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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: MargeW on Sunday 14 June 09 20:18 BST (UK)
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Hi
My great grandfather served in the RFA from 1900 - 1918. His service record tells me that he was in the 28th Brigade and that he was in France 1914-18. I have looked on the 1914 website and can't find any details of his brigade. How would I go about trying to find out where in France he served or fought? He was later moved to the Labour Corp.
He was also in India for six years in the early part of his career. Again, would there be any records?
And finally, is there an army museum for the RFA? I can't seem to find one.
This is the first military man I have found and don't really know were to start. Any help would be very welcome.
He was called Arthur Kendall (b1882 Chatham)
Marge :)
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Hi Marge
http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000034-Firepower!-Royal-Artillery-Museum.htm
ricky
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Hello Marge,
28th Brigade were, as you know, a Regular Army Brigade. They comprised of 122, 123 and 124 Batteries. They were attached to 5th Division until Jan 1917, when they became an Army Brigade.
Look on this link for XXVIII Brigade and then click on 5th Division:
http://www.1914-1918.net/rfa_units.htm
Phil
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Hi Marge
Your GGrandfather was in a great regiment, the Royal Artillery - don't pay too much attention if a sawbones moderator called Scrimnet turns up and starts being rude about them.
There is a little bit about the RFA brigades on the long, long trail at
http://www.1914-1918.net/rfa_units.htm
The artillery brigades fought as part of divisions and I think you have to rely on the divisional history. The long, long trail site puts 28 Brigade in the 5th Division at least up to January 1917 and you can find a precis of the Division's history at
http://www.1914-1918.net/5div.htm
I can see an Arthur Kendall matching your description on the medal roll index cards. He is shown as Gunner, 8176, and arrived in France on 19 Aug 1914. This early start meant that he received the 1914 Star as well as the British and Victory medals. The medal card gives the date of his transfer to the Labour Corps as 8 Oct 1917. There are a few pages of his army record in the series that Ancestry calls "Pension records". It looks as if his transfer to the Labour Corps was a consequence of some injury but I cannot see any details of this - unfortunately his records seem to run into the records of an infantry man, also called Arthur Henderson. The Labour Corps was formed in 1917 to provide front line labouring and engineering but it also got the job of looking after soldiers deemed unfit to serve in the fighting units, usually because of wounds.
All the best
Gobbo
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The War Diary for 28th Brigade, covering their time in 5th Division (August 1914 to December 1916), is held at the National Archives in WO 95/1532.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/06hn/
Phil
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Thank you so much. I guess I need a trip to Kew to view the other records. Unfortunately, I work full time and live in Hull - but will aim to get there sometime soon.
I really appreciate your help.
Marge
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Hi
My Great Grandfather Julius was a Major in the 28th Brigade RFA and I have quite a bit of info on him if you are interested. I visited Ypres twice and took time to see the places where he served during the Third Ypres in 1917. He was awarded the DSO in September of that year.
He never spoke of the war to those who I know who knew him but a number of his unit worked on his farm after the war and my great aunt remembers the Scottish fairy tales told to her by one of the ex artillerymen.
Regards,
T
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Thanks T, I would be really interested to know more. I will send you a PM, so you can get my email address.
Cheers
Marge
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Marge-
My 'real' email is (*). Email me on that and I will supply you with info about the 28th Brigade RFA - and more. I haven't yet figured out how to reply to your personal message on this BB.
Regards
Tim
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