"B" Bty. 92nd Bde R.F.A.

[Chad]

Fred Lambert, Driver 72969 "B" Bty. 92nd Bde. R.F.A. Died 12/02/1917 & buried Devonshire Cemetery -

In a letter from his C.O Lt. W.S Oaten to the local newspaper mentions that he was hit in the head by shrapnel whilst fetching water for the Battery on 11/02/1917 & died the next day. Also mentions he was buried in a cemetery about 20 yards from the wagon line & also that they were eight miles behind the line.

To assist further with my research, please could i trouble some kind soul(s) for the following; -

1) Any details re the above Battery/Brigade

2) Does anybody have access to the war diary to see if any mentions for those two days?

3) Exactly what duties did a Driver perform?

Grateful for any assistance.

Chad

[gem22]

Chad

I've had a look in the book History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery but it has no mention of the battery for that period. You will need to see the war diaries if anyone can look them up at the PRO.

As for the duties of a driver; my understanding is that drivers were responsible for riding the horses that towed the guns into action, or as near as possible, and then taking the horses out. He might also have been a driver on an ammo wagon.

Garth

[rflory]

B Bty, 92 Bde, RFA was part of the 20th (Light) Divisional Artillery during the Great War. According to the unit history of the 20th Divisional Artillery, during January and February 1917 the 91st and 92nd Brigade, RFA were detached from the 20th Divisional Artillery and were covering the 17th Division front in the Sailly Saillisel sector of the Somme. 11 and 12 February appear to have been rather quiet times for the brigade so the shell that struck Driver Lambert was probably harrassing or interdictory fire. In order to obtain more detailed information you will have to check the War Diary of the 92nd Brigade which can be found at the Public Record Office at Kew under WO95/2105.

It would be quite common for the drivers to be some miles behind the battery's guns in what were called the "horse lines." This protected both the drivers and the horses from counter- battery fire directed at the guns. When the guns needed to be moved to a new positions the drivers and horses would be brought to the battery.

The Lieut.W S Oaten that you mentioned joined 92 Bde, RFA on 6 Jan 16 and from then until 31 Mar 17 he was an officer in D Battery, 92nd Brigade, RFA and was probably in the horse lines at that time for a period of rest away from the guns (officers and men were rotated back to the horse lines on a regular basis for rest and recuperation.) Oaten was a Cambridge grad and ended the war as a Captain, once wounded and mentioned in despatches. After the war he was Director of the Associated Lead Manufacturers Export Co. Ltd. at Newcastle-on-Tyne and he died on 20 December 1928.

Regards. Dick Flory

[Chad]

Garth & Dick,

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

Chad