R.G.A. 245 Battery

[Tonyitfc]

Hi !

I am researching family history, and have discovered my Grandad A.T. Backhurst 13987, was recalled from the reserve after 10 yrs. service and served in France with the above, entering service as a sergeant and finishing the war as a Lieutenant. Family legend has it that he finally succumbed to the effects of Gas dying in 1927. Does anybody have any information on where and when this unit was deployed. Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Tony.

[essdee]

Tony

Welcome to the Forum

245 Siege, as with all Siege and Heavy batteries, during the course of the War moved between Heavy Artillery Groups (HAG's) Corps and Armies. I have a reasonable amount of information on 245's various moves from their arrival on the 29th Jan 1917 and initial attachment to 52nd HAG, 2nd Anzac Corps HA, 4th Army.

It is most likely he arrived with a Siege battery as a Sergeant, was then accepted for Officer training, which would have been carried out in England and returned to France with a new Battery, that may or may not have been 245.

If you are able to get to Kew, The National Archives, a good place to look would be in the following file.

WO 339/114093 BACKHURST A

WO339's are the Officer Service records, and assuming it's the right one, this file should provide you with most of the info your after. It normally details which batteries he served with and when. There is a section on the Forum on visiting the NA with plenty of good advice/tips.

Stuart

[Tonyitfc]

Tony

Welcome to the Forum

245 Siege, as with all Siege and Heavy batteries, during the course of the War moved between Heavy Artillery Groups (HAG's) Corps and Armies. I have a reasonable amount of information on 245's various moves from their arrival on the 29th Jan 1917 and initial attachment to 52nd HAG, 2nd Anzac Corps HA, 4th Army.

It is most likely he arrived with a Siege battery as a Sergeant, was then accepted for Officer training, which would have been carried out in England and returned to France with a new Battery, that may or may not have been 245.

If you are able to get to Kew, The National Archives, a good place to look would be in the following file.

WO 339/114093 BACKHURST A

WO339's are the Officer Service records, and assuming it's the right one, this file should provide you with most of the info your after. It normally details which batteries he served with and when. There is a section on the Forum on visiting the NA with plenty of good advice/tips.

Stuart

[Tonyitfc]

Stuart,

Many thanks for the information, have registered with National Archive and hope to visit this weekend to obtain more information. Grandfathers medal card shows his entry to French theatre as 16 August 1914, any ideas as to why this is so much earlier than the date you quote for deployment of 245 Battery or would you expect these details to be on National Archive record ? Anything I can check for you whilst there ?

Regards,

Tony.

[ororkep]

Welcome Tony,

its because there is quite a few ranks in between Sgt and Lieut, and any one of them might have meant a change in battery, perhaps more than one. It is now clear though that he did not go out with 245 Siege Battery, or any siege Battery. It is more likely to be a Heavy Battery with that DOE and then transferred on promotion or on to the route Stuart mentioned, the Officer records will clarify. What do you hold that shows he entered as a Sgt from pre war service, and

what is the reference for his B&V, (not the Officer one, look for one tucked away smaller, something like 101B and 4 digits) and are there any other comments on the card?

Rgds Paul

[rflory]

A T Backhurst was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 16 January 1918 and retired with a gratuity on 12 August 1919. He served in France and Flanders from 18 August 1914 to to 13 January 1916 and in Macedonia, Serbia or Bulgaria from 11 November 1916 to the end of the war. He received the 1914 Star with date bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Regards. Dick Flory

[Tonyitfc]

Paul,

Many thanks for the information, response is amazing didn't imagine I would find out so much so quickly, excuse my ignorance but don't know what B&V is. All I have at present is a copy of his medal card which shows rank as sgt. so assumed this was entry rank as he came from Reserve. Lots of notations on medal card but difficult to read. one is : I.V.X/1440/d/6.11.20.Authy no/1/10306. Another reads : I.V.11i7i to date 6-3-20 auth WS/1/10306 does any of this mean anything ?

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

Tony.

A T Backhurst was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 16 January 1918 and retired with a gratuity on 12 August 1919. He served in France and Flanders from 18 August 1914 to to 13 January 1916 and in Macedonia, Serbia or Bulgaria from 11 November 1916 to the end of the war. He received the 1914 Star with date bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Regards. Dick Flory

[Tonyitfc]

A T Backhurst was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 16 January 1918 and retired with a gratuity on 12 August 1919. He served in France and Flanders from 18 August 1914 to to 13 January 1916 and in Macedonia, Serbia or Bulgaria from 11 November 1916 to the end of the war. He received the 1914 Star with date bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Regards. Dick Flory

Dick,

Many thanks for this information, can't believe within 48hrs. of posting have found more about my Grandfather than in last 61 yrs. Thank you all very much.

Regards,

Tony.