The 223rd Brigade was originally the 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade. This Brigade was detached from the Home Counties Division and landed in France on the 10/03/1916. On the 09/06/1916 it came under command of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. On the 24/06/1916 the Brigade was renamed as 223rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery and the two batteries became "A" and "B" (Howitzer) Batteries. On the 18/07/1916 the Brigade was broken up with the batteries going to 318 and 316 Brigades respectively. On the 31/07/1916 what had been 318 Brigade and renumbered to 225 in error was renamed as a new 223rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery. William died in the No.3 Casualty Clearing Station, Gezaincourt, France of wounds to the abdomen, side, thigh and arm. A blood transfusion operation was performed but to no avail. Before joining up William was attending Glasgow University as he trained to be an Officer. However he did not take a Commission and preferred to join the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner to gain experience in France. William's Grave, Medal Index Card, CWGC Grave Registration, Army Register of Soldiers Effects, Service Medal and Award Rolls and Headstone Report all state George as first name. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here (name on grave is George). See photos for William's Medal Index Card (named as George), his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Coatbridge Technical College and Gartsherrie Churches Rolls of Honour, at the Family Plot in New Monkland Cemetery x 2, Bagneux British Cemetery, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, William's Pension Record x 3, another photo of William's grave and the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge. William's grave inscription reads "BELOVED SON OF WILLIAM ORR B.L. SOLICITOR AND BANKER COATBRIDGE, SCOTLAND".
