Divisional Ammunition Columns, RFA, establishment?

[daggers]

I have noted the establishment for Brigade Ammunition Columns set out in the excellent LLT but have failed to find an equivalent for the Divisional ACs after they took over the task from brigades.

Having read a couple of DAC war diaries [which differ vastly in content from each other] I would like to find out about the manpower, and horse- and mule-power each should have had.

All clues welcome.

Daggers

[David Porter]

Start here - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129081

[daggers]

Thank you, David, very helpful. That thread also reinforced my view formed from reading one of the war diaries that DACs acted as a channel for reinforcements further forward. One diary also implied that a TMB was very closely associated.

Daggers

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Daggers

If you have plans for visiting London in the near future and could fit in a visit to Kew, I can give you specific references for the full establishments, which are in bound volumes in class WO24. These include details of men, horses and vehicles. My notes only give the manpower totals, which are 16 officers and about 800 men following the absorption of BACs in May 1916, reducing to 15 officers and about 700 men in January 1917 (and from four sections to three) following the formation of Army Brigades RFA and the consequent reduction in divisional artilleries from 60 guns to 48.

Ron

[David Porter]

I have just looked through the War Diary for 63rd (R.N.) Divisional Ammunition Column and it fails to report the full strength at any time. It does, however, give the strength of one section soon after landing in France in July 1916, which we can assume is close to establishment.

One section is given as: 4 Officers, 163 ORs, 213 Animals, 33 Vehicles and 3 Cycles

At this time there were 4 sections and a HQ.

I can also confirm reinforcements from Base arrived at the DAC first and were distributed as required.

[daggers]

All useful material, my thanks to you both. A Kew visit is unlikely, but I think you have given me enough for my purpose, which I can use with the regular statements of strength in the 57th DAC war diary - officers, ORs, 'natives' [i.e.Indian troops], riding horses, LVs and mules. Some clues about vehicles are included, but I am not too concerned with them.

Daggers

[battiscombe]

Some of the Divisional CRA diaries I have looked at include various tables relating to various DAC establishments [as they changed from time to time].

On 1915 establishment [40/WO/2425] DAC Transport total of 107 vehicles, 333 drivers, 602 draught horses, 31 heavy draught

includes 6 bicycles [frequently stolen]

1 maltese cart medical

2 maltese carts water

57 wagons GS [18pder]+ 11 [4.5]+ 6 [60pdr] + 21 [sAA] + 1 [techncial stores] + 1 [explosives] + 1 [for cooks]... + 9 wagons GS for baggage & supplies in Train

[daggers]

Thanks for that,too. The mind boggles when trying to picture the Column en route. Some of these are mentioned in war diaries, but it is useful to have the figures.

Daggers