WWI Candadian Artillery Major's Grouping

[EKman]

Here it is laid out. I could not find a ruler, so I placed my History Channel Remote in the picture for scale--my wife calls it the History Channel Remote because she says that is the only station that it can tune in.

[EKman]

For those who are interested, here is a close-up of the map itself.

[EKman]

I hope that you have enjoyed looking at this small collection. If there are any specific questions that I can answer or photos that I can provide that would be of further interest, please just let me know. I plan to keep this since it was a gift, but I would appreciate any and all comments regarding this grouping, including rarity and possible value so that I can note it in my inventory.
Thank you.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Chris, it is an interesting little group and a great gift Sorry but I cannot really help you with a value, as my collecting interests are really devoted to WW2. I would imagine that the US angle would certainly add something to it in the USA. We have several WW1 collectors on the forum who should be able to help with this?

Tell your wife that Lez says I have the same remote too

My Grandad served on 18 Prd's on the Western Front from 1915 to 1918.

Cheers, Ade.

[EKman]

Ade, I will pass that info along, it would seem that many forum members have similarly operating remotes. If anyone has any suggestions on how best to care for this grouping, I would be most grateful. For now, I have done nothing either to treat the leather or to clean anything. I simply have everything folded and stored in the leather pouch as it came to me and have placed it in my small safe as the pouch's leather strap is too much of a temptation for my cat and I would hate to come in and find him doing something bad

[leigh kitchen]

The Field Post Office mark is for 2nd Cavalry Division, They were in Somme area March - August 1918, by 5/1/18 they were in Belgium at Marche, at Verviers by 17/12/18.

I have a few sheets of the Canadian Chaplains Corps paper, used by a Canadian Chaplain to inform a British woman of her sons death "You will remember that I told you that he'd been admitted to this field hospital having been shot in the head, the bullet penetrating above the left eye", something like that.

[EKman]

The Field Post Office mark is for 2nd Cavalry Division, They were in Somme area March - August 1918, by 5/1/18 they were in Belgium at Marche, at Verviers by 17/12/18.

I have a few sheets of the Canadian Chaplains Corps paper, used by a Canadian Chaplain to inform a British woman of her sons death "You will remember that I told you that he'd been admitted to this field hospital having been shot in the head, the bullet penetrating above the left eye", something like that.

Please forgive my ignorance, but since the owner of this group served in an Artillery unit, why would the post mark be for a Cavalry Division. I do not doubt the research you have shared, I am just curious if this would indicate that his unit--60th Battery--was assigned to and a part of this Cavalry Division. Also, please let me express my thanks for taking the time to look up the post mark information. Is there an internet reference that you use for such things?

[leigh kitchen]

Divisions have supporting arms such as artillery or he may have been on the staff. There are sites that will breakdown the unis of WWI, but I just checked a book on British army postmarks, published about 1982 I think "History of British Army Postal Service Vol II 1903 - 1927, by E B Proud, published by Proud Bailey Co, Norfolk.
At the time of publication a postmark for this office at the time it is dated on your envelope is noted as not having been seen by the auther (a dealer in such items).

[leigh kitchen]

I don't know how significant the envelope is - is it just a bit of scrap paper he's picked up somewhere, or was it sent to him from another post office?

British army post offices were subject to 6 "security phases" during the war, when many of these stamps were swapped around between different miltary post offices.
The date that your envelope was stamped coincides with one of these security phases, but this particular office is not noted as having taken part in the swap around at that time, & so should still have been using its own stamp.
The designation "DC2" follows on in the pattern of "DC1", "DC2", "DC3" etc, allocated to cavalry divs - presumably signifying "Division Cavalry 1...2....3" etc.

This page has a link to a history of 60th Battery CFA by its CO, but at the moment it's not working as bandwidth has been exceeded.

[Ron B.]

Hello EKman

I think you may have read the majors initials wrong, which is easy enough done. I've searched Library and Archives Canada database for Soldiers of the First World War and have found only three Ringwoods. This is the only close match.
Major J.A.G. Ringwood
Should be T.D.J. Ringwood
Here is his Officers Declaration paper, found online at the Library and Archives Canada website. At the time of his enlistment he was a Captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery. You may be able to compare signatures.
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc015/602768a.gif

Here's a link to a 1918 Toronto newspaper photo. Be sure to click the thumbnail image to enlarge as it contains a small write up.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...asualty=260774

He was killed in action on Aug. 10th 1918, age 31 and is buried in CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY, France. At the time of his death he was with the 60th Battery, 14th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Heres a link to his memorial on the Veterans Affairs Canada website. It will also have a link to his plot and grave number.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...asualty=260774

Here's a page from Canada's Book of Remembrance for the First World War: His name is found on this page.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/col...ww1/ww1491.jpg

Here is the entry from the 14th Brigade war diary for the 10th of Aug. 1918. It mentions the circumstanses leading up to his death beginning at 4.15 a.m.
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e047/e001166437.jpg

Also the war diary for the 14th Brigade. Canadian Field Artillery:
http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/ne...e.html&r=5&f=G

I don't know how the partial envelope with the The Field Post Office mark for 2nd Cavalry Division found its way into the group. As it's dated Oct. 25th 1918 and he was dead by that date.

I've enjoyed this search. Its a great group of items you have!

Best regards
Ron B.