Driver peter murphy royal field artillery date of death. Royal field artillery in the great war the wartime. He was a driver in the royal field artillery and first entered france on 20th august 1914. Catalogue description royal artillery records of services. Drivers royal field artillery other great war chat great war forum. There were two other branches of the artillery during the great war, the royal horse artillery, the socalled elite branch of the artillery. As he wouldnt be eligible for the 191415 star, the only medals he would receive would be the british war medal and the victory medal. Driver royal field artillery c1906 armed forces page 1. It was responsible for the movement of guns, ammunition wagons and supplies. By the start of ww1 it had become 4th welsh brigade. In 1899, the royal artillery was split into three arms the royal field artillery rfa, the royal horse artillery rha and the royal garrison artillery rga. Coxen served as a signaller in the 40th battery, 43rd brigade rfa during the early battles of the war.
Batteries and brigades of the royal field artillery the. Royal field artillery in the great war, the wartime memories project. The royal regiment of artillery at the time of the great war comprised three elements. The royal field artillery was a branch of the royal artillery during world war war 1. An archive of first world war research information on soldiers in the royal field artillery. Royal artillery records of services the national archives. I am not an artillery expert, but the field artillery training manual 1914 says that each driver was responsible for two horses. He served with the 402nd battery, 5th brigade, royal field artillery and was probably posted to france when he was 19 in mid1917. He said the men, gunners and drivers, would receive 1s. The diary and anecdotes of john price nunn who was a driver and signaller for the 2nd east lancashire division. Also the number of gunners per battery was almost equal to the number of drivers. The royal field artillery this was the largest of the three units. A driver was a military rank used in the british royal artillery and artillery corps of other commonwealth armies throughout the first and second world war, as well as in earlier conflicts. The wartime memories project royal field artillery during the great war great warallied army.
Alfred thomas king was a driver in the royal field artillery of the 32 nd brigade, 4 th division, ammunition column. Has been in france for two years and nine months and recently sent a german bread ticket home. The royal field artillery was the largest arm of the artillery. The royal artillery in the first world war the long. Therefore i was looking for a walter talbot, possibly a driver in the royal field artillery.
Development of british antiaircraft artillery in the first world war. He wears a mounted bandolier, lanyard, riding breeches and spurs. Each driver was responsible for his two horses feeding. World war 1 one ww1 wwii greatwar great royal field artillery. Ww1 soldier driver jack nutley royal artillery ebay.
See more ideas about wwi, world war one and world war i. A battery crew comprised of a major or captain with a captain as secondin command, 3 lieutenants or 2 nd lieutenants in charge of 2gun sections, battery sergeantmajor, battery quartermaster sergeant, a farriersergeant, 4 shoeing smiths, 2 saddlers, 2 wheelers, 2 trumpeters, 7 sergeants. The six horses drawing the gun, or wagon, were driven by three drivers, all on the nearside horses, and much training was required before drivers would be rated as. The royal artillery was divided into three separate bodies. March 1918 please use the comments box below if you can provide more information about this person. Search for royal field artillery in unit lives of the first world war. It was equivalent to the rank of private the rank was initially used in the royal artillery for the men who drove the teams of horses which pulled the guns.
Photos, obituaries and short service records all available to view and download. The royal artillery in the first world war the long, long trail. What was the rank of driver in world war 1 answers. The rfa what it was in ww1 the royal field artillery.
In 1916, batteries started being issued with the improved 18 pounder field gun. This section of the long, long trail describes the formation, attachments and history of each brigade and battery of the royal field artillery. First world war when all royal artillerymen of the lowest rank were re designated as. The most numerous arm of the artillery, the horsedrawn rfa was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line and were reasonably mobile. For details of movements and battles, click through to the divisions concerned. Driver and gunner ranks in the rfa other great war. Morris, driver, royal field artillery, 38328, who could be your man. Drivers royal field artillery other great war chat. This same harnessing type is also correct for the 7,7cm l. Many brigades started the war with 15 pounder field guns, ironically a development of an original krupps design from germany. Caterpillar valley cemetery, longueval, somme, france. Royal field artillery archives page 2 of 59 ww1 roll. Ww1 soldier driver w muskett royal artillery india ebay.
First world war casualty details for driver john cunningham royal field artillery. Inscribed to the reverse in a later, elderly hand jack nutley 1919. In 1914 each rfa brigade was comprised of three artillery batteries, each with 198 men and six guns. During the first world war a whole new form of artillery was developed to meet the unusual conditions of war on the western front. This leads me to believe that each gun team had three drivers one per pair and five gunners, one of whom would be the bombardier.
As an exgunner i should know this, but im not 100%. British army 955188 gunner royal field artillery 6th reserve brigade. Postcard in very good overall condition for age, though small crease to bottom left corner tip. Royal horse and field artillery regiment history, war. Ww1 royal field artillery gun carriage race training camp 1914 reprint. Ww1 soldier driver royal field artillery rfa gateshead photographer. Royal field artillery first world war diary with anecdotes. Driver dvr was a military rank used in the british army and the armies of other commonwealth countries. During the great war the royal artillery ranks were from lowest to highest. Soldier records for royal field artillery 359 results. Royal field artillery 436309 royal garrison artillery 473 labour corps 10436 royal engineers 97 army service corps 4029 royal horse artillery 3498 army veterinary corps 1953 royal horse and royal field artillery 1818 royal field artillery transport 1651 royal artillery 38 royal army medical corps 1239 tank corps 1199 royal field artillery territorial force 1187. Search thousands of identified photos, obituaries and service records of first world war officers, soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen and civilian workers. Royal field artillery archives page 3 of 59 ww1 roll. A battery of six pounder field guns included 5 officers and 200 men and 228.
It came into being when the royal artillery was divided on 1 july 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the royal artillery in 1924. A driver in ww1 rode on team horses which pulled wagons, guns, ambulances, equipment. Aquatint by j c stadler after charles hamilton smith, 1812. Royal field artillery my grandfather, john kneale, served with the rfa ww1 as a drivergunner i think his number was 18510. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies. With the royal field artillery in action, 1918 youtube. The rfa was the largest branch, providing howitzers and medium artillery near the front line. As i understood it all entrants to the royal regiment, be it rgarfarha joined as gunners, however if they were tasked in trainingat their battery to drive the gun and limber horses, they were then titled as drivers responsible for two horses. A german, prussian field artillery six horse team made up of a mix of 1864 and 1873 pattern saddles and harnessing to support the 10,5cm l. Search for royal field artillery in unit lives of the. It was phased out after the first world war when all royal artillerymen of the lowest rank were redesignated as gunners. Ww1 soldier driver e guthrie royal field artillery rfa tf whitchurch shropshire.
The corps of artillery drivers was established in 1793. The royal field artillery rfa of the british army provided close artillery support for the infantry. There doesnt seem to be much else available on his military service. December 1917 please use the comments box below if you can provide more information about this person. The national archives has a medal index card for a richard h. Ypres reservoir cemetery son of john and sarah murphy, of 5. It was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close. The rank was initially used in the royal artillery for the men who drove the teams of horses which pulled the guns. My grandfather see avatar was a driver in the rfa if you study the pictures of 18 pounders there are six horses to a gun team with three. Husband of lizzie gertrude taylor of 64, victoria avenue, new bilton, rugby, warwickshire, uk. At a recruiting meeting held in may 1915, lieutenant gay gave examples of the rates of pay for the lower ranks in the royal field artillery. On 1st july 1899 the royal artillery was divided into two distinct branches mounted and dismounted. It came into being when created as a distinct arm of the royal regiment of artillery on 1 july 1899, and was reamalgamated back into the regiment proper, along with the royal garrison artillery, in 1924.