war diaries

[kevin donaldson]

Hello there, could anyone help me with my research on my great grandfather who served with 252 and 242 brigades rfa, he came from seaham harbour, county durham and was a territorial. Any pictures of these brigades or copies of the war diaries would be gratefully appreciated, thank you

[rflory]

Kevin: What was his name and rank? Regards, Dick Flory

[ianjonesncl]

252 Brigade Royal Field Artillery were originally the 3rd Northumbrian Brigade. The Brigade HQ, 1st Durham Battery and the Brigade Ammunition Column were located at Seaham Harbour.

The 3rd Northumbrian Brigade deployed as part of the 50th Divisional Artillery to France in April 1915. The Division concentrated around Cassel and was complete by 22nd April 1915. Initially the Division was expecting to undergo additional training before moving into the line. However, with the gas attack in the Ypres Salient on that day, the Division was rushed to Ypres. The infantry would be deployed to reinforce other Divisions, the Divisional Artillery did not take part in the initial Battles. It was only later the Howitzer and Heavy Batteries were attached to other divisions. The 3rd Northumbrians remained out of the line.

In June 1915 the 50th Division deployed into the area of Sanctuary Wood in the South West of the Ypres Salient. The 3rd Nortumbrian Brigade relieved gunners from the 3rd Division 6th - 7th June 1915. The Divisional Artillery's first major action was in support of an attack on the Bellewaarde Ridge. However, due to the shortage of ammunition their firing was limited to 10 minutes of firing.

On the 17th June 1915 the 50th Division moved to the Kemmel area in the South of the Ypres Salient. This was a quiet sector, and the shortage of ammunition continued. A ration of 3 rounds per gun per day had been applied, and unless ordered to fire by a higher authority, the gunners would save their ammunition up and have a 'firing day' on Saturdays.

The Division moved to the Armentieres sector 17th-18th July 1915, the 3rd Northumbrian's deploying in reserve with the batteries being at Pont de Nieppe. The Division remained in the sector till 12th November 1915, before moving to Meres. It was during the period October to November that the Divisional Artillery re-equipped with QF 18 Pounders.

In December 1915, the 50th Division returned to the Ypres Salient, the relief of the 9th Division being completed 22nd December 1915. The Divisional Artillery went into action around the Zillebeke Lake, the 3rd Northumbrians near Blawepoort and French Farms. Conditions were not good, so Christmas 1915 was not celebrated in the best of circumstances. The gunners did celebrate New Year by every gun in the 50th Divisional Artillery firing on the German trenches for 5 minutes.

The Division occupied the trenches till April 1916, actions including supporting the defence and re-capture of the Bluff. At the beginning of April the Division moved to Wytscaete, just East of their previous location. The gunners main activity here was engaging enemy artillery. They moved to rest areas at the end of the month.

In May 1916 the Royal Artillery was re-organised, and as part of this process, the 3rd Northumbrian Brigade was re-numbered as 252 Brigade RFA. By the end of May the Northumbrians were back in the trenches at Wytschaete, remaining there till 9th - 10th August 1915.

The opening of the Battle of the Somme occured on 1st July 1916, and all had not gone to plan. There 50th Division was ordered to entrain, and move South to the Somme arriving in the Montigny area 17th August 1916.

The Divisional Artillery deployed ahead of the rest of the Division. Two Brigades, 251 and 252, relieved the gunners of the 34th Division in the Contalmaison area 18th - 19th August 1916. By the morning after their occupation of their gun positions they were heavily engaged. The remainder of the Division would not be complete in the line till 10th September 1916. The 50th Division would engage in their first set piece Battle on the Somme, with Battle of Flers Courcellete (15th to 22nd September 1916). This was also the first battle where the Divisional Artillery would fire a creeping barrage in support of the infantry, and was the first battle where tanks were used. The guns were deployed in the area of Caterpillar valley, and 252 Brigade were augmented by a Battery from 250 Brigade.

The 50th Division would remain on the Somme until mid November, engaging in the Battle of Morval (25th - 28th September 1916), Battle of Transloy (1st to 18th October) as well as actions in Warlencourt (4th - 6th November 1916), and the Grid Trench and Hook Sap (13th - 16th November 1916). The Divisional Artillery were relieved on the night of the 14th November 1916. Conditions for the Artillery were very bad, with horses and men exerting extreme effort to extract themselves from the mud.

On the 16th November, another re-organisation of Artillery saw the number of guns per battery increase from 4 to 6.

The 50th Division were out of the line for rest and to maintain their equipment. However, for the gunners the rest was short lived, with Brigades being rotated back into the line from the 23rd November 1916. The full Division would be back in position on the Somme by the beginning of the New Year 1917.

Between the 16th and 20th January 1917, another Artillery re-organisation took place. It was during this reorganisation 252 Brigade was broken up;

• A Battery to 242 Brigade RFA
• B Battery to 72 Army Brigade RFA
• 1/2 D Battery to 250 Brigade 1/2 D Battery to 251 Brigade.

[ianjonesncl]

War Diary

252 Brigade Royal Field Artillery 1915 Apr. - 1917 Jan. WO 95/2817

Information

The following web site has information on Seham Harbour including pictures of the Territorial Artillery and other World War One Photographs:

http://www.east-durham.co.uk/seaham/seaham.htm

This includes a page of photographs of the volunteers.

http://www.east-durham.co.uk/seaham/volunteers/brigade/index.html

[kevin donaldson]

Kevin: What was his name and rank? Regards, Dick Flory

Gunner robert laybourn 760085, he won the mm in 1917, and am curious if anybody has a copy of the war diaries, thanks