Grandfather's war record

[jillruss]

I thought I'd have another go at this.

I found his medal card on the NA site but it told me very little. I can't find a service record for him on Ancestry so must assume it was one of those destroyed by fire in the Blitz.

I have his Victory Medal and British War Medal which have his name and regimental number (2679) inscribed on the edge - he was a driver (horses) in the Royal Field Artillery. His medal card indicates that his reg no was later changed to 770940. I was told a while ago that the 2679 number should indicate that he was in France very early in the war, but he didn't receive the 3rd medal which would indicate this (I can't recall it's name).

It seems that the only way forward for me is to try and find a specialised researcher who could try and put together granddad's war history and hopefully marry it up with family stories.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please (and perhaps give me an idea of the cost)?

Jill

[forester]

Hello Jill,

I don't know where you got to before, but.........

Your granddad was a Territorial. The four figure number is his pre-1917 number. It probably won't be a good indicator of when he joined, because I believe they re-cycled the numbers. In early 1917 the Territorials were given six figure numbers, which, unlike previously, were unique (but only within the RFA in this case).

As your granddad was only  awarded the two medals, (not the 1914/15 Star), but both his service numbers are on the MIC, it implies that he first went overseas at some time between 1st Jan 1916 and Spring 1917.

His six figure number denotes that , at the time he was re-numbered, he was in either 50th (1st Northumbrian) Divisional Ammunition Column, or 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) DAC. Unfortunately, I can't be more specific than that.

Pre-War the 1st Northumbrian Brigade was based at Newcastle, the 2nd at Hull, 3rd at Seaham Harbour and 4th at South Shields.

There may be more specific information on the Medal Roll, at Kew, but I have heard that Artillery medal rolls are not as informative as the Infantry.

Another possibility is if there is an Absent Voters List in the Local Records Office.

Phil

[jillruss]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your reply, and all the info.

My grandfather was called Robert Arthur Gibson. It had been suggested by someone (sorry, I forget who) earlier that my grandfather may have been a territorial, so that fits. Also, he lived in Hull at the time though was born in Dewsbury.

I can also confirm that the medal card was lacking in any info other than his reg. nos.

Have you any idea how I would go about discovering what part the 63rd Northumbrian Divisional Ammunition Column played in the war from 1916 (battles etc)? I know he was badly gassed (unfortunately, not unusual) and have heard family stories about him being one of very few survivors of his Division when - supposedly - a tent accidentally catching fire gave away their postion to the enemy.

I don't know if these Brigades/Divisions have accessible archives, or, in your opinion, would I be better off using an expereinced researcher?

Jill

[forester]

Hello Jill,

It was me.     

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,339612.msg2188292.html#msg2188292

Phil

[jillruss]

Hi again, Phil - of course it was! Sorry - I knew I'd got so far last time but got a bit confused about all the batallions and divisions and couldn't seem to find anything on the 63rd - other than the 63rd Royal Naval Division. I must have given up and been seduced into another line of research!! 

Anyway, I'm determined this time.

The Long, Long Trail is what I was trying to remember - and I see that they have a research service. I think I'll email them with the outline of my search, including the information kindly deduced by your good self, and get a quote for the research involved.

Wish me luck! 

Jill

[forester]

At least I was consistent. 

Good Luck,

Phil 

[Tangoringo]

Hi Jill,

I've just read your post and you seem to have a few similarities with my grandfather Edwin Hodgson. His regimental numbers were 2414 and 770711 while serving with the RFA.

I received a reply from Chris on TLLTrail as follows:-

Ian, your GF's RFA numbers indicate service with Northumbrian Division Ammunition Column. The number 770711 was issued to him in a renumberinf of TF troops in early 1917. The fact that his earlier number also appears on his card suggests he was overseas by that time.

The "first line" unit, the 50th (Northumbrian) Division Ammunition Column went overseas in 1915. You can follow their history in outline at http://www.1914-1918.net/50div.htm. But I don't think Edwin served with it.

Edwin did not go overseas until 1 January 1916 or later, so he was not with the above unit when it landed in France in 1915. It is quite likely that he had been posted to 63rd (2/1st Northumbrian) Division Ammunition Column. This was the "second line" to the Northumbrian DAC. Men in both units had numbers from the series from which 770711 was issued.

63rd (2/1st Northumbrian) Division did not go overseas at any time a a formation. It provided men as drafts for the units of 50th (Northumbrian) Division. In July 1916, the 63rd (2/1st Northumbrian) Division Ammunition Column and the RFA brigades of the Division moved to France and were placed under orders of the Royal Naval Division, which by sheer coinicidence was soon after renumbered as 63rd (Royal Naval Division).

You can follow their history at http://www.1914-1918.net/63div.htm.

As you say, there is no evidence that suggests his medals were not issued.

It might be worth studying the unit's war diary (at Kew) to see if there is any mention of mutiny or truoble of that nature.
Chris_Baker


I hope to pop down to Kew in the coming months to check out a story about a mutiny of which my grandfather used to talk.

If you find any more details please let me know..

Kind Regards,

Ian

[jillruss]

Thanks for that, Ian.

Funnily enough, I gave up trying to sort it out myself and asked the research person who's featured on The Long Long Trail website to undertake some 'proper' research. His name is Chris, so perhaps the same chap.

That was about 3 weeks ago, so I'm hoping for the results soon now.

As seems to be the case with your grandfather (mutinies?), I'm also keen to see if there are any answers to my own family stories about what my grandfather went through, though I expect it to be harrowing reading.

Jill

[jillruss]

Sorry, I should also have said welcome to Rootschat. It's the best!

Jill