British I Corps and composition of a RFA Brigade

On August 6 to 10, 80,000 troops of the BEF with 30,000 horses, 315 field guns, and 125 machine guns, were gathered at the Southampton and Portsmouth debarkation ports. I Corps was scheduled to leave from Southampton with the following troop configuration: [1]

I Corps – Lieutenant-General Sir D. Haig

1^st Division – Major-General S.H. Lomax

1st (Guards) Brigade : 1/Coldstream Guards; 1/Scots Guards; 1/Black Watch; 2/Royal Munster Fuslliers

2^nd Division, 4^th (Guards) Brigade: 2/Grenadier Guards; 2/Coldstream Guards; 3/Coldstream Guards; 1/Irish Guards

2^nd Brigade: 2/Royal Sussex Regiment; 1/Loyal North Lancashire Regiment; 1/Northhamptonshire Regiment; 2/King Rifle Corps

3^rd Brigade: 1/Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment); 1/South Wales Borderers; 1/Gloucester Regiment; “A” Squadron, 15^th Hussars; Brigades of RFA - XXV(113^th, 114^th, 115^th Batteries); XXVI (116^th, 117^th, 118^th Batteries); XXXIX (46^th, 51^st, 54^th Batteries); XLIII (30^th, 40^th, 57^th (How) Batteries); 26^th Heavy Battery, RGA; 23^rd,26^th, Field Companies, RE

5^th Brigade: 2/Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; 2/Worcester Regiment; 2/Highland Light Infantry; 2/Connaught Rangers

6^th Brigade: 1/King’s (Liverpool Regiment); 2/South Staffordshire Regiment; 1/Royal Berkshire Regiment; 1/King’s Royal Rifle Corps; “B” Squadron, 15^th Hussars; Brigades of RFA - XXXIV (22ns, 50rh, 70^th Batteries);  XXXVI (15^th, 48^th, 71^st Batteries); XLI (9^th, 16^th, 17^th Batteries); XLIV (47^th, 56^th, 60^th (Howitzer) Batteries); 35^th Heavy Battery, RGA; 5^th, 11^th, Fields Companies RE.[2]

THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY

During World War One the British Army used two mobile artillery units, The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). Although both used horse-drawn gun limbers, the RHA used smaller “caliber” guns, resulting in more mobility. In addition they served with Cavalry brigades, whereas the RFA used heavier “caliber” weapons and served with Infantry Divisions.

   The RFA 43^rd (Howitzer) Brigade was formed prior to the British Expeditionary Force’s deployment to France, and included the 30^th, 40^th and 57^th (Howitzer) Batteries, which were equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers. Upon formation, it was attached to the 1st Infantry Division, I Corps. [3]

    In 1914 each RFA brigade was comprised of three artillery batteries, each with 198 men and six guns. A battery crew comprised of a Major (or Captain) with a Captain as second-in- command, 3 Lieutenants (or 2^nd Lieutenants) in charge of 2-gun sections, Battery Sergeant-Major, Battery Quartermaster Sergeant, a Farrier-Sergeant, 4 Shoeing Smiths, 2 Saddlers, 2 Wheelers, 2 Trumpeters, 7 Sergeants, 7 Corporals, 11 Bombardiers, 75 Gunners, 70 Drivers and 10 Gunners acting as Batmen. [4] 

    A battery also had a small contingent of men that were trained as signalers / telephonists, responsible for keeping phone lines open between Forward Observation Officers and the Battery, which was critical for reporting fire accuracy or target locations. Their job was extremely hazardous as the lines were repeatedly severed by shellfire, forcing signallers to crawl along the wire, find the break, and repair it while under shell and rifle fire; placing their lives in jeopardy in order for the batteries could continue firing.

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[1] Tuchman, Barbara W. The Guns of August pp230-239

[2] Lomas, David, Mons 1914 The BEF’s Tactical Triumph pp 16-17

[3] The Long, Long Trail, The British artillery of 1914-1918 http://www.1914-1918.net/whatartbrig.htm

[4] The Long, Long Trail, What was an artillery brigade http://www.1914-1918.net/whatartbrig.htm

Batman: A soldier that takes care of everyday life so that an officer could concentrate on commanding.