Howitzer Brigade RFA

[pjjobson]

This hs probably been asked before, and if so, can someone (Ron?) point me to the appropriate post?

Can anyone giove me the organisation, establishment etc of a) A Howitzer Brigade at the start of and finish of WW1 abd the same for a Howitzer Battery.

Many thanks

Phil

[rflory]

Phil: Can't help you with an appropriate post but the organization of an artillery brigade (including a How Brigade) can be found in Stand To! #31 (April 1931), pages 31-34. Regards, Dick Flory

[Ron Clifton]

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)

[pjjobson]

Dick/Ron

Many thanks for the repliues, I really must get around to joining the Western Front Association. It appears I am missing some excellent articles.

Phil

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Phil

You will be very welcome!

Stand To! issues 30 to 37 contain a series of articles I wrote on the make-up of various types of unit, mostly those within divisions. "What is an artillery brigade?" appeared in issue 31 and "What is a heavy battery?" in issue 35. They were later consolidated into a separatev publication, WFA Military Fact Sheet No. 7, which should also be avaiolable through the WFA.

Ron

[ianjonesncl]

Phil

As well as the Howitzer Batteries each Brigade also had it's own Brigade Ammunition Column.

The establishments I have are from the Field Service Pocket Book (Amended 1916) - Regular Army

4.5" Howitzer Brigade 22 Officers 733 OR's - 18 Guns

4.5 Howitzer Battery 5 Officers 192 OR's - 6 Guns

4.5" Howitzer BAC 2 Officers 119 OR's

In May 1916 the Divisional Artillery on the Western Front was re-organised. The Howitzer Brigades were re-distributed so Brigades became 3 Batteries of 18 pounders and 1 Battery of 4.5" Howitzers.

As far as the Territorials were concerned, this re-organisation saw some Howitzer Brigades briefly increased from 2 to 3 Howitzer Batteries, and then re-distributed. In some cases there were not enough Howitzers to go around, so the Divisional Artillery became 3 Gun / Howitzer Brigades (3 Batteries Guns / 1 Battery Howitzer) and 1 Gun only Brigade (3 Gun Batteries).

The Gun / Howitzer Brigades adopted the new numbering scheme, and the Batteries became A,B,C equipped with 18 pounder Guns and D (Howitzer) Battery.

As part of this re-organisation the Brigade Ammunition Columns disappeared.

I believe therefore that beyond May 1916 there were no 4.5" Howitzer Brigades on the Western Front.

Ian

[pjjobson]

Ian

Thnaks for the additional information, e-mail sent to you seperately.

Ron

Thanks for the details, I'll get on that straight away after pay day!

Regards

Phil