Another diary find...this one by Dick Flory, and obviously a great deal of work by his son Richard John Roads, not only copying out the diaries word by word, but also constructing the web site so we can all share the experiences.
As well as a record of Alfred Roads experiences, the picture of the progress of the war from snippets of information gives an indication of how the ordinary soldier understood what was going on.
Bombardier. Alfred Edward Roads. 18360 R.G.A.
Pre war Coastal Gunner s
Great find by Kate Wills
Just discover this excellent site showing the illustrated diaries of Bbr Charles Bertram Spires from Derby, recording his war on the Western Front and in Italy.
Bert Spires Diary
Source: Bert Spires MM of Derby, 103 Brigade, 23 Division RFA
Excellent discovery by Kate Willis and definitely work alook.
and the sketches of locations and layout of the battery offer a good insight tothe operation of a RFA Battery.BertSpires Diary
Source: Bert Spires MM of Derby, 103
This one shows the depth of knowledge of Pals - Ron Clifton's study over 40 years !!!!!
Interesting that the best way to work with the ASC (well the RCT / RLC) was still subject to change many many years later, having worked with both general support units providing ammunition and also dedicated artillery support squadrons and with various Representatives at different levels of Headquarters. Not sure if this falls under adapting to change or people not understanding anatomy.
Source: ASC rela
Battery
The Captain in the wagon lines was responsible either from direct observation of ammo states or comminication from the Gun line to send wagons forward to replenish the Guns.
Brigade Ammunition Columns (BAC)
Brigade Ammunition Column commanders were responsible for establishingcommunications with the Batteries.
An NCO from the BAC was sent ot the Artillery Brigade HQ for the purposes of"intercommunications"
The BAC commander would appoint and orderly and a mounted guide for eachB
Remembered Today: Gunner Harold John ARTHUR, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 8th November 1917, Baghdad North Gate War Cemetery
As we approach Remembrance Sunday a reminder that Iraq (or as was known in WW1 - Mesopotamia) has been the scene of conflict in Two World Wars and a modern conflict.
Gunner Arthur is listed as serving with 63rd Battery RFA. A look at the Long Long Trail for 10th Brigade RFA "63 Battery replaced 81 before the Division sailed for Mesopotamia. It arrived there in 19
Interesting research from corisande and usual meticulous detail from Dick Flory
WW1 --> Military Medal - Commissioned - Military Cross - Croix de Guerre
Ireland 1920's --> Served as an intelligence officer and was on an IRA hit list - OBE
Post War --> Spell as an adjutant in Portsmouth - seconded to the TA - court martial ed and dismissed from the service in 1928
WW2 --> George Medal in the ARP
and....... a spot of bigamy !!!! Wife and Bar
Web Site: Web Site: Campbell Jose
Alanbrooke has a outstanding reputation as a planner, his contribution during WW2 as Chief of the General Staff, and Churchill's reliance on his advice are testimony to his ability. His biography is sitting on the bookshelf - must get around to reading it.
Vicount Alanbrooke.
Many thanks to Andrew for detailing his WW1 appointments:
Interesting that Alanbrooke was a Brigade Major and was responsible for the 18th Divisions fireplan. This was a notable sauces on the first day of the So
Excellent information from John Reed - Gun Drill for 6 inch Howitzer. Always interested in the workings of the gun detachment.
Source: 6" howitzer gun crew
The importance of a good ram is highlighted:
With a Howitzer, especially when worn and when firing at high angles of elevation, unless the shell is rammed well home, there is a danger of it slipping back in the chamber when the gun is elevated. This is liable to produce large errors, and is also a possible source of danger to the detachm
An interesting question from Museum Tom who discovered what looks like a position from a Depression Range Finder. Coastal Artillery question please, what is a Depression Range Finding Pedestal
Quite a simple trigonometrical principle, know the height of the range finder above sea level, measure the angle down to the target, apply a tangent formula and determine the range.
A bit more detail from Nigel aka Bombadier
Engaging a moving target is very challenging - not only does the observer n
The Household Cavalry is not an area I have much knowledge of ,so I decided to look at a thread by RogerV Household Cavalry and was surprised to see a reference to the Household Siege Artillery . As ever the Pals pointed me in the right direction, a quick look at the Long Long Trail, Google and Frederick' Lineage book.
Starting with Frederick's Lineage, the Royal Garrison Artillery Siege Battery listing excludes 520 Siege Battery....so look at the Household Cavalry. Obviously they were not seen
Being looking through England's Last Hope, The Territorial Force, 1908-14 by KW Mitchinson at the Library. GWF Review
The move from a disparate number of units into fully formed Divisions in 6 years would have been quite a task. In the Artillery the upheaval for the coastal units of the RGA would probably have been less, as their role remained unchanged. Having gone through a major role change in more recent times , one can emphasise with the Divisional Artillery. Unfortunately the A
Remembered Today; Lieutenant Douglas Campbell YOUNG, Royal Field Artillery who died on 18th September 1915, Alexander Chatby Military and War Memorial Cemetery
Survived Gallipoli only to loose his life to disease..........................
YOUNG, DOUGLAS CAMPBELL
Initials: D C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death: 18/09/1915
Additional information: Son of Robert Young, of 5, Hamilton Drive, South Side, Glasgow.
Casualty
Excellent information from Ron Clifton on the Orbat of a 60 pounder RGA (Heavy) Battery. In 1914 each Regular Division had a 60 ponder Battery, the re-organisation in 1916 saw them used as part of Heavy Artillery Groups (HAG), then ultimately RGA Brigades
Source: RGA Battery
Interesting information from John Reed.
The Evolution of Artillery is really what developed my interest in the RA of the First World War. The transition from battery sized shoots over open sights, to indirect fire and scientific gunnery. The development of the concept of the barrage, essentially the first fire planning that took place introduced the tactical use of Artillery in pre planned all arms operations.
The development for the creeping barrage undoubtedly assisted the infantry in achie
Interesting question from Moonraker - When did the British Army start to train artillery men in attacking tanks? and just as intriguing the location of the Anti Tank Range:
A mile north of the Bustard Inn on Salisbury Plain and to the north-west of Lark Hill Camp, a 'tank practice railway' ran close to Shrewton Folly (a copse) and into Blackball Firs.
A mile north of the Bustard Inn - an Ubiquitous location - no matter where you go every Gunner has a tail to tell about the Bustard !
Lark Hil
From an account written in 1916 by Col. A. C. Fergusson who commanded the 21 (Kohat) Mountain Battery at Gallipoli
Our shrapnel shell broke up so badly that we had to boil them before using.
Certainly an interesting twist on ammunition preparation
Boiling Shrapnel Shells Well one would presume that without direct fuse action the shell would not explode. Once got near to an unexploded 155mm when putting out a fire on the range....theory was it would not explode......though all effort to en
Remembered Today; Gunner BIR SINGH, 26th Jacobs Mountain Battery, Indian Mounted Artillery, who died on 12th August 1915, Helles Memorial
Another reminder that the call to arms extended across the Empire.
In Memory of Gunner BIR SINGH
1376
26th Jacob's Mountain Battery, Indian Mountain Artillery
who died on 12 August 1915
Son of Mathra Singh, of Kassoana, Zira, Ferozepore, Punjab.
Remembered with honour
HELLES MEMORIAL
CWGC Gunner Bir Singh
Topic: 26 Jacobs Indian Mountain Battery
Added a post in February 2011 on the Royal Marine Artillery - RMA Blogpost
Just come across some excellent detail provided by Mike Guest - RMA No 4 Gun Brigade
So starting with Chris and The Long Long Trail - The Batteries of the Royal Marine Artillery
In October 1914 the RMA was reorganised to provide two artillery brigades for the Western Front. One of these became an anti-aircraft unit, but the second was equipped with twelve heavy 15 inch howitzers to form the RM Howitzer Brigade. The hug
On line manual for 18 pounder Quick Firing Gun 1913 (Reprinted with ammendments 1914)
http://www.archive.org/stream/HandbookOfThe18-pr.Q.f.Gun-LandService/Handbook18pr_final#page/n3/mode/2up
Ordnance, Gun & Ammunition Limbers, Ammunition, and Stores.
On a topic the conversion of Royal Horse Artillery to Field Artillery was mentioned.
In the book Gunner on the Western Front Aubrey Wade a pre war Territorial in the RHA records:
The brigade, as a whole, was an amalgamation of many small sections of the Territorial Horse Artillery batteries which had been recruited in the early days of the war. Being horse artillery we had always felt rather superior to common or garden field artillery, and were therefore painfully surprised to hear our prou
There appears to be full tins on the wagons with the shells and lots of empties alongside. What was in them?
Cartridges for firing breach loading artillery. Excellent photograph showing another methodology for moving artillery ammunition - narrow gauge railway. Also interesting to see both the shells and the cartridges being moved to the guns.
Source: Artillery Supply Photo
Been trying to understand the NCO rank structure WW1 and post WW1 for years !! Many thanks to FROGSMILE for a detailed explanation.
Source: Royal Regiment of Artillery Rank
The infantry and cavalry had no 'substantive' rank (that is giving seniority and pension rights) for the level of junior non-commissioned officer with one stripe, whereas the technical Corps, RA, RE and AOC, did. This remained the case until 1961 when the Lance Corporal was at last made a rank, rather than an appointment.
Did not have to go far for this tour - Hartlepool.
On December 16th 1914, three German warships attacked towns on the East Coat of England, including Hartlepool. The attack lasted from 8:10am to 8:50 am killing more than 100 people and injuring many more. Hartlepool was defended by guns at the Heugh and Lighthouse Batteries located on the Headland at Hartlepool
Northumbrian Gunner Blog
http://northumbriangunner.blogspot.com/2011/06/bombardment-of-hartlepool.html
GWF - Northumbrian Gunner
Interesting photograph from battiscomme.
This Sgt appears in an artillery Battery photo - a Sgt of some kind - shoulder titles (it looks a bit like ASC but not convinced it is). Some kind of specialist badge over the Sgt chevrons and below crown - any suggestions welcome what this might be.. thanks. AOC Artificer - might that be possible.? Might this suggest RGA or did everyone have Artificer Sgts?
Source: Artificer? Badging in artillery unit? ideas?
I had come across the Artificers joini
