Genealogy Chat

married and on cert states that he is bandsman in RGA, Clarence Barracks, Portsmouth.

Now he was supposed to be in Royal Marines Band so I googled RGA to find that it is Royal Garrison Artillery and was formed for the years 1914-1918.

Was this unit for noncombatants? Although I always understood that pipes and bugles and bandsmen became stretcher bearers/medics in time of war.

I found this on Google:-

Royal Garrison Artillery

The RGA was responsible for the heavy, large calibre guns and howitzers that were positioned some way behind the front line.
The Batteries and Brigades of the RGA
The Heavy Batteries of the RGA
The Siege Batteries of the RGA

It looks like they did fight.

Kath. x

Thank you Kath - I missed that! Just wondering if regulars from other regiments were sent to make up new regt?

Not sure if this helps at all - again from Google:-

Under the 1858 reorganisation of the Royal Artillery the Coast Brigade were to be used to man the Coast Defence Batteries and Fortifications. The 1891 reorganisation abolished the Coast Brigade as a seperate entity, its men becoming District Establishments.

On 1st. June 1899 the terms Royal Garrison Artillery and Royal Field Artillery were substituted for the old Garrison Artillery and Field Artillery titles. As a result the three divisions of Garrison Artillery (Eastern, Western and Southern) formed in 1899 were re-titled. Additionally many volunteer Artillery units changed titles e.g. 1st. Hampshire R.G.A. (V). The District Establishments became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery.The sole purpose of the RGA was to man the guns of a fortress both in peace time and in war. Some men were drawn from the Militia and Volunteer brigades but were under command of the regular Royal Artillery. The Victorian forts were to be manned by the Garrison Artillery supplemented by Volunteer Artillery.

On 1st. January 1902 the three divisions of the RGA were reorganised. All of the companies (the term substituted for batteries in the RGA) were placed in one numbered series. Numbering remained fixed until 1914 when international events required slight changes in the scales and organisation of the Britsh Army.

In 1956 Coast Defence was disbanded completely.

Thank you - looks like I will have to find his records - re the Royal Marine connection - family could have got it wrong. Thank you again Kath

I too have a bandsman in my family. Try writing to KNeller Hall Twickenham where many bandsmen were trained - they sent me lots of info and a photo.