Calcutta Volunteer Battery

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First World War

A group of volunteers served in East Africa during the First World War known as the Calcutta Volunteer Battery formed from Volunteer regiments based in Calcutta, the Calcutta Port Defence Volunteers and the Cossipore Artillery Volunteers.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists three deaths in Africa where the regiment is listed as Indian Defence Force Artillery Calcutta Volunteer Bty., Calcutta Port Defence Volunteer Corps.

There is also one death listed on the Basra Memorial where the regiment is listed as Indian Defence Force Artillery, 1st (Calcutta Port Defence) Group Garrison Artillery , which appears to indicate that at least one man/some men fought in Mesopotamia. See Mesopotamia Campaign

Also see

• East Africa (First World War)

Records

• National Archives catalogue reference WO 329/2939 Calcutta Volunteer Battery, East Africa miscellaneous: medal rolls. 1914-15 Star
• Seventeenth Annual Report of the Calcutta Port Defence Volunteer Corps, season 1915-1916 is available at the British Library. This may possibly contain a reference to those serving overseas.

External links

• CWGC record: Pacey, F A Died between 04/08/1914 and 31/12/1914 Indian Defence Force Artillery Calcutta Bty.1st (Calcutta Port Defence) Group. Nairobi British And Indian Memorial
• CWGC record: Turner, Thomas Melville Indian Defence Force Artillery, Calcutta Volunteer Bty., Calcutta Port Defence Volunteer Corps, Nairobi South Cemetery
  • Photograph: Grave: 24 Gunner T. M. Turner Calcutta Volunteer Battery died 28th October 1915 age 30 Nairobi Kenya flickr.com
• CWGC record: Dawson, W Indian Defence Force Artillery, Calcutta Volunteer Bty. Moshi Cemetery Tanzania. Date of Death: 10/04/1916
• CWGC record: Thomas, C H Indian Defence Force Artillery 1st (Calcutta Port Defence) Group Garrison Artillery Basra Memorial Date of Death: 06/06/1916
• "Calcutta Contingent. Splendid Services in East Africa Stirring Experiences" The Straits Times, 5 December 1916, Page 3 Newspapers SG
• "Seven Lions" Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3176, 24 February 1917, Page 4. Comments by a member of the Calcutta Volunteer Battery re East Africa. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
• The 29th Punjabis in British East Africa: September to December 1914 by Harry Fecitt. Harry’s Africa kaiserscross.com. Contains a brief reference to the Cossipore Artillery Volunteers (Calcutta Volunteer Battery)