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 North Midland, 2/2nd North Midland, 2/3rd North Midland and 2/4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigades RFA and later as 295, 296, 297 and 298 Brigades RFA. They were the “second line” to the brigades raised for 46th (North Midland) Division.
CCXCV (2/1st North Midland)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 1st North Midland Brigade RFA.
- It was based at the Artillery Drill Hall in Grimsby, Lincolnshire and was comprised of a headquarters, the 2/1st, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Lincolnshire Batteries and the Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- It joined the 59th (North Midland) Division assembling in the Luton area 5-6 February 1915.
- 29 April 1916 the batteries were renamed as A, B and C respectively.
- Late May 1916, the 2/1st Hampshire Royal Horse Artillery joined and was made D Battery.
- D Battery left on 10 July 1916 to go to 298 Brigade as its A Battery.
- At the same time, D (Howitzer) Battery arrived from 298 Brigade.
- On 31 July 1916 the Brigade Ammunition Column left to be merged int othe 59th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- Before going to France in early 1917, A, B and C Batteries each received a section of two guns from 297 Brigade, bringing them up to six each.
- 17 March 1917, a section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery from C (Howitzer) Battery of 287 Brigade of 57th Division, bringing it up to six.
CCXCVI (2/2nd North Midland)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 2nd North Midland Brigade RFA.
- It was based at the Artillery Drill Hall on Victoria Square, Shelton, Staffordshire and was comprised of a headquarters, the 2/1st, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Staffordshire Batteries and the Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- It joined the 59th (North Midland) Division assembling in the Luton area 5-6 February 1915.
- 29 April 1916 the batteries were renamed as A, B and C respectively.
- Late May 1916, the 2/1st Essex Royal Horse Artillery joined and was made D Battery.
- D Battery left on 10 July 1916 to go to 298 Brigade as its B Battery.
- At the same time, B (Howitzer) battery arrived from 298 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 31 July 1916 the Brigade Ammunition Column left to be merged int othe 59th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- Before going to France in early 1917, A, B and C Batteries each received a section of two guns from 297 Brigade, bringing them up to six each.
- In France on 4 April 1917, a section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery from C (Howitzer) Battery of 298 Brigade.
CCXCVII (2/3rd North Midland)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 3rd North Midland Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at the Artillery Drill Hall at West Park, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and comprised the 2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th Staffordshire Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with 18-pounder field guns.
- It joined the 59th (North Midland) Division assembling in the Luton area 5-6 February 1915.
- 29 April 1916 the batteries were renamed as A, B and C respectively.
- Late May 1916, the 2/1st Glamorgan Royal Horse Artillery joined and was made D Battery.
- D Battery left on 10 July 1916 to go to 298 Brigade as its C Battery.
- At the same time, C (Howitzer) Battery arrived from 298 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 31 July 1916 the Brigade Ammunition Column left to be merged int othe 59th Divisional Ammunition Column.
- Before going to France in early 1917, the brigade was broken up. D (Howitzer) Battery went to 298 Brigade, and A, B and C Batteries were broken into two-gun sections which went to 295 and 296 Brigades.
CCXCVIII (2/4th North Midland)(Howitzer)
- Raised as the “second line” to the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade RFA.
- It was headquartered at Artillery Drill Hall at Siddal’s Road in Derby and comprised a headquarters, the 2/1st and 2/2nd Derbyshire (Howitzer) Batteries and the Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 4.5 inch howitzers.
- It joined the 59th (North Midland) Division assembling in the Luton area 5-6 February 1915.
- 29 April 1916 the batteries were renamed as A and B (Howitzer) Batteries.
- Late May 1916, a battery joined from LIX Brigade and was made C (Howitzer) Battery.
- On 10 July 1916, all three batteries left: A went to 295 Brigade, B to 296 and C to 297.
- They were replaced by the D Batteries of those three brigades, and were renamed as A, B and C Batteries respectively. This brigade dropped the”howitzer” from its title.
- Before the division left Ireland, C Battery was split up and sent two-gun sections to bring A and B up to six guns each; a new C (Howitzer) Battery joined; and D (Howitzer) Battery joined from 297 Brigade.
- In France on 4 April 1917, the brigade left 59th (North Midland) Division to become an Army Field Artillery Brigade. C (Howitzer) Battery was broken up; one section of two went to D (Howitzer) Battery 296 Brigade and the other section of two eventually went to D (Howitzer) Battery of 212 Brigade (12th Division).
- On 12 April 1917, A Battery joined from 332 Brigade and wasrenamed as C Battery.
- A new D (Howitzer) Battery joined from Third Army.
Divisional Ammunition Column
- The DAC joined the 59th (North Midland) Division assembling in the Luton area 4 February 1915..
Links
The Batteries and Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery
59th (2nd North Midland) Division