The Cheshire Terriors RGA/RA/RHA

[Bingo794]

Gentlemen

Can anyone shed any light upon this chaps service career. No.310532 Gnr George Ollier, a Cheshire TF man

He was from the Cheshire area and earned the TFWM, BWM/VM pairing.

What was his unit?

......and where did they serve?

I am under the impression he served in Africa or Egypt, but I am not 100% sure. His MIC is pretty well inconclusive.

He survived the war and went back to Cheshire, I do believe he had links to the Northwich and Queensferry areas.

He had a son also called George, though must have been getting on a bit when he was born, as the son served with the Royal Army Pay Corps during the reign of the present Queen, earning the NI GSM and Army LSGC.

Any information would be most gratefully received.

I think it is time I invested in the Ancestry set up, though I am a little wary of computers. If you do not try, you will not learn.

Many thanks.

Bingo794

[David Porter]

Bingo794,

There is a George Henry Ollier, from Northwich, aged 36 in March 1915, in Ancestry Pension records.

He married Alice Costelloe in 1898, and the last son listed is George born 1914.

He was discharged from the Cheshire Regiment (Reg No. 25603) after only 4 days due to curvature of the spine.

David

[Steven Broomfield]

If he had the TFWM, he must have had pre-war TF service: I believe he had either to be a serving soldier on the outbreak of war, or to have had 4 years' service prior to the war if he had previously left and then rejoined after the outbreak. he must have volunteered for overseas service by late September, and not be eligible for the 14 or 14-14 Star.

The Cheshire Bde, RFA (TF) consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cheshire Batteries, and were part of the Welsh Division, all hailing from Chester.

When the Welsh Division proceeded to Gallipoli in 1915, they left their artillery behind, being reunited in Egypt in early 1916.

Looks as if your man may well have been a Cheshire RFA (TF) man, then - volunteered for overseas service, but didn't go overseas until after the qualifying dates for a 14/14-15 Star.

[pbrydon]

I am almost certain that there has been a thread on this unit before.

Attached is a photo of a soldier and his wife or girlfriend, he is wearing the T/RFA/CHESHIRE title and photograph was taken by J.L.Hart of Nantwich Road Crewe.

According to Lichfield " The Territorial Artillery 1908-1988" there was a Flintshire Battery part of 3rd Welsh Brigade RFA which was disbanded in 1912 and replaced by a third Cheshire battery at Crewe.The unit being redesignated The Cheshire Brigade R.F.A. (TF) in 1913.

P.B.

[David Porter]

Here is the MIC of the man in question:

George Ollier

The RFA number of 735274 puts him is one of these brigades in early 1917:

735001-740000 267 BDE, RFA TF/ 1/1 CHESHIRE BDE (RENUMBERED 265, DEC 16)

735001-740000 342 BDE, RFA TF/ 2/1 CHESHIRE BDE

There was an earlier thread that indicates the 1/1 Cheshire Bde were in Egypt in 1916 as part of 53rd Division.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=84056

David

[Bingo794]

David,PB,SteveB,

George Henry Ollier - is definitely a relative of this George, George is a long used family name and the Northwich link puts that beyond doubt.

I found out from the family, who I traced through the place they took his medals to be sold, that he was a pre-war soldier, they are in the process of moving house and have told me that they maybe able to supply photos of him.

Now, we know why he did not get the 14 or 14-15 Star, as a pre-war soldier you would have expected one or the other.

He must have been to Egypt as they have told me they have seen a postcard/letter from there, and a leather wallet with the pyramids and camels depicted on the front.

I hope they find them, it would make a nice little set.

They really have no interest in the items and let them go to the charity shop where I found the medals in a small pot, with pins, needles, old stamps, and rawlplugs.

They are safe in my hands now and will go into my collection of 'accidental finds'.

Thank you gentlemen for your fantastic answers and help.

I intend to get myself into the Ancestry set up soon, an early Christmas present for myself, or should that be a late one. It seem once you have learned to navigate the system, you can find out lots of interesting information.

Bingo794

[eyes]

Here is the MIC of the man in question:

George Ollier

The RFA number of 735274 puts him is one of these brigades in early 1917:

735001-740000 267 BDE, RFA TF/ 1/1 CHESHIRE BDE (RENUMBERED 265, DEC 16)

735001-740000 342 BDE, RFA TF/ 2/1 CHESHIRE BDE

There was an earlier thread that indicates the 1/1 Cheshire Bde were in Egypt in 1916 as part of 53rd Division.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=84056

David

Good evening David

Interested in your comment about 267 Bde RFA becoming 265. I was curious as to your source for this as my grandad was in 267 (though he did not go to Egypt with them, ending up instead in 245 Bde).

Colin