Arthur Frederick Evans Driver RFA 83217

[Philipthespur]

Hi All,

Like thousands of others I have been trying to trace my Grand Fathers whereabouts in WW1. It would appear his service record was destroyed in WW1, ironically, literally around the corner to where he lived!

Arthur was born in Southwark, London in 1898 and married Margaret Louisa Charretie, my Grand Mother.

I have Arthurs medal card which provides the information above but that is all I have for 10 years of searching. However I will  not give up. I know he was recruited at the RFA Woolwich Depot 4 and stationed presumably prior to full training. He was a driver but did undertake Batman duties. Like many others i know he lied about his age and was 17 by the time he was posted to France on December 27Th 1915.

I was wondering whether there was a way to trace soldier/Batt movement on a daily basis perhaps travelling from Folkestone on December 27th 1915 or a weekly period of time? Were recruits sent out in groups or individually posted?

Any advice or any information that may be helpful would be much, much appreciated! 

Philip

[jim1]

Hello & welcome
Can you tell us where the information you already have has come from?
How do you know he's the right man?
There's another of that name Worcs. Regt. & LC.
There are also 4 Arthur F's.

[MaxD]

The arrival date could be the date he arrived as part of a draft of individual reinforcements or with  his brigade with the division they supported. There would be no record of him as an individual to be found.  Even if you found that the divisional artillery of such and such a division arrived on 27 Dec 1915 there is no way of proving he was with them or whether he stayed with them throughout.

Unless there is other information (and jim1 is asking about that), then he is to all intents and purposes untraceable (like 6 in 10 Great War soldiers).

MaxD

[Philipthespur]

Hi,

Thanks for posting.

I have his MIC which has provided the basic info.

Philip

[Philipthespur]

Thanks MaxD for your info. I fear you are right but I will not give up hope and will continue to see whether he crops up somewhere!

Philip

[jim1]

I have his MIC which has provided the basic info

How do you know it's his MIC?

[Philipthespur]

Hi Jim1,

Well it seems to be the only MIC with an Arthur Frederick Evans, RFA, Woolwich, Driver. It fits his age and I also know from my Nan and late Mother he “worked with horses”. I did find another Arthur Frederick Evans from Camberwell, which is local to Southwark but was a lot older!

Many thanks,

Philip

[jim1]

He may not have used his middle name or might be listed as Arthur F Evans.
There's not enough information there to know if you have the right one.

[Philipthespur]

He may not have used his middle name or might be listed as Arthur F Evans.
There's not enough information there to know if you have the right one.

Had crossed my mind. I have looked at all the different variations, there are hundreds of A Evans for instance! I’ll keep looking.

Thanks again.