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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

From: The 500 series Howitzer batteries raised in 1916

As ever stirling work by David Porter on the Territorial numbering system (yes there was definitely one). In this case the TF Training schools were tasked to produce a number of Howitzer Batteries. These were numbered in the 500 series (which Frederick's Lineage records as New Army units), however as david has found out the men from these Batteries were brought under the administration of the Territorial County Associations. Source: The 500 series Howitzer batteries raised in 1916
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Remembered Today: Lieutenant John Horsley MITCHELL, RGA who died on 19th May 1917

Remembered Today: Lieutenant John Horsley MITCHELL, 305th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who died on 19th May 1917, Maple Leaf Cemetery CWGC INFORMATION MITCHELL, JOHN HORSLEY Rank: Lieutenant Date of Death: 19/05/1917 Age: 35 Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 305th Siege Bty. Grave Reference H. 4. Cemetery MAPLE LEAF CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Alfred and Catherine Mitchell; Husband of
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From: Royal Horse Artillery in Training: Pathe Film 1910-1919

A fascinating find by Martin G. It starts with drill on the square at the Royal Artillery Barracks Woolwich, something I was familiar with, then onto gun drill which looks like the drill sheds near Repository Road. The Battery comming into action is fascinating. It certainly brings home the importance of horses as they dominate the scene. The battery Commander riding in the lead, director deployed, then the battery comes into action. It looks to be a full battery including the ammuni
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Remembered Today: Gunner William George VIZER who died on 12th May 1918

Remembered Today: Gunner William George VIZER, 157th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who died on 12th May 1918, Sandpits British Cemetery, Fouquereuil CWGC Information VIZER, WILLIAM GEORGE Rank: Gunner Service No: 78473 Date of Death: 12/05/1918 Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 157th Siege Bty. Grave Reference I. H. 2. Cemetery SANDPITS BRITISH CEMETERY, FOUQUEREUIL Additional Information:
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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
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Artillery - First principles of tactics and organisation

As ever an interesting find by Mike aka Skipman. First principles of tactics and organisation, with reference to the Field service regulations; for officers and N.C.O.'s of the New Army Special Reserve and Territorial Forces (1915) http://archive.org/d...pleso00sleeuoft An interesting and informative background to the Operation of the British Army, though more in keeping with 1914 - open manoeuvre warefare. However I am not sure how much use some of the information would be in 1915 for those
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Remembered Today : Gunner Frederick William HITCHMOUGH Royal Garrison Artillery who died on 8th April 1917

Remembered Today: Gunner Frederick William HITCHMOUGH, 255th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who died on 8th April 1917, Soissons Communal Cemetery CWGC Information HITCHMOUGH, FREDERICK WILLIAM Rank:GunnerService No: 114467 Date of Death: 08/04/1917 Age: 38 Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 255th Siege Bty. Grave Reference Mil. 3. 6. Cemetery SOISSONS COMMUNAL CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of William and Susan H
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Remembered Today: Driver Ernest Edward CROPLEY, 121st Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Remembered Today: Driver Ernest Edward CROPLEY, 121st Brigade Royal Field Artillery who died on 20th March 1917, Ferme-Olivier Cemetery CWGC Information CROPLEY, ERNEST EDWARD Rank: Driver Service No: 3827 Date of Death: 20/03/1917 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery "B" Bty. 121st Bde. Grave ReferencePlot 3. Row B. Grave 13. Cemetery FERME-OLIVIER CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Cropley,
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Remembered Today: Bombardier Ellis WOODLEY who died on 7th March 1916, Bethune Town Cemetery

Remembered Today: Bombardier Ellis WOODLEY, 163rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery who died on 7th March 1916, Bethune Town Cemetery CWGC Information WOODLEY, ELLIS Rank: Bombardier Service No: 14450 Date of Death: 07/03/1916 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery "C" Bty. 163rd Bde. Grave Reference: V. A. 86. Cemetery: BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Barnard and Kate Woodley, of Castle C
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From: The Infantry cannot Do With a Gun Less

As ever Mike aka skipman has highlighted an excellent on line source: Source: The Infantry cannot Do With a Gun Less A favourite of mine !!! An interesting thesis on the development and use of Artillery in WW1 The appendices contain training notes, directives and letters which provide a contemporary documentation of evolving tactics, technical developments and lessons learned. Some nice maps show the planning of the barrages for some of the major
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Seige Battery Establishments

Looking around for information and came accross an excellent post from Rob Clifton detailing the establishments of Heavy and Siege Batteries, as well as the HQ elements. Source: HOW MANY MEN IN A SEIGE BATTERY August 1916 Heavy Artillery Battery and Ammunition Column (6 x 60-pounder guns) Battery: Major, Captain, 4 Subalterns, BSM, BQMS, 8 Serjeants, Farrier-Serjeant, 3 Shoeing-smiths (incl one cpl), 2 Saddlers, 1 Wheeler, 1 Staff-Sjt Fitter, 1 Smith, 7 Corporals, 8 Bombardiers, 110 Gunne
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Remembered Today: Acting Bombardier Harry BALDWIN, 125th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Remembered Today: Acting Bombardier Harry BALDWIN, 125th Brigade Royal Field Artillery who died on 2nd February 1916, Humbercamps Communal Cemetery CWGC Information BALDWIN, HARRY Rank: Acting Bombardier Service No: 70551 Date of Death: 02/02/1916 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery "C" Bty. 125th Bde. Grave Reference I. D. 5. Cemetery HUMBERCAMPS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Additional Information: Son of Jame
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Richard Sydney Yates, R.H.A. & R.F.A.

Came accross this fascinating chap. Joins as a junior soldier and serves in India. Deploys with the BEF in 1914, rises to the rank of sergeant, wins a Military Medal, commissioned, wins an MC, and finishes the war as a captain. He alter enlists into the RAF and finishes WW" as a Wing Commander. An impresive record and a very interesting medal rack. http://www.medalsofe...=64&medalid=311 MILITARY CROSS & MILITARY MEDAL (Double Gallantry) 1914 STAR & BAR TRIO, DEFENCE
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Territorial Force Renumbering 1917

Picked this up from a post by David Porter on the renumbering of the Territorrial Force in 1917. David says " I've looked at this aspect for several years and I'm still getting to grips with it" , so even complex for an expert !! Source: Birmingham and the Royal Field Artillery? . Some key points: All Territorial Force RH & RFA were renumbered as per ACI 2198 (Appendix 183) of November 1916 implemented on January 1, 1917. The renumbering didn't happen during the reorganisation of May 19
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Major Bevil Quiller-Couch DSO MC

I recently read The Tears of War by May W. Cannan. It tells the story of the war through her poems and letters with the man she loved. Bevil Quiller-Couch, a special reservist in the Royal Field Artillery mobilised to France in 1914. He served with 2nd Divisional artillery units and took part in every major battle on the Western Front from Mons in 1914 to the Armistice. He was a well-respected and efficient officer winning the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order. May Cannan
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Royal Artillery War Establishments

From: Great resource for OOBs Great Find by Tom W. from the US Army Combined Arms Center web site, over 500 Orders of battle (Orbat), ranging from war establishments, formations and specific battles or phases, and covers both the allies and the axis. http://www.cgsc.edu/...ziger/index.asp Extracted the war establishments relating to the Royal Artillery (RHA, RFA, RGA) and also included RMA,. I have also added a side block so it is easy to find the post in the future. 1st January 1914 914BQA
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Remembered Today: Bombardier Henry John JENNINGS, 306th Brigade RFA

Remembered Today: Bombardier Henry John JENNINGS, 306th Brigade RFA who died on 16th December 1916, Varennes Military Cemetery CWGC Information JENNINGS, HENRY JOHN Rank: Bombardier Service No: 2579 Date of Death: 16/12/1916 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery "B" Bty. 306th Bde. Grave Reference I. G. 77. Cemetery VARENNES MILITARY CEMETERY Additional Information: Husband of Nellie Gertrude Jennings, of 3,
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12 inch Rail Gun firing

I wrote a post a while ago on Railway Artillery   Just came accross the clip below which shows the loading, laying and firing of a 12 inch railway gun. http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675024075_Battle-of-Arras_12-inch-naval-gun_ammunition-loaded_gun-is-fired
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18 Pounder Field Gun video

Interesting video of 18 Pounder Field Gun in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra courtesey of a chap called Stuart Curry. The ammunition limber is shown in some detail. Nice thought to use blankets as a cushion for sitting on. A walk around the gun shows some of the detail. The gun is an example of a recuperator with the box at the end. This was added due to problems with the spring system. Wikipedia : Ordnance QF 18 pounder Landships: The British 18 pounder QF gun Handbook of the 18-PR.
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From: 154 SB wireless contact for observation shooting with N° 6 Squadron

Posted this one a while ago regarding the Air Observation of Artillery http://1914-1918.inv...&showentry=1270 An interesting addition to the information regarding Air Observation shoots from MikeMeech in response to a query from Marc of an shoot conducted with 154 Siege Battery. Source: 154 SB wireless contact for observation shooting with N° 6 Squadron Air Observation shooting by night is an interesting dimension. I used to find it hard enough by day. Source: 154 SB wireless contact f
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