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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

Ypres - Royal Artillery

Just back from a quick day in Ypres. An opportunity to spend some time at the Menin Gate The Menin Gate lists 477 names for those lost from the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery. The names are listed on panles 5 and 9, either side of the north archway. There are 112 names for those lost from the Royal Garrison Artillery,these being inscribed on panel 9, to the right of the north arch. Menin Gate - Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery Menin Gate - Royal Garris
ianjonesncl

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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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ianjonesncl in RA Units

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RA Personnel

WW1 Paintings of Wyndham Lewis

One of the Notable Persons who served as a Gunner in WW1 was artist Wyndam Lewis.   In 1914, Lewis formed the Vorticism movement, a modernist art style inspired by cubism with bold lines and harsh colours.   LEWIS WYNDHAM - SELF PORTRAIT     Wyndham was also a writer and the ideas of Vorticism as rebel artists challenging the norm were published in BLAST, the first issue BLAST: The Review of the Great English Vortex, was published in July 1914, just before
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ianjonesncl in RA Personnel

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War Art

WW1 Illustrations of Fortunino Matania

A number of iconic paintings and illustrations I have viewed over the years have  included the Last Absolution of the Munsters, Good by Old Man, and L Battery RHA at Nery. It was when I was looking at war artists depicting the Gunners during WW1 that I realised that they were all the work of Fortunino Matania. Delving into Fortunino Matania revealed that his work included other areas where I have come across his work including illustrating the sinking of the Titanic pre war, and travel post
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in War Art

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Artillery Operations

WW1 Artillery Combat Footage

Montage of British Artillery. Siege guns, Field guns and Anti-Aircraft guns.   4.7 inch firing / 18 pounder barrage / 8 inch howitzer / Ammunition supply using wheeled ammo carriers / 9.2 inch howitzer / Air Observation / Anti-Aircraft guns / 6 inch howitzer / 8 inch howitzer / 18 pounders   Source: Combat Archive    
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ianjonesncl in Artillery Operations

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WITH BRITAIN'S MONSTER GUNS IN ACTION

Interesting film of 12 inch howitzers in action, both rail and road, observation from aircraft, then King George V inspecting the 14 inch rail gun "Boche Buster". Impressed with the drills on the rail howitzer considering it is a 850lb (386kg) shell they are using. Layer at work on his sights, breach being prepared and round loaded whilst the next one is already been hoisted - good concurrent activity. The rate of fire is good, certainly heavy work, but looks a good team. Air observation whils
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Western Front Artillery At The Outbreak of World

Interesting video from The Great War channel on YouTube.   Outlines the development of pre war artillery for France, Germany and Britain in relation to their doctrine.   France - Canon de 75 modele Germany - 7.7cm Feldkanone 96 / 10.5 cm Feldhaubitze / 42cm Krupp "Big Berthas" Britain - QF 18 pounder gun  / BL 60 pounder gun / QF 4.5 inch howitzer / 9.2 inch heavy siege howitzer        
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ianjonesncl

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US Navy 14 Inch Rail Guns firing in France 1918

When America entered the Great War in 1917, the UD Navy deployed five 14inch / 50 calibre rail guns into France, each gun being a separate battery.   The video of the rail guns in action shows the guns firing, use of aircraft for controlling fire, command post operations, and the administration of the battery    
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Remembrance

Unknown Warrior - N Battery RHA

On the 11th November 1920 the Unknown Warrior was interred in Westminster Abbey. The body of an unknown soldier had been selected to represent those who's final resting place was unknown to loved ones.    On the 10th November 1920 the body was brought from France on the destroyer HMS Verdun, travelling from Boulogne to Dover.      The body was then transported from Dover by train to Victoria Station arriving at Victoria Station on platform 8 at 8:32 pm, where it rem
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ianjonesncl in Remembrance

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Home Defence

UK Coastal Defences 1914

Whilst researching the defence of the River Tyne [Tyne Coastal Artillery ] it highlighted how important it was to maintain a creditable deterrent for home defence.  I wondered what preparations were in place to defend the coast around the rest of the Britain when the country went to war in 1914.   In his book History of Coast Artillery in the British Army, Colonel KW Maurice-Jones DSO (late RA) outlines "Coast Artillery in the British Army had never been more ready for war than it was
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ianjonesncl in Home Defence

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Royal Artillery

UBIQUE - Thank God for the Guns

Ubique Rudyard Kipling   There is a word you often see, pronounce it as you may – “You bike,” “you bykwee,” “ubbikwee” – alludin’ to R. A. It serves ‘Orse, Field, an’ Garrison as motto for a crest; An’ when you’ve found out all it means I’ll tell you ‘alf the rest.   Ubique means the long-range Krupp be’ind the long-range ‘ill – Ubique means you’ll pick it up an’, while you do, stand still. Ubique means you’ve caught the flash an’ timed it by the sound. Ubiqu
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ianjonesncl in Royal Artillery

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Ubique - Our Gunners in the Great War

Many thanks to fellow GWF Blogger Edward Walshe for a film on his YouTube Channel - Ubique 1916 1917.   © IWM (IWM 430) UBIQUE - OUR GUNNERS IN THE GREAT WAR [MAIN TITLE] The work of the Royal Field Artillery and Royal Garrison Artillery, mainly on the Western Front, 1916-1917. Drivers water their horses at a trough. A brigade of RFA 18-pounders moves off from their camp ground. Other 18-pounders move past dead Highlanders (from IWM 191 BATTLE OF THE SOMME). A battery of 18-pound
ianjonesncl

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Tynemouth RGA - Siege Batteries

The Royal Naval dominance of the North Sea reduced the German threat on the coast and the requirement for coastal artillery. This coincided with increased demand for heavy artillery for the Western Front, and skilled RGA gunners to man those guns. Consequently RGA gunners from the coastal batteries were formed into siege batteries for deployment overseas. The coastal units would also provide the basis for training and the raising of future RGA Batteries. The following Siege Batteries were for
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Home Defence

Tyne Coastal Artillery

A recent request for research into defence of the River Tyne highlighted how important it was to maintain a creditable deterrent for home defence.  The Tyne gained prominence as the industrial revolution developed. The river shipped coal from the Northumberland and Durham coalfields. Shipbuilding and heavy industry grew up along the banks of the Tyne, notably Armstrong’s Ordnance works in Elswick.   Lord Morley's report on the defence of the United Kingdom published in 1883 said of the
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ianjonesncl in Home Defence

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Artillery Operations

Trench Mortar Development

A post from @new3.2 regarding Trench Mortars lead to some research I had meaning to do for while, understand the development of Trench Mortar capability. The initial arrangements were very much ad hoc, both in terms of the ordnace and the organisation,  as the British Expeditionary Force transitioned to positional warfare. The ordnace and the organisation developed over the period of the war.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortars were firs
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ianjonesncl in Artillery Operations

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THE WORK OF THE ARMY VETERINARY CORPS

THE WORK OF THE ARMY VETERINARY CORPS : and how it is helped by the RSPCA http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060022634 Catalogue number IWM 114 Production date 1916-06-12 Place made GB Object description The British Army Veterinary Hospital at Neufchâtel, near Dieppe, France, spring 1916. Full description An unfinished stable at the hospital, "will you help the RSPCA to complete it ?". A group of three horses. A wounded horse being attended to at a mobile veterinary sect
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ianjonesncl

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The Military Port of Richborough, Sandwich, Kent

Came across this post Source: The Military Port of Richborough, Sandwich, Kent The artillery logistic trail stretches from factory to a shell being delivered onto an enemy target. Whilst I have looked at the ammunition supply mechanism in France, and munitions factories ion the UK, never gave much thought to the bit in between, especially the movement across the channel. What I did not realise was a purpose built port was built, and that it operated train ferries. Consequently guns and
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ianjonesncl

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The King's Shot

A post on a model railway Boche buster model train pack highlighted an event that would be know as 'The King's Shot'.    It is an event that is recorded in the The Royal Artillery War Commemoration Book (The  King's  Shot (pages 295 - 296)   The Royal Artillery War Commemoration Book THE KINGS SHOT   During May, 1918, there arrived in France two 14-inch "ra
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