Where was my soldier grandfather taken ill during WWI?
QMy grandfather Edwin George Genery served with the Royal Field Artillery ( RFA) in the First World War. He was dispatched to France on 22 August 1914 with the British Expeditionary Force, having joined up in 1899. In 1901, he is stationed at Deep Cut with the RFA 50th Brigade. He was discharged on 6 October 1916. No service records exist, but on the First World War Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929, he is classified as ‘insane’ and his regiment is 5th ( R) Bn RFA. Where was Edwin in April 1916 when he was taken ill? Valerie Dixon, by email
ASince Edwin was in the RFA in 1901, he’d have completed his 12 years’ service by 1914, so presumably he’d joined the Section D Reserve making him liable for immediate call-up. His 1914 Star Medal Roll says he went to France on 22 August. The only RFA batteries that went to France then were 31st, 35th and 55th Howitzer Batteries, comprising 37th Brigade, 4th Division. Mons was fought on 23 August, but 4th Division were at Le Cateau on the 26 August, so it’s possible he fought there. The Brigade went on to fight on the Marne, the Aisne and at Messines in 1914 and at Ypres in 1915.
Though infantry soldiers were renumbered if they changed their unit, moving to another battalion or regiment, this didn’t apply to artillerymen changing batteries, so Edwin probably stayed with his original battery.
By May 1916, 55th Battery had joined 128 Brigade, in 8th Division but 31st and 35th were still with 4th Division and both moved to the Somme. Few field artillery battery war diaries survive at The National Archives (TNA) and brigade ones cover events at a very high level. It’s possible the battery war diaries are held by the Royal Artillery Museum Archive in Larkhill, Wiltshire. When he returned to England he was posted to 5th (Reserve) Brigade from which many injured men were discharged.