War Diary U Battery 1918

[BORRI]

Hi All
I've made the classic mistake in finding a record and not keeping a "record" of it's reference number.

My Granddad (John Norris) was a Driver with U Battery and in 1918 he won a MM and I wanted to know what he did.

I went to Kew and got out the War Diary for U Battery but it only went up to Dec 1917 (I think) but I wanted 1918. Unable to find what I wanted, I went to the help desk.
 The help desk couldn't find U Battery either, but whilst they scrolled through their records I noticed a War Diary on their screen that looked out of place.
This was all about 10 years ago and the "out of place" record was the correct one. I took photo's of the record as it was getting late but I didn't take a photo of the Reference number. I would now like to download this War Diary in full, but I can't find it.

If it helps, U Battery was 16th Brigade and in March 1918 it was at Jeancourt. The 2nd Lt was John Fleming who has a personal diary held in the British War Museum.

I know it was a schoolboy error, but please help me, it's driving me nuts.

 
   

[jim1]

I take it it's U Bty. RHA
U Bty. was originally in the X1 Bde.
From what I'm reading U Bty. was in the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade from Oct. 1914 to when it was broken up in March 1918.
U Bty. remained in France.
From what I've seen U Bty. transferred to the 16th. Army Brigade RHA Mar. 1918.
The diaries for this Bde. are at Kew covering Jan. - Dec. 1918.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01i0p/ 
The diary covering 1917 - Feb. 1918 are on Ancestry.
Lt. John Fleming RFA joined U Bty. 26/6/1917 from the RMA.
I'm not sure he was still with them in June 1918.
Is he Dvr. John Norris 114660 ?
Reading the war diary the C.O. doesn't state what medals were awarded for, he only mentions that they were awarded on a particular date.
if you download the diary maybe you'll get lucky.

[jim1]

I take it it's U Bty. RHA
U Bty. was originally in the X1 Bde.
From what I'm reading U Bty. was in the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade from Oct. 1914 to when it was broken up in March 1918.
U Bty. remained in France.
From what I've seen U Bty. transferred to the 16th. Army Brigade RHA Mar. 1918.
The diaries for this Bde. are at Kew covering Jan. - Dec. 1918.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01i0p/ 
The diary covering 1917 - Feb. 1918 are on Ancestry.
2/Lt. John Fleming RFA joined U Bty. 26/6/1917 from the RMA.
I'm not sure he was still with them in June 1918.
Is he Dvr. John Norris 114660 ?
Reading the war diary the C.O. doesn't state what medals were awarded for, he only mentions that they were awarded on a particular date.
if you download the diary maybe you'll get lucky.
By the end of Feb. 1918 these appear to be the Officers in U Bty.
Maj. Dudley
Lt. G Sandeman
2/Lt. St. J Kemm
2/Lt. J Bostock
2/Lt. Dunlop.
2/Lt. J F Fleming

[BORRI]

Hi Jim1
That looks promising !
I tried your link and I think it could be the 1st March 1918 28th Feb 1919 in WO95/455/2.
When I went to Kew the record wasn't coming up on any searches for U Battery or 16th Brigade.
The man on the help desk was quickly reading through his results and I stopped him when he said 16th Army. I remember saying "I thought there was only a 1st to 5th army" He didn't know so I took a chance and ordered it out. As luck would have it, it was the right one.

Thanks Jim1, I shall download it at the weekend, you've been a big help.

I almost forgot, yes, Driver John Norris 114660 is my Grandfather. I never met him as he died before I was born and my Dad never really got on him and never spoke about him.

I will let you know how I get on.

[jim1]

If memory serves the Army Brigade was formed to support the 5th. Army.

[BORRI]

Must admit Jim1, I thought U Battery were connected to the 5th, although I can't tell you why I thought that.
The record at Kew that I intend to download says 4th Army.

I was looking at some maps trying to place U Batteries movements in 1918 and not a single name from the War Diary appeared on any of the maps, very frustrating !

Hopefully a digital download will be easier to read than 10 year old faded photo copies of photographs.

[jim1]

What you need are the map references from the diary. They should appear in this format: 36.C.25.a.7.9.
You can then go to the Nat. Library of Scotland & place the Bty. on their battlefield maps.
Not all C.O's were good at providing refs.
It appears they were with the 4th. Army. I've found 1 reference (diary) to Q Bty. going to the 1V Army artillery school.
The 3 Bty's in the Bde. being A (Chestnut Troop) Q & U.
The last known location where the 3 Bty's were in action is 32C.

[BORRI]

Hi Jim1
I have now downloaded the "16th Army" file. It comes in 2 parts. Q Battery seem to have their own diary but U Battery are just mentioned in with the 16th Brigade.
I now have a lot of reading to do. 151 pages + 17 pages of Q.

You have been so much help, and I can't wait to try out the Battlefield maps link.

Thanks Jim1

Borri

[jim1]

Make a note of the comings & goings of the Officers. These are the one's that were in at the end of Feb. 1918;
Maj. Dudley
Lt. G Sandeman
2/Lt. J Bostock
2/Lt. Dunlop.
2/Lt. J F Fleming
If there's no mention of his MM you may need to get hold of one of their diaries.
MM's were awarded pretty soon after the event so if there is a mention you may need to look back over the previous week or two & see what was happening in the Battery.
They didn't appear in the Gazette until several weeks later.
Let us know how you get on.