CCLXV (Howitzer), CCLXVI, CCXLVII and CCLXVIII Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery (53rd Welsh Divisional artillery)

These units were formed in 1908 for the new Territorial Force. They were under command of the Welsh Division, later called 53rd (Welsh) Division.

Originally called 1st Welsh Brigade
Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, 1st Glamorgan (Howitzer) Battery (both of which were based at Swansea), 2nd Glamorgan (Howitzer) Battery (Briton Ferry and Neath) and the Brigade Ammunition Column (Morriston). The batteries were each equipped with four 5-inch howitzers.
Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean
Rejoined the division in Egypt 15-22 February 1916
October 1915: batteries re-armed with four 4.5-inch howitzers (the old ones went to 68th (2nd Welsh) Division)
26 May 1916: renamed as 265 (I Welsh) (Howitzer) Brigade and the batteries became A and B (Howitzer) Batteries
25 December 1916: brigade broken up and ceased to exist. A (Howitzer) Battery went to 267 Brigade as its C (Howitzer) Battery, while B went to 266 Brigade as its C (Howitzer) Battery. The Brigade Ammunition Column was split, with halves going to 266 and 267 Brigades.

Originally called 2nd Welsh Brigade
Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, 4th and 5th Glamorgan Batteries (all based at Cardiff), Cardiganshire Battery (Aberystwyth) and the Brigade Ammunition Column (Cardiff). Each battery was equipped with four 15-pounder field guns.
Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean
Rejoined the division in Egypt 15-22 February 1916
October 1915: batteries re-armed with four 18-pounder field guns (the old ones went to 68th (2nd Welsh) Division)
26 May 1916: renamed as 266 (II Welsh) Brigade and the batteries became A, B and C Batteries
25 December 1916: A Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring B and C up to six each. B was then renamed as A Battery and C renamed as B Battery.
Same date: the brigade was renamed as 267 Brigade RFA
23-27 November 1916 Brigade Ammunition Column left to re-form Divisional Ammunition Column
8 April 1918: 439 (Howitzer) Battery joined and remained named as such. It had been formed from personnel from 53rd and 68th Divisional Ammunition Columns and 9th Mountain Battery RGA.

Until 1913 it was called 3rd Welsh Brigade and was then renamed as Cheshire Brigade
Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, 1st and 2nd Cheshire Batteries (all based at Chester), 3rd Cheshire Battery (Crewe) and the Brigade Ammunition Column (Chester). Each battery was equipped with four 15-pounder field guns.
Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean
Rejoined the division in Egypt 15-22 February 1916
October 1915: batteries re-armed with four 18-pounder field guns (the old ones went to 68th (2nd Welsh) Division)
26 May 1916: renamed as 267 Brigade and the batteries became A, B and C Batteries
23-27 November 1916 Brigade Ammunition Column left to re-form Divisional Ammunition Column
25 December 1916: A Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring B and C up to six each. B was then renamed as A Battery and C renamed as B Battery. The A (Howitzer) Battery joined from 265 Brigade and was renamed as C (Howitzer) Battery.
Same date: the brigade was renamed as 265 Brigade RFA.
Same date: half of Brigade Ammunition Column joined from original 265 Brigade.

Originally called 4th Welsh Brigade
Comprised of Brigade Headquarters, 1st Monmouthshire Battery (both based at Newport), 2nd Monmouthshire Battery (Risca), 3rd Monmouthshire Battery (Griffithstown) and the Brigade Ammunition Column (Chester). Each battery was equipped with four 15-pounder field guns.
Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean
Rejoined the division in Egypt 15-22 February 1916
October 1915: batteries re-armed with four 18-pounder field guns (the old ones went to 68th (2nd Welsh) Division)
26 May 1916: renamed as 268 Brigade and the batteries became A, B and C Batteries
23-27 November 1916 Brigade Ammunition Column left to re-form Divisional Ammunition Column
25 December 1916: A Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring B and C up to six each. B was then renamed as A Battery and C renamed as B Battery. The B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 265 Brigade and was renamed as C (Howitzer) Battery.
Same date: the brigade was renamed as 266 Brigade RFA.
Same date: half of Brigade Ammunition Column joined from original 265 Brigade.

Was only formed during mobilisation in 1914
Remained at home when the division sailed for service in the Mediterranean, except for its Small Arms Ammunition Section, which did accompany the division (it landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli 12-15 August 1915)
Landed in France 25 November 1915. In January 1916, it became 54th (East Anglian) Divisional Ammunition Column all but for one officer and 34 men who rejoined 53rd (Welsh) Division in Egypt on 22 February 1916.
23-27 November 1916 reformed by the merging of the Brigade Ammunition Columns.

Welsh (Caernarvonshire) Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery served with the division until it moved to Bedford in May 1915