These units were formed in London in 1915 and are also known as 174, 179, 184 and 186 (Howitzer) Brigades RFA.
On 1-2 October 1915 they moved to Aldershot to come under command of 39th Division. You can see details of its battles and movements on the pages describing the divisions.
CLXXIV
- This brigade was raised at the Thames Ironworks. It was comprised of A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns, and a Brigade Ammunition Column.
- On 20 May 1916 B Battery left to join 186 (Howitzer) Brigade as its A Battery. D Battery was then renamed as B Battery.
- On the same date, A (Howitzer) Battery joined from 186 (Howitzer) Brigade and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also on the same date, the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 29 November 1916 C Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each. A Battery joined from 184 Brigade and was renamed as C Battery.
- On 18 January 1917 a section of two arrived from C (Howitzer) Battery of 179 Brigade, bringing D (Howitzer) Battery up to six.
CLXXIX
- This brigade was raised at Lee Green. It was comprised of A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns, and a Brigade Ammunition Column.
- On 20 May 1916 C Battery left to join 186 (Howitzer) Brigade as its C Battery. D Battery was then renamed as C Battery.
- On the same date, B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 186 (Howitzer) Brigade and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also on the same date, the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 30 November 1916 C Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each. D (Howitzer) Battery joined from 184 Brigade and was renamed C (Howitzer) Battery.
- The brigade was broken up on 18 January 1917. A Battery went to 277 Brigade. B went to 119 Brigade. C (Howitzer) Battery was split up: one section of two went to D (Howitzer) Battery of 174 Brigade, and the other section went to D (Howitzer) Battery of 186 Brigade. D (Howitzer) Battery was also split up: one section of two went to D (Howitzer) Battery of 277 Brigade, and the other section went to D (Howitzer) Battery of 119 Brigade.
- Note that a new and unrelated 179 Brigade RFA arrived in France in May 1917.
CLXXXIV
- This brigade was raised at Lee Green. It was comprised of A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 18-pounder field guns, and a Brigade Ammunition Column.
- On 20 May 1916 B Battery left to join 186 (Howitzer) Brigade as its B Battery. D Battery was then renamed as B Battery.
- On the same date, C (Howitzer) Battery joined from 186 (Howitzer) Brigade and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also on the same date, the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 30 November 1916 the brigade was broken up. C Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each. A Battery then left to join 174 Brigade as its C Battery. B Battery left to join 186 Brigade as its B Battery. D (Howitzer) Battery joined 179 Brigade.
CLXXXVI (Howitzer)
- This brigade was raised at Deptford. It was comprised of comprised A, B, C and D Batteries, each of four 4.5-inch howitzers, and a Brigade Ammunition Column.
- On 20 May 1916 it ceased to be classified as a Howitzer Brigade. Its A, B and C (Howitzer) Brigades all left to go to 174, 179 and 184 Brigades respectively. B battery joined from 174 Brigade and became A Battery; B Battery joined from 184 Brigade and became B Battery; C Battery joined from 179 Brigade and became C Battery.
- On the same date, the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- On 29 November 1916 C Battery was broken up, sending two-gun sections to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each. B Battery joined from 184 Brigade and was renamed as C Battery.
- On 30 January 1917 a section of two arrived from C (Howitzer) Battery of 174 Brigade, bringing D (Howitzer) Battery up to six.
Divisional Ammunition Column
- This unit was raised at Deptford.
- It was expanded on 20 May 1916 by the arrival of the four Brigade Ammunition Columns.