Raised in the areas of East and West Ham and Croydon in late May and early June 1915, these units – also known as 153, 154 (Howitzer), 172 and 173 Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery – eventually came under orders of the newly-arrived 36th (Ulster) Division. That formation had been raised in Ireland in 1914 without any field artillery of its own, and it had originally been intended to provide it with four brigades of the Territorial Force.
The new brigades initially moved to Bordon Camp but suffered greatly from a lack of even the most basic equipment. When on 31 August 1915 the artillery moved to Lewes in Sussex, where it finally came under orders of the division, “To be frank, there was some dismay when it was discovered how elementary was its training. A year was the estimate by some regular officers of the time needed to make it fit for service.” (Quote from the Divisional History by Cyril Falls).
The delayed state of training meant that in October 1915 the artillery remained in England when the rest of the division went to France. It eventually rejoined it there in late November and early December 1915.
Details of the history of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the battles and engagements in which it fought can be seen via the link shown at the bottom of this page.
CLIII Brigade (Empire)
- The brigade was raised in Croydon and was structured into A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four field guns, and an ammunition column.
- 27 November 1915: landed at Le Havre
- 16-18 May 1916: Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into an expanded Divisional Ammunition Column
- 21 May 1916: D Battery left to join 154 Brigade as its C Battery
- Same date: C (Howitzer) Battery joined from 154 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery
- 14 September 1916: A Battery was broken up to bring B and C Batteries up to six guns each
- Same date: A Battery joined from 154 Brigade
- 13 January 1917: one section of two howitzers joined from D (Howitzer) Battery of 172 Brigade and joined D (Howitzer) Battery
CLIV (Howitzer) Brigade (Empire)
- The brigade was raised in Croydon and was structured into A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four howitzers, and an ammunition column.
- 27 November 1915: landed at Le Havre
- 28 February 1916: A (Howitzer) Battery left to join 46th (North Midland) Division
- 16-18 May 1916: Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into an expanded Divisional Ammunition Column
- 21 May 1916: B, C and D (Howitzer) Batteries all left, going to 173, 153 and 172 Brigades respectively as their D (Howitzer) Batteries. The brigade ceased to be known as a howitzer brigade.
- Same date: the D Batteries of 172, 173 and 153 Brigades joined and became this brigade’s A, B and C Batteries respectively
- 14 September 1916: C Battery was broken up to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each
- Same date: A Battery transferred to 153 Brigade, B to 173 Brigade, and this brigade ceased to exist.
CLXXII Brigade (West Ham)
- The brigade was raised in West Ham and was structured into A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four field guns, and an ammunition column.
- 27 November 1915: landed at Le Havre
- 16-18 May 1916: Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into an expanded Divisional Ammunition Column
- 21 May 1916: D Battery left to join 154 Brigade as its A Battery
- Same date: B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 154 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery
- 12 September 1916: C Battery was broken up to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each
- 7 October 1916: 529 (Howitzer) Battery arrived from England and became C (Howitzer) Battery
- 13-31 January 1917: brigade broken up and ceased to exist. A Battery left to join 77 Brigade as its C Batery, outside this division; B Battery left to join 113 Brigade as its C Battery, also outside this division; C (Howitzer) Battery sent sections of two howitzers to the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 77 and 113 Brigades, both outside this division; D (Howitzer) Battery sent sections of two howitzers to the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 153 and 173 Brigades.
CLXXIII Brigade (East Ham)
- The brigade was raised in East Ham and was structured into A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four field guns, and an ammunition column.
- 28 November 1915: landed at Le Havre
- 16-18 May 1916: Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into an expanded Divisional Ammunition Column
- 21 May 1916: D Battery left to join 154 Brigade as its B Battery
- Same date: B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 154 Brigade and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery
- 14 September 1916: B Battery was broken up to bring A and C Batteries up to six guns each
- Same date: B Battery joined from 154 Brigade
- 13 January 1917: one section of two howitzers joined from D (Howitzer) Battery of 172 Brigade and joined D (Howitzer) Battery
36th Divisional Ammunition Column (West Ham)
- The colum was raised in West Ham
- 28 November 1915: landed at Le Havre
- 16-18 May 1916: expanded by the addition of the former Brigade Ammunition Columns
Other artillery under divisional command
36 Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was raised for the division but did not go overseas and was broken up.
The artillery of 56th (London) Division was sent to France under command of the division in October 1915 and remained with it until its own artillery, described above, rejoined it in late November and early December 1915.