On 29/03/2010 at 10:41, Ron Clifton said:

Hello Phil

Regulars in 1914:

August 1914 Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade (3 batteries of 6 x 4.5" how)

HQ: Lt-Col cdg, Adjutant, Orderly Officer, Medical Officer, Vet Officer, Serjeant-Major, Armament Artificer, Trumpeter,

2 Corporals, 2 Bombardiers, 7 Gunners, 9 Drivers, 1 Clerk, 2 MO's Orderlies, 8 Batmen, Corporal RAMC, 3 Privates RAMC.

3 Batteries, each: Major, Captain, 3 Subalterns, BSM, BQMS, Farrier-Serjeant, 7 Serjeants, 4 Shoeing-Smiths (incl 1 Corporal), 2 Saddlers, 2 Fitters or Wheelers, 2 Trumpeters, 7 Corporals, 11 Bombardiers, 74 Gunners, 70 Drivers, 10 Batmen.

Amm Col: Captain, Subaltern, BSM, BQMS, Farrier-Serjeant, 4 Serjeants, 4 Shoeing-Smiths (incl 1 Corporal), 2 Saddlers, 2 Fitters or Wheelers, Trumpeter, 4 Corporals, 4 Bombardiers, 23 Gunners, 70 Drivers, 2 Batmen.

Tf Howitzer brigades had two four-gun batteries so were about 400 all ranks. New Armies were of similar size to Regulars, but had four four-gun batteries.

After 1916 there were no separate Howitzer Brigades. Most field brigades then had four six-gun batteries: theree of 18-poundres and one of howitzers.

January 1917 Field Artillery Brigade (3 batteries of 6 x 18 pdr, 1 battery of 6 x 4.5" how)

HQ: Lt-Col cdg, Adjutant, Orderly Officer, Medical Officer, Serjeant- Major, Fitter Staff-Serjeant, Armament Artificer, 4 Serjeants AVC, 2 Corporals, 2 Bombardiers, 6 Gunners, 10 Drivers, 1 Clerk, 2 MO's Orderlies, 1 Corporal & 4 Privates RAMC, 7 Batmen.

3 Batteries, each: Major, Captain, 3 Subalterns, BSM, BQMS, Farrier-Serjeant, 7 Serjeants, 4 Shoeing-Smiths (incl 1 Corporal), 2 Saddlers, 2 Fitters or Wheelers, 2 Trumpeters, 7 Corporals, 11 Bombardiers, 75 Gunners, 71 Drivers, 10 Batmen.

1 Battery: Major, Captain, 3 Subalterns, BSM, BQMS, Farrier-Serjeant, 7 Serjeants, 4 Shoeing-Smiths (incl 1 Corporal), 2 Saddlers, 2 Fitters or Wheelers, 2 Trumpeters, 7 Corporals, 11 Bombardiers, 75 Gunners, 71 Drivers, 10 Batmen.

There were only minor changes thereafter.

Because there was originally a shortage of the 4.5" howitzers, you often find fewer guns per battery, or even an absence of howitzers altogether, in divisional artilleries, esp[ecially in those divisions cobbled together from Regulars at the end of 1914.

Ron

(who wrote the article Dick has mentioned, though not in 1931! I think it was in the April 1989 Stand To)

Source: Howitzer Brigade RFA