R.G.A and the TF

[bobbyjoehill]

O.k I have been trying to nut this out but I cant make any sense of it.

Im currently trying to research where a person fought during the war.

I know he was a part of the West Riding Brigade and served with the Royal Garison Artillery. I've also learnt he was part of the Territorial Force. Through looking on the Artillery section of this website I know he served with the 342nd Battery of the R.G.A which was part of the 60th Brigade. Now this is where I dont know where to go. The 60th Brigade was attached to the Third Army but I'm having trouble on finding out where the third army went and what made up the third army. I know the guy im researching entered the war in January 1918.

Any help?

[Chris_Baker]

Bobbyjoe

Let's take this a step at a time.

West Riding Brigade - are you sure that is RGA not Royal Field Artillery? You can confirm that in a number of ways - not least his number. Do you know it?

[bobbyjoehill]

Unfortunately no, an entry in the London Gazette states "W. Rid. Bde, R.G.A., T.F., attd. 342nd Sge. By." and this small part of the MIC

[centurion]

If he was RGA then he could also be TF. When the TF was formed it subsumed the Yeomanry and Volunteers. A number of coastal batteries were manned primarily by volunteer units of the RGA. This made sense as in peace time the gunners were local men who worked in the vicinity, attented practices and drills and were available - on the spot - in tme of emergency. The government did not need to spend money on accommodation etc for a permenant garisson. So just as regular infantry batts might have volunteer batts who becme part of the TF so also the RGA could have TF units. In 1914 the TF had 16 heavy batteries of artillery. (In just the same way the TF had Royal Engineer, ASC and RAMC units.)

[Chris_Baker]

Aha! Well, you would not a number: officers did not have them in WW1.

342 Siege Battery is the interesting bit. We should be able to work out his movements from that. Most of the RGA batteries moved from brigade to brigade. Anyone out there got a copy of "Allocations of Siege Batteries"?

Armies and Corps are too big and static a formation to be much use in working out anyone's movements. Let's stand by and see what we find ...

[ororkep]

Bobyjoe,

342 Siege Battery, a 6 in howitzer Battery (26 cwt) that went out to the Western front 29/May 1917, joined 60 HAG (Heavy Artillery Group) Xmas day Dec 1917 with no subsequent changes. By Nov 1918 they fought along side 183, 305 and 136 Siege Batteries. While no diary survives for 342 SB, one for 60 HAG covering the period you require survives at NA ref WO95/394. you can order the relevant months on line for £8.50 per 10 pages.

Rgds

[bobbyjoehill]

Thanks for your help ororkep,

I did a search and this came up:

"War Office: First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries WO 95/394/

60 Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery . 60 Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery Third Army The National Archives, Kew

Date range: 1916 - 1919."

Im guessing this is the document that would have information on the 342nd's movements with the 60th from December 1917 on?