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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

RA Personnel

Notable Persons who served as a Gunner in WW1

I came across a series of postings by Pete Hill posted way back in June 2009 outlining Notable Persons who served in WW1. A fascinating piece of research and I became interested in those who served as Gunners.    Having enjoyed the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, read Dennis Wheatley's books, and admired the illustrations of Winnie the Pooh drawn by Ernest Sheppard, it was pleasing to find they all served as Gunners. I have admired the exploits of George Mallory and his attempts on Ev
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in RA Personnel

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RA Personnel

Gunners - Shot at Dawn

During World War One committing serious civil and military offences could result in the death penalty and the means of execution was the firing squad. A sentence that was traditionally carried out at dawn. Shot At Dawn   The Long Long Trail details that "3,080 men (1.1% of those convicted) were sentenced to death. Of these, 89% were reprieved and the sentence converted to a different one. 346 men were executed. Their crimes included desertion – 266; murder – 37; cowardice in
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ianjonesncl in RA Personnel

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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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Gunners shoot down Zeppelin L15 - Well Hit

A query from a friend about anti-aircraft artillery in WW1 lead to a realisation that the first Zeppelin successfully shot down was actually the result of anti-aircraft fire from the Gunners. Zeppelin L15 was brought down on the night of 31st March / 1st April 1916, ahead of the action of William Leefe Robinson on the 2nd September 1916, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.   At the start of the First World War there was no Anti-Aircraft organisation beyond a few guns and an a
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RA Units

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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ianjonesncl in RA Units

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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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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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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
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Royal Artillery

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Artillery Operations

Lesson on accuracy of artillery

An interesting extract from a letter sent by 2nd Lieut. Humphrey Arden (RGA) to his old school which was published in the school magazine.   Humphrey Arden attended the Dragon school, then   Radley and went on to Queens College Cambridge. He was about prepare for holy orders when war broke out. He was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1915. He died of wounds near Messines 6th June 1917 whilst serving with 156th Heavy Battery RGA. He is buried Bailleu Communal Cemetery
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Artillery Operations

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Artillery Survey in World War One

The adoption of indirect fire as the main methodology necessitated the need for accurate mapping and survey in order to establish the exact location of our own guns, and to provide a mechanism to know the enemy target. At the battle of Mons, british artillery was ofter located near the infantry positions, shrapnel direct fire augmenting their rifle and machine gun fire. By November 1917, Cambrai became the first bnattle which relied on wholly predicted fire. In addition to the survey role, the
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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
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Artillery Operations

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Artillery Action

Easter Rising 1916 Artillery

Reading an article on Forces News Ireland On Stage – The 1916 Easter Rising it outlined that "a four-gun battery of field artillery pieces" formed part of the British response to the uprising. I wondered which unit the guns came from and what actions they took during the six days of the Easter Rising.   One interesting snippet outlined  ‘Field’ artillery is the key here though, since gunners soon found that, without the traction found on grass or mud, firing their guns on the smoothly-
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Artillery Action

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RA Personnel

Royal Artillery Baghdad North Gate Cemetery

Many thanks for a  post from Ahmed1984 Baghdad North Gate Cemetery, Iraq - Cemeteries and memorials - Great War Forum.  The legacy of WW1 with the defining Iraq's  borders resonates to this day with recent conflicts making Baghdad a relatively inaccessible for most people.      A reminder that many lost their lives serving in the Middle East during WW1 and after. A download of casualties commemorated in Iraq from CWGC records 51,113 casualties from the First World War. The h
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in RA Personnel

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Portuguese Artillery

Portuguese Independent Artillery Corps - CAPI

When World War One broke out in 1914, Portugal was a neutral country. However colonial clashes in Africa, in Angola,  and the effect of the German U-boats on Portuguese trade routes to the UK, her main partner, caused tensions with Germany. In February 1916, Portugal at Britain's request seized German and Austro-Hungarian shipping in Portuguese ports, and a month later Germany declared war on Portugal. Portugal during World War One   In response to the declaration Portugal raised
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Portuguese Artillery

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RA Personnel

Gunners of the Great War

From the long running thread Postcards, extracts of pictures of  the men who served as Gunners during the Great War. https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/153347-postcards/ Many thanks to all who have posted on the thread. Updates: Image 1 to 329 29-Aug-2022 | Image 330 to 340 31-Dec-2022 | Image 341 to 343 14-Jan-2023 | 344 to 345 27-Jan-2023 | ========================== 1 https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/153347-postcards/?do=findComment&comment=1478721
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in RA Personnel

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Artillery Operations

British Gun Carrier

The British had 48 tracked carriers for moving guns as prime movers. They were not self propelled artillery, they were designed to transport guns. . http://en.wikipedia...._Carrier_Mark_I During 1916 it became clear that in case of a breakthrough, the very purpose of the first tank, the Mark I, artillery would have great trouble following the advancing troops. Any successful offensive would therefore be in danger of stalling immediately. To solve this problem Major Gregg, an engineer w
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Artillery Operations

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4th Highland Mountain Brigade, RGA

A number of postings have been made reagrding the 4th Highland Mountain Brigade RGA and it's constituent sub units. An excellent photo from Mike (aka CSMMo) shows the 4th Highland Mountain Brigade with TOS and RA badge. Having spent a considerable time wearing a TOS / Balmoral as a Gunner I thought this was unique to 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Battery Royal Artillery. On the formation of the Territorial Force, the 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade RGA was the only Royal Garrison Artillery Brigade
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Artillery Action

Amiens Gun - 374 SB Paris

Whilst reviewing the Fourth Army A & Q War Diary WO95- 445-2 I came across a Movement Order for a German 11inch gun and a detachment of 374 Siege Battery from Picquigny, 13km north west of Amiens to Paris. The entry sounded as if from Blackadder goes forth;   And might I suggest sir that having left the trenches, it might be a good idea to post our man to Paris Source: Black Adder IV - Episode 1 - Captain Cook.   So why were a detachment of 374 Siege Battery taking a
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in Artillery Action

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Durham 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

2

15 Pounder QF Ehrhardt Gun

As the end of the 19th century approached, the Royal Artillery was untested in general war. The focus of Army was colonial in nature, mainly waged against an enemy with practically no artillery. As a consequence the Royal Artillery was slow to realise changes in warfare over that century. The expanding empire saw the Royal Artillery engaged in many colonial actions.  Frequent small wars in Africa, Far East, India and other colonies occurred throughout the Victorian Era. The Army was engaged in a
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ianjonesncl

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IWM - Nery Gun

Visited the Imperial War Museum London contains the Nery Gun which was engaged in the Action at Nery 1st September 1914 resulting in the awarding of 3 Victoria Crosses. Nery Gun Imperial War Museum Nery Gun Imperial War Museum During the Retreat from Mons the 1st Cavalry Brigade were on the western flank of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In support of the Brigade were III Brigade RHA (D & E Bty) and VII RHA (I & L Bty). On the night of the night of the 31st Aug
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Camel Artillery - Mountain Battery HKS-RGA

The Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Garrison Artillery (HKS-RGA) was a mountain battery that fought in the Middle East Campaign from 1915 to 1918, operating in Libya, Egypt, Sinai, Palestine and Jordan. It was equipped with mountain guns, initially using mules as transport, before switching to use camels  in December 1916.   The HKS-RGA manned coastal batteries in Hong Kong, Singapore and Mauritius. A mountain battery was formed in Hong Kong in 1912 using Indian Army personnel. In N
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ianjonesncl

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