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Anson Battalion

W

watton

master brummie
I have just found my gt.Uncle James Draper from WW1, after searching for him for 8 years!!! I am SO pleased. I now know that he was in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and he was killed 7th September 1917, burial Gavrelle, Naval Trench Cemetary. Does anyone have a photo of the type of uniform he might have worn? I have some info. from the CWGC site, but wonder what he would have been 'up to' before being called up? It says that he was in the army reserve in 1915 and only entered March 1917, when he joined Anson Battalion. ANY help, knowledge or direction to another site would be GRATEFULLY received. He was a Brass polisher by trade, and his father (also James) lived 52 Aston Brook Street.
Many thanks.
 
His uniform would have been standard British Army khaki with steel helmet. However, the Royal Naval Division, did use Naval terminology even in the trenches. I see his rank was Able Seaman.
 
Lloyd - many thanks for the site. It was very interesting to read about. I wished that I knew what James was 'up to' before being sent to his death in 1917.
 
Also he was killed within about 3 weeks of the RND leaving the Gavrelle sector where they had been based since their attack of April 1917. They were sent to St Julien in the Ypres Salient to join in the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
 
Alan, do you know of an 'easy' text for me to read up on this battle? Somewhere in the level of 'Ladybird' books! Smile.
Thanks for the info. to date.
 
The book I indicated is the one but you can get some feel by doing a Google search for 'Gavrelle' and also 'Royal Naval Division'. A useful web article is'The Royal Marines at Gavrelle Windmill'.
 
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