1st Worcestershire And Warwickshire Artillery Volunteers

The 1st Worcestershire Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of Britain's Royal Artillery dating back to 1865. As part of the Territorial Force it served on the Western Front and in Italy during World War I. In World War II it served in the Battle of France and was evacuated from Dunkirk. It later fought in Tunisia and Italy. After a series of postwar mergers, it continues as a battery in today's British Army Reserve.

Volunteer Force

The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Volunteer Corps composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. One such unit was the 1st Worcestershire Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVC) formed at Worcester on 6 June 1865 under the command of Henry M. Turnor replaced as Captain Commandant on 16 February 1867 by William Stallard. Initially, the new unit was attached to the 1st Administrative Brigade, Cheshire Artillery Volunteer Corps, then briefly to the 1st Administrative Brigade, Staffordshire Artillery Volunteers before returning to the Cheshire brigade. It was increased to one and a half batteries on 17 February 1869, and from June that year was attached to a new 1st Shropshire Administrative Brigade. The 1st Worcester AVC formed a second battery on 29 April 1871 and a third on 16 November that year. From November 1873 it was attached to the 1st Monmouthshire AVC, which the following year became an administrative brigade in its own right. However, by 1878 the 1st Monmouth AVC was down to just two batteries, so the brigade was renamed the 1st Administrative Brigade, Worcestershire Artillery Volunteers, with its headquarters (HQ) moving to Worcester. William Stallard was promoted to lieutenant colonel to command it.Frederick, pp. 666–71.Litchfield & Westlake, pp. 172–5.''Army List'', various dates.Worcestershire Artillery Volunteers at Regiments.org.
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When the Volunteers were consolidated into larger units in 1880 the brigade became the 1st Worcester (Worcester & Monmouth) Artillery Volunteers on 16 March, with the following organisation:
* HQ, Nos 1, 2 and 4 Batteries at Worcester
* No 3 Battery at Malvern
* Nos 5 and 6 Batteries at Balsall Heath
* Nos 7 and 8 Batteries (ex 1st Monmouth) at Griffithstown
* Malvern College Cadet Corps formed 1884

The unit became part of the Welsh Division of the Royal Artillery (RA) from 1 April 1882. By July that year it had 10 batteries and they were increased to 12 on 24 May 1884. Over the next few years recruitment picked up again in Monmouthshire and by 1890 that county's artillery volunteers were strong enough to reform their own corps (the 1st Monmouthshire AVC) on 4 October. The 1st Worcester dropped its 'Worcester & Monmouth' subtitle and began recruiting in Warwickshire: by 1892 it was listed as the 1st Worcestershire and Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery with eight garrison companies. When the RA's divisional structure was reorganised on 1 July 1889, the unit joined the Southern Division.

As well as manning fixed garrison artillery, some of the early Artillery Volunteers manned semi-mobile 'position batteries' of smooth-bore field guns pulled by agricultural horses. But the War Office (WO) refused to pay for the upkeep of field guns for Volunteers and they had largely died out in the 1870s. Later the 'position artillery' concept was revived and some Volunteer companies were reorganised as position batteries to work alongside the Volunteer infantry brigades. On 14 July 1892 six of the 1st Worcestershire and Warwickshire VA's eight garrison companies were reorganised into three position batteries and by 30 September 1894 the remainder had converted, giving the following organisation:Litchfield & Westlake, p. 6.
* HQ and No 1 Bty at Worcester
* No 2 Bty at Malvern, Kidderminster and Worcester
* Nos 3 and 4 Btys at Balsall Heath

In 1897 the 1st Worcestershire & Warwickshire VA were photographed manning 20-pounder Rifled Breech-Loading guns at their annual camp. By 1900 the Warwickshire elements of the brigade at Balsall Heath had expanded enough to form their own corps, the 1st Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery on 30 May; the 1st Worcesters continued with four position batteries, redesignated 'heavy artillery' in May 1902. From 1 June 1899 all the Volunteer artillery units had become part of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) and with the abolition of the RA's divisional organisation on 1 January 1902, the unit became the 1st Worcestershire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers). By then its HQ was established at Southfield Street, Worcester.Worcester at Drill Hall Project.
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Territorial Force

When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, the unit became the II (or 2nd) South Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (TF) with the following organisation:Frederick, p. 680.Litchfield, pp. 246–7.''London Gazette'' 20 March 1908.
/ref>Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 77–83.48th (SM) Divisional Artillery at Long, Long Trail.
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* Brigade HQ at 24 Southfield Street, Worcester
* 1st Worcestershire Battery at Southfield Street
* 2nd Worcestershire Battery
** Battery HQ and Left Section at 47 George Street, Kidderminster,
** Right Section at Drill Hall, Clarence Road, Malvern
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* 3rd Worcestershire Battery at Easemore Road, Redditch
* II South Midland Brigade Ammunition Column at Clarence Road, Malvern

The Malvern College Cadet Corps became part of the Junior Division of the Officers' Training Corps.

The brigade formed part of the divisional artillery for the TF's South Midland Division and was equipped with four 15-pounder field guns to each battery.48th (SM) Division at Long, Long Trail.
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World War I

Mobilisation

On the outbreak of war in August 1914 the units of the South Midland Division had just set out for annual training when orders recalled them to their home depots for mobilisation. II South Midland Bde mobilised at Worcester on 5 August under Lt-Col E.C. Bullock, who had commanded it since 27 July 1912. The division then concentrated around Chelmsford in Essex where it formed part of Central Force, with II South Midland Bde at Ingatestone.

On 10 August, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. On 15 August 1914, the WO issued instructions to separate those men who had opted for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix and would absorb the flood of volunteers coming forwards. In this way duplicate batteries, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas.

1/II South Midland Brigade

The training of 1st South Midland Division proceeded satisfactorily, and it was selected for service on the Western Front. Orders arrived on 13 March 1915 and II South Midland Bde entrained on 29 and 30 March for Southampton, where it embarked on the transports ''City of Dunkirk'', ''Munich'' and '' Archimedes'', landing at Le Havre on 31 March. By 3 April the division had concentrated near Cassel, and II South Midland Bde's batteries were attached to the Regular RFA brigades of 6th Division in the Armentières sector for introduction to frontline procedures. The batteries were allocated a small number of shells for registering the guns. Then on 15 April the brigade took over its own section of front. On 12 May the division was designated the 48th (South Midland) Division. On 21 July 1/II South Midland Bde was re-equipped with modern 18-pounder guns. It then went back into the line near Authie in the Somme sector, where 48th (SM) Division joined a new Third Army.II South Midland Bde War Diary April 1915–October 1917, The National Archives (TNA) Kew, file WO 95/2749/4.
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Lieutenant-Col Bullock retired to the TF Reserve on 14 March 1916, having been Mentioned in dispatches, and was succeeded as commanding officer (CO) by Lt-Col J.R. Colville, a Regular officer. On the night of 23/24 March 1/II South Midland Bde fired shrapnel and high explosive (HE) barrages to support a major trench raid by 143rd (Warwickshire) Infantry Bde. 1/II South Midland Bde formed an additional battery, D Worcester Bty, on 3 April, a number of the men being transferred to it from the Brigade Ammunition Column (BAC), which was abolished and merged into the Divisional Ammunition Column as its 2nd Section on 15 May. Then on 18 May the brigade was redesignated CCXLI (or 241st) Brigade and the old batteries became A, B and C. At the same time D Bty transferred to CCXLIII (IV South Midland) Bde in exchange for 5th Warwickshire Howitzer Bty, equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers, which became D (H) Bty.Frederick, p. 692.

Somme

After a long period of low-level Trench warfare, 48th (SM) Division's first offensive operation was in the Battle of the Somme. The bombardment began on 24 June and D (H) Bty took part. The 18-pdr batteries moved into prepared positions close behind the line on 28 June ready for the attack planned for next day, but Z Day was delayed by two days while the bombardment continued and the brigade stood fast. The battle was launched on 1 July 1916. Most of 48th (SM) Division was in reserve, only two battalions being engaged, but the brigade fired in support of 29th Division, with Lt-Col Colville acting as artillery liaison officer to 87th Infantry Bde. A Battery fired on Beaucourt Chateau in the final round of bombardment from 06.25 to H Hour at 07.30, when the infantry went 'over the top', then B and C Btys opened fire as part of the Creeping barrage at 07.30. 87th Brigade assaulted 'Y Ravine', but found that the long bombardment by 29th Divisional Artillery (DA) had failed to cut much of the barbed wire hidden in hollows. The attack crumpled in the face of unsuppressed German machine guns and was over by 08.05. A Battery was ordered to resume firing for a second assault, but this also failed and 29th Division stopped its attacks at 15.00. B and C Batteries had ceased fire at 09.30, expecting to move up, but D (H) Bty continued firing all day.

Orders for 48th (SM) Division to resume the attacks next day were cancelled. While D Bty's howitzers continued firing in support of other formations, the rest of CCXLI Bde was pulled out, A Bty being heavily shelled as it did so on the night of 3/4 July. The division carried out various feint attacks, on 7 July and again on 14 July before the Battle of Bazentin Ridge. Then on 21 July CCXLI Bde was attached to 49th (West Riding) Division during the Battle of Pozières Ridge, mainly carrying out harassing fire (HF) tasks on enemy communications at night. D (H) Battery remained in 'Mash Valley' on detachment to other formations. Between 2 and 8 August Brigade HQ progressively took over command of the Right Group of 49th (WR) DA, which included the whole of CCXLV Bde and C/CCXLVIII Bty as well as its own A and C Btys. The guns continued night firing, particularly on the night of 9/10 August when they laid down a barrage to isolate 'Leipzig Salient', for which 49th (WR) Division had been battling for a month. On 15 August the brigade bombarded Mouquet Farm ('Mucky Farm') to help 4th Australian Division's attack. Then on 18 August 48th (SM) Division took up the attack, again helped by the field artillery isolating the objectives with continuous well-placed barrages. On 21 August 48th (SM) and 25th Division attacked again in the Leipzig Salient area behind an 'excellent barrage'. A follow-up attack by 7th Bde of 25th Division on 24 August, covered by 'Right Group' succeeded in capturing 'Hindenburg Trench' across the rear of the Leipzig Salient 'in fine style'. 49th (WR) Divisional Artillery loaned its Right Group (including HQ, A and C Btys of CCXLI Bde) to 25th Division for an attempt on 28 August to clear the new German frontline trench behind the Leipzig salient, but this was an expensive failure. Meanwhile C Bty had returned to the wagon lines to relocate, and D (H) Bty had moved from Mash Valley to Aveluy Wood.Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 85–91.Becke, Pt 3a, pp. 141–2.

Fighting continued on Pozières Ridge into September. On 3 September all batteries of CCXLI Bde were engaged: A & B supporting a failed attack by 75th Bde of 25th Division on 'Turk Trench' near Mucky Farm, C & D (H) covering 49th (WR) Division's attack north of Thiepval, which succeeded in capturing 'Fabeck Graben'. From 6 September Brigade HQ with A and D (H) Btys came under tactical command of 32nd Bde of 11th (Northern) Division, which captured the 'Wonder Work' on 14 September. 147th (West Riding) Bde of 49th (WR) Division then took over again for the follow-up attack on 16 September. CCXLI Brigade HQ was relieved on 18 September, but the batteries remained in action, with D (H) preparing positions on the railway at Pozières. All the batteries fired in support of the attack on Thiepval on 26 September. Over the following days the Germans counter-attacked strongly, attempting to recapture ' Stuff Redoubt' and the 'Schwaben Redoubt', and the batteries suffered a number of casualties before they were relieved on the night of 30 September.Becke, Pt 3a, pp. 19–25.

The batteries left their guns in position to be taken over by their relieving batteries, and collected others from the gun lines of the 18th and 49th Divisions before moving to new positions at Sailly-au-Bois, arriving on 5 October. CCXLI Brigade rejoined its parent division and was designated Right Group of 48th (SM) DA, with A and B Btys of CCXL Bde as well as its own 18-pdr batteries. The brigade spent a quiet few weeks carrying out registration and wire cutting shoots. On 18 October 48th (SM) DA was reorganised, with CCXLIII Bde being broken up to bring the rest of the 18-pdr batteries up to a strength of six guns each. Thereafter CCXLI Bde had the following organisation:
* A Bty + A subsection B/CCXLIII (ex D Worcester Bty, ''see above'') + C Subsection C/CCXLIII (ex D Warwickshire Bty)
* B Bty + C subsection B/CCXLIII + D Subsection C/CCXLIII
* C Bty + B & D subsections B/CCXLIII
* D (H) Bty

Winter 1916–17

The divisional sector continued quiet, apart from a heavy German bombardment early on the morning of 22 October, when they attempted to raid the British lines at Hébuterne. The guns also supported British raids. On 13 November the brigade fired a barrage to protect the flank of Fifth Army's attack on Beaumont-Hamel (the Battle of the Ancre). Next day D (H) Bty fired smoke shells to cover the continuing operations. Thereafter normal trench routine continued, with occasional Box barrages fired to support British trench raids. The brigade was relieved at the end of November and moved back to Pozières (later Contalmaison), with the battery positions at Martinpuich. It went to rest billets in mid-December, then on 30 and 31 December its gunners relieved CCXL Bde at their guns at Bazentin-le-Petit Cemetery. On 16 January a section joined from C (H) Bty of CCXLII Bde to bring D Bty up to six howitzers.

Although the sector was quiet during January 1917, the guns continued firing by day and night, registering targets or exchanging fire with enemy batteries. At the end of the month the brigade took over positions in front of Péronne from the French. On 14 March the Germans began withdrawing to the Hindenburg Line (Operation Alberich) and on 18 March 48th (SM) Division liberated Péronne. CCXLI Brigade began moving up next day, a section of C Bty being ferried across the Somme river and canal on pontoons, followed by the rest of the battery. The division followed the retiring enemy with a mobile column while the engineers replaced destroyed bridges and railways, the batteries taking up successive positions. From 30 March CCXLI Bde fired barrages in support of 48th (SM) Division's operations against the Hindenburg Line outposts round Épehy, which continued until 4 April. The brigade then took up positions at Templeux-la-Fosse, with two batteries of CCXI Bde (newly arrived from Egypt with 42nd (East Lancashire) Division) under its command. Skirmishes against the German outposts continued for some weeks and the guns were edged forwards to bring the Hindenburg Line into range. By early May brigade HQ had moved up to Tincourt. On 16 May the brigade moved north to Beaulencourt and its batteries (together with some attached Australian batteries) were deployed across the Bapaume– Cambrai road. At the end of June the brigade was sent for rest.

Ypres

In July 48th (SM) Division was sent north to rejoin Fifth Army for the forthcoming Third Ypres Offensive. It was in reserve when the offensive opened on 31 July, but took part in the Battle of Langemarck (16 August) Although this attack was disastrous overall, the artillery support for 48th (SM) Division was good and it captured some ground before being held up by a group of fortified farms. On 20 August the division took advantage of a spell of dry weather to attack the troublesome strongpoints that had held them up: 'Hillock Farm', 'Maison du Hibou', 'Triangle Farm' and 'The Cockcroft'. Seven tanks moved up the firm St Julien–Poelcapelle road covered by a smoke and shrapnel barrage, with a High Explosive (HE) barrage ahead, and subdued the strongpoints that were then captured by infantry platoons. A repeat of this attack two days later was less successful.

The division was back in action at the Battle of Broodseinde (4 October), with one infantry brigade attacking, but CCXLI Bde remained in reserve. Next day it was ordered forward, but the attempts to advance the guns were abandoned because of the mud and enemy shellfire. On 9 October the brigade fired in support of an attack by 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division (the Battle of Poelcappelle), its Forward Observation Officers (FOOs) working their way forward with the infantry, though news was slow in coming back. Ground conditions were bad, and many batteries were bogged down, so the preparatory barrage was feeble, many of the HE shellbursts being deadened by the mud. Casualties among the gunners were also severe because they were exposed to German observers on the ridge. Another attempt to push the brigade's guns forward was abandoned. On 11 October the brigade managed to get 12 guns and four howitzers up to the Ypres–Roulers railway at Zonnebeke. However, it was relieved two days later.

Italy

On 10 November 1917 the 48th (SM) Division received orders to move to the Italian Front. By 1 December the units had finished detraining around Legnago on the Adige. On 1 March 1918 the division relieved 7th Division in the front line of the Montello sector on the Piave Front, and held the line until 16 March, through 48th (SM) DA remained in the line until 21/22 March, rejoining the division on 24 March. On 1 April the division moved westward into reserve for the middle sector of the Asiago Plateau Front.

Later in April 48th (SM) Division began tours of duty on the Asiago plateau, where the guns were manhandled into positions on steep slopes and hidden among trees. The flat-trajectory 18-pdrs had to have lanes cut through the trees to allow them to fire. The division was holding the front line on 15 June when the Austro-Hungarian Army launched its last offensive (the Second Battle of the Piave River). The division was wakened by the effects of the Spanish flu epidemic, but the artillery began their counter-preparation barrage at 03.30 in response to the wild Austrian bombardment, and shortened the range at 05.00 after their own infantry outposts had withdrawn. Thick mist hampered the defensive fire all day and telephone lines were cut by fire, so the batteries had to rely on runners and cyclists for communications, and on their own initiative. CCXLI Brigade reported the use of gas shells by the enemy, and respirators had to be worn at all times. C Battery's observation post (OP) was manned by Lt R.A. Kirby and his signallers as the enemy bombardment started; all the signallers were wounded trying to repair the telephone line, so they resorted to flag signals, calling down fire on the 'SOS' target despite both OP and battery being under heavy gas shelling. As the mist cleared and the guns shifted to a better position, Lt Kirby was also wounded, but a wounded signaller kept contact until the line was repaired. By noon the battery only had three guns left in action. Because of the terrain there was little depth to the British positions, and Austrian infantry penetrating 48th (SM) Division's line got close to the guns, but they remained in action: A Bty engaged an infantry battalion at 15.15, driving it back leaving 2–300 dead and wounded. At the end of the day A Bty had lost a gun and much ammunition to a direct hit, but D Bty had fired over 4500 rounds from its six howitzers. 48th (SM) Division's infantry began counter-attacking that afternoon, and the following morning regained the lost ground. Although the Italian Army staff and press played down the part played by the British force, King Victor Emmanuel III later reviewed a composite battery drawn from CCXLI Bde.

48th (SM) Division remained in the Asiago sector throughout the summer and early autumn, carrying out a few minor operations. When the Allies forced the Piave line in later October (the Battle of Vittorio Veneto) the forces on the Asiago conformed when the Austrians withdrew. 48th (SM) Division began advancing into the Val d'Assa on 1 November, meeting some stiff resistance before the advance turned into a pursuit, with field gun sections accompanying the infantry brigade groups (there was not sufficient transport to support more than half the guns). On 3 November 1918, at Osteria del Termine, the division surrounded and captured a large force of Austrian troops including the corps commander and three divisional commanders. By 15.00 on 4 November, when the Armistice with Austria came into force, the division had pushed forward into the Trentino.

After the conclusion of hostilities 48th (SM) Division was withdrawn to Italy for the winter. Demobilisation began in 1919 and was complete by 31 March. A composite infantry brigade was kept in Italy a little longer, accompanied by a reformed CII Bde RFA, one battery of which was supplied by CCXLI Bde (made up from gunners who had joined from 1916 onwards, with a few volunteers).Edmonds & Davies, p. 385.

2/II South Midland Brigade

The 2nd Line brigade was formed in the autumn of 1914, and in January 1915 it joined the 2nd South Midland Division (later 61st (2nd South Midland) Division) at Northampton. It was commanded by Colonel Ralph Lyon, former CO of 1st Worcester RGA (V) who had been recalled from the TF Reserve. While stationed at Northampton, the division formed part of First Army of Central Force, but once the 48th Division had gone to France, the 61st replaced it around Chelmsford as part of Third Army, Central Force, responsible for coastal defence. By the summer of 1915 2/II South Midland Bde was stationed at Northampton and at camps across Essex, at Ingatestone, Epping and Writtle (Brigade HQ), with gun drill carried out at Hylands Park. Equipment was scarce, and until the end of 1915 the only guns available for training were obsolete French De Bange 90 mm guns. The divisional artillery carried out field training around Hatfield Peverel and Woodham Walter. In September 1915 2/II South Midland Bde exchanged camps with 2/IV SM (H) Bde at Great Baddow

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