258374 Dvr. Frederick Taylor British Army 113th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery from:Chilton, County Durham My grand dad, Fred Taylor, worked as a miner before signing up on the
5th January 1915, he started his training at no 1 Depot RFA Newcastle upon Tyne.
Some time during 1915 he was transferred to the Army camp at Aldershot
where at 7am on the 25th September 1915 his Brigade entrained at the Gov't sidings bound for Southampton.
Brigade strength was 24 officers, 697 other ranks, 630 horses, 60 mules,
16 4.5" Howitzers and 48 4.5" ammunition wagons. The Brigade arrived at Harvem France
at 1am 26th of September, at 7 am the Brigade disembarked, after resting
and another train journey the Brigade marched to Nieppe which was the
concentration area of the 25th Division.
Fred served with the 25th Divisional Ammunition Column and also
was attached to the Canadian Royal Artillery for a time,
on the 7th August 1916 Fred was transferred to the Royal Engineers
C Special Company (gas) his rank was Private then Pioneer. I can find very little information regarding C Special Coy. RE
I can only assume that he most probably transported gas shells to the guns.
Fred survived the war and returned to the UK in 1919.
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