305, 306, 307 and 308 (Howitzer) Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery (61st Divisional Artillery)

These units of the Territorial Force were raised in 1914 as “second line” or reserve brigades of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Howitzer) South Midland Brigades RFA. The latter comprised the artillery of the 48th (South Midland) Division, while the “second line” came under orders of the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division.

The home locations and structures of these brigades were the same as their “first line”: details appear at The 48th Divisional Artillery . The only difference is that they were distinguished in their titles so, for example, the 1st Warwickshire Battery had its “first line” 1/1st Warwickshire Battery and “second line” 2/1st Warwickshire Battery.

These brigades were all deficient in key arms and equipment, essentially starting with nothing and not being equipped with modern guns and howitzers until early 1916. In between, they were provided with a motley variety of old French and obsolete British arms with which to train.

The brigades were numbered and the batteries were lettered from 16-17 May 1916.

305 (2/1st South Midland) Brigade RFA TF

  • Originally titled 2/1st South Midland Brigade RFA TF
  • Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, numbers 2/1, 2/2 and 2/3 Gloucestershire Batteries and 2/I South Midland Brigade Ammunition Column. Batteries became A, B and C Batteries.
  • Trained at Northampton, Broomfield and Writtle (both near Chelmsford). Moved to Epping 26 July 1915. Relocated to Ingatestone 4 September 1915.
  • Moved to Number 7 Camp at Bulford, Salisbury Plain 20-27 February 1916.
  • Sailed from Southampton on ship “Hunslet” on 22 May 1916 and arrived next day at Le Havre in France.
  • Brigade broken up at Nouveau Monde 17 September 1916. Half of A Battery went to A/306 and the other half to C/307; half of B Battery went to B/306 and the other half to C/306; half of C Battery went to A/307 and the other half to B/307.

306 (2/2nd South Midland) Brigade RFA TF

  • Originally titled 2/2nd South Midland Brigade RFA TF
  • Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, numbers 2/1, 2/2 and 2/3 Worcestershire Batteries and 2/2 South Midland Brigade Ammunition Column. Batteries became A, B and C Batteries.
  • Trained at Northampton, Broomfield, Writtle and Epping. Moved to Great Baddow 13 September 1915.
  • Moved to Bulford, Salisbury Plain during February 1916.
  • On 17 May 1916, A (Howitzer) Battery joined from 308 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery.
  • Sailed from Southampton on ship “Hunscraft” on 23 May 1916 but soon returned, before leaving again and arrived on 25 May 1916 at Le Havre in France.
  • On 17 September 1916, the field gun batteries were all brought up to six guns by the arrival of sections from 305 Brigade (above).
  • On 27 January 1917, D (Howitzer) Battery was brought up to six howitzers by the arrival of a section from D (Howitzer) Battery of 308 Brigade.

307 (2/3rd South Midland) Brigade RFA TF

  • Originally titled 2/3rd South Midland Brigade RFA TF
  • Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, numbers 2/1, 2/2 and 2/3 Warwickshire Batteries and 2/3 South Midland Brigade Ammunition Column. Batteries became A, B and C Batteries.
  • Trained at Northampton, Lexden, Great Baddow, Ingatestone and Epping.
  • On 17 May 1916, B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 308 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery.
  • Embarked at Southampton on 24 May 1916 and landed at Le Havre in France on 26 May 1916.
  • On 16 September 1916, the field gun batteries were all brought up to six guns by the arrival of sections from 305 Brigade (above).
  • On 27 January 1917, D (Howitzer) Battery was brought up to six howitzers by the arrival of a section from D (Howitzer) Battery of 308 Brigade.

308 (2/4th South Midland) (Howitzer) Brigade RFA TF

  • Originally titled 2/4th South Midland (Howitzer) Brigade RFA TF
  • Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, numbers 2/4 and 2/5 Warwickshire (Howitzer) Batteries and 2/4th South Midland Brigade Ammunition Column. Batteries were renamed A and B (Howitzer) Batteries.
  • Mobilised at Coventry and trained at Northampton. Moved to Great Baddow 5 May 1915. Relocated to Writtle 13 September 1915.
  • Brigade was broken up on 17 May 1916. A and B Batteries joined 306 and 307 Brigades and were renamed as their D (Howitzer) Batteries.
  • The brigade was then reformed with new A, B and C 18-pounder field gun and D (Howitzer) 4.5-inch howitzer batteries.
  • Sailed from Southampton on ship “South West Miller” on 21 May 1916 and landed at Le Havre in France late on 22 May 1916.
  • On 16 September 1916, C Battery was broken up with two-gun sections going to bring A and B Batteries up to six each.
  • 520 (Howitzer) Battery joined on 20 October 1916 and was renamed as C (Howitzer) Battery.
  • Brigade broke up on 27 January 1917. A Battery moved to 155 Brigade; B Battery went to 311 Brigade as its C Battery; half of C (Howitzer) Battery went to D Battery of 86 Brigade and the other half to D Battery of 315 Brigade; half of D (Howitzer) Battery went to D Battery of 306 Brigade and the other half to D Battery of 307 Brigade.

2/1st South Midland (Warwickshire) Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery TF

  • Served with the division until 3 February 1916. Did not proceed overseas.

Divisional Ammunition Column

  • Formed while division was still in England and absorbed the Brigade Ammunition Columns.
  • Sailed from Southampton on 25 May 1916, split up onto ships “Nirvana”, “Archimedes” and “Australind”.

Other units

  • 1/1st Wessex (Hampshire) Battery was attached briefly in January-February 1916
  • 2/1st Wessex (Hampshire) Battery same
  • 2/2nd London Heavy Battery same
  • The artillery of 59th (2nd North Midland) Division was attached 8-26 August 1918

Links

61st (2nd South Midland) Division

The 48th Divisional Artillery

Other brigades of the Royal Field Artillery