These units were established as part of the Territorial Force when it came into existence in 1908. They were originally known as the 1st (City of London), 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Howitzer) London Brigades RFA and from 11 May 1916 as 280, 281, 282 and 283 Brigades RFA.
The brigades came under orders of the 1st London Division, which was later renamed as the 56th (1st London) Division. The rest of the order of battle of the division can be seen via the link below. The brigades were mobilsed in August 1914 but the division was in effect broken up during 1915 and reformed in France in February 1916. The divisional artillery went to France on 4-5 October 1915, having been placed under orders of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
CCLXXX (1st City of London)
- The brigade was headquartered at Handel Street in Bloomsbury and comprised the 1st, 2nd and 3rd City of London Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 18-pounder field guns.
- 11 December 1915: brigade transferred to 38th (Welsh) Division.
- 1 January 1916: brigade transferred to 16th (Irish) Division.
- 3-26 January 1916: brigade attached to 47th (2nd London) Division.
- 24 February 1916: brigade left 16th (Irish) Division to move into area of reassembly of 56th (1st London) Division.
- 15 April 1916: 93 Battery joined from 18 Brigade RFA.
- 11 May 1916: the original batteries were renamed as A, B and C, and 93 Battery became D.
- 17 May 1916: the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- 28 May 1916: D Battery left to join 283 Brigade as its A Battery.
- Also 28 May 1916: B (Howitzer) Battery arrived from 283 Brigade RFA and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- 5 November 1916: B Battery was broken up, with sections of two guns going to bring A and C Batteries up to six guns each.
- Also 5 November 1916: A Battery (the former 93 Battery) rejoined from 283 Brigade. It was not renamed as B Battery.
- 23 February 1917 a section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery from A (Howitzer) Battery of 283 Brigade, bringing it up to six.
CCLXXXI (2nd London)
- This brigade was headquartered at Woolwich and comprised the 4th, 5th and 6th County of London Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 18-pounder field guns. All were based at Woolwich except the 6th which was at Eltham.
- 11 December 1915: brigade transferred to 38th (Welsh) Division.
- 1 January 1916: brigade transferred to IV Corps.
- 24 February 1916: brigade left to move into area of reassembly of 56th (1st London) Division.
- 15 April 1916: 109 Battery joined from 23 Brigade RFA.
- 12 May 1916: the original batteries were renamed as A, B and C, and 109 Battery became D.
- 17 May 1916: the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- 26 May 1916: D Battery left to join 283 Brigade as its B Battery.
- Also 28 May 1916: A (Howitzer) Battery arrived from 283 Brigade RFA and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- 5 November 1916: C Battery was broken up, with sections of two guns going to bring A and B Batteries up to six guns each.
- Also 5 November 1916: D Battery (the former 109 Battery) rejoined from 283 Brigade. It was not renamed as C Battery.
- 23 February 1917 a section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery from A (Howitzer) Battery of 283 Brigade, bringing it up to six.
CCLXXXII (3rd London)
- The brigade was headquartered at the Artillery Barracks on Leonard Street in Finsbury and comprised the 7th, 8th and 9th County of London Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column.
- Was mobilised at Bordon, sailed from Southampton and landed at Le Havre 5 October 1915.
- 11 December 1915: brigade transferred to 38th (Welsh) Division.
- 1 January 1916: brigade transferred to IV Corps.
- 27 January 1916: brigade transferred to 47th (2nd London) Division.
- 24 February 1916: brigade left to move into area of reassembly of 56th (1st London) Division.
- 16 April 1916: R Battery joined, having been formed by 93 and 109 Batteries.
- 11 May 1916: the original batteries were renamed as A, B and C, and R Battery became D.
- 17 May 1916: the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- 28 May 1916: D Battery left to join 283 Brigade as its C Battery.
- Also 28 May 1916: C (Howitzer) Battery arrived from 283 Brigade RFA and was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery.
- 5 November 1916: A Battery was broken up, with sections of two guns going to bring B and C Batteries up to six guns each.
- 6 December 1916: 500 (Howitzer) Battery joined and was renamed A (Howitzer) Battery.
- 23 January 1917: A (Howitzer) Battery was broken up, sending sections of two howitzers each to the D (Howitzer) Batteries of 280 and 281 Brigades.
- Also 23 January 1917: B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 126 Brigade RFA and was renamed as A (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also 23 January 1917: as section of two howitzers joined D (Howitzer) Battery from D (Howitzer) Battery of 126 Brigade RFA.
- Also 23 January 1917: the brigade left 56th (1st London) Division to become an Army Field Artiller Brigade.
CCLXXXIV (4th London)(Howitzer)
- The brigade was headquartered at Ennersdale Road in Lewisham and comprised the 10th and 11th County of London (Howitzer) Batteries and a Brigade Ammunition Column. Each battery was eventually equipped with four 4.5 inch howitzers.
- The brigade was joined by B and C (Howitzer) Batteries, attached from 57 (Howitzer) Brigade befiore it left England.
- 18 November 1915: the two attached batteries left to go to 10th Divisional artillery at Salonika.
- 12 November 1915: brigade transferred to 38th (Welsh) Division.
- 3 January 1916: the brigade transferred to the Dismounted Cavalry Division in I Corps.
- 14 February 1916: B (Howitzer) Battery joined from 168 Brigade RFA and was named as R (Howitzer) Battery.
- 26 February 1916: brigade rejoined 56th (1st London) Division.
- 12 May 1916: the original batteries were renamed as A and B (Howitzer) Batteries, and R Battery became C (Howitzer) Battery.
- 17 May 1916: the Brigade Ammunition Column left to merge into the Divisional Ammunition Column.
- 26 May 1916: A (Howitzer) Battery left to join 281 Brigade as its D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also 26 May 1916: B (Howitzer) Battery left to join 281 Brigade as its D (Howitzer) Battery.
- Also 26 May 1916: C (Howitzer) Battery left to join 282 Brigade as its D (Howitzer) Battery.
- 26 May 1916: D Battery joined from 280 Brigade and was renamed as A Battery.
- 28 May 1916: D Battery joined from 281 Brigade and was renamed as B Battery.
- Also 28 May 1916: D Battery joined from 282 Brigade and was renamed as C Battery.
- 5 November 1916: C Battery was broken up, sending sections to A Battery of 280 and B Battery of 281 Brigade.
- Also 5 November: te brigade was broken up, with A Battery going to 280 Brigade and B going to 281 Brigade.
Divisional Ammunition Column
- The DAC was originally formed in August 1914 for 10th (Irish) Division but was sent with the London Divisional artillery to the 36th (Ulster) Division while still in England. It landed in France 5-6 October 1915 and finally joined 56th (1st London) Division on 27 February 1916.
Other artillery
250 Brigade of 50th (Northumbrian) Divisional artillery was attached to the 56th (1st London) Division between 23 September and 3 October 1918.