Scarborough Pals Battery 161st Brigade RFA

[Ticker]

My great grandfather John William Tymon (pictured below holding my granddad) served with the Scarborough Pals Battery 161st Brigade RFA and served in France with the Battery during the First World War.

Does anybody know what this means?  What was the Battery?  Where can I find out more about it?  (I'm in Scarborough and there is no information at the Library)

Any help appreciated

Incidentally for any of you who have followed my posts on the Sedman family of Scarborough John William's wife (also pictured) is Daisy Sedman.

[winston]

Hi Ticker

Battery = an artillery subunit of guns, men, and vehicles.  As described in the Readers digest WordPower  dictionary

Wendy

[Ticker]

Cheers Wendy - I really meant what is this particular battery's history.

Thanks anyway. 

[Trangy]

Hi Ticker,

There were a number of the "Pals" units, I have not seen anything on the Scarborough one unfortunately.

There are a number of references to Accrington, Sheffield, Leeds etc, perhaps you could try the Imperial War Museum as they have a number of sources.

I think the idea of the "Pals" was that they were usually men that knew each other so there was already a sense of comradeship which would be of benefit in the circumstances they would face.

It was not confined to big towns, in many villages men signed up together and as our memorials show died together, an appropriate subject for today!

Sorry only to provide only general info.

What a superb photo to have of your ancestors.

Trangy

[Ticker]

Thanks Trangy

I'll try the Imperial War Museum as you suggest.

Glad you like the photo - Here's another one of John William Tymon!  Everyone says I look very much like him - though you wouldn't know from the caricature!

[Trangy]

Ticker,

Found out a bit more on the 161st Batt RFA, they were raised/formed on outbreak of war Aug 1914 and were part of L Brigade of the 9th Division from Aug 1914 - Feb 1915.

They then became B Battery RFA from Feb 1915 - 11th Nov 1918.

From Aug 1915 - Mar 1918 they were with the Guards Division.

The book I have "Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1" does not cover the 9th Division, or where they were during the "missing" dates sadly I do not have parts 2 & 3 to look further.

My Grandfather William Trangmar was a regular soldier with the Royal Horse Artillery, at the outbreak of war his Battery (J) went in with the British Expeditionary Force on the first day and managed to come out at the end in 1918!
 
Trangy

[Ticker]

Trangy

Thanks for finding out this additional info for me - much appreciated.

[Amy K]

Ticker, you probably already have, but thry thi site. I highly recommend it.

http://www.1914-1918.net/

Also, the message board is excellent...

http://www.1914-1918.org/forum/index.php

[Ticker]

Hi Amy

Thanks for that.  I have tried that site before (some time ago) without success - I'll give it another go now you've mentioned it.