An unidentified British soldier standing with a 9.2 inch howitzer Mk I, named Berdameda, which was supporting the Australians on the Somme. The camouflaged box in front of the gun is known as a dirt box, which was filled with soil and attached to the gun to act as a counterweight to the force of the blast and keep the gun in position. Hanging on the side of the box is a horseshoe. Note in the background (left) a timber structure, probably an observation tower and rows of shells in front of the structure. Photo taken at Corbie in May 1918. AWM photograph E04820, with permission.
The role of the Siege Battery
Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire.The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added.
The Regular and New Army Batteries
| Siege Battery | First overseas | Remarks |
| 1st Siege Battery | France, 17 September 1914 | |
| 2nd | France, 17 September 1914 | |
| 3rd | France, 17 September 1914 | |
| 4th | France, 17 September 1914 | |
| 5th | France, 27 September 1914 | |
| 8th | France, 14 October 1914 | |
| 9th | France 21 April 1915 | |
| 10th | France, 16 February 1915 | |
| 11th | France, 21 April 1915 | |
| 12th | France, 8 March 1915 | |
| 13th | France, 23 April 1915 | |
| 14th | Gallipoli, 1915 | Later to France |
| 15th | France, 11 July 1915 | |
| 16th | France, 20 July 1915 | |
| 17th | Gallipoli, 11 July 1915 | Later to France |
| 18th | France, 27 September and 17 October 1915 | Two 12 inch railway guns |
| 19th | France, May 1915 | |
| 20th | France, 19 June 1915 | |
| 21st | France, 23 May and 16 July 1915 | |
| 22nd | France, October 1915 | |
| 23rd | France, 20 August 1915 | |
| 24th | France, 20 August 1915 | |
| 25th | France, 3 August 1915 | |
| 26th | France, 3 August 1915 | |
| 27th | France, 4 September 1915 | |
| 28th | France, 4 September 1915 | |
| 29th | France, 3 August 1915 | |
| 30th | France, 27 August 1915 | |
| 31st | France, 1 October 1915 | |
| 32nd | France, 1 October 1915 | |
| 33rd | France, 8 August 1915 | |
| 34th | France, 18 August and 11 September 1915 | |
| 35th | France, September 1915 | |
| 36th | France, 27 September 1915 | |
| 37th | Egypt, December 1915 | Later to France |
| 38th | Egypt, 16 December 1915 | Later to France |
| 39th | France, 2 November 1915 | |
| 40th | France, 28 February 1916 | |
| 41st | France, 9 December 1915 | |
| 42nd | Gallipoli, 11 July 1915 | Later to France |
| 43rd | Egypt, December 1915 | Later to Salonika |
| 44th | France, 24 January 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 45th | France, 31 August 1915 | Two 9.2 inch railway guns |
| 46th | France, 20 October 1915 | |
| 47th | France, 26 November 1915 | |
| 48th | Egypt, January 1916 | Later to France |
| 49th | France, 9 March 1916 | |
| 50th | France, 2 October 1915 | |
| 51st | France, 17 March 1916 | |
| 52nd | France, 21 December 1915 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 53rd | France, 26 October 1915 | One 12 inch and one 9.2 inch railway gun |
| 56th | France, 22 February 1916 | |
| 57th | France, 2 March 1916 | |
| 58th | France, April 1916 | |
| 59th | France, 5 March 1915 | |
| 60th | France, 30 March 1916 | |
| 61st | France, 9 March 1916 | |
| 62nd | France, 9 March 1916 | |
| 63rd | France, 2 March 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 64th | France, 2 March 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 65th | France, 19 January and 5 February 1916 | Two 12 inch road howitzers |
| 66th | France, 18 March 1916 | |
| 67th | France, 18 March 1916 | |
| 68th | France, 31 March 1916 | |
| 69th | France, 31 March 1916 | |
| 70th | France, 26 March 1916 | |
| 76th | France, 31 March 1916 | |
| 77th | France, 27 March 1916 | |
| 78th | France, 15 April 1916 | |
| 79th | France, 26 April 1916 | |
| 80th | France, 19 April 1916 | Two 12 inch road howitzers |
| 81st | France, 4 March 1915 | |
| 82nd | France, 31 March 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 83rd | France, 4 April 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 84th | Egypt, 16 December 1915 | Later to Salonika |
| 85th | France, May 1916 | Two 12 inch road howitzers |
| 86th | France, 2 May 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 87th | France, 6 May 1916 | |
| 88th | France, 20 May 1916 | |
| 89th | France, 29 April 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 90th | France, 14 June 1916 | |
| 91st | France, 25 May 1916 | |
| 92nd | France, 26 January and 7 July 1916 | One 12 inch and one 9.2 inch railway gun |
| 93rd | France, 5 May 1916 | |
| 94th | France, 30 May 1916 | |
| 95th | France, May 1916 | |
| 96th | France, 21 May 1916 | |
| 99th | France, 18 May 1916 | |
| 100th | France, 18 May 1916 | |
| 101st | France, 20 May 1916 | |
| 102nd | France, 18 May 1916 | |
| 103rd | France, 29 May 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 104th | France, 30 June 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 105th | France, 17 May 1916 | Later to Italy |
| 106th | France, 17 May 1916 | |
| 108th | France, 7 June 1916 | |
| 109th | France, 7 June 1916 | |
| 110th | France, 17 May 1916 | |
| 111th | France, 17 May 1916 | |
| 112th | France, 11 June 1916 | |
| 113th | France, 12 June 1916 | |
| 114th | France, 14 June 1916 | |
| 115th | France, 27 June 1916 | |
| 116th | France, 18 June 1916 | |
| 117th | France, June 1916 | |
| 118th | France, 27 June 1916 | |
| 119th | France, 2 July 1916 | |
| 120th | France, 14 July 1916 | |
| 121st | France, July 1916 | |
| 122nd | France, 18 July 1916 | |
| 123rd | France, 18 July 1916 | |
| 124th | France, 20 July 1916 | |
| 126th | France, 25 July 1916 | |
| 127th | Salonika, July 1916 | |
| 128th | France, 29 July 1916 | Two 12 inch railway howitzers |
| 129th | France, July 1916 | |
| 130th | Salonika, August 1916 | |
| 132nd | Salonika, August 1916 | |
| 133rd | France, August 1916 | |
| 134th | Salonika, August 1916 | |
| 135th | France, August 1916 | |
| 136th | France, August 1916 | |
| 137th | France, 13 August 1916 | |
| 138th | Salonika, August 1916 | |
| 139th | France, 1 August 1916 | |
| 140th | France, 1 August 1916 | |
| 141st | France, 9 August 1916 | |
| 142nd | France, 9 August 1916 | |
| 143rd | France, August 1916 | |
| 144th | France, August 1916 | |
| 145th | France, August 1916 | |
| 146th | France, 16 August 1916 | |
| 147th | France, 21 August 1916 | |
| 148th | France, August 1916 | |
| 149th | France, 21 August 1916 | |
| 150th | France, 26 August 1916 | |
| 151st | France, August 1916 | |
| 152nd | France, 28 August 1916 | |
| 153rd | France, 29 August 1916 | |
| 154th | France, 30 August 1916 | |
| 155th | France, 29 August 1916 | |
| 156th | France, 9 September 1916 | |
| 157th | France, 30 November 1916 | |
| 158th | France, 9 September 1916 | |
| 159th | Mesopotamia, 10 October 1916 | |
| 160th | France, 18 September 1916 | |
| 161st | France, September 1916 | |
| 162nd | France, 4 September 1916 | |
| 163rd | France, 22 September 1916 | |
| 164th | France, 4 September 1916 | |
| 166th | France, 12 September 1916 | |
| 168th | France, 22 September 1916 | |
| 169th | France, 4 October 1916 | |
| 170th | France, 15 September 1916 | |
| 171st | France, 16 September 1916 | Later to Italy |
| 172nd | France, 12 September 1916 | |
| 173rd | France, 3 October 1916 | |
| 174th | France, October 1916 | |
| 175th | France, October 1916 | |
| 176th | France, 25 September 1916 | |
| 177th | France, 25 September 1916 | |
| 178th | France, 8 October 1916 | |
| 179th | France, 8 October 1916 | |
| 180th | France, 12 October 1916 | |
| 181st | France, 12 October 1916 | |
| 182nd | France, 28 September 1916 | |
| 183rd | France, October 1916 | |
| 184th | France, October 1916 | |
| 185th | France, 18 October 1916 | |
| 186th | France, 24 October 1916 | |
| 187th | France, November 1916 | |
| 188th | France, 30 October 1916 | |
| 189th | France, 17 November 1916 | |
| 190th | France, 13 November 1916 | |
| 191st | France, November 1916 | |
| 192nd | France, 16 November 1916 | |
| 193rd | France, 23 November 1916 | |
| 194th | France, November or December 1916 | |
| 195th | France, 28 November 1916 | |
| 196th | France, 28 November 1916 | |
| 197th | France, 3 November 1916 | Later to Italy |
| 198th | France, 25 November 1916 | |
| 199th | France, 25 November 1916 | |
| 200th | France, 2 November 1916 | |
| 201st | Egypt, 25 December 1916 | |
| 202nd | France, 3 December 1916 | |
| 203rd | France, December 1916 | |
| 204th | France, 2 November 1916 | |
| 205th | Salonika, 18 December 1916 | Later to Palestine |
| 206th | France, 18 October 1916 | |
| 207th | France, 18 October 1916 | |
| 208th | France, 14 December 1916 | |
| 209th | Salonika, 18 December 1916 | Later to Palestine |
| 210th | France, 10 November 1916 | |
| 211th | France, 30 November 1916 | |
| 212th | France, 6 December 1916 | |
| 213th | France, 30 December 1916 | |
| 214th | France, 23 January 1917 | |
| 215th | France, 2 January 1917 | |
| 216th | France, 21 December 1916 | |
| 217th | France, 20 January 1917 | |
| 218th | France, 17 January 1917 | |
| 219th | France, 2 December 1916 | |
| 220th | France, 25 December 1916 | |
| 221st | France, 11 January 1917 | |
| 22nd | France, 5 February 1917 | |
| 223rd | France, 2 December 1916 | |
| 224th | France, 10 January 1917 | |
| 225th | France, 11 January 1917 | |
| 226rd | France, 6 December 1916 | |
| 227th | France, 17 January 1917 | |
| 228th | France, 14 January 1917 | |
| 229th | France, 14 December 1916 | Later to Italy |
| 230th | France, 18 January 1917 | |
| 231st | France, 25 December 1916 | |
| 232nd | France, 18 January 1917 | |
| 233rd | France, 22 December 1916 | |
| 234th | France, 25 January 1917 | |
| 235th | France, 22 December 1916 | |
| 236th | France, 29 January 1917 | |
| 237th | France, 23 January 1917 | |
| 238th | France, 22 December 1916 | |
| 239th | France, January 1917 | |
| 240th | France, 4 January 1917 | |
| 241st | France, 10 January 1917 | |
| 242nd | France, 25 January 1917 | |
| 243rd | France, 20 April 1917 | Two 12 inch road howitzers |
| 244th | France, 29 January 1917 | |
| 245th | France, 29 January 1917 | |
| 246th | Mesopotamia, 23 May 1917 | |
| 247th | France, 30 December 1916 | Later to Italy |
| 248th | France, 16 February 1917 | |
| 249th | France, 23 March1917 | |
| 250th | France, 30 December 1916 | |
| 251st | France, 4 January 1917 | |
| 252nd | France, 3 February 1917 | |
| 253rd | France, January 1917 | |
| 254th | France, 3 February 1917 | |
| 255th | France, 18 January 1917 | |
| 256th | France, 8 February 1917 | |
| 257th | Mesopotamia, by June 1917 | |
| 258th | France, February 1917 | |
| 283rd | France, 28 March 1917 | |
| 520th | France | Formed by Household Cavalry |
The Territorial Batteries
| Siege Battery | First overseas | Remarks |
| None formed |
The Australian, Canadian and South African Batteries
| Siege Battery | First overseas | Remarks |
| 54th (Australian) | France, 27 February 1916 | 1918 renamed 1st Australian |
| 55th (Australian) | France, February 1916 | 1918 renamed 2nd Australian |
| 71st | France, 15 April 1916 | Subtitled South African Heavy Artillery |
| 72nd | France, 20 April 1916 | Subtitled South African Heavy Artillery |
| 73rd | France, 30 April 1916 | Subtitled South African Heavy Artillery |
| 74th | France, 30 April 1916 | Subtitled South African Heavy Artillery |
| 75th | France, 23 April 1916 | Subtitled South African Heavy Artillery |
| 97th (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 1st Canadian |
| 98th (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 2nd Canadian |
| 107th (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 3rd Canadian |
| 125th (South African) | France, 20 July 1916 | |
| 131st (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 4th Canadian |
| 165th (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 5th Canadian |
| 167th (Canadian) | France | 1917 renamed 6th Canadian |
Source: Allocation of Heavy Batteries RGA. National Archives WO95/5494
A note on titles
Once there were enough to require a higher organisation, the Heavy and Siege Batteries were organised into Heavy Artillery Brigades. This title was altered to Heavy Artillery groups on 2 April 1916, but was changed back to Brigades on 17 December 1917. Having said that, the two terms do seem to have been used quite interchangeably.
9.2 inch howitzers of a Siege Battery in action on the Western Front.
Links
The Royal Artillery
What was a Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery?
The raising of 99 to 106 Siege Batteries RGA
The raising of 108 to 113 Siege Batteries RGA
The raising of 121 to 125 Siege Batteries RGA
The raising of 140 to 149 Siege Batteries RGA
The raising of 175 to 184 Siege Batteries RGA
The raising of 186 to 205 Siege Batteries RGA (also mentions 185)
The raising of 206 to 221 Siege Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery