Royal Horse Artillery - WW1

[bealesofcranborne]

My grandfather is Henry Samuel Beale who has the inscription GNR 14-18 65025 on his war medal (sadly not in my possession).

His medical card would indicate Regmtl No. 130730 and remarks Comm RFA (SR) 23-10-16

It also has EF/5/9890 extd from EF/9/4149 on the bottom of the card.

Does anyone have any ideas what the Reg no represents? and what records might be available for him?

The only comments I have heard is that he stepped off at Gallipoli with mules (not horses) due to the length of the journey, and one kicked him on the jaw smashing it in the process.

Would love to have direction as to what information might be out there to back up the details
.

[jds1949]

The number on the rim of the medal relates to this man:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=1365240&queryType=1&resultcount=1

Henry S Beale Royal Garrison Artillery.

The other Regimental number brings up this man:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=1365236&queryType=1&resultcount=1

H S Beale - Royal Horse Artillery.

It is possible that both cards relate to the same man - stranger things have happened with medal index cards, but you would need to download both to see exactly what was going on. If - for example - they show completely different medals one the Victory and the other the British War of 1914-1915 Star - then it might be the same man having transferred and being re-numbered. If they each show a complete set of the same medals - then the odds are you are dealing with two different men.

What additional information does his medical card give - and where did that card come from? Is it from his service/pension record? Do you have any other records?

jds1949

[forester]

I'm still working on it, but so far it looks like two different men.

Phil

[bealesofcranborne]

I think I may have been looking at the wrong card as you state !!

I had the card before the medal details and sort of assumed that the H S Beale RHA was the correct card as RHA was what I had been told.

I now understand but luckily have the card. It reads as follows -
Rank (looks like Gels or Gils?

Victory RGA 131B PAGE 3039
It also has something againts British but I can't read it I am afraid.

I will have to have a look as to what RGA is rather than RHA.

[bealesofcranborne]

I see the 14th siege battery of the RGA went to Gallipoli in 1915.

I have 3 photo's if you would like to PM me an e-mail address, I can send them so that you can put a face to this enquiry?

It may be that what I had assumed was RHA uniform is infact RGA uniform.

[jds1949]

RGA is Royal garrison Artillery - see here for more details

http://www.1914-1918.net/cra.htm

The rank would almost certainly have been Gnr - Gunner

The references [131 Page etc.] next to the names of the medals refers to the entry in the actual medal roll held at the National Archives at Kew. These are not available online.

jds1949

Forester will probably be able to fill in more details for you

[forester]

The H S Beale, RHA and later commissioned into the RFA is Harold Strangman Beale. The only man I can find of that name appears to have Australian connections.

As far as Henry S Beale goes, a Gunner in the RGA. Didn't go overseas before the beginning of 1916. Awarded British War & Victory Medals.  No surviving service record that I can find.

The RGA is notoriously difficult to pin some-one down to a specific battery. The actual Medal Rolls may have further info, but don't hold your breath.

My guess, based on surviving service records, is that he joined during the first week of March 1916 at the Citadel, Plymouth (No.3 Depot).

Phil