HELP - Family look up RFA WW1, i have an index card but don't understand it

[Garyw0410]

Hello,

My grandads had his cousins WW1 medals for years now, its his birthday coming up & im trying to do a bit of research but im way out of my league. I managed to obtain a medal index card but have nothing else & have tried finding out what all the numbers & letters mean but most of them just confuse me.

His name was Arthur G (i think it might've been Gordon) Figg, he was a bombardier in the RFA his army number thingy is L-25986.

My Grandads in his 80's & doesn't know too much about his cousin & this is as a gift & my knowledge is next to nothing other than the above details. I tried the national archives (put in his name & number) but that gave me 6 different medal cards to 6 different people & only 1 fitted in with the medals.

Any help would be fantastic.

Gary

[debs14]

Hi gary have you tried contacting the regiment direct(RFA)
if you tell me what RFA stands for il look to see what i can find for you
Debbie

[mmm45]

Gary his record must have been destroyed in WW2 blitz
He was Royal Field Artillery first deployed overseas in 1915 entitled to 15 Star british war and Victory medals which you have.
Where was he from?

He was a Bombardier ( non comissioned officer)

Ady

[Garyw0410]

Hi Debbie,

The RFA is the royal field auxiliary, I don't know what unit he was in though.
MOD Comment Royal Field Artillery (not auxiliary)

Ady,

Thanks there was an + sign with something written next to it that got me confused had a look through the national archives abbreviation PDF but couldn't find anything that fitted what it said don't know if they mean anything to you. From what I've picked up he was from the Barnstable area but that might be wrong. I know my grandads mother & father were from Devon originally.

Much appreciated for your help btw as I said the limited knowledge I've got has proved quite a stumbling block.

Gary

[mmm45]

His Deployment date 29/11/15 fits with the 38th Welsh Division to France in 1915 but thats not confirmed as he could have gone out as a casualty replacement.

Ady

[millymcb]

Hi Debbie,

The RFA is the royal field auxiliary, I don't know what unit he was in though.

MOD COMMENT: Gary means Royal Field Artillery (not auxiliary)

[battiscombe]

for Bdr Arthur G Figg, the number L-25986 indicates he was in one of the locally recruited artillery Brigades - which narrows it down to units in range 148th Brigade through to 190th Brigade [ a link here lists them.. numbered with Roman numerals http://www.warpath.orbat.com/artillery/rfa_btys_wru.htm] . with Divisions in the 30th-40th range. I think the Welsh division is unlikely as most men had a special welsh W- prefix.
I have men of 149th (County Palatine) Brigade arriving that day in France with 30th Division but there may be other possibilities..his number is a bit high for that. 168th (Huddersfield/Rotherham?) Brigade is also a possibility  .. lots of men in that number range and i think it arrived around 28/11/1915. There are no such units in the west country so it depends on where he might have been working and joined up.. in 1915. Its difficult with the artillery ..