GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Excuse my ignorance but could someone explain what the various roles of the men in an artillery battery were (or recomend a website). Preferably an 18 pounder RFA. Thanks Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Glen Osprey do a very good book called 'British Artillery 1914-1919 ', Field Army Artillery. It's part of the New Vanguard series. It lists 10 positions for the 18 pounder: 1. In command 2. Limbers and unlimbers gun (with number 3). Responsible for cradle clamping gear, range indicator and field clinometer. Operates breech mechanism. Removes breech and muzzle covers. Mans right wheel in action. 3. Limbers and unlimbers gun in action (with number 2). Responsible for dial sight, sight clinometer and sight cover. Lays for line and (with number 2) lays for elevation. Fires the gun. 4.Limbers and unlimbers ammunition wagon (with numbers 5 and 6). Plants aiming posts. Loads the gun. Mans left wheel in action. Responsible for drag ropes and wagon brake. 5&6. Hook in and unhook ammunition team. Limber up and unlimber the wagon (with number 4). Prepare and supply ammunition. Number 6 operates the fuse indicator. Mans the trail at run up. 7,8 & 9. Reserves at wagon line. Assist with the supply of ammunition and replace casualties. 10. 'Coverer' (takes over the detachment if number 1 becomes a casualty) and second-in-command. remains at the wagon line in charge of the sub-section's teams and wagons. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Thanks Garth, Thats really useful. Did the difference between Bdr and Dr indicate a difference in rank rather than their function? Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Glen I think the answer is both rank and function. A bombardier was the equivalent of an infantry corporal; whereas a driver was a private but 'drove' wagons/horses. I'm not 100% certain but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 The typical establishment of a six gun 18 pounder battery was 198 men broken down as follows… Major or captain in command Captain as second-in-command 3 Lieutenants or Second Lieutenants in charge of two gun sections Battery Sergeant-Major Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Farrier Sergeant 4 shoeing smiths (one a corporal) 2 saddlers 2 wheelers 2 trumpeters 7 sergeants 7 corporals 11 bombardiers 75 gunners 70 drivers 10 gunners acting as batmen Battery operation can be broken down into the following aspects:- 1. Importance of forward observation, selection of targets and communication. 2. Organisation of the six guns in the battery and their movement using teams of horses when required. 3. Organisation of the wagon lines which centred on the supply of ammunition to the battery. The three elements were usually strung out over some distance, perhaps 5 miles, and each could be subjected to enemy counter-battery shelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Thanks Alan and Garth Did the bombardiers prepare the fuses etc.? Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Number 6 was responsible for the fuses; presumably irrespective of rank. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Thanks garth Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrim Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Alan and Garth, Could you add how the men would be assigned in a 9.2 Siege Battery of four guns? Thanks, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Hello, May I expand the question a bit? I think that the battery commander or the second in command would, when the battery was operating alone, act as a Forward Observer and would communicate with the gun position by flag signals or wire. Should there not be some signallers? Also if the batteries were 'grouped, there would need to communication between batteries and, say, the CRA again signallers would be needed. Or was it the case that RE provided all communications? Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Good question Old Tom, I too was wondering where the signallers came from. I was hoping they would be suitably trained men from within the battery. My great uncle was an FOO at Salonika in September 1918 and he went forward with 4 signallers, I'd like to think they were men known to him and possibly hand picked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2009 I can't answer the questions so I'll add another! I read that aircraft could act as spotters. How did aircraft communicate with artillery? Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 If I were a forward observer, the last thing I would want is my signaler waving pretty coloured flags about! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Communication Most of the communication between FOOs and batteries was done by telephone and the FOO would be accompanied by at least 2 signallers during his tour in the front line. A really good book by a signaller is " Shrieks and Crashes" by Wilfred Kerr Canadian Field Artillery. Flags were used but very rarely owing to the dangers involved and the difficult of being seen during adverse conditions. As for aerial communication with the batteries this could be done by dropping messages onto the battery or, later, by radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick1234 Posted 13 August , 2009 Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Glen , Try here. http://www.gutenberg-e.org/mas01/archive/app11.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 13 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 13 August , 2009 Thanks Mick Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 14 August , 2009 Share Posted 14 August , 2009 Hello, Perhaps we are missing a point with regard to signallers. The batteries of a division were organised in brigades (artillery not infantry) perhaps the signallers were on the brigade establishement. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenBanna Posted 14 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2009 Old Tom In case you missed it there is a link to a book that goes into great detail on the history of signalling on this thread posted today today http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...c=130926&hl= Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 14 August , 2009 Share Posted 14 August , 2009 Hello, Many thanks, good to find such a book available on line. A very quick scan did not seem to answer the question. To repeat it - were the signallers that worked between Forward Observers, RFA or RE. If RA whose establishment, battery or brigade. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John(txic) Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Is "The infantry cannot do with a gun less" available to buy as a real book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroc Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Tom... I'm currently doing a bit of work on a chap conscripted into the RFA in 1916. His papers show that, shortly after his arrival on the Western Front in 1917 he was 'Appointed Signaller, 59th Division' with the rank of Gunner. He was later 'Appointed Signaller, C/296 Brigade, RFA' again with the same rank Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdoc Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 A bombardier was the equivalent of an infantry corporal; whereas a driver was a private but 'drove' wagons/horses. I'm not 100% certain but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. In WW1, Bombardier was the equivalent of a infantry Lance-Corporal, not a Corporal, although it was changed subsequently so that Bombardiers were the equivalent of Corporals. Gunners were "Privates" associated with the Guns while Drivers were "Privates" working elsewhere. The ranks went Gunner/Driver, Bombardier, Corporal and Serjeant. There many trades in a Battery apart from the obvious ones, such as Signallers, Fitters and Farriers. Trades were not ranks, per se, but specialisms. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Is "The infantry cannot do with a gun less" available to buy as a real book? I think not! Amazon was offering it and giving dates for publication and my correspondence about its publication went on for nearly two years when they finally stopped sending me updates. Essentially, Amazon all but lied; I don't want to be sued for corporate libel so I am being moderate. They insisted that it WAS going to be published and I wasted a lot of time chasing up the order. I suppose that they would say they were acting in good faith and I suppose they might have been so doing if they were getting the same assurances from Columbia that I got. I contacted the alleged publisher, Columbia University Press, who claimed it was 'on the way' or 'never heard of it' depending on who was dealing with the e-mail. I think that I even 'phoned them. I think the author is traceable and working in academia in the United States following research in the UK. However, I think that its unfortunate availability as a real book serves to remind me of the continued validity of something I can read on the train or in bed without some expensive electronic gizmo. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 In WW1, Bombardier was the equivalent of a infantry Lance-Corporal, not a Corporal, although it was changed subsequently so that Bombardiers were the equivalent of Corporals. Gunners were "Privates" associated with the Guns while Drivers were "Privates" working elsewhere. The ranks went Gunner/Driver, Bombardier, Corporal and Serjeant. Keith, Was 'bombardier' therefore an appointment or a rank? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdoc Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Bombardier was a the next rank above Gunner or Driver, followed by Corporal and Serjeant. It was not an RA trade. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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