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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Aug 31st 1915 - RFA brigades arriving in France


theresa musgrove

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Can anyone confirm whether or not the 109th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 24th Division, was the only RFA brigade to arrive in France that day? Did the 107th also arrive on this date? Trying against the odds to establish my grandad's brigade - his service in France begins from this date. Any help very welcome.

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I can positively confirm that both the 107 and the 109 Bde’s RFA arrived in France on the 31/8/1915. The 109 Bde was however effectively reorganised in May 1916, its D/109 became D/107. Its complicated and there are other permutations of their movements, but while its possible your man moved across perhaps on his promotion, to my mind the 107 should be your first choice. That is assuming your man was not a replacement, so either way to me the key could lie with the volume of his star roll, and the surrounding names in it with similar numbering that went out on the same date, as some of them must be on either Ancestry or CWGC that will hopefully provide you with a clearer pointer.

Rgds Paul

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My Gt Uncle Richard Ridge was number 85146

He enlisted 28 January 1915

A Battery 109 Brigade - Acting Bombadier 5 June 1915

France - 30 August 1915

Star Roll RFA 1806B Page 6124

They took part in the Battle of Loos.

He moved to 2 Bde July 1916

I don't know if that helps

Jane

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Interesting, thank you - I think I must take a look at the war diaries anyway. The movements between brigades has my head in a spin but further study may help ... I would just like to know which battles my grandfather is likely to have been present at: I think I was told he was at Passchendaele, but whether that is true I'm not certain.

By the way, the note at the bottom of your reply strikes a cord: my grandmother's family were originally from Sligo and I believe two of her cousins - brothers - in the Durham Light Infantry died within three days of each other in 1915.

Mimi.

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Hello and thank you: interesting that your gt uncle was in France from 30th August, rather than the 31st. The movement of men between these brigades is particularly hard to keep up with. I intend to take a good look at the war diaries and take things from there: thanks again! Mimi.

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Hi Mimi

I don't think him going a day early is significant.

Some men go as an advance party possibly to help organise transport, billets etc.

But his MIC & Burnt Record both say Date of Entry 30 Aug 1915.

Jane

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