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Remembered Today:

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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

Indian Mountain Artillery 1914 - 1918

I have just been reading of the Indian Mountain Artillery in the Great War. An interesting account of the Gunners from India and their Trusted Friends Indian Mountain Artillery by Brigadier CAL Graham. Their actions saw Batteries engaged in Gallipoli, East Africa, Mesopotamia, Persia and Iraq, Their contribution clearly upholding the motto of the Royal Regiment of Artillery – Ubique. The very nature of their equipment, guns broken down into mule loads, meant they could support the infantry
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From: was it safer being an artillery man than a simple soldier

An interesting question raised by mags "was it safer being an artillery man than a simple soldier ". From Tom's analysis of Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire during the Great War 1914 – 1920 it would appear that surviving unscathed was more likely as a gunner than an infantry man. If one considers that the main threat to the artillery man was counter battery fire, the infantry were subject to the same risk as bombardment of trenches and lines of communication were also pre
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From: Lance Bombardier & Bombardier in the RA

The rank structure within the Royal Regiment can cause confusion around lance bombardiers / bombardiers and corporals, not to mention that the gun above a sergeant stripes means every body thinks he is a staff sergeant. A very interesting ACI appears from Kevin adds further to this confusion !!! For anyone who may be interested I will post the ACI 1743 instruction dated 30th November 1917. This is the reference one most often sees in gunners records. This has been crossed out on the page,
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293 Siege Battery - New RGA website

Any new web site on the Royal Artillery is welcome and a great deal of work and research by seany [/url] has obviously been undertaken to bring us this interesting resource. http://293siegebattery.webplus.net/ Source: New RGA website Even better looking at seany's grandfather who he has been researching; Scotswood – Newcastle-upon-Tyne "George Hamilton finished his last shift serving the blast furnaces of Armstrong’sworks in Newcastle". - a Tyneside Gunner Very interesting following the d
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Remembered Today: Gunner William Corbett FOSTER, 46th Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA who died on 8th January 1917, Foncquevillers Military Cemetery

Remembered Today: Gunner William Corbett FOSTER, 46th Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA who died on 8th January 1917, Foncquevillers Military Cemetery William Corbett Foster of Wolverhampton was died 8th January 1917 whist serving with the Trench Mortar Battery of the Territorial 46th (North Midland Division). The 46th Heavy Battery were formed 20th June 1916. Long Long Trail: 46th (North Midland) Division CWGC Information Name: FOSTER, WILLIAM CORB
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Barr & Stroud Range finder

A post regarding a Barr & Stroud Range finder prompted some research into this interesting piece of equipment, Used by both the Artillery and Infantry to determine ranges to targets. Barr & Stroud Range finder (Front View) Barr & Stroud Range finder (Rear View) The principle is the instrument formed a fixed length base with prisms at each end picking up the target, so effectively forming two triangles, allowing trigonometrical principles to determine the range. One eyepiece was
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Artillery in the Great War - Strong and Marble

Just finished reading what I found was a fascinating book. Moving through the Great War it documents the development of the use of Artillery by all the major Armies, British, German, French, Russian, Austro-Hungarian, as well as Italian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian and American. Looking at the development as a whole across the Western, Eastern Fronts and the Italian campaign, one can see that the Artillery War went beyond the trenches of the Western Front. The impact of Artillery I think is
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Remembered Today: Gunner John RADFORD, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 28th November 1916, Port Said War Memorial Cemetery

Remembered Today: Gunner John RADFORD, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 28th November 1916, Port Said War Memorial Cemetery Territorial from 211th Brigade RFA , formerly 2nd East Lancashire Brigade RFA, the Batteries, 15th / 16th / 17th Lancashire Batteries being based in Hyde Road, Manchester. They provided the Divisional Artillery support for the 42nd (East Lancashire)Division. Long Long Trail: 42nd (East Lancashire) Division The East Lancashire Division were the first Territorial Div
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Remembered Today: 2nd Lt Wilfred Seaton Baggot PARRY

Remembered Today: 2nd Lt Wilfred Seaton Baggot PARRY, 53 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who died on 24th November 1915, Bedford House Cemetery From the Long Long Trail the 53rd Brigade RFA were part of the 9th (Scottish) Division, a K1 New Army Division deploying to France 9th - 12th May 1915. The Division were engaged in the Battle of Loos 25th September to 18th October 1915. From the London Gazette it would appear 2/Lt Parry was commissioned as a temporary Second Lieutenant 27th January 1915
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Bombardier. Alfred Edward Roads. 18360 R.G.A.

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
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From: Bert Spires MM of Derby, 103 Brigade, 23 Division RFA

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
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From: ASC relationship to RGA

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
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Ammunition Supply of a Division

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
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Remembered Today: Gunner Harold John ARTHUR, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 8th November 1917, Baghdad North Gate War Cemetery

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
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From: Lt Campbell Joseph O'Connor Kelly, OBE, GM, MC, MM

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
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From: Viscount Alanbrooke

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
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From: 6" howitzer gun crew

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
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Coastal Artillery - Depression Range Finder

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
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Household Siege Battery - 520th Siege Battery

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
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Territorial Force 1914

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
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From: Lt. Douglas Campbell Young, RFA

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
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