3 replies to this topic

[Robnwales]

Information sought about the 1/1st Welsh (Carnarvon) RGA (TF). This topic was posted some time ago with incorrect information and now some further research has raised more questions.
I have the medals of my great grandfather Griffith Richard Hughes (of penmaenmawr/llanfairfechan area) stating that as 310574 Acting Bombardier RGA he served in the Great War from 1916 onwards - however, we have photographs of him in the cap badge of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers prior to this date and it states GR Hughes RWF. Family history tells us that he was a pre-war territorial and was in this capacity when war broke out. However, no mention is made of this on his medal card etc. Whilst clearly not serving overseas prior to 1916 was there RWF territorials in some form prior to 1916 on domestic service? The RWF Museum in Caernarfon was less than helpful!!
I have three photographs of him in both RWF and RGA uniform and two of the entire unit (sic?) in front of some shack. Great Grandpa Hughes was in his late 20s during the war and seems to have remained a lance bombardier. Prewar he was a sett dresser with Manchester City Council and post-war retrained as a surveyor, retiring in the 1950s beuilding and designing roads, houses and buildings for Hiraethog RDC. He litterally built the 'homes fit for heroes' after the war receiving the 1936 and 1952 Coronation Medals "for services to public housing". We understand he was high up in Civil Defence during the 1939-45 conflict.
Any information on the 1/1st Welsh (Carnarvon) RGA would be of great interest and happy to share photos etc - may have some of post-war reunions too, including one on crafnant lake in the late 50s when only four of these men were still alive.

[hywyn]

Hi Rob

When you have three posts up you can use the PM system. If you hover your cursor over my name to the left of this post you'll see a 'send message' envelope. Send me your proper email address and I'll deal with the bulk of the RGA aspect with you.

Enlistment into this unit for numbers around him is end October 1915. This means he will have a number previous to the six digit  one and the best I can narrow it down is to between 917 and 927 inclusive*  You may have this number on some of his material.

Re RWF TF. On the assumption that he would have been in his local battalion, the 6th Bn, and going with the info that he had pre war service & was in service at outbreak then his number would have been no higher than around 1200. Plenty of 4th August men enlisting from around this number onwards. This number would not be on the medal card as that only denotes the mans number when posted overseas/theatre of war. He could have moved between any number of units and not be on the medal card.

The 6th Battalion had a second line formed and then a third line.
See
http://www.1914-1918.net/rwf.htm

(re 2nd 6th- ignore the formed Carmarthen bit, it's Carnarvon. This error keeps being perpetuated regardless of efforts made to rectify it.)
Do you have any placenames in amongst any of his material? The 2nd line were also known to have been at Aberystwyth in early 1915.

No doubt you have had a look for his papers and come to the same conclusion as I have which is that his do not seem to have survived. If there's  a suggestion that he continued/re- enlisted service in the Artillery TA after the war then his papers may be at the MoD. His number then would be a seven digit one* with the local one being the 61st Medium Bde (may have been 12th for a short while) with many numbers starting 166xxxx.

You say you have his medals. Do you have a Territorial Force Efficiency Medal?
See bottom of this page
http://www.1914-1918...d/themedals.htm

Lastly, may I suggest you post the photo of him with the RWF badge. There some on here who are hot on identifying uniforms and may be able to date it.


Hywyn



* All TF were renumbered to six digits in early 1917
http://www.1914-1918...renumbering.htm

[Robnwales]

Many thansk for the infomration to date - Aberystwyth does ring a bell though we also have a medal in a case given to him as 'best shot' at some training establishment featuring a classical figure with bow and arrow. I will post the pictures that we have on this site, as may be of interest - some of him showng 1/1 Welsh shoulder flash and others of the troops outside some shack.

[LST_164]

Robn,
Hywyn is definitely the man for this topic!  Just by the way, I knew a veteran of the 1/1st Welsh (Carnarvon) Heavy Battery in my youth - Driver William Huw Jones of Menai Bridge, who was porter at the University Library in Bangor 1970s.  Known as "Wil Huw Belgie"  I think, because he married a Belgian lady.  

Clive