Royal Field Artillery

[Albert Parrott]

My Grandfather Tom (not Thomas) Parrott served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery in the 1914-18 War. He survived and I have two numbers for him-2325 and later 765872. He was born in Liverpool in 1874 and so would have been 40 at the start of the War.

Can anyone please suggest how I may be able to find out in which regiment he served? These are the only details that I have.

ALP

[leamington]

This is a little complicated, I am afraid.

Tom was a Territorial. His second number was issued in early 1917 to the 4th Northumbrian Brigade RFA. This was also known (from spring 1915) as CCLIII (Howitzer) Brigade. It was raised in South Shields and Hebburn. The brigade was one of four under command of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

What makes it slightly complicated is that in January and July 1916 the brigade was broken up as a fighting unit. Its various batteries were split to the other brigades in the same Division. Tom would have gone with his battery or section, but it is very difficult to know which. If you're lucky, his service record would tell you.

Hope that helps.

[Albert Parrott]

Thank you Leamington,

However it confuses the matter evenmore. Tom Parrott was born, worked and died in Liverpool and I know of no connection at all with Northumberland.

Thank you for responding

[Geoffers]

Tom Parrott was born, worked and died in Liverpool and I know of no connection at all with Northumberland.


Don't think in terms of people only joining local regiments; many men joined regiments with which they had no apparant connection.

[leamington]

That is a little less true of the Territorial units. These recruited strongly in their local area pre-war: it would have been as rare as hen's teeth to have a Liverpudlian in a Northumberland unit at that time.

It remained this way in the TF units for some time during the war. The really big change came in late 1915 when the Derby (also known as Group) Scheme of recruitment came into being. From that time on, and when conscription came in on 2 March 1916, the link between a TF unit and its home recruiting area was very much reduced and my guess is that Tom Perrott joined the unit some time from late 1915 onward.

[Steve Albin]

My Grandfather Tom (not Thomas) Parrott served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery in the 1914-18 War. He survived and I have two numbers for him-2325 and later 765872. He was born in Liverpool in 1874 and so would have been 40 at the start of the War.

Can anyone please suggest how I may be able to find out in which regiment he served? These are the only details that I have.

ALP

Hello Albert,

My grandfather was also a Gunner with the RFA and was given two regtl no's. I have his MIC and excellent copies of his Medal Rolls but the best and only clue I found after months of research was on his SWB roll, also called the WAR BADGE. It shows he was with the 459th Battery.
If it was not for this info I would still be very much in the dark.

Good luck.

Steve

[dawn/karen]

i have just discovered that my grandad was in the war too, also from liverpool, he was in the terratorial army (4th west lancs) then the RFA howitzer division, he was badly injured to hands and face and discharged only for the silly man to go and rejoin!!! god knows how or what he could do with only one hand and fingers missing of that!!!!! at the moment im still trying to make nor tail of what is what info wise as i dont realy havemuch interest in wars and stuff, all i know was that he was a l/bdr??? light bombadier? he finally came out for good in 1927 when my dad, his 3rd child , had been born.

[Peter Goodey]

l/bdr??? light bombadier?

Lance-Bombardier, the artillery equivalent of Lance-Corporal.

[eleroo73]

I HAVE JUST STARTED TO TRACE MY RELATIVES WORLD WAR 1 HISTORY, I HAVE FOUND THEIR MEDAL CARDS BUT CANNOT FIND THEIR SERVICE RECORDS, CAN ANYONE HELP ME.
W4960 PTE ARTHUR WILLIAMS DRIVER
136715 GEORGE RICHARDS DRIVER

HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME, HELEN

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the B-G forums

I HAVE JUST STARTED TO TRACE MY RELATIVES WORLD WAR 1 HISTORY, I HAVE FOUND THEIR MEDAL CARDS BUT CANNOT FIND THEIR SERVICE RECORDS, CAN ANYONE HELP ME.
W4960 PTE ARTHUR WILLIAMS DRIVER
136715 GEORGE RICHARDS DRIVER


Sadly the majority of service records were destroyed or damaged by enemy action in WW2. See this TNA guide - British Army Soldiers' Papers WW1 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=18)
Did either receive a medical pension? Or were either career soldiers who carried on service beyond 1922?

[eleroo73]

arthur williams went on to serve in india in 1923. I know nothing of private richards, as a family we have always had his medal, but we do not know who he is. we would like to trace his family, or at least find out why the medal is in our possession.

[Geoffers]

arthur williams went on to serve in india in 1923.


Start with TNA's web-site (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm)

Look across to the left of the screen where you see 'Military History' and click on the first link 'British Army'

You get taken to another page which asks a question, answer it by clicking on the relevant link. You'll get taken to a page which tells you how to apply for his service record.

I know nothing of private richards, as a family we have always had his medal, but we do not know who he is. we would like to trace his family, or at least find out why the medal is in our possession.

Although you cannot find a service record, is there a pension record for him?

You could try searching CWGC to see if he died in WW1.

Also try searching the National Roll of the Great War - although not complete, it has a lot of entres and you migth be lucky.