On behalf of the officers and men of the late 6th County of London Battery, I beg you to accept this small token of gratitude and admiration in the way you came to our help on that fateful night of Oct 1st 1916.

The whole Battery was desirous of showing its appreciation of your gallant work and of the way you came to the succour of our stricken comrades and also wished to give you something as a reminder in years to come.

The whole Battery joins me in congratulating you on having the Croix de Guerre bestowed upon you, never was it better deserved by anyone and we are all very pleased about it. Please accept this little present with our warmest thanks and as a tribute from those you succoured in their hour of need.

Wishing you the best of luck in the future, I remain yours very sincerely,

G.M. Hamilton Capt B/281 RFA, Feb 20 1917.’

Awarded Military Medal – Gazetted Issue 30573 – 12 March 1918 p3234

I have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to find any information about the actions which resulted in these two awards. The War Diaries mention the awards when they were announced, but don’t have any specific details. If you are able to shed any light, I would be very grateful.

I also attach a copy of a photo of my GF’s Battery – My GF is seated 5th from the left, 2 rows from the front (not wearing a bandolier.) On the back he has written ‘Out of the Line for a rest. B Battery 281 Bde RFA 1917.’ I’m not sure whether men were moved between Batteries, since other papers show that he was with A Battery. Having compressed it for the Web, the faces are unclear, but I'd be happy to send you a higher res. image, if it is of interest.

Many thanks

Jane H

post-110749-0-87466100-1403622593_thumb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

hi i would be extreemly grateful for any info you could find on my grandfathers unit 82nd seige battery from 1916 to end of the war he served right through from oct 14 to feb 1919 regards dave denoven he was gunner joseph denoven 46805 rga

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dick,

Can you provide any extra information about 27 Siege Bty and the gas attack on 8 April 1917. Gnr W Barnes, 144961, was gassed that day and after evacuation to Norwich War Hospital he died on 17 April. His body was returned home to Malmesbury, Wilts where he is buried.

Thanks,

Charles

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello

Do you have anything on the 21st Anti-Aircraft Section, RGA? I am particularly interested in Captain, Officer Commanding, Noel Charles Spicer Simson, or Spicer-Simson, who died 26 September 1915.

Thank you

JP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

helpjpl: I am sorry but I do not have anything on 21st AA Section RGA or Captain Simson other than that there is a photo of him in War Illustrated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ChasMalmesbury wrote: "Can you provide any extra information about 27 Siege Bty and the gas attack on 8 April 1917. Gnr W Barnes, 144961, was gassed that day and after evacuation to Norwich War Hospital he died on 17 April."

The war diary for 27th Siege Battery, RGA for 8 April 1917 states: "Mardevill. Position same. Number of rounds fired: Nil. Casualties: Nil. I Officer and 36 other ranks proceeded to Aux-Rietz to dig gun emplacements for forward positions." There is no mention of Gnr Barnes or a gas attack during the month of April 1917. The only casualties mentioned for the month of April 1917 are for 17 April 1917: Gnr Barnacle and Bowles killed in action and Gnr Reilly and Wavell wounded by hostile shell fire.

I have a copy of 27th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, BEF, France & Flanders and the only casualties listed under killed in action for April 1917 are the above-mentioned Gnr. Barnacle and Bowles and the only wounded listed for the month of April 1917 are Gnr Reilly and Wavell.

Regards, Dick Flory

Link to comment
Share on other sites

helpjpl: I am sorry but I do not have anything on 21st AA Section RGA or Captain Simson other than that there is a photo of him in War Illustrated.

I'd be very grateful for the photo from War Illustrated.

JP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dick,

Can you provide any extra information about 27 Siege Bty and the gas attack on 8 April 1917. Gnr W Barnes, 144961, was gassed that day and after evacuation to Norwich War Hospital he died on 17 April. His body was returned home to Malmesbury, Wilts where he is buried.

Thanks,

Charles

Charles,

Have a look at a year later. He died 17th April 1918.

Kevin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

helpjpl: Unfortunately I do not have the photo from War Illustrated. Just a note that there is one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Charles: 144961 Gnr. W. Barnes is listed in 27th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, BEF, France & Flanders as being wounded on 8 April 1918 along with 35 other ranks, but his death is not listed, probably because he had left the battery by that time. Unfortunately the battery war diary only covers up to February 1918. The battery was serving under 7th Brigade, RGA in April 1918 and that unit's war diary for 8 April 1918 states: "Thick mist all day. Close to no wind. No visibility. During the early morning commencing at 3:30am the enemy again put down a very heavy gas bombardment. This lasted until 7am." No details about casualties are given.

Regards, Dick Flory

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nick wrote: "Please could you have a look at 250th Siege Battery history for 11/12/1917 - am interested in Gunner 165544 Wignall who was killed that day."

Nick: I ordered copies of a number of siege battery war diaries including the one for 250th Siege Battery, RGA from my UK researcher in September but have not yet received them as they are currently out for digitizing at The National Archives. As soon as I receive them I will see if I can find anything about the death of Gunner Wignall. Regards, Dick Flory

Link to comment
Share on other sites

djdf1 wrote: "hi i would be extreemly grateful for any info you could find on my grandfathers unit 82nd seige battery from 1916 to end of the war he served right through from oct 14 to feb 1919 regards dave denoven he was gunner joseph denoven 46805 rga"

djdf1: The war diary of 82nd Siege Battery RGA from April 1916 to February 1918 is available from The National Archives under WO 95/323. It is 95 pages in length. Currently the diary is being digitized by TNA.

Regards, Dick Flory

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jane H: Thank you for the post on Sgt Thomas William Hall of 261st Brigade, RFA. A number of things:

1. I do not have a copy of the war diary for 281st Brigade, RFA for the period 1 Aug 1915 to 31 May 1010 but it can be downloaded online on The National Archives website as WO 05/2940/3 (281 images) for £3.30.

2. It is difficult to find why Military Medals and French Croix de Guerre were awarded but there might be some information in the war diary.

3. The letter to Sgt Hall from Capt. G M Hamilton is interesting to me as I am the custodian of his Great War Victory Medal.

4. I would love to have a high resolution scan of the photo of B/281 and will send you a PM with me email address.

Sorry that I could not be more useful.

Regards, Dick Flory

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Nick wrote: "Please could you have a look at 250th Siege Battery history for 11/12/1917 - am interested in Gunner 165544 Wignall who was killed that day."

Nick: I ordered copies of a number of siege battery war diaries including the one for 250th Siege Battery, RGA from my UK researcher in September but have not yet received them as they are currently out for digitizing at The National Archives. As soon as I receive them I will see if I can find anything about the death of Gunner Wignall. Regards, Dick Flory

Thanks ever so much, that's greatly appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi, could you please find out anything about 'C' Battery, 75th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, specifically for a Lieutenant John Llewelyn Edwards. I'd like to find out possibly how he died and what his Brigade was doing that caused his death. He died on 7th September 1917 during the Battle of Pilkem, and he is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery. ANY information about this man would be very, very much appreciated. Thanks, Tom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you would do best to get the war diary - available online WO95/1203/5 in 3 pdfs for a few £s. It looks as if the pages for Sept 1917 may be missing but there is lot of material concerning their war.. supporting the Guards Division.. you may well find mention of him within the 400+ pages of the diary. he could have been in B/75 previously as a section from it were posted to C/75 in Nov 1916

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello all,

I am new to the forum - hopefully I'm posting in the right place? I am trying to find out some further information about my great grandfather's (and his brother's) service during the war.

I have obtained their regiment numbers from the absent voters list as follows:

Leonard James Leaver (my gggf) - 34036, Royal Field Artillery

Charles Stephen Leaver - 33945, Driver, Royal Field Artillery

John Edward Leaver - 394885, Pte, Queens

I have found records in the medal index relating to Leonard and John. These add an "L/" prefix before Leonard's and Charles' regiment numbers. They also state Leonard was a Driver. I believe they were both awarded the Victory and or British medals.

Can anyone tell me more about which exact regiment Leonard and Charles belonged to? Is the L/ prefix significant? Were they likely to have fought together? Is there a way to find out which battles they fought in?

I cannot find a medal index record for John Edward Leaver with a reg. number that matches the reg. number in the absent voters list. I can find John Edward Leaver as follows, "1660. Pte. 8th R.W Surr. R" and an index card which also mentions Queen's (as per absent voters) R York and Lancaster with the same 1660 number and two other reg. numbers (52728 and 4736661) but not the number that appears on the absent voters list? Is this is the same person?

I have a photo of my gggf in uniform with two men and I am guessing they are his brothers Charles and John. I would also like to work out from the photo which is Charles and which is John. Is this possible from looking at the uniforms they are wearing?

Any advice much very appreciated.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mrtom654321 wrote: "Hi, could you please find out anything about 'C' Battery, 75th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, specifically for a Lieutenant John Llewelyn Edwards."

Lieut. John Llewelyn Edwards, RFA

Educated at the University of Wales, Bangor from 1912 to 1914 where he served in the Officers' Training Corps

Gazetted Temporary 2nd Lieutenant, RFA on 30 September 1914

In March 1915 he was serving with the 16th Division Ammunition Column, RFA

Later in 1915 he was posted to Y.Guards Trench Mortar Battery, RFA

Promoted to Temporary Lieutenant, RFA on 17 August 1915

In 1916 he was serving with Headquarters, 61st Brigade, RFA

The notebook of Major Edward H. Giffard dated 8 September 1917 who was serving with 75th Brigade, RFA at the time indicates: "Quiet night, but heard that Waggon Lines had been bombed; Edwards (Lieut. J. L. Edwards) and Jenkins (2/Lieut. G. P. Jenkings) killed and we had four men killed and eight wounded: shocking bad luck."

Sources: University of Wales Roll of Service, 1914-18; Guns, Kites and Horses: Three Diaries from the Western Front; various Army Lists.

You might want to obtain a copy of Giffard, Sydney (Editor). Guns, Kites, and Horses: Three War Diaries from the Western Front. London: The Radcliffe Press, 2003. One of the diaries is that of Major E. L. Giffard who served with 75th Brigade from November 1916 until dying of wounds on 10 November 1918.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Hi. I am researching for my regiment (104 RA) as many members of 67 Brigade RFA (WW1) I can to add information to the IWM lives. All current batteries of the RA have been tasked to do this by the Master Gunner to research their respective unit lineage, so if you do have some information or pictures of 67 Brigade troops this would aid me greatly. I have identified about 70 members of 67 Brigade so far and I am particularly interested in 'A' Battery, as it is the descendant of my battery (211 South Wales Battery).

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/1625

On another note, my great uncle was a gunner in the 1st Monmouthshire Vol's RFA from 1913 to 1915, so if you have any information on this unit around this time I would would also be grateful. Oh, and I have also found out that his, and his fathers employer at the time of WW1 was Major-General William Frederick Cleeve CB commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, at his home near Caerleon, South Wales. Have not been able to find a picture of him.

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/3622855

Thanks, Richard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Curiousme wrote: "

I am new to the forum - hopefully I'm posting in the right place? I am trying to find out some further information about my great grandfather's (and his brother's) service during the war.

I have obtained their regiment numbers from the absent voters list as follows:

Leonard James Leaver (my gggf) - 34036, Royal Field Artillery

Charles Stephen Leaver - 33945, Driver, Royal Field Artillery

John Edward Leaver - 394885, Pte, Queens

Can anyone tell me more about which exact regiment Leonard and Charles belonged to? Is the L/ prefix significant? Were they likely to have fought together? Is there a way to find out which battles they fought in?

The L/prefix for the Royal Field Artillery indicates that the soldier enlisted in a 'local' artillery brigade (up to that time the RA recruited throughout the UK but in 1915 it enlisted men in 'local' brigades - those RFA brigades numbered between approximately 140 to 180 Brigade, RFA). As the men in most of those brigades were not numbered sequentially it is difficult to tell with which of these brigades he might have served.

I cannot find a medal index record for John Edward Leaver with a reg. number that matches the reg. number in the absent voters list. I can find John Edward Leaver as follows, "1660. Pte. 8th R.W Surr. R" and an index card which also mentions Queen's (as per absent voters) R York and Lancaster with the same 1660 number and two other reg. numbers (52728 and 4736661) but not the number that appears on the absent voters list? Is this is the same person?

I am not that conversant with the regimental numbers for The Queen's but a six digit number may indicate a Territorial - if he joined prior to late 1916 he would also have had a number with less than six digits.

I have a photo of my gggf in uniform with two men and I am guessing they are his brothers Charles and John. I would also like to work out from the photo which is Charles and which is John. Is this possible from looking at the uniforms they are wearing?

As Charles was in the Royal Field Artillery and John in The Queen's it would be possible to tell them apart by looking at their cap badges or there collar insignia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi RFLORY

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY

SERJEANT EARNEST J H KNIGHT... D BATTERY 312th BDE

KILLED ON THE 26 MAY 1917

ANY INFO WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE ANY

KIND REGARDS

ROBBIE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

D Bty 312 Brigade.doc

Like all War Diaries the only persons mentioned by name are Officers. Please find the attached document which will be of use to you.

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hi I'm researching my wife's great-great-grandfather,

Sergeant William Henry Ball 25405 "C" Bty, 75th Bde.

He was mentioned in dispatches in 18/5/1917 but not sure what for.

Also his brother Sergeant John Buckley Ball 13728 "C" Bty, 75th Bde.

Who died on 4/09/1917, and buried at Canada Farm Cemetery.

But cannot find any of his military records. What was happening in the

area of Canada Farm prior to his death?

We have just been shown a photograph of the brothers together, both sergeants,

so that would have been between 15/3/1916, Williams promotion to sergeant and

John's death. Would the brothers have served together? How was the brigade

deployed and do you have information on the brigades actions?

Any help in these questions will be really appreciated.

Judder

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the war diaries of 75th brigade can be downloaded for a few £ - serving with the Guards Division - WO95 1203.. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7351811

but it looks like pages for Aug-Sept 1917 are missing.. there may be more information in the artillery commander records for the Guards Division .. careful reading may suggest an action sometime before May 1917 when C/75 men got awards which may include that MID to Sgt WH Ball

I have a photo which I thought *might* be of C/75 in 1916 or 1917 so would be really interested in seeing any known image of men in it .. if you could post part of it ..??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...