8th County of London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

1080: 1823: 1005: 622:), to which part of 47th (2nd L) Division would provide the southern 'hinge'. The batteries moved into position in the weeks beforehand, Maj E.H. Eley of 1/22nd London Bty finding a concealed position in a railway cutting. He placed each 5-inch howitzer between some abandoned railway trucks and covered them with tarpaulins so they could not be seen from the air. German maps captured in the subsequent fighting showed that this was one of only two British battery positions that had not been identified. 1/VIII London Bde, with the eight remaining 5-inch howitzers on the front, were allotted 4800 HE rounds for the coming battle. 1/21st London Bty was attached to 747:

communications were cut by the box barrage. During the night the gun pits were shelled with gas, but on 22 May the artillery duel began to swing towards the British, with fresh batteries brought in, despite their shortage of ammunition. A system of 'one round strikes' was introduced: whenever a German battery was identified every gun in range fired one round at it, which effectively suppressed them. British counter-attacks were attempted, but when the fighting died down the Germans had succeeded in capturing the British front line. Throughout their stay in the Vimy sector the batteries suffered heavily from German CB fire.

788: 1056:) on 6 November. The attacking brigades moved forwards at 03.30 with the artillery, which began wire-cutting as soon as it was in position. Each 18-pdr battery cut two 10 yards (9.1 m) gaps in the wire by 12.15, and then began a bombardment of the enemy trench as the attack went in against heavy fire. The field guns then lifted onto the works in the second line. The whole defensive position was in the division's hands by 14.00 and it pushed patrols ahead towards Sheria and its water supply. Each brigade advanced with its artillery group, 'Bayley's Group' (commanded by CCCIII Bde's CO) supported 1064:. Two Turkish counter-attacks were broken up by the field guns. CCCIII Brigade suffered casualties of two officers wounded, 23 men killed, 26 wounded, and 39 horses and mules killed or wounded. The infantry brigade groups continued their advance the following day, supported by their artillery groups (Bayley's Group supporting 179th Bde in the advance guard). By 09.30 179th Bde had cleared the Zuheilikah ridge and supported by the artillery stormed the strongly held village of Muntaret-el-Baghl. The brigade then reorganised to advance on its final objective, 2229: 2241: 784:

land was so narrow. Casualties among the attacking infantry were extremely heavy, but they succeeded in capturing High Wood and the gun batteries began to move up in support, crossing deeply-cratered ground. Casualties among the exposed guns and gunners took their toll, but a German counter-attack was broken up by gunfire. Next day the division fought to consolidate its positions round the captured 'Cough Drop' strongpoint. When the infantry were relieved on 19 September the artillery remained in the line under 1st Division.

1609: 756: 1123: 1111:; an encirclement was chosen, to avoid attacking the city itself. The surprise attack began on 8 December without artillery support; once progress had been made the batteries were to move up and come under command of the brigade groups. The going was tough for the gun teams, and while the infantry fought their way into the suburbs of Jerusalem; there was little the artillery could do to support them. The Turks evacuated the city and the following morning the mayor and civic leaders initially 1937:

positioned on the Bukit Timah Road. Captain Robert Johnson, acting as FOO for one of the regiment's batteries, rallied a group of infantrymen whose officers had been killed. Communications had broken down with his battery, he ran to and from RHQ under small arms fire with fire orders to be relayed to the guns. The fire that came down as a result of his action destroyed the enemy in front and rather than withdraw the infantry were able to regain some ground. Johnson was awarded the

1905: 666: 47: 71: 88: 484:

of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate batteries, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas. Eventually these too were prepared for overseas service and 3rd Line reserve units were formed to produce reinforcement drafts to the others. The duplicate 2/VIII London Brigade was formed at Plumstead in October 1914.

1932:, on 29 January, amidst Japanese air raids. The city was already under threat from advancing Japanese forces, and the 18th Infantry Division were stationed to defend the northern part of the island. The Japanese began a heavy bombardment of the island on 5 February, to which the British artillery replied with counter battery fire, together with harassing fire (HF) directed against Japanese preparations. The assault across the 1032:. In the weeks leading up to the attack artillery officers had regularly ridden close to the Beersheba defences to reconnoitre, often under fire. Concentration for the attack was carried out under cover of darkness, beginning on 20/21 October and completed on 28/29 October. The divisional artillery was divided into Right and Left groups corresponding to the two attacking brigade; CCCIII Bde was part of Right Group supporting 1119:. They were followed an hour later by Maj W.C. Beck of C/CCCIII Bty and Maj F.R. Barry of 413 (H) Bty of CCCII Bde on reconnaissance, who said that they were not authorised to accept the surrender, but passed the information to 60th Divisional Artillery HQ. The first formed party to enter the city was a small force of gunners commanded by Lt-Col Bayley, who had been bringing CCCIII Bde up the road from Qalonye. 1692: 1807:). When the offensive opened on 25 August 1944, V Corps was still moving up, and 56th (L) Division was its reserve, but its artillery was sent on ahead to strengthen the Corps artillery. Once the Corps had broken into the German positions, 56th (L) Division was used to widen the breach on 1 September, and then on 3 September to lead the pursuit, taking Monte Maggiore before opposition increased at the 1644:. Again, 50th (N) Division was ordered to breach the wadi position on 5/6 April. This time the preliminary operations were 'silent', without artillery preparation; the reinforced divisional guns opened up at 04.15, firing concentrations and barrages, with 300 rounds per gun available. This time the assault went well, and by 09.35 the division's infantry were pressing on towards their final objectives. 387: 1209:) went in at 04.30 on 19 September behind an intense artillery bombardment. As soon as the barrage programme was complete, the artillery moved up behind the infantry, who had gained their first objectives. The division then continued its advance as the Turks streamed away in retreat. The 60th Division advanced for the next three days against enemy rearguards until it ran ahead of its supplies. 992:

The division did attack during the second phase of the offensive (8/9 May), but it captured its objectives by night attacks without preliminary artillery fire. A further advance was made by the division on 15 May, but the rest of the offensive having come to a standstill it was called off on 24 May. On 1 June 1917 the division was marched back to Salonika to embark for

1143:. 60th (2/2nd L) Division advanced with three brigade groups, each supported by artillery, and worked its way forward between 14 and 21 February over rough country, with Turkish road demolitions needing repair before the guns could get forward. Major Cooke, in temporary command of CCCIII Bde supporting 180th Bde Group, reported that 'On the way to support the 580:. Despite the continuing shortage of ammunition, the plan this time was for a long methodical bombardment. On 13 and 14 May the field artillery carried out three two-hour deliberate bombardments each day, with the howitzers registering the enemy support and communication trenches with observed fire, and then firing to destroy them, along with certain important 1917:. The regiment was based in East Anglia on defensive duties until the end of the year, then moved to Scotland for training. On 18 May 1941 it formed its third battery, numbered 483. It departed for overseas service with the 18th Infantry Division on 28 October 1941. The regiment was destined to reinforce the Eighth Army in Egypt, however in response to the 1474:, spent all day engaging tanks with its field guns. Both batteries had to recover ammunition from abandoned vehicles to stay in action. By the end of the day the enemy's advanced columns had penetrated between the division's widely-spread units and it was ordered to withdraw that night. 65th Field Rgt moved to Court Croix with OPs at Rouge Croix and 1985:. Mackellar insisted on keeping up standards in the camps, and spent many months in solitary confinement. 182 men of the regiment died, forced to work on the Burma railway. A further 72 died during captivity after work was completed, including 43 when a Japanese convoy carrying prisoners to Japan was attacked by US Navy submarines. 1198:

at 01.00 on 14 July he called down a defensive barrage in front of his position; the enemy artillery also came into action, shelling the whole position. A serious attack came in at 03.30 as the Australians withdrew their outposts, but after a fierce fight the Light Horse recovered their positions and took hundreds of prisoners.

1248:. On 3 April 1918, 74th (Y) Division was warned that it was to go to France as part of the same reinforcement for the BEF that saw most of 60th (2/2nd L) Division's infantry leave Palestine. Between 13 and 21 April CCLXVIII Bde was broken up, and C (H) Bty transferred within the division to XLIV Bde as D (H) Bty. 904:) Bde. 3/1st, 3/2nd and 3/3rd Wessex Btys, which had earlier joined the other brigades in the division, became A, B and C Btys, and the former 4/LX Bty became D (H). The BACs were also abolished before the division went overseas. CCCIII Brigade therefore had no remaining London units in its organisation: 1079: 1945:

aboard the last boats to leave. The regiment spiked its guns by jamming a second round down the muzzle, before firing the last round using a length of signal cable, splitting the gun barrels. The force surrendered on 15 February. Twenty-two members of the regiment were rendered casualties during the

1786:

the following day, accompanied by unusually heavy support from field artillery, the whole artillery in VI Corps brought down a pre-emptive counter-preparation programme. Although this was too late to catch the German troops as they formed up, the attack made no real impression on the Allied defences.

1486:

acting as infantry. With its flanks 'in the air' after neighbouring French formations retreated during the night of 28/29 May, the divisional commander decided to withdraw some 6 miles (9.7 km) to this position, though only Divisional HQ and scattered elements arrived by dawn to join the gunners

1450:

to the east, forcing the BEF to withdraw again, and by 19 May the whole force was back across the Escaut. 44th (HC) Division tried to hold the most dangerous point, but the Germans established bridgeheads across the Escaut at dawn on 20 May. The attack was renewed on 22 May and the division was badly

1197:

In July the Abu Tulul salient in the Jordan Valley was garrisoned by the 1st Light Horse Brigade when it was attacked by German troops bolstering the Turks. Among the artillery supporting this sector was C (H)/CCCIII Bty. When the Australian unit in the front line heard the sound of movement in front

1135:

Road into the hills over the following days. 60th Divisional Artillery made 'extraordinary exertions' to get its guns up to support attacks that captured the heights of Tahuneh and Shab Salah on 29 December. 180th Brigade was halted by enemy fire until CCCIII Bde struggled through to come into action

991:

in preparation for the Allied Spring offensive. Apart from diversionary raids, 60th (2/2nd L) Division took little part in the first part of this operation (8–9 April), most of its batteries being used to reinforce the main attack near Lake Doiran, which required several days' artillery preparation.

741:

was being conducted by both sides underground. In May the Germans secretly assembled 80 batteries in the sector and on 21 May carried out a heavy bombardment in the morning; the bombardment resumed at 15.00 and an assault was launched at 15.45, while the guns lifted onto the British guns and fired a

986:

sector and settled in to improve the defences and harass the enemy. Veterinary officers found that the transport horses and mules in this campaign were overworked, but that artillery horses lacked exercise and it became standard practice to allow them to wander at will during the day and then round

843:

A further reorganisation of the BEF's field artillery was carried out during the winter of 1916–17. On 27 November B Bty was split up between 34th and C Btys to bring both up to six guns; C Bty became the new B Bty. At the same time C and half of B Bty from CCXXXVII (VII London) Bde replaced C Bty.

746:

into Zouave Valley to seal the attacked sector off from support. 47th Divisional Artillery reported 150 heavy shells an hour landing on its poorly-covered battery positions and guns being put out of action, while its own guns tried to respond to SOS calls from the infantry under attack, though most

483:

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

1912:

The 118th Field Regiment was assigned to the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division on 7 October 1939, and it trained at Woolwich. In April 1940, the infantry of 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division moved to France, but the artillery remained in England to continue training. On 30 June 1940, the 118th Field

1758:

using strong artillery support (400 rounds per gun were supplied for the division's 25-pounders). The attack on the night of 17/18 January 1944 was successful and by morning the leading battalions were across and attacking with plenty of artillery support. The division began its breakout from the

952:

On 30–31 August the divisional artillery underwent the same reorganisation into six-gun batteries that was going on throughout the BEF. In CCCIII Bde this meant half batteries joining from CCC Bde, which was being broken up. However, orders arrived on 1 November for the division to transfer to the

865:, was pleased with their work and promised them the first guns available, it was not until May 1915 that some old 5-inch howitzers arrived for training. In 1915 the division took the place of 1/2nd London Division in the St Albans area, 2/VIII Bde arriving in April. At the end of May, now numbered 2155:

During the Second World War, the 65th Field Regiment wore an embroidered shoulder title '65th (LONDON) R.A.' in red on dark blue in place of the standard RA title. From 1947 to 1955, 265 Field Regiment wore an arm badge consisting of a large oval shield divided in half horizontally with red over

1632:

on 20/21 March. The divisional artillery was strongly reinforced and supplied with up to 500 rounds of ammunition per gun, but only a tiny bridgehead on the far side of the wadi was achieved by daybreak. Two more nights of heavy fighting failed to expand the bridgehead and communications with the

1538:

It was only in the autumn of 1940 that the RA began producing enough battery staffs to start the process of changing regiments from a two-battery to a three-battery organisation. (Three 8-gun batteries were easier to handle, and it meant that each infantry battalion in a brigade could be closely

783:

was launched, with tank support for the first time. The barrage fired by the divisional artillery left lanes through which the tanks could advance. However, the tanks proved useless in the tangled tree stumps of High Wood, and the artillery could not bombard the German front line because No man's

604:

as 'Alderson's Force', with 1/VIII London Bde among its supporting artillery. 47th (2nd L) Division made its own first attack on the night of 25 May. The leading brigade captured the German front and support trenches, but was then pinned down by accurate German artillery fire and could advance no

1834:

on the Fiumicino river, supported by a 90-minute barrage fired by the heavily reinforced divisional artillery. Nevertheless, the attack failed, as did attempts to renew it on 29/30 September and 1 October. Later in October, the badly weakened 56th (L) Division was relieved in the line. While the

942:

in the line on 14 July, with the artillery moving into position over the next three nights. The line held was facing the same strong German positions along Vimy Ridge that 47th (2nd L) Division had faced, and there was constant mine warfare and trench raiding. The artillery was mostly engaged in

1040:

improving the track north of Wadi ed Sabe for the artillery, which was in position by 01.30. At dawn the guns began to bombard Hill 1070, pausing at 07.00 to let the smoke and dust clear. Right Group then resumed its wirecutting and at 08.30 the guns switched to intensive bombardment, 179th Bde

1364:

Field regiments were now organised as Regimental HQ (RHQ) and two batteries each of 12 guns. These were 18-pounders of First World War pattern, though now equipped with pneumatic tyres and towed by motorised gun tractors. There was a programme to replace the 18-pdr barrels with that of the new

835:

and the Corps and Army heavy guns, carried out an intense bombardment, which brought considerable enemy retaliation. As well as organised bombardments of the enemy lines, the guns frequently responded to SOS calls from the front during enemy raids, and laid on wire-cutting and box barrages for

554:

was inadequately cut and the breastworks barely touched. The inexperienced artillery had failed in all its tasks. A renewed bombardment was ordered from 06.15 to 07.00, but the artillery's forward observation officers (FOOs) were unable to locate the hidden German machine gun positions, which

1727:

Over the next few days the division fought its way forward to extend the beachhead against strong German counter-attacks, and the divisional artillery was heavily engaged in defensive fire (DF) tasks. X Corps began its advance out of the beachhead on the night of 22/23 September with massive

1936:

began on 8 February, gaining lodgements in the western sector, and by 12 February the 18th Infantry Division began to withdraw to the city's perimeter. It was involved in bitter fighting on 14 February, with the guns crammed into inadequate space under fire. By then 118th Field Regiment was

584:

in the front line. Intermittent bombardments were continued during the night to stop supplies being brought up and to prevent repairs being carried out. The guns fired about 100 rounds per day. Unfortunately, the FOOs reported that many of the howitzer shells failed to explode due to faulty

1130:

60th (2/2nd L) Division was then pushed forward into positions from which to defend the captured city. Turkish counter-attacks began on 22 December, and a major attack followed on the night of 26/27 December. This was beaten off and the division took the opportunity to push forward up the

1060:. Sheria was captured at daybreak the following morning without artillery preparation, CCCIII Bde's guns moving up under heavy shellfire to support the attack once launched. B Bty advanced one gun under Lieutenant E.C. Philpott and stopped the fire of machine guns that were holding up 2268:. The left-hand (northern) figure flanking this memorial depicts a Royal Artilleryman representative of the various London Artillery units. Each unit listed on the memorial also had a bronze plaque; that for 8th London Brigade is at Napier House Army Reserve Centre at Grove Park. 1147:, finding the bridge blown up, we unhooked the teams, and with the help of sixty men of the 2/20th, dragged the guns bodily down into the wadi and up the other side, in time to render much needed aid to the Infantry held up south of Talat-ed-Dumm'. On 21 February the Australian 2389:). There were no 1st or 2nd line 'Wessex' Batteries; it is possible that 3/1st–3/3rd were composite batteries formed from the 3rd Lines of the four Wessex brigades (whose batteries were designated Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire and Devonshire), all of which had been sent to 500:

and training was stepped up, despite bad weather and equipment shortages. Brigade and divisional training began in February 1915 and it received its orders for the move to France on 2 March. By 22 March all the batteries had reached the divisional concentration area around

1232:

After leaving CCCIII Bde, 2/22nd London Bty became D (H)/CCCII Bty and continued to serve in 60th (2/2nd L) Division in Macedonia. On arrival in Egypt, the battery transferred to become C (H) in CCLXVIII Bde on 19 June 1917. This brigade was newly formed for service with

642:, and the battle raged on after 47th (2nd L) Division had been relieved between 28 September and 1 October. On 13 October 47th (2nd L) Division was in support for the final attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and was practising on dummy trenches for a follow-up attack on 1495:(DCM) for gallantry on 29 May. He continued to direct a gun under heavy and accurate fire, and when all the gun detachment had been wounded he went onto the gun himself and continued to fire. Tirrell was later commissioned and went onto a distinguished career in the 1491:. This rearguard was subjected to intense mortar fire next morning, then by dive-bombing, but held its position for 30 hours while the rest of the division withdrew. Battery Sergeant-Major Jack Tirrell, acting as gun position officer (GPO) of L Troop was awarded the 545:

for the assault by 1st Division. The bombardment became intense at 05.30, then at 05.40 the guns lifted to targets 600 yards (550 m) further back and the infantry moved to the attack. The attackers ran into devastating machine gun fire (there was no artillery

2147:

From its formation in 1908 the TF's artillery units wore identical uniforms to the Regular Royal Artillery; the exceptions were the brass shoulder titles, which consisted of the letter 'T' over 'RFA' over 'LONDON', and the cap badge, which did not carry the motto

1597:). A route was found through the first belt of minefields ('January') on the first night and 44th (HC) Division succeeded in passing the second minefield ('February') the next night, but the armour was unable to exploit beyond. The second phase of the offensive, 856:

The 2/2nd London Division came into existence quickly as volunteers rushed to join up. There were no guns or horses for the artillery, but the batteries improvised dummy guns mounted on handcarts, with wooden sights and washing-lines for drag-ropes. Although the

617:

from the French. In August the divisional artillery was rested for the first time since March, and the brigade began training on the 4.5-inch howitzer for when these became available. The Loos sector had been selected for the next major British attack (the

957:(Salonika), where the four-gun establishment was still in force, and the batteries reverted to their original organisation; the former sections from CCC Bde left and formed a composite B/CCC Bty, which remained in France as an instructional battery at 811:

through October. By now the gun lines were crowded together in deep mud, guns sank up to their axles, and getting ammunition through was extremely difficult. The artillery was finally relieved on 14 October and followed the rest of the division to the

803:, finally securing the ruins on 3 October. This allowed the batteries to cross the High Wood Ridge into a small valley where they remained for the rest of the Somme fighting, helping to cover the unsuccessful attacks by 47th (2nd L) Division and later 677:

On 19 January 1916 the batteries of 1/VIII London Bde were re-equipped with modern 4.5-inch howitzers, for which they had been training since August. On 4 February it was joined by B (H) Bty and a subsection of the Brigade Ammunition Column (BAC) from

961:. The BAC was also reformed. Once the brigade was in Macedonia, the six-gun battery establishment was introduced there as well, and this time C Bty was broken up to bring A and B Btys up to six guns each (D (H) Hty became C (H) on 20 June 1917). 1107:, and the London battalions that relieved them came under fierce counter-attacks on 29 November; only the supporting British artillery fire allowed them to maintain their position. However, the way was now open to attack the final defences of 827:, the other in the Railway Dugouts. These battery positions were under enemy observation and were frequently shelled during the winter. On 16 January 1917 a German attack was anticipated, and the divisional artillery, together with that of 567:

Although 2nd London Division suffered few casualties at Aubers Ridge, its gunners had learned a sobering lesson about the impossibility of suppressing strong defences with inadequate guns and shells. On 11 May the division was redesignated

1946:

fighting. Authorisation for the regiment to carry the '8th London' subtitle was officially given on 17 February 1942, two days following the surrender. The regiment was officially disbanded on 1 January 1947, when the TA was reformed.

410:

The new headquarters (HQ) was established at 'Oaklands', St Margaret's Road (later St Margaret's Grove), Plumstead, soon after the units split. VIII Brigade also had a presence at the old 2nd Kent RGA drill hall at Bloomfield Road,

1586:, with 44th Divisional Artillery joining in 'to give the enemy tanks a hot reception'. Over the next two days the Panzers made repeated attacks but 44th (HC) Division held its position and by 3 September it was counter-attacking. 1193:

establishment, releasing three-quarters of its London infantry units for service in France and replacing them with Indian units; however, this did not affect the artillery, which continued to serve with the division in Palestine.

653:, with Observation Posts (OPs) in the cottages of Maroc, which had become known as 'Artillery Row' during the earlier battle. The guns carried out a great deal of counter-battery (CB) work against battery positions in and around 1667:

during the night of 28/29 April, it succeeded but was driven off the position the following morning. Montgomery realised that the division needed time to learn battlecraft. It went into action again during the final advance on

2063: 973:

began on 14 November and was a slow business due to lack of facilities: the drivers needed their wooden trench bridges to get their horses aboard the trains. All units were embarked and at sea by 12 December and proceeded to

1531:. Replacement guns, modern 25-pounders, began to arrive on 18 July, but there were acute shortages of gunsights and of small arms. In October 44th (HC) Division returned to invasion-threatened South East England with 1451:

chewed up, but there was no breakthrough: it was the deep penetration further east that forced the BEF to withdraw. Next day the BEF fell back to the 'Canal Line', and 44th (HC) Division was withdrawn into reserve.

589:. During 15 May feint bombardments mimicking the moment of assault were carried out, but the actual attack was made after dark with some success. The fighting went on for several days, and between 18 and 20 May the 2384:

It was unusual for Reserve or 3rd Line TF units to be sent on active service; the few cases appear to be where both the 1st and 2nd Lines had gone overseas very early in the war (such as the four battalions of the

2016: 5104:

Amateur Gunners: the Adventures of an Amateur Soldier in France. Salonika and Palestine in the Royal Field Artillery, Recording Some Exploits of the 2/22nd County of London Howitzer Battery RFA on Active

2024: 2020: 451:

On the outbreak of war the brigade was commanded by a Regular officer, Maj W.E. Emery, who was a Temporary Lt-Col in the TF. When war was declared in August 1914, VIII London Bde had only just arrived at

2374:

Army Council Instruction 856 of 20 April 1916 implies that R (H) Bty was B (H) Bty of CLXXVI Bde redesignated, but Becke regards it as separate, giving the brigade the four batteries it is known to have

1178:, and with its communications back to the Jordan threatened, the raiding force withdrew on 30–31 March. The EEF then settled down to defend its Jordan bridgeheads. CCCIII Brigade played no part in the 646:

next day, but the results at the Hohenzollern were so disappointing that the operation was cancelled. The division took over the line and the artillery was in constant action over the following weeks.

555:

required a direct hit from an HE shell to be put out of action. The second attack failed as badly as the first, as did two others launched during the afternoon, and the survivors were pinned down in

1605:, collecting prisoners, but XIII Corps was short of transport and was left behind as Eighth Army drove westwards. Shortly afterwards 44th (HC) Division HQ was disbanded, and its units distributed. 5208: 949:) by firing short concentrated bombardments on specific sectors of the enemy line. Some trench raids were preceded by local wire-cutting bombardments, or by a barrage, others were 'stealth' raids. 1323:

In 1926 the unit became the first TA field artillery brigade to be mechanised, replacing their draught horses with agricultural tractors. By 1930, 257 (21st London) Bty had moved to South Street,

2290:

A bronze plaque bearing the Roll of Honour of the men of 65th (8th London) and 118th Field Rgts who died during the Second World War, previously at the Eltham drill hall, is now at Napier House.

638:, the attacking portion of 47th (2nd L) Division made good progress towards its limited objective on the first day (25 September). However, events had not played out so well further north at the 1103:, where the objectives were a tangle of hill slopes, with tracks so bad that it was impossible to bring up the guns until roads had been made for them. Nebi Samwil had been captured by units of 779:. Casualties among FOOs and signallers was heavy in this kind of fighting. Between 9 and 11 September 47th (2nd L) Division took over the front in the High Wood sector, and on 15 September the 460:

for its annual training camp, and it was immediately recalled to London to mobilise. After completing their mobilisation the 2nd London Division's artillery brigades moved to the country round

1601:, was launched on the night of 27/28 October. Eventually, the armour broke through, and next day came signs that the enemy was withdrawing. 44th (HC) Division took some part in the pursuit to 4596:

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,

2271:

Two wooden memorial crosses erected at High Wood and Eaucourt l'Abbaye by 47th (2nd London) Division in 1916 were replaced in stone in 1925. The restored wooden crosses were preserved at the

1320:(RA) on 1 June 1924, its units were redesignated as 'Field Brigades' and 'Field Batteries', RA. In the reformed TA, 65th (8th London) Field Bde was again part of 47th (2nd London) Division. 5203: 2059: 892:

The division was warned to prepare for embarkation to the Western Front. On 17–18 May the artillery brigades were converted to the establishment adopted by the BEF: 2/VIII Bde was numbered

2172: 1739:

but failed to cross the river the following day and had to wait until 16 October before it could cross and begin the pursuit through rough country beyond. This brought the division to the

1144: 514: 1651:, 65th (8th London) Fd Rgt transferred to the London division on 22 April and remained with it until the end of the war. The inexperienced division was scheduled to take part in the 1179: 2167:

originally worn by 567 LAA/SL Rgt, while Q (Queen's Own) Bty retained the supplementary shoulder title 'THE QUEEN'S OWN' originally worn by 569 LAA/SL Rgt. The RA does not possess

2112:

at Grove Park. The battery was later redesignated an Air Assault Bty. Napier House Army Reserve Centre at Baring Road, Grove Park, continues as the location of RHQ and 265 Bty.

702: 698: 694: 1628:

successfully driving in the enemy outposts with the support of the whole divisional artillery. The following day it pushed on to the wadi itself, and began the assault with

5198: 844:

However, CCXXXVIII Brigade's headquarters was abolished on 21 January 1917, and the brigade ceased to exist for the rest of the war. The batteries were dispersed: 34th to

1724:). H-Hour was at 03.30, the division's leading infantry landing craft touched down at 03.35 covered by naval gunfire, and 65th Fd Rgt's guns were all in action at 18.00. 1259:. At the end of the month the division went into GHQ reserve while continuing its training. It took its place in the line on 14 July, and the participated in the Allied 1174:, though the field artillery could not get forward in the wet conditions, even with double teams of horses. Without artillery support the division failed to capture the 1327:, and 260 (24th London) at Plumstead had exchanged with 259 (23rd London) at Eltham. Then about December 1934, Brigade HQ, 257 and 260 Btys moved to 43/45 Eltham Road, 5193: 2097: 1099:

under heavy rain, then began a 42 miles (68 km) march through the mud to Junction Station, which it reached on 22 November. It now entered the last stage of the

1224:, though still with some responsibility for internal security and seizing illegal arms. The division ceased to exist on 31 May 1919 and CCCIII Bde was disbanded. 759:

The two wooden memorial crosses originally erected at High Wood and Eaucourt l'Abbaye by 47th (2nd London) Division in 1916, now at Connaught House in Camberwell.

360: 2092:

On 4 October 1961 the regiment dropped the 'LAA' part of its title, then on 18 March 1964 'Light Air Defence' was substituted. When the TA was reduced into the

1279:

The TF was reconstituted on 7 February 1920 and the unit reformed at Plumstead as 8th London (Howitzer) Bde, though now with four batteries numbered 21st–24th.

1212:

After the battle the pursuit was carried out by the mounted troops and 60th Division was left behind on salvage duties. It was still in the rear areas when the

534: 2298:

Captain A. Douglas Thorburn wrote an account of his experiences with 2/22nd County of London Howitzer Battery on the Western Front, at Salonika and Palestine.

1822: 885:. On 28 April the brigade was brought up to three batteries by the arrival of 4/LX (H) Bty, a Kitchener's Army battery that had originally been raised for the 1582:). The division held the Alam Halfa ridge when the attack came in on 30 August. The Panzer attack was ragged, but a fierce battle broke out between them and 4581:

History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)

2312: 2120: 1116: 775:

Wood, and became familiar with the ground over which 47th (2nd L) Division was later to attack, while supporting 15th (S) Division's gradual encroachment on

1335: 1407: 2160:

over a scroll with the county motto 'INVICTA', below which were the letters KAV (for Kent Artillery Volunteers, the 8th Londons' parent unit) in white.

3210: 2307: 2105: 2002: 493: 2096:(TAVR) in 1967, the regiment was split up. Regimental HQ, together with HQ Royal Artillery of 44th (Home Counties) Division/District, became RHQ for 2403: 521:

holding the line, the TF field batteries with their obsolescent guns were interspersed with those of the two Regular divisions equipped with modern

1751:. Attacks at Monte Camino continued in early December, with large numbers of guns in support, until the division seized the heights on 6 December. 5188: 1973:

to assist the repatriation of PoWs. Lieutenant-Colonel C.E. Mackellar, the regiment's commanding officer, was previously a prisoner following the

1914: 1633:

forward troops broke down; the division was permitted to retire on 23 March as Eighth Army carried out a 'left hook' and broke through elsewhere.

1629: 689:

The field artillery of the BEF was reorganised in May 1916, with the brigades being numbered and the batteries lettered. 1/VIII London Bde became

133: 529:. However, ammunition was very scarce, and they were restricted to three rounds per gun per day during April. Ammunition was being saved for the 1357:

at Plumstead by separating 259 (23 London) and 260 (24 London) Btys. 65th Field Rgt remained with 44th (HC) Division while 118th formed part of

767:. While the infantry underwent training with the newly introduced tanks, the divisional artillery went into the line on 14 August in support of 4819: 2093: 1978: 1677: 1625: 1583: 1004: 710: 518: 1873:(15–19 April) despite the shortage of artillery ammunition. Once through the gap, 56th (L) Division drove on through German rearguards to the 1028:

in early July 1917. Further intensive training followed until late October, when the division made its first full-scale attack of the war, at

823:

sector, where intensive mine and trench warfare had been conducted for two years. The divisional artillery was arranged in two groups, one in

4885: 4869: 4733: 4714: 4648: 4493: 1783: 1617: 2665: 901: 897: 679: 598: 420: 877:. Finally, at the end of 1915 it began to receive new 4.5-inch howitzers and towards the end of January 1916 the division moved to the 1500: 623: 634:

infantry brigades, while the rest of the division stood firm while firing continuously on the German trenches opposite. Supported by

5119: 5096: 5081: 5063: 5040: 5013: 4994: 4975: 4956: 4941: 4926: 4911: 4854: 4835: 4812: 4797: 4782: 4767: 4752: 4682: 4667: 4633: 4618: 4603: 4588: 3686: 2195: 1624:. For this battle 50th (N) Division was tasked with assaulting the Wadi Zigzaou, which opened on the night of 16/17 March 1943 with 1288: 1159: 845: 1189:

and consequent British manpower crisis on the Western Front, 60th (2/2nd L) Division was changed between 25 May and 1 August to an

1170:, and during the night 24/5 March CCCIII Bde went over to support the infantry advance. The reinforced division advanced as far as 987:

them up a feeding times. In early March the division began moving in bad weather to take over the line between Lake Doiran and the

787: 2340: 2135:. Meanwhile, the RA cadre was disbanded on 1 April 1971 to form C (London & Kent Royal Artillery) Bty in 6th (Volunteer) Bn, 1358: 1291:(TA) in 1921, the brigade was redesignated 65th (London) Brigade, regaining its '8th London' title the following year to become: 1896:

in the immediate aftermath of the fighting. 65th (8th London) Field Regiment was placed in suspended animation on 15 June 1946.

1342:. When the RA adopted the term 'regiment' instead of the obsolete 'brigade' for a lieutenant-colonel's command, the unit became 4451: 2132: 2015:

was disbanded on 10 March 1955 and there were wholesale mergers among the TA's AA units. 265 (8th London) HAA Regt merged with

1648: 1256: 1024:(EEF), where its units were reorganised (the BACs were absorbed into the DAC once more) and underwent training before crossing 635: 328: 129: 2104:

batteries and in the 1970s the 'Eastern' subtitle was replaced by 'Yeomanry'. In 1999 the regiment was reorganised, and a new

1941:. However, the regiment's ammunition was scarce and water supplies were running out. A small cadre from each unit was sent to 1782:

began an offensive against 56th (L) Division that produced no change in the line. When the attack was widened to the front of

4431: 2770: 2139:. In 1975 this was converted to infantry as D Company in a combined 6th/7th Bn Queen's, and the artillery lineage was ended. 1858: 1593:), 44th (HC) Division was to lead one of XIII Corps' thrusts through the enemy minefields on the first night, 23/24 October ( 1240:

It served with this brigade at Beersheba (where the battery's howitzers were dragged into action by the pack-mules of 5th Bn

1104: 858: 832: 828: 717: 4567:

Lewisham Gunners: A Centenary History of 291st (4th London) Field Regiment R.A. (T.A.) formerly 2nd Kent R.G.A. (Volunteers)

2272: 1835:

infantry were recuperating, 56th (L) Division's artillery was brought up to reinforce V Corps' fire-plan for the capture of

934:

between 22 and 26 June, with CCCIII Bde under the command of Lt-Col N. Bayley. The division concentrated in the area behind

3722: 1503:. Covered by this rearguard, the remnants of the division reached the beaches for embarkation, reaching England on 1 June. 1454:

Cut off, the BEF fell back towards the coast, with 44th (HC) Division given the responsibility of defending the area round

5160: 1779: 1339: 1136:

and allow 181st Bde to resume the advance. The Jerusalem defences were then garrisoned by 179th Bde backed by CCCIII Bde.

705:) Bde. The BAC was also absorbed into the Divisional Ammunition Column. This gave the brigade the following organisation: 577: 372: 336: 125: 5155: 4535: 3620: 2386: 1598: 1563: 1061: 1057: 1053: 1033: 1021: 866: 569: 435: 308: 194: 121: 117: 1041:

moving forward as the guns lifted. By 13.00 the whole of the defence works were in British hands, and that evening the

2216: 2199: 1918: 1681: 1571: 1492: 958: 780: 497: 300: 222: 1205:, 60th Division was transferred to the coastal sector where the breakthrough was to be made. The opening attack (the 926:

On 14 June 1916 orders arrived for 60th (2/2nd L) Division to embark, and the artillery units made the crossing from

4626:

History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 3b: New Army Divisions (30–41) and 63rd (R.N.) Division

1708:

Because of Montgomery's doubts, 56th (L) Division was not in fact used in Operation Husky. Instead it moved back to

730:

By now the brigade was commanded by Lt-Col E.H. Eley, who had commanded 22nd London Bty from its formation in 1908.

2006: 1854:, forcing its way into Sant'Andrea on 31 December. However, ammunition shortages limited the use of the artillery. 1532: 1029: 631: 627: 542: 3156: 1870: 1787:

56th (L) Division was by now so weak that it was relieved and on 28 March went by sea to Egypt for recuperation.

1696: 1652: 1621: 862: 3923: 3908: 3893: 3878: 3848: 3833: 3818: 3803: 3788: 3773: 3745: 2228: 2184: 1796: 1764: 1721: 1685: 1590: 1386:

The regiment mobilised at Lee Green under the command of Lt-Col C.C. West and on 25 September 1939 it moved to

1284: 1280: 1264: 1234: 1202: 939: 886: 768: 594: 538: 3863: 1608: 795:

47th (2nd L) Division came back into the line to relieve 1st Division on 28/29 September, and began attacking

533:

on 9 May, when the 5-inch howitzers of 1/VIII London Bde joined with those of IV West Riding Bde, the 4.5s of

5166:

Stepping Forward: A Tribute to the Volunteer Military Reservists and Supporting Auxiliaries of Greater London

1759:

bridgehead on 23 January, but at the end of the month was ordered to pull out and go by sea to reinforce the

2721: 2240: 1949:

Not everyone was prepared to surrender: John Crawley gathered 60 Non-Commissioned Officers and men, found a

1579: 1539:

associated with its own battery.) 65th Field Rgt formed 445 Bty on 7 January 1941 while it was stationed at

1496: 1443: 1391: 1245: 1186: 1148: 1069: 804: 755: 2257: 2253: 2233: 2203: 1889: 1831: 1815:

high ground. There followed hard methodical fighting to clear the Germans off successive ridge lines (the

1370: 1366: 1353:

the TA was rapidly doubled in size. On 15 June 1939, 65th (8th London) Field Regiment created a duplicate

1260: 670: 530: 522: 431: 416: 324: 169: 4691:

History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940

430:

each, the batteries of IV and VIII Brigades were intended to provide indirect fire support for the TF's

17: 2012: 1716:

for further training, and then put to sea on 1 September for the invasion of mainland Italy, landing at

1641: 1520: 1241: 1167: 1122: 1100: 1073: 800: 650: 590: 364: 1338:

and the remaining London units were reassigned. By the outbreak of war in 1939 65th Fd Bde had joined

1139:

There was a pause in operations until February 1918 when the EEF moved to drive the Turks east of the

4655: 1998: 1962: 1882: 1816: 1042: 808: 796: 639: 526: 151: 4775:

History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Years of Defeat: Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941

4688: 2352:

However, VIII London (H) Brigade was photographed training with wooden guns and mule teams in 1909.

2280: 2157: 2136: 1957:, but were captured before they reached safety. Crawley spent the rest of the war as a resourceful 1744: 1594: 1478:, and were immediately engaged by enemy infantry. Then came orders to move to a strong position at 1415: 1213: 1190: 1112: 764: 683: 654: 573: 547: 513:

While the division's infantry were introduced to trench routine by being attached in groups to the

479:

After mobilisation TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. On 15 August 1914, the

253: 232: 217: 199: 184: 174: 5070: