10th. Squadron RFC Nov. 1917

AH HA Just reading Ralph`s letters home, and he talks about climbing trees and putting ariels up. On 26 Feb 1917, he writes that he is attached to 42 sq, " 3 squadrons in 3 weeks " and gives the address R.G.S. wireless operator R.F.C, 253 Siege Bty R.G.A. so he was clearly the wireless link man between the Be5`s and the artillery. This is presumably how he died. What was RGS and RGA ? His previous letters give no info whatsoever so how was he able to give such info without censure ?

Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added.

The 253^rd (Siege) Battery, R.G.A. was formed on 13th September 1916 at Hartlepool as a New Army unit. It went to France in January 1917, part of 22 Brigade RGA (182, 253, 287, 265, Batteries), part of 3^rd Army Artillery (commanded by Major General Wardrop) on 11.1.1918.