These units were raised when the Territorial Force received an instruction on 31 August 1914 for each existing brigade and unit to form a reserve, “second line”. They were originally known as the 2/1st, 2/2nd, 2/3rd and 2/4th Northumbrian Brigades RFA and later as 315, 316, 317 and 318 Brigades RFA although the latter was also numbered 225 and 223 at times.
CCCXV (2/1st Northumbrian)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 1st Northumbrian Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at Barrack Road in Newcastle and comprised the 2/1st, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Northumbrian Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Northumbrian Division, which was later renamed as the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can be seen via the link below.
- In May 1916 the brigade was renamed as 315 Brigade RFA and the batteries were lettered A, B and C.
- At some point (date not known) a D (Howitzer) Battery joined the brigade and the ammunition column was transferred to the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- The brigade was detached from the division and landed in France on 3 July 1916.
- On 5 July 1916 the brigade came under orders of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can also be seen via a link below.
- On 31 August 1916, C Battery was broken up, with two-gun sections going to A and B Batteries respectively to bring them up to six guns each.
- On 18 November 1916 525 (Howitzer) Battery arrived from England and was renamed C (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 24 January 1917 D (Howitzer) Battery was broken up, with two-howitzer sections going to the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 317 and 223 Brigades respectively to bring them up to six howitzers each.
- On 11 February 1917 a section of two howitzers joined C (Howitzer) Battery to bring it up to six, and on the same day it was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also on 11 February A Battery joined from 260 Brigade and became this brigade’s C Battery.
- The brigade left the division to become an Army Brigade on 1 March 1917.
CCCXVI (2/2nd Northumbrian)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at Wenlock Barracks in Hull and comprised the 2/1st and 2/2nd East Riding Batteries (also Hull), the 2/1st North Riding Battery (Scarborough) and a Brigade Ammunition Column (Park Street, Hull). Each battery was equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Northumbrian Division, which was later renamed as the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can be seen via the link below.
- In May 1916 the brigade was renamed as 316 Brigade RFA and the batteries were lettered A, B and C.
- The ammunition column was transferred to the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- The brigade was detached from the division and landed in France on 3 July 1916.
- On 5 July 1916 the brigade came under orders of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can also be seen via a link below.
- On 18 July 1916 B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade and became this brigade’s D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 31 August 1916, the brigade was broken up. A Battery sent two-gun sections to A and B Batteries of 223 Brigade respectively to bring them up to six guns each. B Battery sent a two gun-section to C Battery of 223 Brigade. The rest of B Battery and all of C Battery joined and went to 317 Brigade as its new C Battery, and D (Howitzer) Battery moved to 317 Brigade.
CCCXVII (2/1st Northumbrian)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham) Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at Seaham Harbour and comprised the 2/1st Durham Battery, the 2/2nd Durham Battery (at Durham), the 2/3rd Durham Battery (at West Hartlepool) and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Northumbrian Division, which was later renamed as the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can be seen via the link below.
- In May 1916 the brigade was renamed as 317 Brigade RFA and the batteries were lettered A, B and C.
- At some point (date not known) the ammunition column was transferred to the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- The brigade was detached from the division and landed in France on 3 July 1916.
- On 5 July 1916 the brigade came under orders of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can also be seen via a link below.
- On 31 August 1916, C Battery was broken up, with two-gun sections going to A and B Batteries to bring them up to six guns each; a new C Battery was formed from C and a two gun section from B Battery coming from 316 Brigade; and D (Howitzer) Battery joined from 316 Brigade to become this brigade’s D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 24 January 1917 a section of two howitzers from D (Howitzer) Battery of 315 Brigade joined D (Howitzer) Battery to bring it up to six.
CCCXVIII (2/4th Northumbrian)(Howitzer)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 4th Northumbrian (County of Durham) (Howitzer) Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at South Shields and comprised the 2/4th Durham (Howitzer) Battery, the 2/5th Durham (Howitzer) Battery (at Hebburn-on-Tyne) and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers.
- The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Northumbrian Division, which was later renamed as the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can be seen via the link below.
- In May 1916 the brigade was renamed as 318 Brigade RFA and the batteries were lettered. At some point (date unknown) three batteries had been created, now called A, B and C.
- At some point (date not known) the ammunition column was transferred to the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- The brigade was detached from the division and landed in France on 3 July 1916.
- On 5 July 1916 the brigade came under orders of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division and its relatively brief history can also be seen via a link below.
- On 18 July 1916 A (Howitzer) Battery joined from 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade and became this brigade’s D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 19 July 1916 the brigade was renamed 225 but this was an error as another unit of that name existed; on 31 July 1916 it became a new 223 Brigade RFA.
- On 31 August 1916 A Battery of 316 Brigade was broken up, with two-howitzer sections going to the A and B Batteries of this brigade respectively.
- On 24 January 1917 a section of two howitzers from D (Howitzer) Battery of 315 Brigade joined D (Howitzer) Battery to bring it up to six.
Divisional Ammunition Column
- The DAC landed in France on 4 July 1916 and came under command of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
A note on the 1/4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade
- This brigade was detached from the Home Counties Division and landed in France on 10 March 1916.
- It was headquartered at Erith in Kent and comprised the 1/4th and 1/5th Kent (Howitzer) Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers.
- On 9 June 1916 it came under command of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
- On 24 June 1916 the brigade was renamed as 223 Brigade RFA and the two batteries became A and B (Howitzer) Batteries.
- On 18 July 1916 the brigade was broken up with the batteries going to 318 and 316 Brigades respectively.
- On 31 July 1916 what had been 318 Brigade and renumbered to 225 in error was renamed as a new 223 Brigade RFA.
Links
The Batteries and Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery