41st Brigade RFA

[Mossie]

I am trying to find out about the service of my grandfather Norman Levi Evens (No. 65430), who was in the 41st Brigade of the RFA and landed at Le Havre on August 16, 1914. His service record was apparently destroyed during WW 2, and is therefore unavailable. He was wounded and hospitalized in England until mid 1915, whereupon he returned to active service. I understand that the 41st Brigade remained in France for the duration of the war. However my grandmother had a pair of earrings made with stones that she insisted my grandfather had brought back from Gallipoli, and I am intrigued to know whether he served there. Can anyone suggest how I might get the answer to this question?

Stuart Clark

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Stuart

You are quite right: 41 Brigade RFA (9, 16 and 17 Batteries) remained in France and Belgium throughout the War. You can find its War Diary in the National Archives at Kew in files WO95/4326 and 4327.

It is possible that after he recovered from his wound, he might have been transferred to one of the divisions which fought in Gallipoli, especially if he was a specialist. Without his service record it will be difficult to verify this, but do you have any other indications of which new brigade he might have joined, or anything which might put a date or a place to his service?

Ron

[battiscombe]

Bombardier L N Evens 6543 RFA (surely your man) was reported to be wounded and in Birmingham hospital by 1 Sept 1914 - in casualty lists published in the Times,...

... indicating he was wounded in retreat from Mons with 2nd Division - the unit saw little action and only had a few casualties during that period - 1 officer and 2 rankers killed and 10 wounded, including Evens - as for the Gallipoli link, the suggestion that he was posted elsewhere after coming out of hospital seems reasonable .. 41st Bde remained with 2nd Division for the duration ..

david

[Mossie]

Ron and David, thank you so much for your prompt and informative responses. I was particularly pleased to learn the time and place that my grandfather was wounded - I have the first few pages of the brigade war diary and was able to locate the action in the diary. Sure enough it confirms that in the afternoon of September 1 the 9th and 17th were in action south of Villiers, and that the guns were withdrawn under heavy fire with ten casualties, one killed. The diary also notes that the 9th battery "fought at Ron de la Reine" in the morning - according to Neillands "The Old Contemptibles" (page 187) two platoons of the 1st Grenadier Guards were surrounded there that day and "fought to the last man." The "remarks" column in the diary notes that "the brigade was especialy mentioned in this action for gallantry and [illegible]. 1 Gr [illegible] awarded DCM on this occasion." It must have been quite a day!

This is the greatest leap forward in my research since I discovered the war diary! I am most grateful to both of you.

Do either of you know if it is possible to order a copy of the Times casualty list in which my grandfather's name appears (I live in California, so cannot drop by to pick up a copy!)

Stuart

[battiscombe]

The Times is available online in some libraries here .. and I could probably find the page and email you a copy .. I dont seem to have a copy of that page -

david