Joseph J Murray 147267 ?War diary available

[josey]

My grandfather Joseph James Murray 1883 - 1936 was a gunner in the RFA number 147267.

His medal card states RFA/B265 & absent voter list of 1918 states
Absent Voter List 1918
Name:   Joseph J. Murray
Rank:   Gnr.
Electoral Date:   1918
Electoral Place:   Lewisham, London, England
Branch of Service or British Army Corps:   Royal Field Artillery
Regiment:   391st Batty.
Service Number:   147267

Does this mean he was in the 391st battery of 265 Brigade?

I do know some of his movements - the National Roll states 'He volunteered in 1915 & embarking for Egypt early the following year, fought in the British advance through Palestine. Whilst in this theatre of war he took part in the Battles of Gaza & the capture of Jerusalem, Jericho & Aleppo under the command of General Allenby. He was demobilised in Feb 1919 & holds General Service & Victory Medals.' Can I obtain the war diaries to fill in more?

I was reading on another thread about a 'Wounded & Sick' list - which site is this on please? I am not aware that he was wounded but be interesting to see if he was sick!

Thanks for any help. Josey

ADDED: As an aside, I find it a shame that it seem only the Western Front that gets media attention although I understand that over 100,000 men died in the Middle East.

[jim1]

The Royal Artillery undertook a lot of re-organisation during the war so it can become quite confusing.
This is what LLT says:
In May 1916 the TF field brigades were numbered, the Cheshire being designated CCLXVII (265) Brigade, RFA, and the batteries became A, B and C. Then on 25 December 1916 the divisional artillery was reorganised: A Bty of CCLXVII Bde was broken up between B and C Btys (to make them up to six guns each) and they were redesignated A and B; A (H) Bty, equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers, joined from CCLXV (H) Bde (the old 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, which was being broken up) and became C (H) Bty, and half of the 1st Welsh Brigade Ammunition Column (BAC) also joined. Finally, CCLXVII Bde took the now-vacant number of the 1st Welsh as CCLXV (265) Brigade, RFA, with the following organisation:
A Bty (6 x 18-pounders) – from 2nd Cheshire Bty + half 1st Cheshire Bty'
B Bty (6 x 18-pounders) – from 3rd Cheshire Bty + half 1st Cheshire Bty'
C (H) Bty (4 x 4.5-inch howitzers) – from 1st Glamorgan Bty
CCLXV BAC – from Cheshire BAC + half 1st Welsh BAC
As you can see the Batteries are lettered A,B,C etc.
More research needed.
Later:
The 391st. Bty. was in the 172nd. Bde. this was broken up in 1917.
They appear to have been re-formed as part of the 75th. Div. Artillery in Palestine.
So looks like he went from the 391st. Bty. 75/Div. (sometime after the TF re-numbering early 1917)
to B Bty. 265/Bde.

[josey]

Thank you Jim. I found a page from Nafziger
http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/917BGPA.pdf
which gives General Headquarters Troops with Artillery 391 Siege Battery RFA as part of BEEF [but with 390th ceased to be part of BEEF on 1/18/18]  then CCLXV with A, B & C batteries & CLXXII Artillery Brigade with 391st battery as part of 75th division. I have very little knowledge of army structure [with or without reorganisations  ].

More research needed.

And a wet towel around the head.

Thanks for the addition, that does make it clearer.

[jim1]

265/Bde. were in the 53/Div. Ancestry only have their ammo column so I'll take a look at the NA.
Later. TNA isn't showing anything for 265/Bde.
LLT says:
53rd. Divisional Artillery

The Divisional Artillery did not leave England when the Division embarked for service at Gallipoli. It remained at Bedford and was there rearmed. It sailed for France from 20 November 1915 and concentrated near Pont Remy by five days later. Entrainment began on 1 February 1916, embarkation at Marseilles began two days later and by 22 February 1916 the artillery had concentrated at Beni Salama and came once again under command of this Division.
CCLXV (I Welsh) (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA
broken up 26 May 1916
CCLXVI (II Welsh) Brigade, RFA
renumbered CCLXVII 25 December 1916
CCLXVII (Cheshire) Brigade, RFA
renumbered CCLXV 25 December 1916
CCLXVIII (III Welsh) Brigade, RFA
renumbered CCLXVI 25 December 1916
Welsh (Caernarvonshire) Heavy Battery, RGA
did not sail with the Division; moved independently to France 3 March1916 and joined XXIII HA Bde
53rd Divisional Ammunition Column RFA

[josey]

Thank you very much Jim.

Joseph had a child born 30 Oct 1917; as he was demobbed in 1919 hmmmm, if he was on absent voter list in 1918 [presumably compiled in 1917] would he have ever had home leave from the Middle East at beginning of 1917 and then gone back till 1919?

[jim1]

Men serving in the Middle East did get leave. Because of the distance could have been anything up to a month.

[josey]

That's good to hear, thank you.

[jim1]

TNA has 75/Bde. RFA
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n1q/
From the Queens diary:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n1r/

[josey]

Thank you again. Plenty to read, then  .