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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: adamthomas on Tuesday 06 November 18 13:49 GMT (UK)
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With the 100 year anniversary coming on Sunday, I wanted to read into my own relatives duties during WW1. I have the attached record for my Great Grand Father Edgar Cox but I just cant make any of it out, in particular his regiment and rank. Would be great if someone with a good eye could translate!
Thank you as always!
Adam
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He was a Trooper in the 1/4th London Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA)
Stan
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He was a Trooper in the 4th London Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA)
Stan
Thank you! Sounds "explosive"!
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4th London (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery
1908 Formed with headquarters at Lewisham from 2nd Kent RGA (V)
1914 Became 1st / 4th London (Howitzer) Brigade RFA (TF) upon formation of a second line unit
See http://www.steppingforwardlondon.org/county-of-london.html
Stan
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4th London (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery
1908 Formed with headquarters at Lewisham from 2nd Kent RGA (V)
1914 Became 1st / 4th London (Howitzer) Brigade RFA (TF) upon formation of a second line unit
See http://www.steppingforwardlondon.org/county-of-london.html
Stan
Thank you so much!
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I believe he was a Trumpeter, rather than a Trooper. FindMyPast has a couple of army files for him:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM/WO363-4/007305496/00583&parentid=GBM/WO363-4/7305496/29/583
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM/WO363-4/007305496/00594&parentid=GBM/WO363-4/7305496/29/594
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I was trying to post about “Trooper” being unlikely in the Artillery, but Trumpeter is much more likely.
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Thanks for the info, what would being a Trumpeter involve?
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Others may put this better but I think he would have full training as a soldier, with tuition on the many variety of ‘calls’ made in the Artillery and cavalry on trumpets, where infantry used bugles. He would probably be attached to a battery commander to sound whatever messages were required.
I suspect that the role would become redundant as the war developed and he may well have served later as Gunner (equivalent rank to private).
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Having looked at his record, I find that Edgar Cox attested for his Territorial unit as a Gunner, but was soon referred to as Trumpeter, which he remained until demobilised in 1919.
He received the 1915 Star, plus the British War and Victory medals.
There should be a war diary for his Artillery Brigade, but I am not able to describe how to get a copy, free from Ancestry, or for about £3.50 from the National Archives.
More about researching WW1 soldiers and their units can be found on the Long, Long Trail website.