Heavy Batteries - 109 and 110, 113 and 114, 115 and 116

[Hoplophile]

I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me the initial assignment of the following heavy batteries, which joined the Expeditionary Force on the following dates:

109 and 110 24 September 1914

113 and 114 4 October 1914

115 and 116 4 October 1914

I am particularly interested to know if these batteries were formed into brigades at this time. (The pattern of deployment, which batteries crossing in pairs, is in keeping with their being paired off to form brigades. Likewise, the fact that the heavy batteries assigned to the 7th and 8th Divisions, which were part of this series, were formed into brigades is also in harmony with such a possibility. However, I cannot find any actual evidence beyond these patterns.

[Graham Stewart]

Hoplophile,

According to Fredericks "Lineage of the British Land Forces", the 1st Brigade,R.G.A.(109th & 110th(Heavy Batteries) wasn't formed until 6th March 1915 while in France and the formation of this Brigade remained unchanged throughout the war.

The 111th, 112th and 113th Heavy Batteries,R.G.A. went onto form the 3rd Heavy Brigade,R.G.A. on the 5th March 1915, again while in France.

The 4th Heavy Brigade,R.G.A. appears to have been formed in September 1914 while still in the UK from 109th, 110th and 114th Heavy Batteries, but didn't arrive in France until April 1915.

The 115th & 116th Heavy Batteries were brought together as the 10th Heavy Brigade,R.G.A. and were in France by April 1915.

Is this the answer you were hoping for?

Graham.

[Hoplophile]

Graham,

Thanks again for the help.

I suspect that there is a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

I'm off to the NY Public Library today (which has an excellent collection of regimental histories, but only the first volume of Fredericks' book) to see if I can find out a little more.

Best wishes,

Bruce

Graham,

Thanks again for the help.

I suspect that there is a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

I'm off to the NY Public Library today (which has an excellent collection of regimental histories, but only the first volume of Fredericks' book) to see if I can find out a little more.

Best wishes,

Bruce

[essdee]

Bruce

Here's a list of the above batteries and their movements up the point they leave the Divisions to form Ha Bde's / HAR's

Stuart

109 HB

To F & F 23rd Sept. 1914

Lahore Div 17.10 - 21.12.14

1st Div 22 - 24.12.14

Rest 24.12 - 25 .1.15

Attached 8 Div. 27.1 - 21.2.15

Lahore Div. 22 -26.2.15

Neerut Div. 27.2 - 5.3.15

1st Ha Bde 6.3.15

110 HB

To F&F 20th Sept.1914

Neerut Div. 29.10.14

Rest 26.12 - 25.1.15

2nd Div. 26.1 - 3.3.15

1st Ha Bde 6.3.15

113

To F&F 3rd Oct. 1914

Attached 3rd, 8th, Lahore, 1st, Neerut, 28th, Indian Corps & 8th Divisions

3rd HA Bde 15.3.15

114

To F&F 3rd Oct. 1914

5th Div 24.10 - 30.10.14

Neerut Div. 31.10 - 21.12.14

2nd Div. 22.12.14

No 1 Group HAR 6.3.15

115

Formerly 100 Coy. RGA

To F&F 3rd Oct. 1914

1 Corps HA 28.10 - 20.11.14

Attached 43rd French Div. 21 - 22.11.14

5th Div. 23.11 - Mar 1915

3rd HA Bde Mar 1915

10th HA Bde 6.4.15

116

Formerly 5 Coy. RGA

To F&F 3rd Oct 1914

7th Div 23.10 - 1.11.14

2nd Div. 2 - 22.11.14

7th Div. 23.11 - 8.12.14

5th Div. 9.12.14 - 15.1.15

27th Div. 16.1 - 24.3.15

3rd Div. 25.3.15

10th Ha Bde 9.4.15