establishment of 4*60 pounder battery 1914-1916

[Bow123]

Hello

does anyone have the establishment for a 4*60 pounder gun battery from 1914 to 1916 includding number of drivers.Am I correct in thinking that after 1916 the battery size would have increased to 6*60 pounders?

Thanks

Bow

[nigelfe]

Hello

does anyone have the establishment for a 4*60 pounder gun battery from 1914 to 1916 includding number of drivers.Am I correct in thinking that after 1916 the battery size would have increased to 6*60 pounders?

Thanks

Bow

The totals for the 4 gun bty and its ammo column were:

Officers - 6

ORs - 192

Riding horses - 29

Draught horses - 6

Heavy draught horses - 109

2 horse cart - 1

2 horse wagon - 1

4 horse wagon - 16

Bicycles - 1

The change to 6 gun btys in 1916 took considerable time to complete, all the changes were not completed before the armistice.

[Bow123]

hello,

thanks for the reply.Do you happen to know what year the the Holt steam tractors became the common mode of transport for the 60 pounder batteries?Or is it fair to say that the majority of 60 pounder batteries would have remianed horse drawn?

Thanks alot

Bow

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Bow

From War Establishments 1914:

Heavy Artillery Battery and Ammunition Column (4 x 60-pounder guns)

Battery: Major, Captain, 3 Subalterns,

BSM, BQMS, 6 Serjeants, Farrier-Serjeant, 2 Shoeing-smiths, 2 Saddlers, 1 Wheeler, 1 Smith,

7 Corporals, 6 Bombardiers, 74 Gunners, 51 Drivers, 6 Batmen.

Attached: 2 Privates RAMC.

Ammunition Column: Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 1 Shoeing-smith, 1 Saddler, 1 Wheeler, 1 Smith,

1 Corporal, 1 Bombardier, 8 Gunners, 13 Gunners as Drivers, 1 Batman.

Although mechanical transport was used with the Heavy Batteries where necessary, I don't think they ever gave up their horses entirely. There have been other threads recently on Drivers in the artillery, and this aspect has been covered there.

Ron

[Bow123]

Many thanks for all your replies.

Bow

[RobL]

The Holt tractors were petrol driven, not steam