These units were formed in 1915 and are sometimes known as 148, 149, 150 and 151 Brigades RFA.
By February 1915 Lord Derby Derby had obtained from the War Office permission to raise the four artillery units required as part of a complete division. They would soon enough be granted the formal titles of the 148th to 151st Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery and were all sub-titled “County Palatine”. The brigades were established at Lytham St. Annes where they began training largely without proper uniform, equipment, transport or accommodation. It took several weeks for the full complement of men to be attracted to them. Each of the four brigades was essentially made up of men from a particular area but it is clear from the surviving service records that there was a certain amount of blurring.
CXLVIII (County Palatine)
- This brigade joined 30th Division at Grantham by 13 August 1915. It comprised A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns. You can see details of its battles and movements on the page describing the division
- On 16 May 1916 the Brigade’s Ammunition Column left to be merged into 30th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 21 May 1916 D Battery left and joined 151 Brigade as its A Battery. It was replaced by the arrival of A (Howitzer) Battery from 151 Brigade, which was then renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 25-26 August 1916 C Battery was broken up, and its two-gun sections joined A and B Batteries to bring them up to six guns each. A Battery joined from 151 Brigade and became 148 Brigade’s C Battery.
- On 2 January 1917 a two-howitzer section joined from D (Howitzer) Battery of 150 Brigade and was added to D (Howitzer) Battery.
CXLIX (County Palatine)
- This brigade joined 30th Division at Grantham by 13 August 1915. It comprised A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns. You can see details of its battles and movements on the page describing the division
- On 16 May 1916 the Brigade’s Ammunition Column left to be merged into 30th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 21 May 1916 D Battery left and joined 151 Brigade as its B Battery. It was replaced by the arrival of B (Howitzer) Battery from 151 Brigade, which was then renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 26 August – 2 September 1916 B Battery was broken up, and its two-gun sections joined A and C Batteries to bring them up to six guns each. B Battery joined from 151 Brigade and became 149 Brigade’s B Battery.
- On 2 January 1917 a two-howitzer section joined from D (Howitzer) Battery of 150 Brigade and was added to D (Howitzer) Battery.
CL (County Palatine)
- This brigade joined 30th Division at Grantham by 13 August 1915. It comprised A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns. You can see details of its battles and movements on the page describing the division
- On 16 May 1916 the Brigade’s Ammunition Column left to be merged into 30th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 21 May 1916 D Battery left and joined 151 Brigade as its C Battery. It was replaced by the arrival of D (Howitzer) Battery from 151 Brigade, became 150 Brigade’s D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 26 August – 2 September 1916 A Battery was broken up, and its two-gun sections joined B and C Batteries to bring them up to six guns each. C Battery was then renamed as a new A Battery.
- On 10 November 1916 514 (Howitzer) Battery joined from England and was renamed as C (Howitzer) Battery.
- D (Howitzer) Battery was broken up on 2 January 1917, with its two-howitzer sections going to the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 148 and 149 Brigades respectively, to bring them up to six howitzers. C (Howitzer) Battery was then renamed as a new D (Howitzer) Battery. A Battery joined from 247 Brigade (49th (West Riding) Division) and wasrenamed as a new C Battery. A section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery.
- The brigade then left 30th Division and became an Army Field Artillery Brigade.
CLI (County Palatine) (Howitzer)
- This brigade joined 30th Division at Grantham by 13 August 1915. It comprised A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 4.5-inch howitzers. You can see details of its battles and movements on the page describing the division.
- On 16 May 1916 the Brigade’s Ammunition Column left to be merged into 30th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 8 February 1916 C (Howitzer) Battery left and joined III Highland (Howitzer) Brigade in 51st (Highland) Division.
- On 21 May 1916 A, B and D (Howitzer) Batteries all left, joining 148, 149 and 150 Brigades respectively (all in 30th Division). They were replaced by the D Batteries arriving from these brigades, which were then renamed as A, B and C Batteries of 151 Brigade.
- The brigade was broken up on 26 August 1916 and ceased to exist. A Battery and a two-gun section of C went to 148 Brigade as its new C Battery. B Battery and the other two-gun section of C went to 149 Brigade as its new B Battery.