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jean1
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Western Front 1916
Hi, new to this sight, i am trying to find any information on my dads unit 4th DAC "B" Echelon. his pay book and a photo i have of his comanding officer states he was in France and Belgium. His comanding officer for this unit was J Tuckett.His age being 45 would probably have him not too involved with the major battles ??? Still i would like to know what this unit did.He returned to Australia in 1919 with the rank of RSM. H Mckenzie 223. Jean 
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11/6/2006, 11:59 am
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ghosken
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Re: Western Front 1916
Hello Jean, the 4th Division Ammunition Column were responsible for carrying ammunition from dumps to positions closer to the front line, from where they could be taken up to the line by men or light rail. They would have mainly used general service wagons drawn by two horses. Their job required bravery as they travelled on roads often shelled by the enemy. Much of their work would have been done at night. Many of the Drivers would have been experienced horse handlers before the war. I will see if his file is open on the Archives and let you know.
Graeme
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11/8/2006, 10:53 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Western Front 1916
Jean, I have located his file at:
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1950248&I=1&SE=1
He served in the 11th Light Horse, and 5th Light Horse at Gallipoli, then went to France with the 4th DAC. He was crimed a few times (nothing unusual) and seems to have been a good soldier to end up as an RSM/Warrant Officer. Let me know if you need any more help in getting to or understanding his file.
Graeme
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11/8/2006, 11:09 pm
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frev
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Re: Western Front 1916
Hi Jean (& Graeme)
It's not easy to find details on the Ammunition Columns, but here are a few examples that I've collected:
From "The Gunners - A History of Australian Artillery":
p.134 "The work of the ammunition columns was appreciated by the gunners, and Sergeant Brownell of the 9th Battery recalled that it 'was a thrilling sight to see ammunition wagons and limbers being brought up at the gallop by our battery horses, quite regardless of the intense shell-fire'."
From the Official History Vol IV:
p.836: In the lead up to the Battle of Broodseinde (4/10/17):
"Recent nights spent by these divisions behind the lines had been much disturbed by German air bombing. On the night of Sept 28 .......... The following night bombs did great damage in the 3rd and 4th Divisional Ammunition Columns."
And one of the soldiers I'm researching who was also in the 4th DAC won a Military Medal for the following:
"On the night of May 27th 1917 near KANDAHAR Dump (before MESSINES), a stock of 18-pr. ammunition belonging to the 25th Division was ignited as a result of enemy shell fire. Under heavy enemy shelling and at great risk to himself from exploding ammunition, this N.C.O. with others succeeded in extinguishing the fire and, as a result, saved some 800 rounds of ammunition.
He showed keen devotion to duty."
Good luck with your research.
Cheers, Frev
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11/8/2006, 11:44 pm
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jean1
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Re: Western Front 1916
hi Graeme & Frev.
Thanks for answering my post, information greatfully recieved. will add further details for his Great Grandkids to ponder.I am in awe myself with what these men indured.
Still cant fathom out the meaning of "B" Echelon. His C/O at the time J.Tuckett went on to higher ranks.Would appriecate any light on this Echelon group. Ta Jean
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11/9/2006, 8:19 am
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frev
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Re: Western Front 1916
Hi again Jean,
Hope the following sheds a little more light on the Echelon query.
In the May to July of 1916 when they were reorganising the Australian Artillery it was decided that:
"Since artillery on the Western front would almost invariably operate under divisional control, it was decided to abolish the brigade ammunition columns and to reconstitute the divisional ammunition columns into two echelons. 'A' Echelon would accompany the division at all times and 'B' Echelon would follow the division if circumstances permitted, but could be detached under corps control when necessary."
[Source - "The Gunners" - p.117]
Cheers, Frev
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11/9/2006, 3:27 pm
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jean1
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Re: Western Front 1916
frev, ta for that info, good to get things sorted out, not much of a military person so the going is hard for me sometimes, only wished i was older when dad was alive i would have asked more questions, he wasn't very forthcoming of his life in the army to my older siblings. I have been lucky enough to find his unit when he went to the boer war(uk)imperial yeomnary,where he also had the rank of RSM. Jean
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11/9/2006, 5:30 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Western Front 1916
We're only too pleased to help, Jean. Family history should be accurate history, otherwise too many myths can sneak in from generation to generation. Frev, do I detect another article for DIGGER?
Graeme
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11/9/2006, 7:35 pm
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frev
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Re: Western Front 1916
Jean - good to see you're gradually piecing together your father's life (I remember seeing some earlier queries from you on the LH forum)
Graeme - I have so many different research projects going at the moment - I could probably write quite a few articles for Digger - if I could only concentrate on one thing for long enough to get it finished!!!
Cheers, Frev
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11/10/2006, 4:38 pm
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jean1
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Re: Western Front 1916
Frev Yes LH forum has also given me some info, however i have gained more insightinto the 4th DAC from this forum Jean
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11/10/2006, 4:50 pm
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