270th Siege Bty Royal Garrison Artillery

[NicolaPicken]

Tried in vain to get hold of the war diary and info on the 270th Siege Bty Royal Garrison Artillery, anyone have any information?  Would love some pictures if any available.  Looking for info on Frederick William Picken, Service Number: 88109 OR 68109, died 1st July 1917.  Thanks x

[gortonboy]

 the War Diary for 270 Siege Battery RGA. They were attached to 4th Army in France and Belgium from Oct 1916 to Jan 1918. It is at the National Archives at Kew and the number is WO95/482. You will get a day-to-day account of their activities.

[Peter J]

Hello Nicola,

Frederick's Army service records are available on Ancestry.

A quick scan reveals that he was a widower at the time he enlisted in November 1915 (aged 22)
Address: 15 Church Rd, Tettenhall Wood, W'hampton
Daughter: Dorothy May, b. 20/09/1914
Father: Thomas Picken
Mother: Elizabeth
Brothers: 1) Joseph, 2) Thomas Charles
Sisters: 1) Elizabeth Ann Butler, 2) Eleanor Shaw, 3) Annie Seal, 4) Caroline Buckley, 5) Susan Picken

MIC: British War Medal & Victory Medal

CWGC: Killed in action 01/08/1917 - interred at Ferme-Olivier Cemetery, Belgium / Plot 3. Row G. Grave 5.

Looks as though his personal possessions were sent to his daughter Dorothy, c/o Mrs. Annie E. Finney, of 27, Inkerman Street, Wolverhampton.

Regards,

Peter

[NicolaPicken]

Thank you so much for this info!!  Don't have any subscriptions to sites yet & not having any luck getting info from National Archives, so will have to pay them a visit I think.  This also has shed some light over my great aunt Dotty May, wondered where she fit into the family tree and now I know, didnt check this line before as I presumed Frederick was too young to have had children!  Thanks again!!

[Peter J]

Nicola,

You are very welcome.

Poor Aunt Dotty May - losing both parents within a couple of years or so, of each other, and obviously far too young to have had any memories of either.

If it is not beeing too nosy, are you able to shed some light on her story - who rasied her, what became of her, etc?

With thanks,

Peter.

[NicolaPicken]

I wish I knew more, but I don't at the moment, still in early stages.  As far as a relative of mine can remember, she was a proper character.  Apparently she always wore a red beret (much to the family's disgust!) tipped to one side, and could roll a cigarette with one hand whilst carrying a handbag and running for the bus!!  That's all I have at the moment haha!

[Peter J]

Thanks for sharing what little you know, Nicola.

All the best,

PJ