571st Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery
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The 2nd Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of the
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
that defended the coast of
South Wales South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...
from 1890 to 1942. Although it never saw action in its coastal defence role, it formed several siege batteries of heavy howitzers for service on the
Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...
and Italian Front in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.


Volunteer Force

The enthusiasm for the
Volunteer movement The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated ...
following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many units composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
in time of need. A number of Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVCs) were formed for coastal defence in
South Wales South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...
, and by the 1880s they had been consolidated as the 1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteer Corps of 17 batteries. In 1890 the unit's headquarters (HQ) moved from
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
to
Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
, and the batteries grouped round Cardiff were separated to form a new 2nd Glamorganshire AVC. After reorganisation these became 11 batteries (companies from 1891) distributed as follows:Frederick, p. 658.Litchfield & Westlake, p. 81.''Army List'', various dates. * HQ and Nos 1–7 Companies at Cardiff * No 8 Company at
Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge ...
and
Tondu Tondu ( en, Black Meadow) is a village in Bridgend County Borough, Wales, located about north of the town of Bridgend, in the community of Ynysawdre. Tondu lies on the A4063 from Bridgend to Maesteg, and was established in the late 18th centur ...
* Nos 9 and 10 Companies at
Penarth Penarth (, ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in the Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg), Wales, exactly south of Cardiff city centre on the west shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay. Penarth is a weal ...
* No 11 Company at
Barry Barry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Barry (name), including lists of people with the given name, nickname or surname, as well as fictional characters with the given name * Dancing Barry, stage name of Barry Richards (born c. 19 ...
Sir Edward Hill, VD, MP, who had been Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the 1st Glamorganshire since 22 July 1864, retained the position with both units after 1 June 1890, though each had its own lieutenant-colonel and Honorary Colonel. The new unit formed part of the Western Division of the
Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
(RA). In 1899 the artillery volunteers became part of the
Royal Garrison Artillery The Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) was formed in 1899 as a distinct arm of the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery serving alongside the other two arms of the Regiment, the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) ...
(RGA) and when the divisional structure was abolished the Cardiff unit was designated the 2nd Glamorganshire RGA (Volunteers) on 1 January 1902.


Territorial Force

When the
Volunteer Force The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated ...
was subsumed into the new
Territorial Force The Territorial Force was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. The new organisation consolidated the 19th-century Volunteer Force and yeomanry i ...
(TF) under the
Haldane Reforms The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane. They were the first major reforms since the " Childers Reforms" of the ...
of 1908, the 1st Glamorganshire transferred to the
Royal Field Artillery The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) of the British Army provided close artillery support for the infantry. It came into being when created as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 1899, serving alongside the other two arms of t ...
and the 2nd Glamorganshire became the Glamorgan and Pembroke RGA.Litchfield, p. 81. The 'Pembroke' part of the title was dropped in 1910 when a separate Pembroke RGA of three companies was formed.Litchfield, p. 204. The Glamorgan RGA was designated as a Defended Ports unit in Western Coast Defences, which was based at
Pembroke Dock Pembroke Dock ( cy, Doc Penfro) is a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, northwest of Pembroke on the banks of the River Cleddau. Originally Paterchurch, a small fishing village, Pembroke Dock town expanded rapidly following ...
, and it had the following organisation: * HQ at Cardiff * Nos 1–3 Companies at Cardiff * No 4 Company at Penarth * No 5 Company at Barry


World War I


Mobilisation

The Glamorgan RGA mobilised in August 1914 as part of No 26 Coastal Fire Command, responsible for the following guns: * Cardiff – 4 x 6-inch guns * Barry – 2 x 6-inch guns * Swansea – 2 x 4.7-inch QF guns After the outbreak of war, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service and on 15 August 1914, the
War Office The War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). This article contains text from ...
(WO) issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up 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. In this way duplicate brigades, companies and batteries were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas. By October 1914, the campaign on the
Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...
was bogging down into
Trench warfare Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied lines largely comprising military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. Trench warfare became a ...
and there was an urgent need for batteries of siege artillery to be sent to France. The WO decided that the TF coastal gunners were well enough trained to take over many of the duties in the coastal defences, releasing Regular RGA gunners for service in the field, and 1st line RGA companies that had volunteered for overseas service had been authorised to increase their strength by 50 per cent. Although complete defended ports units never went overseas, they did supply trained gunners to RGA units serving overseas. They also provided cadres to form new units for front line service, and the Glamorgan RGA is known to have raised at least five siege batteries in this way: 96th, 121st, 172nd, 359th and 402nd. Under Army Council Instruction 686 of April 1917, the coastal defence companies of the RGA (TF) were reorganised. By this stage of the war, the Glamorgan RGA serving in the Swansea and Severn Defences of Western Command consisted of just three companies, the rest having formed batteries for overseas service. These companies were given a slightly higher establishment (five officers and 100 other ranks) and renumbered, abolishing the 1st and 2nd Line distinction:Frederick, p. 697. * 1/2 Company became No 1 Company * 1/3 Company became No 2 Company * 2/2 Company became No 3 Company In April 1918 the Cardiff/Barry Garrison manned guns as follows: * Nells Point, Barry Battery – 2 x 6-inch Mk VII guns * Penarth Head, Cardiff Battery – 2 x 6-inch Mk VII guns The Swansea Garrison manned: *
Mumbles Mumbles ( cy, Mwmbwls) is a headland sited on the western edge of Swansea Bay on the southern coast of Wales. Toponym Mumbles has been noted for its unusual place name. The headland is thought by some to have been named by French sailors, ...
Island Battery – 2 x 4.7-inch QF


96th Siege Battery, RGA

According to WO Instruction No 181 of 16 December 1915, 96th Siege Battery was to be formed at Pembroke Dock by three officers and 78 other ranks (the establishment of a full company) drawn from the Glamorgan RGA.Frederick, pp. 702–7. The battery actually formed on 1 January 1916 with three officers and 90 men from the Glamorgan RGA and 64 recruits from the Pembroke Dock RGA establishment, under the command of
Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
C.H.M. Sturgis. It went out to the Western Front on 21 May 1916 and joined 19th Heavy Artillery Group in Third Army on 25 May, taking over four 9.2-inch howitzers in existing emplacements near
Pommier Pommier (; literally meaning "apple tree") is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Geography Pommier is situated southwest of Arras, at the junction of the D8 and D30 roads. Population Places of ...
from 62nd Siege Bty.'Allocation of Siege Batteries RGA', The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 95/5494/4.
/ref> 96th Siege Battery saw its first action preparing for the
Attack on the Gommecourt Salient The Attack on the Gommecourt Salient was a British operation against the northern flank of the German 2nd Army. The attack took place on 1 July 1916, on the Western Front in France, during the First World War. The attack was conducted by the B ...
in the
Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...
. As the final bombardment began on Z Day (1 July), the battery fired with such intensity that the oil in the guns' hydraulic recoil buffers boiled. However, the Gommecourt attack was a disaster. Later the battery served with First Army at
Arras Arras ( , ; pcd, Aro; historical nl, Atrecht ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, which forms part of the regions of France, region of Hauts-de-France; before the regions of France#Reform and mergers of ...
and with Fifth Army in the latter stages of the
Battle of Passchendaele The Third Battle of Ypres (german: link=no, Dritte Flandernschlacht; french: link=no, Troisième Bataille des Flandres; nl, Derde Slag om Ieper), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by t ...
, where the British artillery suffered badly from counter-battery fire, while their own guns sank into the mud and became difficult to aim and fire.'Allocation of HA Groups', TNA file WO 95/5494/1.
/ref>Becke, Pt 4, pp. 74–8.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 114–20. It then served through the defensive battles of the German spring offensive followed by the victorious
Hundred Days Offensive The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allies of World War I, Allied offensives that ended the First World War. Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (1918), Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Wester ...
.Farndale, ''Western Front'', Annex M. 96th Siege Battery was disbanded in 1919.


121st Siege Battery, RGA

121st Siege Battery, RGA, was raised at Pembroke Dock on 22 March 1916 under Army Council Instruction 701 of 31 March 1916 with 3 officers and 78 other ranks from the Glamorgan RGA. It went out to the Western Front in July 1916, manning four 9.2-inch howitzers, and joined
I ANZAC Corps The I ANZAC Corps (First Anzac Corps) was a combined Australian and New Zealand army corps that served during World War I. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the Australian Imperial Force and ...
in Fifth Army on 15 July in time for the
Battle of Pozières The Battle of Pozières (23 July – 3 September 1916) took place in northern France around the village of Pozières, during the Battle of the Somme. The costly fighting ended with the British in possession of the plateau north and east of the v ...
. It was later engaged at Arras and Passchendaele. 121st Siege Bty was joined by a section from 428th Siege Bty and expanded to six 9.2-inch howitzers by the end of 1917. The battery was caught up in the 'Great Retreat' of March 1918, but returned during the Hundred Days campaign, including supporting the assault crossing of the
St Quentin Canal The Canal de Saint-Quentin () is a canal in northern France connecting the canalised river Escaut in Cambrai to the Canal latéral à l'Oise and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne in Chauny. History The canal was built in two phases, the second much long ...
on 29 September and participating in the crushing artillery barrages of the victorious Hundred Days offensive. 121st Siege Battery was disbanded in 1919.


172nd Siege Battery, RGA

172nd Siege Battery, RGA, was raised at Cardiff with three officers and 78 other ranks from the Glamorgan RGA under Army Council Instruction 1239 of 21 June 1916. It went out to the Western Front on 12 September 1916 equipped with four 6-inch 26 cwt Howitzers. It was engaged in the preparation for the Arras Offensive and at Passchendaele. 172nd Siege Bty was joined by a section from 415th Siege Bty on 26 August 1917, and brought up to a strength of six 6-inch howitzers. In November 1917 the battery was part of the reinforcements sent to the Italian Front after the disastrous
Battle of Caporetto The Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Kobarid or the Battle of Karfreit) was a battle on the Italian front of World War I. The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central ...
. It went into action supporting the Italian army holding the line of the River Piave and in June 1918 supported the defences during the
Second Battle of the Piave River The Second Battle of the Piave River, fought between 15 and 23 June 1918, was a decisive victory for the Italian Army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. Though the battle proved to be a decisive blow to the Austro-Hungaria ...
.Shepard, in Campbell, p. 125. The British guns participated in the final battle on the Italian Front, the stunning success of the
Battle of Vittorio Veneto The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought from 24 October to 3 November 1918 (with an armistice taking effect 24 hours later) near Vittorio Veneto on the Italian Front during World War I. After having thoroughly defeated Austro-Hungarian troops ...
on 23 October. By 1 November the Austrian army had collapsed and the pursuing British troops had left their heavy guns far in the rear. 172nd Battery was disbanded by the end of March 1919.


359th Siege Battery, RGA

359th Siege Battery formed at
Lavernock Battery Lavernock Battery was built at Lavernock Point, Wales on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission during the late 1860s to protect the ports of the Severn Estuary. It was replaced by a new anti-aircraft battery during World War II that ...
near Cardiff on 21 January 1917. It trained as a
BL 12-inch railway howitzer The British Ordnance BL 12 inch howitzer on truck, railway, a type of railway gun, was developed following the success of the 9.2-inch siege howitzer. It was similar but unrelated to the 12-inch siege howitzers Mk II and IV. Design and dev ...
battery and went out to the Western Front on 10 June 1917, joining 19th HAG with
XV Corps 15th Corps, Fifteenth Corps, or XV Corps may refer to: *XV Corps (British India) *XV Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I *15th Army Corps (Russian Empire), a unit in World War I *XV Royal Bavar ...
on the Flanders coast. 10th HAG transferred to Fourth Army HQ on 1 August. The battery joined 76th HAG with Second Army in the
Ypres Salient The Ypres Salient around Ypres in Belgium was the scene of several battles and an extremely important part of the Western front during the First World War. Ypres district Ypres lies at the junction of the Ypres–Comines Canal and the Ieperlee. ...
on 21 September, while Second Army was fighting the last stages of the
Battle of Passchendaele The Third Battle of Ypres (german: link=no, Dritte Flandernschlacht; french: link=no, Troisième Bataille des Flandres; nl, Derde Slag om Ieper), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by t ...
. On 14 November the battery transferred to 80th HAG, but that headquarters was sent to the Italian Front, so the battery came under the command of other HAGs until January 1918, when it became 'Army Troops' and was no longer attached to a HAG. Railway construction lagged during the rapid advances of the Hundred Days Offensive and the battery was left behind in the Salient. It was still serving with Second Army when the Armistice came into force in November 1918. 359th Siege Battery was disbanded in 1919.


402nd Siege Battery, RGA

402nd Siege Battery, RGA, was raised at Lavernock on 17 March 1917 from a nucleus provided by details of the Glamorganshire RGA. It went out to the Western Front on 30 July and joined First Army in August. The battery was then broken up, one section going to reinforce 17th Siege Bty, the other to 68th Siege Bty (itself formed by the Pembroke RGA).


Interwar

After the TF was demobilised in 1919 the Glamorgan RGA was placed in suspended animation. It was reformed from Nos 1–3 Companies at Cardiff in 1920, with one battery. When the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army (TA) in 1921, the unit was designated as the Glamorgan Coast Brigade, RGA. It consisted of HQ and 181 Heavy Battery at the Drill Hall, Cardiff, in 53rd (Welsh) Divisional Area. In 1924 the RGA was subsumed into the RA.Frederick, p. 614.Maurice-Jones, p. 206. In 1926 it was decided that the coast defences of the UK would be manned by the TA alone. The unit was responsible for manning the two 6-inch guns at Lavernock Battery near Cardiff, and the two 4.7-inch guns at
Mumbles Battery Mumbles Battery is a battery on the north coast of the Bristol Channel overlooking Swansea. It was built around the base of the Mumbles Lighthouse. It is one of the many Palmerston Forts built in response to a perceived French invasion, and was ...
, near Swansea. A 1927 report on coastal defences by the
Committee of Imperial Defence The Committee of Imperial Defence was an important ''ad hoc'' part of the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Empire from just after the Second Boer War until the start of the Second World War. It was responsible for research, and som ...
made recommendations for the defence of 15 home ports, and another eight schemes were added in 1929, including Swansea, Barry, Cardiff and Newport, but little was done to modernise them.Collier, Chapter III.
/ref> On 1 November 1938 the coast brigades were redesignated as heavy regiments, hence the unit at Cardiff became the Glamorgan Heavy Regiment, RA.


World War II


Mobilisation

The regiment mobilised in Western Command on the outbreak of war in September 1939 with the single 181 Battery under command. Cardiff and Barry were designated Class A defended ports, with guns installed in peacetime, though the defence schemes of both were still being prepared. On 12 April 1940 plans were made for 6-inch guns to be installed at Swansea.Farndale, ''Years of Defeat'', Annex B. When the
Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...
turned against the Allies in May 1940, the
Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral * Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings *Admiralty, Tr ...
made a number of 6-inch guns available to the army for coastal defence, and when the whole of the UK was put on invasion alert after the
Dunkirk evacuation The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo and also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, or just Dunkirk, was the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during the Second World War from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the ...
a massive programme of coastal defences was initiated. Although this mainly involved the likely invasion areas of South and South-East England, an emergency battery of two
BL 6-inch Mk XII naval gun The BL 6-inch Mark XII naval gun was a British 45 calibre naval gun which was mounted as primary armament on light cruisers and secondary armament on dreadnought battleships commissioned in the period 1914–1926, and remained in service on man ...
s was authorised on 12 June for Penarth, and two more of two
BL 4-inch Mk VII naval gun The BL 4-inch gun Mk VIIMk VII = Mark 7. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. Mark VII indicates this was the seventh model of BL 4-inch gun. was a British high-velocity naval gun introduced ...
s each were authorised for
Llanelli Llanelli ("St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. ...
and
Port Talbot Port Talbot (, ) is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, situated on the east side of Swansea Bay, approximately from Swansea. The Port Talbot Steelworks covers a large area of land which dominates the south ...
on 21 July and completed by 24 August. These guns were moved around as required: as of November 1940, Cardiff and Barry had four 6-inch guns, Swansea had two 6-inch and two 4.7-inch, and Llanelli had one 4-inch. Although designated a major port, Newport still had no guns. On 5 September 1940 the coastal artillery was reorganised, and the regiment became 531st (Glamorgan) Coast Regiment, with 181 Bty expanded to A and B Btys.Frederick, pp. 603–11, 632, 640, 643.Farndale, ''Years of Defeat'', Annex M.531 Coast Rgt at RA 1939–45.
/ref> In addition, 21st Coast Artillery Group (later 559th Special Coast Regiment) was formed on 18 October 1940 at Mumbles, with 401 and 402 Btys, joined on 22 October by B Bty from 531st Coast Rgt.Farndale, ''Years of Defeat'', Annex H.559 Coast Rgt at RA 1939–45.
/ref>Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 20: Coast Artillery, 1 June 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/117. Britain's coastal defences reached their height in September 1941, by which time Cardiff, Swansea and Barry (all defined as major ports) each had two 6-inch guns, and Barry had two 4.7-inch in addition. Newport still only had two 12-pounders, as did Llanelli. Port Talbot had a defence battery of two 4-inch guns. At this stage of the war, the coast defences in Glamorgan were as follows: * 531st (Glamorgan) Coast RegimentOrder of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 20: Coast Artillery, 16 December 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/118. ** HQ at Cardiff ** A Bty – redesignated 130 Bty 1 April 1941 ** 365 Bty at Portishead – joined 31 December 1940 ** 366 Bty at
Steep Holm Steep Holm ( cy, Ynys Rhonech, ang, Ronech and later ) is an English island lying in the Bristol Channel. The island covers at high tide, expanding to at mean low water. At its highest point it is above mean sea level. Administratively it ...
South – joined 31 December 1940 ** 192 Bty – formed 27 March 1941 ** 145 Independent Bty – joined 1 July 1941 ** 170 Bty – joined from Home Forces 16 July 1941; to 560th Coast Rgt 10 August 1940 ** 188 Bty – joined from Home Forces 11 August 1941 ** 189 Bty – joined from 524th (Lancashire and Cheshire) Coast Rgt 10 October 1941 ** 427 Bty – twin 6-pounder QF battery formed at Lydstep Haven,
Tenby Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community. Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...
, 14 August and attached; to Cardiff and regimented 7 November 1941 ** 430 Bty – twin 6-pounder QF battery formed at 73rd Coast Training Rgt, Lydstep, 11 September; to Cardiff and joined 7 November 1941 * 559th Special Coast Regiment – ''redesignated from 21st CA Group 1 June 1941'' ** HQ at Mumbles ** 401 Bty at Port Talbot ** 402 Bty at Llanelli ** 298 Bty at Mumbles Hill – redesignated from B/531 Bty joined 22 October 1940 ** 166 Bty at Mumbles Rock – formed 27 March 1941; to 533rd (Orkney) Coast Rgt 3 June 1941 ** 146 Bty – joined from 535th (Orkney) Coast Rgt 28 May 1941 ** 32 and 33 Coast Observer Detachments – joined by December 1941


Mid-War

At the end of 1941 the defences of the Severn Estuary were completely reorganised: Cardiff Fire Command was reorganised into three separate fire commands, with 531st Rgt in Docks FC. 531st Rgt lost four of its batteries to two new coast regiments, 570th and 571st, formed from
Flat Holm Flat Holm ( cy, Ynys Echni) is a Welsh island lying in the Bristol Channel approximately from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan. It includes the most southerly point of Wales. The island has a long history of occupation, dating at le ...
and
Brean Down Brean Down is a promontory off the coast of Somerset, England, standing high and extending into the Bristol Channel at the eastern end of Bridgwater Bay between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea. Made of Carboniferous Limestone, it is a c ...
Fire Control respectively, while 192 Bty was disbanded. This gave the following organisation:570 Coast Rgt at RA 1939–45.
/ref>571 Coast Rgt at RA 1939–45.
/ref>Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 30: Coast Artillery, Defence Troops, Royal Artillery, and AA Defence of Merchant Ships, 14 May 1942, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/122.Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 30: Coast Artillery, Defence Troops, Royal Artillery, and AA Defence of Merchant Ships, 12 December 1942, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/123. * 531st (Glamorgan) Coast Regiment ** HQ Cardiff ** 130 Bty – became independent 14 October 1942 (passed into suspended animation 1 June 1945) ** 170 Independent Bty – returned from 560th Coast Rgt 14 October 1942 ** 187 Bty – from 537th Coast Rgt 10 July 1942 ** 427 Bty – left for 514th Coast Rgt 30 June 1942 ** 430 Bty * 559th Coast Regiment ** HQ Mumbles ** 146 Bty – to 570th Coast Rgt 7 December 1942 ** 298 Bty – left for 562nd Coast Rgt 2 May 1942 ** 299 Bty – joined from 562nd Coast Rgt 2 May 1942 ** 401 Bty – left for 561st Coast Rgt 1 November 1942 ** 402 Bty – left for 554th Coast Rgt 26 May 1942 ** 422 Bty – joined from 561st Coast Rgt 1 November 1942 ** 431 Bty – twin 6-pounder QF battery formed at 73rd Coast Training Rgt, Lydstep, 11 September; to Swansea and joined 15 December 1941 ** 32 Coast Observer Detachment – left for 532nd (Pembroke) Coast Rgt by December 1942 ** 33 Coast Observer Detachment ** 36 (Mobile) Defence Troop, RA – joined January 1942, disbanded May 1942 * 570th Coast Regiment ** HQ Flat Holm, moved to Barry 7 December 1942 ** 145 Bty – from 531st Coast Rgt 19 December 1941 ** 188, 189 Btys – from 531st Coast Rgt 19 December 1941 * 571st Coast Regiment ** HQ Brean Down ** 365, 366 Btys – from 531st Coast Rgt 19 December 1941 531st, 570th and 571st Coast Rgts were under HQ Severn Defences, while 559th, further west at the Mumbles, was directly under Western Command until it joined Severn Defences in 1942.


Late War

By 1942 the threat from German attack had diminished and there was demand for trained gunners for the fighting fronts. A process of reducing the manpower in the coast defences began. 531st (Glamorgan) Coast Rgt was stood down 7 December 1942, completing on 31 December. Its three remaining batteries assigned to 570th Coast Rgt, which together with other reassignments gave Severn Defences the following organisation in 1943:Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 7: Coast Artillery, Defence Troops, Royal Artillery, and AA Defence of Merchant Ships (July 1943), with amendments, TNA file WO 212/124. * 559th Coast Rgt ** 299, 422, 431 Btys ** 24 Coast Observer Detachment – joined by July 1943 ** 33 Coast Observer Detachment * 570th Coast Rgt ** 145, 146, 170, 187, 430 Btys ** 205 Bty – from 537th Coast Rgt 7 December 1942 ** 1, 2 Coast Observer Detachments – disbanded by May 1943 ** 105 Coast Observer Detachment – joined by December 1942 ** 106 Coast Observer Detachment – joined by December 1942, to 532nd Coast Rgt by July 1943, returned by November 1943 * 571st Coast Rgt ** 184, 188, 189, 366 Btys ** 78 Coast Observer Detachment – joined by November 1943


Disbandment

The manpower requirements for the forthcoming Allied invasion of Normandy (
Operation Overlord Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...
) led to further reductions in coast defences in April 1944: 559th and 571st Coast Rgts were disbanded and 570th had all their batteries assigned to it, 24 and 33 Coast Observer Detachments replacing 105 and 106, though they also left in July. By this stage of the war many of the coast battery positions were manned by
Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting wi ...
detachments or in the hands of care and maintenance parties. The separate HQ for Severn Fixed Defences was also disbanded, and the regiment came directly under Western Command.Order of Battle of the Forces in the United Kingdom, Part 7, Coast Artillery and AA Defence of Merchant Ships (1 April 1944), with amendments, TNA file WO 212/120. 570th Coast Rgt itself was disbanded at Barry on 1 June 1945, shortly after
VE Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
, together with 170, 184, 187, 189, 205, 366, 422, 430 and 431 Btys; the remaining TA batteries (145, 146 and 299) went into suspended animation.


Postwar

When the TA was reformed in 1947, 531st (Glamorgan) Coast Regiment was formally disbanded, and the 664th (Welsh) Coast Regiment was formed as a new unit at Cardiff, though it is unclear why it was not considered as a successor to 531st Coast Rgt. In 1950 the 'Welsh' subtitle was changed to 'Glamorgan'. However, it was soon afterwards decided to reduce the number of TA coast regiments, and in 1953 the regiment was amalgamated with 425th (Pembroke) Coast Rgt to form 408th Coast Rgt based at the Defensible Barracks, Pembroke Dock, with R and S Btys provided by the 664th.Frederick, pp. 1011–2.Litchfield, p. 83.372–413 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
/ref> The new regiment took the subtitle 'Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire' in 1954, but the Coast Artillery Branch of the RA was disbanded on 31 December 1956. The Glamorgan batteries were amalgamated into 281st (Glamorgan Yeomanry) Field Regiment while the Pembroke batteries were amalgamated into 302nd (Pembroke Yeomanry) Field Regiment.


Honorary Colonels

The following served as Honorary Colonel of the unit: * Lt-Col
Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth Robert George Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth, (27 August 1857 – 6 March 1923), known as the 14th Baron Windsor between 1869 and 1905, was a British nobleman and Conservative politician. He was the founding President of the London Socie ...
, appointed 1 November 1890 * Captain
Ivor Windsor-Clive, 2nd Earl of Plymouth Ivor Miles Windsor-Clive, 2nd Earl of Plymouth GCStJ, PC (4 February 1889 – 1 October 1943) was an English nobleman and Conservative Party politician. Early life Ivor was born on 4 February 1889. He was the second, and only surviving, son of ...
, appointed 12 March 1924


Memorial

There is a stone tablet in
St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff St John the Baptist Church is a Grade I listed parish church in Cardiff, Wales, the only church dating to pre-Medieval times in Cardiff city centre and the only medieval building other than Cardiff Castle. Description ''Black's Picturesque Guid ...
, as a memorial to the 69 men of the Glamorgan RGA who died during World War I.IWM WMR Ref 6664.
/ref>


Footnotes


Notes


References

* Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions,'' London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, . * Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 4: The Army Council, GHQs, Armies, and Corps 1914–1918'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1944/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, . * Ian F.W. Beckett, ''Riflemen Form: A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908'', Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, . * James Campbell, ''Shepard's War: E.H. Shepard, The Man who Drew Winnie-the-Pooh'', London: LOM Art, 2015, .

* Col John K. Dunlop, ''The Development of the British Army 1899–1914'', London: Methuen, 1938. * Brig-Gen Sir
James E. Edmonds Brigadier (United Kingdom), Brigadier-General Sir James Edward Edmonds (25 December 1861 – 2 August 1956) was an commissioned officer, officer of the Royal Engineers in the late-Victorian era British Army who worked in the Intelligence Corps ...
, ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium, 1916'', Vol I, London: Macmillan,1932/Woking: Shearer, 1986, . * Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds & Lt-Col R. Maxwell-Hyslop, ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918'', Vol V, ''26th September–11th November, The Advance to Victory'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1947/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1993, . * Cyril Falls, ''Caporetto 1917'', London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1966. * Gen Sir
Martin Farndale General Sir Martin Baker Farndale, (6 January 1929 – 10 May 2000) was a British Army officer who reached high office in the 1980s. Military career Educated at Yorebridge Grammar School, Askrigg, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Farnda ...
, ''History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Western Front 1914–18'', Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1986, . * Gen Sir Martin Farndale, ''History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base 1914–18'', Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988, . * Gen Sir Martin Farndale, ''History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Years of Defeat: Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941'', Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988/London: Brasseys, 1996, . * J.B.M. Frederick, ''Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978'', Vol II, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X. * Norman E.H. Litchfield, ''The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges)'', Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, . * Norman Litchfield & Ray Westlake, ''The Volunteer Artillery 1859–1908 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges)'', Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1982, . * Alan MacDonald, ''Pro Patria Mori: The 56th (1st London) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916'', 2nd Edn, West Wickham: Iona Books, 2008, . * Alan MacDonald, ''A Lack of Offensive Spirit? The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916'', West Wickham: Iona Books, 2008, . * Col K. W. Maurice-Jones, ''The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army'', London: Royal Artillery Institution, 1959/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1-845740-31-3. * ''Purnell's History of the Second World War'', London: Purnell, 1969–71. * Edward M. Spiers, ''The Army and Society 1815–1914'', London: Longmans, 1980, . * Mark Thompson, ''The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915–1919'', London: Faber & Faber, 2008, . * War Office, ''Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army'', London: War Office, 7 November 1927 (RA sections also summarised in Litchfield, Appendix IV). * War Office, ''Instructions Issued by The War Office During October, 1914'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1917. * War Office, ''Instructions Issued by The War Office During December, 1915'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1919. * War Office, ''Army Council Instructions issued during March, 1916'', London: HM Stationery Office. * War Office, ''Army Council Instructions issued during April, 1917'', London: HM Stationery Office. * Leon Wolff, ''In Flanders Fields: The 1917 Campaign'', London: Longmans, 1959/Corgi, 1966.


External sources


Mark Conrad, ''The British Army, 1914'' (archive site)

British Army units from 1945 on

Imperial War Museum, War Memorials Register

Orders of Battle at Patriot Files


* ttps://ra39-45.co.uk Royal Artillery 1939–1945{{refend
Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...
Military units and formations in Cardiff Military units and formations in Glamorgan Military units and formations established in 1890 1890 establishments in Wales