Captain Thomas Bowyer RGA, 1917

[gilesyates]

Hi David
I am searching for any information I can get about my grandfather Capt. Thomas Bowyer of the Royal Garrison Artillery.
He is listed on my father's birth certificate in May 1917 as living at 'Greendale', Privett Rd, Alverstoke.
Do you know of any records of RGA personnel for the local forts in 1917 ?
I would be very grateful even for the smallest scrap of information.
Regards, Giles Yates
Sydney Australia

[David]

Giles

There is no single source of information that lists RGA personnel and where they were stationed. If he was in the RGA stationed at Gosport then he could have been in Fort Grange, which was (is) very close to Privett Road, Gosport. It was common for Officers who were married to be quartered outside the forts. As he is an officer, rather than an enlisted man, he will appear in the Army Lists. (The Army Lists were published each year and detailed  where each officer was, and with which Regiment). Privett Road is extremely close to where I live but house names are not used much today. There is a slim possibility that the house is still there although I cannot see it named on the Victorian maps which I have.

Please be patient as it will take me a while (give me a week) to look him up.

David

[David]

I have looked for a Captain T Bowyer in the Army Lists and have come up with no reference. I searched from 1916 to 1920. There is no Captain T Bowyer listed in any British Army regiment between those years.
One of two reasons come to mind.
1. He was not an officer.
2. His name was not Thomas Bowyer

I also searched the London Gazette for any references to a commission for a Thomas Bowyer and again nothing was listed.

Sorry.

[David]

The mystery deepens:
Street directories of Gosport for 1916 to 1930 do not have a house called Greendale in Privett Road. Maps of the same period also do not show any such house. These directories also do not have a person called Thomas Bowyer living anywhere in Gosport in 1916 to 1930.

[gilesyates]

David
Unfortunately I did not find your response to my questions till now.
I am very grateful for your research. It clearly indicates that she gave a fictitious name for the father of her baby... which is very useful information for me.
Thank you so much,
Kind regards, Giles