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About this blog

Royal Artillery topics

Information and topics relating to the Gunners of the Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Field Artillery, and the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War. 

As I meander through research, battlefield tours and contributions to the GWF Forum, certain topics arise an interest which I record here. 

 

Entries in this blog

444 Siege Battery RGA

The 444th Siege Battery was formed on 31st May 1917 at Horsham and deployed to the Western Front 10th December 1917 equipped with two 12 inch Mark V Railway Howitzers. The success of the 9.2 in Mk1 Howitzer (290 lb shell firing out to 10,600 yards / 130 kg - 9,965 m ) which had been introduced in 1914 and the continuation of trench warfare led to a demand for ordnance which could fire heavier shells and at a longer range. The Elswick Ordnance Company designed and manufactured a 12 inch how

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45 (Battle Axe) Company RGA

A very fascinating photograph posted by @BMB shows a Signalling Class of 45 (Battle Axe) Company RGA. It records all the names of those on the course, which includes @BMB's great grandfather and grandfather.  45 Company was based at the Citadel in Plymouth. The Coastal Artillery Units during the Great War acted as training locations and places where Siege Batteries were formed. Many men would therefore not stay with 45 Company RGA. The younger Baker would be posted to the Middle E

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Bermuda Contingent Royal Garrison Artillery

An interesting unit I came across was the Bermuda Contingent RGA who were employed on the vital task of ammunition handing. As ever, a quick search on the GWF helped point me in the right direction. Many thanks to those who contributed to Bermuda Contingent RGA in paticular @aodhdubh The information has been drawn from many sources, and there are discrepancies in ranks between accounts, possibly due to acting and local rank.  Bermuda Contingent Royal Garrison Artillery The Be

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TE Lawrence - 10 (Motor Section) RFA

TE Lawrence of Arabia and his exploits, as portrayed in the iconic film with Peter O' Toole, have always intrigued me. I was aware of the irregular Arab Army being reinforced with armoured cars and aircraft, however I did not realise Lawrence's forces were supported by artillery. In November 1917, 10 (Motor Section) Royal Field Artillery joined the Arab Northern Army, equipped with 10 pounder mountain guns.   As ever, a search of the GWF revealed more about 10 (Motor Section) RFA, and

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A/58 Mobile Field Battery RFA

The 58th Brigade RFA was one of Kitchener's New Army's first artillery units forming part of the 11th (Northern) Divisional Artillery. They deployed to Gallipoli 1st July 1915 landing on the  peninsular at the beginning of August. Following the evacuation of Gallipoli, the 11th (Northern) Division deployed to the Western Front arriving in France 2nd July 1916. The Division with the 58th Brigade RFA in support were active till the Armistice in  1918.  

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523 Seige Battery

When researching No 1 Armoured Train Royal Garrison Artillery , information from Wigeon revealed that the unit was re-designated 523 Siege Battery and the armoured train broken up. The 523rd would re-equip with 9.2 inch Mark XIII railway guns. Thanks to Paul aka Ororkep who posted a photograph of one of 523 Battery's guns, it raised an interest in what the Battery did in the closing months of World War One.     523 Seige Battery was formed on 17th January 1918 being a unit re

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ianjonesncl in RA Units

XV Corps Heavy Artillery Royal Naval Sieige Guns

2020 visit to Ypres was the opportunity to follow the Battle of the Yser, explore the Belgian sector and visit Nieuport. Whilst researching the period the British were in control of the Nieuport Coastal Sector, in July 1917, it was interesting to read about the work of the Royal Naval Siege Guns (RNSG) and the Dover Patrol. This included targeting the battery at Raversyde (Aachen Battery) which I visited in 2019.    Whilst reviewing the XV Corps Heavy Artillery war diary I came across

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No1 Armoured Train Royal Garrison Artillery

No1 Armoured Train Royal Garrison Artillery( 1AT RGA)  was formed on the 15th September 1915.   It's origins lay in the armoured trains operated by the Royal Naval Air Service which were formed in September 1914 to support the Belgians in the defence of Antwerp. The First Sea Lord, Winston Churchill, sent  six naval guns and detachments drawn from naval gunnery schools to Belgium. The Belgians decided to mount these guns onto railway trucks and formed three armoured trains Two consiste

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Royal Marine Artillery

Royal Marine Artillery - always wondered about these chaps. Source: RMA? Long Long Trail - The Batteries of the Royal Marine Artillery - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk) A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY Source: Royal Marines Museum inofrmation The Howitzer Brigade, R.M.A. As has been already stated, the Royal Marine Artillery Battalion was withdrawn from the R.M. Brigade for purely Artillery work. A portion of t

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