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« on: Monday 27 January 20 08:51 GMT (UK) »
The pension record of my grandfather William Clayton shows he had the rank of fitter in the 56th battery/34 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (Reg. No. 91290) when he was KIA on 21St August 1917. He is remembered at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery which duplicates this information.
I assume that 1) he was killed in the third Battle of Ypres just after the Battle of Langemarch (16-18th) and 2) the 56th Battery was a Howitzer one attached to the 2nd Division. I have not been able to find where the Battery was when he died. Any help gratefully received.
Secondly, his Army Form B200 showed that joined at Athlone on 2.9.14 and ‘enlisted for 3 yrs army service’ with ‘Service towards limited engagement reckons from 2.9.14.’.
The column entries on the B200 Form are as follows:
RFA Attested & posted Gr 2.9.10?
RFA 183 Posted Dr? 18.11.14
RFA 4 Sect
10 Bal? Posted Gr 1.12.14
Res Bde 2B Posted Gr 14.10.15
4A Res Bde Posted Gr 15.11.15
Exped Fce? Posted Gr 20.11.5
2nd Bal? Posted Gr 26.11.15
RFA 44 Bde Dfe? Posted Gr 1 Dec 15
34th Bde Posted Gr 20.5.16
RFA 56 Btry/34 Bde Posted Gr 25.5.16
Appointed fitter 30.9.16
RFA Becomes 56 Bty 34 Bde 27.5.16
115/47402
56/34 Bde Killed
In action Ftr 21-8-17
From this record I am not sure about the 1910 date but otherwise think he was initially on reserve, sent to France in the 44th Brigade and then on 20th May he was posted to 34th Brigade that I found was resting at Dieval.
He was born in Marston, Staffordshire and while other relatives seem to join their local county regiments, I do not know why he had to go to Ireland to join when there were recruitment centres for the RFA closer to home (and where he was employed).
Any suggestions would again be gratefully received.