148th Battery Lytham st Annes 1915

[hanes teulu]

HT, I have tried and failed to find any mention of the 148th being at/moving to Fleetwood.

How about you?

AB,
Fleetwood did not figure if I recall correctly. I remember the Lytham Times, Friday 13 Aug 1915, had an item about the 148, 149, 150 and 151 at a new camp at Grantham (Belton Park). The same edition had an item where the band of the 148th had been in Lytham entertaining the crowd the previous Sunday.

I had used a range of search keys (plenty of "less is more") but had had to park further search because "chores" reared their ugly head. Yet to chase beyond Aug 1915.
regards

[hanes teulu]

The Blackpool Gazette, 13 Aug 1915, has an item about the move to Grantham.

[mabb1009]

Hi all,

Sorry you are going to have to forgive me.  I am delicately reading a handwritten pencil diary.  You can imagine how ornate his writing was.

As for my Grandfather, he states he left Lytham on 1st May to go to Fleetwood.  He states he was there until (hard to see) 20th July whereby they left Fleetwood.  On arrival there his Battery & Brigade changed to A battery, 165th Brigade.  On 20th July left Fleetwood to head for Bedale (Yorkshire?).  They left there by train sometime in August and went to Leicester.  He then mentions Haytesbury(?).  By December they were in Plymouth whereby they set sail on the Nitonian.  However by 25th Dec they had landed in Port Said, Egypt.

Without going on and on it seems that by 1916 (March 11th) they diembarked on the SS Ivernia(sorry, I can't be sure thats the correct name of the ship) and were sent to France.  Exactly where I cannot be sure due to his ornate handwritting.  He does say "I got my first parcel in France - March 16th)

[Andy J2022]

Without going on and on it seems that by 1916 (March 11th) they diembarked on the SS Ivernia(sorry, I can't be sure thats the correct name of the ship) and were sent to France.  Exactly where I cannot be sure due to his ornate handwritting.  He does say "I got my first parcel in France - March 16th)

Yes that sounds correct: Originally she was RMS Ivernia and became HMT Ivernia after she was requistioned from Cunard for war service. She was sunk by a German submarine in January 1917. There's a picture of her in the Wikipedia article.

[hanes teulu]

I noticed the "165th at Fleetwood" at some point today when checking newspapers eg. -
Lancashire Evening Post, 1 Jun 1915

[hanes teulu]

Preston Herald, 21 Aug 1915

[hanes teulu]

Reply #11 mentions "Haytesbury?"
Blackburn Weekly Telegraph, 18 Sep 1915

Note - if you click on the attachment name (7RFA) it might deliver an image that allows you to zoom in.

[mabb1009]

Hello Hanes,

Thank you so much for the image.  I really cannot believe my eyes.  I am not 100% but am pretty certain that the gentleman knelt down on the left (glasses and pipe) is actually my grandfather.  I need to be 100% sure so I am going to take it to my uncle (his son) who is 96.  I know he has a photo of my grandfather outside his house in Lancashire also knelt down with glasses and pipe with the family dog shortly after he returned home.  My goodness, if it is not him, it is an uncanny likeness.

Wow!

[hanes teulu]

There are wizards on this site at enhancing photos, including items snipped from newspapers. Wondered what they might come up with?