TOPIC:

I've acquired a group - QSA + WWI trio - to a Gunner with the 83rd Battery, RFA.

On researching him I have uncovered a Supplementary Roll whereon he appears as one of those RFA Details attached to No. 2 Local Ammunition Column.

My question to Artillery buffs is what was special(if anything) about this crowd and is there anything known about them?

All help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Rory

Rory
The No.2 Local Ammunition Column - at least for some time - was based at Pretoria and was attached to III Brigade, RFA and commanded by Capt. C.StM Ingham (listed as ops in Tv, 1/00 -5/02).
I will have a further trawl later on in the day. I would say that this unit was a resupply echelon aqnd would have seen a lot of trekking. Have you had a look in Stirling for 83 Battery?
Regards
IL.

I haven't yet looked in Stirling (don't possess a copy) but will go into the internet Archives and look them up there.

Thanks for what you have provided and I look forward to the results of your trawl a while later.

Regards

Rory

Rory
If we knew the name of your Gunner, it MIGHT be possible to tie things down a bit. Stirling does not say much about 83 Batt: In the latter stages of the ABW, it "long remained in the Eastern Transvaal" with a couple of specifics. The Official History makes mention of the Battery in footnotes in Vol.4.
I suspect that your man - when serving with No.2 Local Ammn.Column- would have done a great deal of convoy work and earned his QSA.
Regards
IL.

8254 Gunner William Henry Neville is the chaps name.

Any info/context would be most helpful.

Thanks in anticipation.

Rory

Rory
Just now I trawled through my mini CD for RA and I could not find any "8254 Gunner William Henry NEVILLE" in 83rd Battery, RFA. Sometimes I have my doubts about whether all applicable rolls are present on this CD.
Sorry about that
IL.