Royal Field Artillery, 268 Brigade.

[andrew pugh]

Good Evening

I have tried looking for the war diary of the Royal Field Artillery, 268 Brigade and cannot find it. Could anybody tell me what theatre of war they fought in?

Kind Regards

Andy

[alf mcm]

Andrew,

  The war diaries are here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4557828    and here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4557773    Unfortunately they have not been digitized.

 

Regards,

Alf McM

[PRC]

Long, Long Trail has this, under its Roman numeral title form.

 

CCLXVIII (H)

Territorial Force 1st Line

Welsh Division from pre-war. Brigade did not move with Division to Gallipoli in 1915, but rejoined it in Egypt in February 1916. Re-armed with modern equipment in England, the Brigade moved to France in November 1915. Redesignated from IV Welsh in May 1915. Partly broken up in December 1916 and replaced with units of former CCLXVI. A new CCLXVIII was formed in Egypt in June 1917, joining 74th Division 23 July, serving until end of war.

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-royal-artillery-in-the-first-world-war/royal-field-artillery-brigades/

 

The Division concerned was the 53rd (Welsh).

A note on the Divisional Artillery on the Long, Long Trail webpage adds

The Divisional Artillery did not leave England when the Division embarked for service at Gallipoli. It remained at Bedford and was there rearmed. It sailed for France from 20 November 1915 and concentrated near Pont Remy by five days later. Entrainment began on 1 February 1916, embarkation at Marseilles began two days later and by 22 February 1916 the artillery had concentrated at Beni Salama and came once again under command of this Division.

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/53rd-welsh-division/

 

The War diaries for Egypt and Palestine are not available on line.

 

Hope that helps,

Peter

 

[andrew pugh]

Gentlemen, Thank you for your replies.

Kind Regards

Andy

[Chris Bent]

Hi Andrew. I too am looking for the war diaries for the RFA 268 Brigade. Were you able to find them? 

Many thanks.

Chris.

[Glenn Warnes]

I'd be interested too if any one has accessed the IV Welsh Brigade RFA (T) diaries.

Thanks

Glenn

Edited 17 November , 2023 by spider

[charlie962]

A recent source created for regimental archives is the Army Museum's Ogilvy Trust. (AMOT).

The Royal Artillery Museum have put a lot of records on line via this site. Sometimes one gets lucky. They seem to have uploaded the diary for 268 Brigade including a diary kept from 1914 when they were the 4th Welsh Brigade RFA.

Here's the link for hits I got for 268th Brigade. It will include some papers from other diaries that mention the Brigade but the majority seems to be the Diary you want. 

Do please tell us what you find. In particular it would be helpful to know if it covers the old and new 268 Brigade.

https://www.theogilbymuster.com/search/results#/?query="268th brigade"&page=1&type=flex&sort=Regimental_Collection asc&filterBy=Regimental_Collection,"Royal Artillery Museum"&spellCheck=true&recordView=3920724

 

The LongLongTrail tells us this for the 'old' 268 Brigade 

CCLXVIII (IV Welsh) Brigade

Originally called 4th Welsh Brigade

Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, 1st Monmouthshire Battery (both based at Newport), 2nd Monmouthshire Battery (Risca), 3rd Monmouthshire Battery (Griffithstown) and the Brigade Ammunition Column (Chester). Each battery was equipped with four 15-pounder field guns.

Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean

Rejoined the division in Egypt 15-22 February 1916

October 1915: batteries re-armed with four 18-pounder field guns (the old ones went to 68th (2nd Welsh) Division)

26 May 1916: renamed as 268 Brigade and the batteries became A, B and C Batteries

23-27 November 1916 Brigade Ammunition Column left to re-form Divisional Ammunition Column

25 December 1916: A Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring B and C up to six each. B was then renamed as A Battery and C renamed as B Battery. The B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 265 Brigade and was renamed as C (Howitzer) Battery.

Same date: the brigade was renamed as 266 Brigade RFA.

Same date: half of Brigade Ammunition Column joined from original 265 Brigade.

[Glenn Warnes]

charlie962, 

Thanks for the info, at a quick look it appears to start in 1915 with the 4th Bde as references to Bedford and movement to France in November 1915, however all good information for those interested in the 4th, 268th and 266th Brigades.

Cheers

Glenn

Edited 17 November , 2023 by spider

[charlie962]

2 hours ago, spider said:

appears to start in 1915 with the 4th Bde

Thanks. Actually starts Aug 1914 mobilisation with typed pages that are not in the usual War Diary format. 

Here's a modified link just focusing in 4th Welsh / 268 Bde Diaries.

https://www.theogilbymuster.com/search/results#/?query="War diaries for 268th brigade"&page=1&type=flex&sort=Regimental_Collection asc&filterBy=Regimental_Collection,"Royal Artillery Museum"&spellCheck=true

 

In line with the note on the LongLongTrail the Diary is the 'old' 268 which becomes 266 in Dec 1916 and continues as 266.

I haven't yet searched for the 'new' 268 formed in 1917... But it may be on AMOT.

Charlie 

 

 

Edited 17 November , 2023 by charlie962

[Glenn Warnes]

12 hours ago, charlie962 said:

Thanks. Actually starts Aug 1914 mobilisation with typed pages that are not in the usual War Diary format. 

Here's a modified link just focusing in 4th Welsh / 268 Bde Diaries.

https://www.theogilbymuster.com/search/results#/?query="War diaries for 268th brigade"&page=1&type=flex&sort=Regimental_Collection asc&filterBy=Regimental_Collection,"Royal Artillery Museum"&spellCheck=true

 

In line with the note on the LongLongTrail the Diary is the 'old' 268 which becomes 266 in Dec 1916 and continues as 266.

I haven't yet searched for the 'new' 268 formed in 1917... But it may be on AMOT.

Charlie 

 

 

Charlie, diaries go through to 1919. Thanks for the info. Glenn