What was a Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery?

The composition of units according to the “Field Service Pocket Book 1914”.

Imperial War Museum image Q 2035. Battle of the Scarpe. Gunners of the Royal Horse Artillery hauling a captured German field gun into position for use against the enemy on the Arras-Cambrai road, April 1917.
Imperial War Museum image Q 2035. Battle of the Scarpe. Gunners of the Royal Horse Artillery hauling a captured German field gun into position for use against the enemy on the Arras-Cambrai road, April 1917.

RHA Battery

  • 5 officers and 200 men
  • 102 riding and 126 draught horses
  • 6 [13-pounder] field guns
  • Transport of one 2-horse cart, one 4-horse wagon, 12 6-horse wagons, 3 bicycles

When deployed on the road in approved layout, the battery would occupy 440 yards of road space (fighting portion) and 90 yards (first-line transport).

RHA Ammunition Column

  • The figures given appear to relate to an Ammunition Column for a brigade of three batteries
  • 4 officers and 223 men
  • 44 riding and 236 draught horses
  • Transport of one 2-horse cart, 6 2-horse wagons, 2 4-horse wagons, 32 6-horse wagons, 3 bicycles

When deployed on the road in approved layout, the column would occupy 830 yards of road space.

Links

The Royal Horse Artillery

Definitions of other types of unit