Lance Bombardier 49644
Date Enlisted: 30th December 1907 in Saxmundham, Suffolk
Corps: The Royal Horse Artillery
Theatres Served: England, South Africa and India
Edward Hart started his Army Career at the RHA Depot in Woolwich, Kent where he would have learned to ride a horse and undertake his duties as a soldier and was then posted to Potchefstroom, South Africa as a Driver on the 20th of October 1909. On the 17th of Aug 1911 he was admitted to the Military Hospital for 9 days due to an abscess and then on the 27th August he was then further admitted for Erysipelas (a skin infection) for another 3 days.
On the 8th Dec 1911 he underwent a medical examination which declared him fit to be posted to India which happened on the 11th when he was posted to B Battery.
In Ambala, Punjab, he visited the hospital several times. The first was in June 1912 when he got Tonsillitis and then again in June 1913 due to his horse falling and kicking him in the abdomen. This time he was in for almost a month. He then went to another hospital in Kazanli, India due to a varicocelle which was noted on his initial medical examination back in 1909. Finally he was admitted for a further 10 days due to 'debility'.
On the 5th of October 1914 he was posted back to England as part of A Battery and then on the 11th November 1914 he was posted to Base Harfleur, France. This was a holding depot to prepare troops about to fight in France whilst they awaited they're postings. Driver Hart was posted to the 2nd Indian Brigade as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division. The Division saw action in the Western Front until the end of the war and although I don't know where Driver Hart fought specifically, while he was there the division was involved in the first Battle of Ypres which lasted until the 22nd of November particularly in the fighting around Nonnenbosschen.
In 1915 the Division fought at the second battle of Ypres (the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge from the 11th to the 13th of May).
He was posted to N Battery of the 17th Brigade on the 4th of September and this unit saw further action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme. He was appointed to Paid Lance Bombardier on the 19th October 2017 and at this time the unit was in reserve and no longer fighting on the front line.
He was then posted to N Battery of the 5th Army Brigade on the 16th April 1918 as the 2nd Indian Cavalry went through a period of change and renaming. He was promoted to Paid Acting Bombardier 4 months later and was finally posted to the dispersal centre on the 24th March 1919.
Service Ended: 29th December 1919
Medals Earned: The 1914 Star, The Victory Medal and The British Medal.
