royal field artillery

[scrimnet]

Did I miss the posting of this postcard?

If not could you pop it up pse, as it MAY give us all an extra clue or something!

[forester]

John,

Did your father have any connection with the SE London (Camberwell) area?

Phil

[jabant]

Hi Phil

As far as I know dad had no connection with Camberwell. He lived in Stratford, where his dad was a greengrocer and after school worked for him until he joined the army. Thats how I remember it
Re postcard I will post it but need to ask a friend to scan it in, as too thick for scanner.

Cheers John

[jabant]

Hi Scrimmet and Phil

Attached photo of section The wording at the bottom is RFA 33rd Btry A sub Sec March 1916. Sorry to take so long but had to ask for help in scanning photo.
Hope theres something in photo that throws some light on subject

Regards John

[jabant]

Hi

Didnt accept photo. Too large? trying again

John

[forester]

Well it's not the front of Redford Barracks, but could be round the back I suppose. There must be some-one on here that is familiar with Edinburgh architecture.

The reason I asked if he was from Camberwell, was because L/xxx numbers usually denote locally raised units and the number fitted. They do duplicate though and it equally fits the East and West Ham Brigades. The puzzle is why he didn't go overseas with them, if that is the case.

Phil

[scrimnet]

Two things about the pic...

1, It looks like civvy billets or some sort of married quarters...Certainly the x2 front doors of a terrace. Barracks don't usually have net curtains!

2, It it wasn't dated, I'd put this at least 16 months later!!! 

[battiscombe]

I think that - for 1916 - that is almost certainly a training (ie reserve) battery .. and the architecture would be just fine for Scotland! - and it is not uncommon to see photos without the 'Reserve' on the Bty number

david

[jabant]

Hi David

Thanks for your post. It confirms Phils last post "33rd Reserve Battery, which appears to be part of 6C Reserve Brigade. The documentation/ references for the home based reserve brigades is extremely thin on the ground. One reference to 6C Res. Bde, however, places them at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh. The Battery was certainly in existence throughout 1916", which is a great help. At least Im sure that he was in a reserve battery and could have gone to India, and not in the 33rd, which only fought in Europe.
Having little, really no knowledge of the records kept by the army I am surprised that it appears there isnt records of the different brigades, structures and and areas of operation. I must get to London to make more investigations.
Thanks for all the help

Regads  John