RFA BRIGADES: LOCATIONS IN FRANCE AFTER THE ARMISTICE

[AlexObr]

I am a newcomer to the forum and I am trying to identify the Brigade/Battery of my Grandfather, 198954 Arthur James HILLIER, Signaller, Royal Field Artillery 1917-1920.

I have looked at his medal card and, fortunately, I was also able to locate his documents in WO364/1660. However, neither source gives the identities of the Brigades/Batteries in which he served from when he was posted to France in July 1918 (exact date not stated) to his return to England in Jan 1919 (exact date not stated).

However I do know from my Grandfather's personal recollections (as related to me in the 1960s) that he was billeted in Le Cateau for a period of time after the armistice.

Does anyone know the identities of RFA Brigades/Batteries positioned in and around Le Cateau in the period between the Armistice and early 1919?

For background info, the known facts about my Grandfather's postings taken from WO364/1660 (in bold) and (in italics) his personal recollections:

• Enlisted at Devizes Wilts 7th Jan 1917. Posted to 13 Reserve Battery, No 8 Depot RFA
• Basic training at Woolwich and at a signalling camp near Swanage
• Feb 1917 - in RN hospital near Portsmouth for 28 days (bronchitis)
• Based at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire (dates?)
• Jul (day not stated) 1918 arrived in France (Le Havre)
• Took part in the second battle of the Somme. Amiens, Bray mentioned
• Remained at front until Armistice
• Billetted in Le Cateau with French family
• Jan (day not stated) 1919 returned to England (after 187 days in France)
• Posted to 19 Reserve Battery
• 15 April 1919 Posted to Egypt
• Overland by rail to Taranto? Italy, thence by ship to Egypt
• 1920 (Jan/Feb?) returned to England by ship (via Bay of Biscay) and 'de-mobbed'
• 24 Mar 1920 Transferred from 405 Battery 191 Brigade RFA to 'B' Reserve (289 days in Egypt)

Grateful for any info which might be of help concerning his possible Brigades/Batteries in France in the July 1918 to July 1919 period - but also for any other info relating to the rest of his WW1 service. (I should mention that I looked up the War Diary in WO95 for 191 Brigade in Egypt, but this contains no clues which would help with his posting in France).

Best Regards,

Alex