Help understanding a medal record

[Nimrod58]

Hi

I have been trying to find further information about my Great grandfather's service as Gunner 52940 in the 53rd Bty II Bde RFA in WW1 but, unfortunately, it seems that his records did not survive.  I know that the 53rd Bty were with 6th Division at Cambrai in late 1917 but have precious little detail.

I do have a copy of his medal record (see attached - bottom right record) and wonder if anyone can explain how to read this to glean any clues about where and with whom he signed up, where he might have been wounded in 1917/18 and how he was brought back to Nottingham where he died in Feb 1918.

Thank you

H

[km1971]

The fact he earned a 1914 Star, by entering France within a few days of the start of WW1, shows he was a pre-war Regular. Unfortuately the RA numbering system is a black art that I have not mastered. You could try searching for men with close numbers whose records survive on Ancestry to get an idea of when he enlisted.

Can you say where the information about 53rd battery comes from, as the card says 44/RFA. This could be for 44th Battery or XLIV Brigade. According to the July 1914 Army List 44th Battery were in India, while 44th (XLIV) Brigade were in Brighton. So I assume 44/RFA means 44th Brigade. They started out in 2nd Divison - http://www.1914-1918.net/rfa_units.htm

Have you found him in the 1911 Census?

Ken

[Nimrod58]

Hi Ken

The 1911 census shows him in St Thomas, Exeter with 56th Bty RFA.

His marriage cert dated 15 August 1914 (Brighton Register Office) shows his  place of residence as The Barracks, Preston, which I understand is in Brighton.

The CWGC entry for William says:
"In memory of Gunner William Barker 52940, 53rd Bty, 2nd Bde, RFA who died 25th February 1918" 
He died in Trent Bridge Military Hospital.

From this, it seems he got married just after Britain declared war on 4 August 1914 and must have been with XLIV Bde at the beginning but ended up with the 53rd II Bde when he received his injuries. 

Thank you for your help with this, Ken

Kind regards

Heather

[km1971]

... The Barracks, Preston, which I understand is in Brighton...

It was, and until quite recently - http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?skin=textonly&request=c1113778

As it looks as if his records have not survived you are limited to what you can discover. You may find an RA expert on the Great War Forum who can tell you when his number was allocated. Or www.firepower.org.uk may help with his number. I do not believe they hold personal records.

And you could try the National Archives to see if a unit war diary exists.

Ken