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Help with the Royal Field Artillery


laulod

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Hi,

I was wondering if you could help me with the task of identifying the battalion/regiment/battery of one of my ancestors, Herbert Lodge. All i have been able to find is his medal card, which states his service number as L/5553, and his rank as driver and then later, gunner. I also know from the CWGC that he died on the 8th December 1918, but the records do not give me any help identifying where - I thought that if I knew his battery etc, I might be able to find out what happened around that time.

Many thanks for any help you can give,

Laura

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Hi Laura, welcome to the forum :D

Are there any dates on Herbert's MIC? I note that Herbert is buried in Pudsey Cemetery UK, which would suggest that he died of wounds. You could try emailing CWGC as they may hold further information on Herbert, but expect to wait a few weeks for a reply. His Service No. may give some clues to the experts, who, I'm sure will be along soon,

cheers, Jon

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Hi Laura, If Herbert first went to France then I'd say he was part of the 16th (Irish) Division. If he went to Egypt then the 31st Division is most likely. The numbers that should follow his medal entitlement on his MIC are references to the Medal Rolls which can only be viewed in person at the NA, there is a strong possiblity that his Battery and Brigade are included in these,

cheers, Jon

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Thanks for all your help so far, I just have a few questions...

1) On his medal card, it states the theatre of war as France, but could he have also gone to Egypt first?

2) Does the birthplace of the soldier affect which division? If it does, i'm presuming he would more probably have been in the 31st Division (seem to be a lot of West Yorkshires, East Yorkshires etc) rather than the 16th (Irish). However, being a newcomer to this, i've no idea whether i'm right to assume this.

3) On the CWGC and other sources, it states he is commemorated on the memorial at Pudsey Cemetery, however, nothing mentions him being actually buried there. If he's on the memorial would he be buried there for definite? Could he have been buried in France? Would i be able to find a death certificate if he died in England (i've searched, but I can't seem to find one).

Thanks,

Laura

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Hi Laura, I think were looking at Herbert being sent to France with the 16th (Irish) Division. The answer to you second question is no, several of my ancestors served with Scottish Divisions and they were Sheffield lads. The 16th Division was one of the Kitchener units (K2, 2nd 100,000) and was formed in 1914. Herbert's name appears down this list and gives an indication of where he is buried at Pudsey Cemetery albeit no other details are mentioned. I suspect that he died in England from wounds received in France, have you tried the GRO for a death cert?

cheers, Jon

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Hi Laura - there is a death registered at St Albans for a 22 year old Herbert Lodge in the 4th qtr of 1918 (Vol 3a Page 1676). I guess he could have died in hospital there if that is him - it's complicated though by the fact there were 3 birth registrations for 3 different Herbert Lodge's in 1896 who could all feasibly be this one -

2nd qtr 1896 Lodge Herbert (N. Bierley 9b 229)

3rd qtr 1896 Lodge Herbert (Altrincham 8a 181)

4th qtr 1896 Lodge Herbert (York 9d 24)

but if you think the age is right it might be worth ordering a copy of the death cert to help you clarify

Good Luck

Sue

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Hi Laura, I should have paid more attention to your first post as the biggest clue lies in Herbert's service no. The 'L' prefix applied to Locally Raised Units of the RFA which would probably put Herbert in the 155th (West Yorks) Brigade which were originally part of the 31st Division, however the artilery didn't go off to Egypt with the rest of the division, they became the divisional artillery to the 32nd Division which had been shipped out to France in November 1915, the new artillery brigades joining them in France in December. The other 3 RFA Brigades of the 32nd Division were 161st (Yorkshire), 164th (Rotherham) and 168th (Huddersfield). Appologies for misleading information, I've certainly got a lot to learn myself, good luck,

cheers, Jon

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Laura, just to add a little further information the 155th was raised in Leeds on the 1st Feb 1915 by the West Yorkshire Coal Owners' Association,

cheers, Jon

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