Found the Haystack, now looking for the Needle

[OldBillRFA]

Following on from my experience with a Professional?? Resercher at the NA, (see my post on this), I found details of William SANDERS, 259673, Drv., R.F.A. from the Absent Voters List at Chester Record Office.

Can anyone help me with finding out some detail of what the 8th Res., Bty., R.F.A. was? William hailed from the Lancashire area. I have read all the details about the R.F.A. on The Long, Long Trail but found nothing that could help me. N.B. This is the needle.

I have finally decided to go to the NA myself, so any help would be much appreciated.

[Greenwoodman]

At the end of the war 8th (Reserve) Battery was part of 2A Reserve Brigade at Preston.

[Ron Clifton]

At the end of the war 8th (Reserve) Battery was part of 2A Reserve Brigade at Preston.

... and almost certainly did not keep a War Diary (home units did not have to) so you can save wasting time trawling through WO95! You might also like to search the medal index cards online on the NA website because he will not have a card at all if he never served abroad. Only negative information I'm afraid, but it may help you to narrow your search.

The RA Museum "Firepower!" at Woolwich may be able to help with more information about these units.

Ron

[OldBillRFA]

... and almost certainly did not keep a War Diary (home units did not have to) so you can save wasting time trawling through WO95! You might also like to search the medal index cards online on the NA website because he will not have a card at all if he never served abroad. Only negative information I'm afraid, but it may help you to narrow your search.

The RA Museum "Firepower!" at Woolwich may be able to help with more information about these units.

Ron

Thanks to both of you for that information. I obtained the information on William Sanders - 8th Res. Bty. R.F.A. number 259673 Dvr. from the 1919 Absent Voters list and checked his service number against a list of thirteen William Sanders' who had a Medal Card. One of them has the same regimental number and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He said that he was at the front for three years and was on the Somme. He also said that he was sent to Germany after the Armistace. It is nice to know that he eventually arrived at Preston. I suppose that he could have been transfered to this reserve battery in 1919. It looks that I will have to do some more digging in the haystack to find out which battery he was in on the Somme. Will the Medal Rolls themselves give any more info on his battery or do they usually just state RFA.

[Greenwoodman]

Just a note of caution. Info on Preston came from an Order of Battle on the day of the Armistice, so may not necessarily be valid for another date, either before or after.