I recently copied the War Diaries for some of the AA Sections in Salonika and I've come across an unexpected records of signals in 98th AAS's Diary for "Argyll AA Gun". 98th AAS's Diary is extremely vague and doesn't give any detail to speak of, unfortunately, but I've managed to work out they were based near Guvesne on the Serres road.

That isn't an indication that the Argyll's were close to Guvesne. It was normal for any aircraft sightings to be passed on to the British and French Signals HQs to their AA units and aircraft squadrons but it's much more common for the signals to come from Brigade or Divisional HQs than from individual units outside the AA organisation. To have records of a number of reports from this Argyll Gun is highly unusual and I'm intrigued. I'd think that this would have been an improvised AA gun but it was clearly well-enough respected to be allowed to send in reports in its own right.

Although 98th's Diary is always vague, it had changed its way of recording the place where the plane was sighted by this time. Initially, the place-name was recorded but, by early 1918, this had been replaced by Areas. Entries from the Argyll AA Gun are generally Area V but I have no idea where that is.

Any Argyll experts able to help?

Keith

Perhaps it means the Argyll Mountain Battery of IV Highland Mountain Bde RGA, who arrived in Salonika on 10/8/16 and stayed through to the end. According to the Official History they were armed with four 2.75-inch guns and were attached to XVI Corps. The latest mention of them in the OH is in Oct 1917 when they were in the Struma Valley covering the attack on Homondos.

Adrian

It's possible, Adrian, but there were Battalions of the A&S Highlanders there, too, of course and it's conceivable that the reference is to a MG AA unit run by the infantry. 74th AAS were at Homondos and Dimitrac from late 1917 - presumably guarding Marian RFC Base. 98th went to XVIth Division as their AAS in mid-May 1918. The extract in the first post was from February 1918.

Keith

Mike would be the one to ask.

See post 18; http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...c=116601&hl .

Kevin

Indeed, Kevin. The photo he published in that thread could well be the gun we're discussing. Thanks for the pointer.

Keith

Somehow I missed this thread, but replied to Keith in a PM. The location of the Argyll Mountain gun that was detached for AA duty in Feb 1918 is documented in their WD. Particulars sent to Keith.

Mike Morrison

Thanks, Mike. The information was most useful. To round out this thread, Mike tells me that this Gun was located at Nigrita. I've noted the name in other Diaries as a source of signals but it's only called "Argyll AA Gun" in 98th's Diary. In fact that's only partly true. At the time, 98th's Guns were on separate sites and were keeping their own Diaries. The reference only occurs in B Gun's Diary but not, strangely, on the same dates that Mike tells me the Argyll Diary says they ere in action.

It's never easy, is it?

Keith

Keith,
Each Battery of the 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade had a detailed AA gun, so you might also see a "Bute Gun" and a "Ross" or a "Ross & Cromarty" gun in these records. If any of these are found, I might be able to correlate with their respective WD's.

Mike Morrison

I've now copied the Diaries in WO 95/4801 - all 1,100 pages! - so if there are any other references I should be able to find them. How long that will take is another matter as all the Diaries come to about 1,500 pages. My first priority is to try and work out where the various Sections were sited to see whether there are any clues as to why they were there. For example, I've found that the main ammunition dump was at Dudular, for example, so there were always guns sited nearby, for obvious reasons. Another site guarded XIIth Group's HQ near Kirek. I'll certainly be looking for anything vaguely Scottish while I work my way though!

Keith

Having transcribed (most) of the WD's of the 4th Highland Mountain Batteries, Mountain Brigade HQ and Ammunition Column, I can sympathize with you. It's very important work however, so "good job"!

Mike Morrison