“Interior of Barracks 17 AA Coy., North Queensferry” – a detective story

The 17th AA Coy North Queensferry

Interior of Barracks, 17 A. A. Coy, North Queensferry c.1940

Because the  painting is dated c. 1940 I assumed that it was of a WWII anti-aircraft company.

It turned out that either the date is wrong, or the painting was created from memory or a sketch, because the scene dates from WWI.

I eventually tracked down some details of the 17^th AA Company through the Great War Forum

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/190532-17th-aa-rga/?tab=comments#comment-3015894

Someone was looking for a soldier who served with the 17 AA Coy, and received this reply from Kevin Rowlinson:

“If you subscribe to ancestry you could view the records of 133304 Harry Bailey. It lists some of the places 17 Coy were at the start of 1917, although later he did go abroad and join an AA Section. 17 AA Coy together with 52 and 54 Coys covered the Forth/Edinburgh defences.”

I contacted Kevin and asked if he could help with the painting.  Here is his reply:

“I would suggest it may have been painted in 1918, or from memory if 1940. You could have a look [on Ancestry.com] at the service records for a Harry Bush serving with the Royal Engineers, no. 366390, who was with 17 AA Coy being discharged from North Queensferry in Oct 1919. He was an electrician so probably worked with the searchlight section and any other electrical equipment that needed servicing/repairing. On attestation he gives his trade, or calling, as artist.”

Service Records of 133304 Harry Bailey.

Harry Bailey was a Woolen Weaver from Golcar, Huddersfield.  He signed up on 5th December 1916 at the age of 21, as an RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) Gunner.

and was discharged on 21st January 1919

His medical records show that in September 1917 he was anaemic after losing a large quantity of blood following tooth extraction in August 1917.  At that time he was serving on Inchcolm Island.

His service record shows that he served with 17 AA Co from January 1917 to September 1917 when he transferred briefly to 18 AA Co then back to 17 AA Co in October 1917.

This Casualty Form gives some more details:

On mobilization, he was posted to No4 Depot RGA South Camp, Ripon on 4th December 1916

4th January 1917 RGA AA Forth Defences

5th January 1917 ‘A’ s/s 17 AA Coy N. Queensferry

19th January 1917 ‘B’ s/s 17 AA Coy Hillock, Dunfermline

8th February 1917 ‘B’ s/s 17 AA Coy Inchcolm

9th September 1917 ‘B’ s/s 18 AA Coy Inchcolm

On 16th August 1918, he embarked for France to serve with various AA batteries.

So thanks to Harry Bailey’s service records, we know that 17th AA Company was part of the Forth Defences, based at North Queensferry, with an outpost on Inchcolm.