CCXXV, CCXXVII and CCXXVIII Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery (45th Divisional Artillery)

These units were formed as the “second line” of the brigades of the 43rd (Wessex) Division, Territorial Force, in October 1914.

The 1st Wessex Brigade RFA TF was based at the drill hall on St. Paul’s Road in Portsmouth. It comprised a headquarters, the 2/1st, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Hampshire Batteries. It had no Brigade Ammunition Column. The 2/3rd Battery was based at Walpole Road in Gosport. Each battery was armed with four obsolescent 15-pounder field guns.
The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Wessex Division and sailed for India with the division on 12 December 1914.
In 1916 the brigade was renamed as 225 Brigade RFA TF.
At some point the batteries were renamed as 1097, 1098 and 1099 Batteries.
In April 1917, 1097 Battery left to join 216 Brigade of 43rd (Wessex) Division; 1098 Battery left to join 227 Brigade; 1099 Battery was broken up; and then brigade then disbanded.

The 2/2nd Wessex Brigade RFA TF was based at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It comprised a headquarters, the 2/4th and 2/5th (Howitzer) Hampshire Batteries but no Brigade Ammunition Column. The 2/4th (Howitzer) Battery was based in Ventnor and the 2/5th in Freshwater. Each battery was armed with four obsolescent 5-inch howitzers.
The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Wessex Division but did not go to India with the division. It remained at home and became part of E Reserve Battery by 1916.

The 2/3rd Wessex Brigade RFA TF was based at the drill hall on Prospect Place in Swindon. It comprised a headquarters, the 2/6th Hampshire, 2/1st Dorsetshire and 2/1st Wiltshire Batteries but no Brigade Ammunition Column. The Hampshire was at Bournemouth; Dorsetshire at Bridport; Wiltshire at Swindon. Each battery was armed with four obsolescent 15-pounder field guns.
The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Wessex Division and sailed for India with the division on 12 December 1914.
In 1916 the brigade was renamed as 227 Brigade RFA TF.
At some point the batteries were renamed as 1102, 1103 and 1104 Batteries.
In April 1917, 1102 Battery was broken up and 1104 Battery left to join 216 Brigade of 43rd (Wessex) Division.
1098 (2/2nd Hampshire) and 1105 (Howitzer) (2/1st Devonshire) Batteries then arrived to join the brigade.
The brigade moved to Aden in March 1919.

The 2/4th Wessex Brigade RFA TF was based at Exeter. It comprised a headquarters, the 2/1st, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Devonshire Batteries but no Brigade Ammunition Column. The 2/2nd was at Paignton and the 2/3rd at Tavistock. Each battery was armed with four obsolescent 15-pounder field guns.
The brigade came under orders of the 2nd Wessex Division and sailed for India with the division on 12 December 1914.
In 1916 the brigade was renamed as 228 Brigade RFA TF.
On 12 August 1916 the 2/1st Devonshire Battery left to move to Aden, where it was re-armed with 5-inch howitzers. It was renamed 1105 Battery in 1917.
At some point the remaining batteries were renamed as 1106 and 1107 Batteries.
In April 1917, 1106 Battery was broken up and 1107 Battery transferred to 21 Brigade RFA.

The Long, Long Trail