RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: AlexWood on Sunday 27 November 11 10:28 GMT (UK)
-
Hi, I've got my Gt Grandfather's enlistment form off ancestry.co.uk and was looking for help deciphering his postings. I can read when he was posted to the BEF but that's about it. And what is class "Z" in the Reserves? All help gratefully received.
-
Class Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve "for the duration", were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.
Interesting reading.... ;)
I think you will need the first wife's death certificate...
last posting looks like 47(S) RGA
I'd also have a dig on the 1911 census for margeret hutchinson....
interesting his first wife was known a s Hatton OR spence...
I suppose you have got the bit about BEF 25 feb 1916?
Also looks like he would have been one of the last tranche of Derby Volunteers prior to conscription in 1916
-
47 siege battery RGA...
Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire.The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines.
WO 95/465 47 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery 1915 Dec. - 1918 Jan. war diary at Kew...full reference...
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-2239238&CATLN=7&accessmethod=5&j=1
-
"47th Siege Battery, RGA who were probably located at or near the Huts cemetery, Ypres Salient, over October/November 1917."
I think all that should put you on the right track...
he probably wont be mentioned by name, but his entry into the field on 25th Feb 16 might be mentioned as re enforcements. The battery had been in france since 1915...
26th Nov 1915 to be precise...
-
Going back through his records...he was not a naughty boy you will be pleased to hear...Well, not in the army anyway....His private life may prove to be different!!!
The "civil wife" is at odds with his named wife!!!
He has a clean charge sheet, and was only admitted medically for x3 days in 1917 with a dose of the runs
-
all that should help you comrade!!! ;D
-
Thanks very much it's a giant leap forward and I'll ask my mum about the civil wife bit when I see her at Christmas - best done face to face I think!
-
Morning folks,
just thought I would point out the 'or' is the Scottish way of recording 'nee' regarding a married women. ie Mary Smith or Jones = Mary Smith nee Jones.
Well, that's today's useless piece of info!! lol!
regards
David