233887 Gnr. William Robert Kerr British Army 238th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Acton, London My grandfather, William Kerr signed up in December 1915, much to the anger of my grandmother, who felt he should stay at home because of his three children. However, he signed up at nearly 38 and just before conscription for that age group was introduced, which meant that as a volunteer, if he was killed, his wife would receive a pension.
He arrived in France in August 1916. He served with 238 and 353 Siege Batteries. He was injured in June 1918 when a shell was dropped on his finger, he was hospitalised in Edinburgh and discharged in February 1919.
He hardly ever talked about the war but the records of 353 Siege Battery are in the National Archives, so we have been able to find out about some of his service. He did talk about being with Australians and was amazed at the way they spoke to their British commander, General Birdwood, he never got over them calling him 'Birdy' to his face! He also said that he never forgave Haig for what he saw happening to young men in the infantry at Passchendaele.
Before he died he lived with his daughter and her family in Hove. He brought with him his wartime binoculars and a hand grenade. My mother was persuaded that it wasn't safe. A friend took it out to sea, pulled the pin, tossed it out & swore that it exploded, forty years after WW1 ended! William died in 1957.
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