7th County of London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

565:. Despite the continuing shortage of ammunition, the plan this time was for a long methodical bombardment. On 13 and 14 May the field guns carried out three two-hour deliberate bombardments each day, attacking the wire with slow observed fire or keeping the enemy communication trenches under fire. At night they carried out intermittent bombardments of the communication trenches and defences, to stop supplies being brought up and to prevent repairs being carried out. The guns fired about 100 rounds per day. 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 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 further. This effectively ended the battle. The heavy rate of fire during the battle was too much for the old 15-pdrs: by 26 May, 11 out of 36 guns in the division were out of action. 1007: 999:) 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. Sheria was captured at daybreak the following morning, without artillery preparation, but afterwards there was heavy fighting, and several Turkish counter-attacks were broken up by the field guns. The infantry brigade groups continued their advance the following day, supported by their artillery groups (Fergusson's Group supporting 181st Bde in the Right Column), and entered 2142: 2130: 1568: 311: 602: 682:

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.

1754: 2166: 731: 2154: 1786: 1858: 691: 1742: 1058: 771:. CCXXXVII Brigade's headquarters was abolished on 29 November, and the brigade ceased to exist for the rest of the war. However, the 7th Londons' war memorial in Fulham includes those later battles on the Western Front in which the two successor batteries were engaged. Lord Gorell was mortally wounded on 15 January 1917 when acting as FOO for his battery. 'A pre-war Territorial officer of high professional attainments, and at times almost reckless courage, his loss was universally mourned'. 1038:; 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, but CCCII Bde got though and eventually came into action within close rifle range of the enemy. C (H) Battery, together with C (H)/CCCI Bty, came up through Qalonye and supported 837: 32: 56: 73: 975:. 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 brigades; CCCII Bde was part of Left Group supporting 1261:, Fulham, by separating 255 (20th London) and 256 (17th London) Btys (it was officially given the '7th London' subtitle in 1942). 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 470:

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/VII London Brigade was formed in September 1914.

1830:(1st AGRA) a new kind of formation developed by the gunnery tacticians as powerful artillery brigades, usually comprising three medium regiments and one heavy regiment, which could be rapidly moved about the battlefield, and had the punch to destroy enemy artillery. The first AGRA HQs had been formed in August 1942 and officially sanctioned in November in time for Torch. 1st AGRA came into action in February 1943 on 1282: 303: 1552:). 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 1161:) 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. 932:

preparation. 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

424: 1769:, on 2 January 1940 from the cadre provided the previous month by 64th (7th London) Field Rgt. It was formed of four batteries, A, B, C and D, which were redesignated P, Q, R and S respectively on 11 March 1942. The regiment never received the '7th London' subtitle, but was included on the 7th Londons' regimental war memorial after WWII. In May 1940 it was photographed at 984:

lifted, and taking the hill in 10 minutes. As soon as new OPs had been established on the hill the batteries galloped forward over the stony ground to begin wire-cutting on the main Turkish position. The general advance was resumed at 12.15 and 181st Bde captured its objectives easily. By 13.00 the whole of the defence works were in British hands, and that evening the

1046:; the hill was carried with great dash at the point of the bayonet. The division consolidated its gains that evening. The advance was resumed the following morning and 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 1650: 727:(DSO) for this work. 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. 882:(Salonika), where the four-gun establishment was still in force, and the batteries reverted to their original organisation; 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. 637:) at Calonne, no more than 300 yards (270 m) from the front line, from where it could shoot laterally at the railway triangle east of Loos. 'Although searched for by every type of missile, including trench-mortar bombs, the gun remained in action for several weeks, until the battery left the neighbourhood'. 2104:, together with the regiment's own memorials. The 1914-18 memorial (carrying 139 names) include battle honours for the Western Front after 1/VII Bde had formally ceased to exist, and those for 2/VII Bde in Palestine. The 64th Field, 117th Field and 56th Heavy regiments are all included on the 1939-45 memorial. 1006: 1531:

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.

676:

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

681:

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

617:

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. On 6 November 1915 the batteries of 1/VII London Bde were re-equipped with modern 18-pounders, for

469:

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

1503:

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

718:

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

1579:

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

1353:

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

864:

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

983:

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. At 08.30 the guns switched from wire-cutting to intensive bombardment, 181st Bde moving forward as the guns

539:

to suppress the defenders) and they found that the wire 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

931:

sector 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

1472:

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

1065:

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

1070:

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. The Nablus Road defences were then garrisoned, with CCCII Bde in reserve.

1129:

garrisoning a bridgehead at the Wadi el Auja confluence. The Turks attacked the Auja bridgehead on 11 April but were driven off, the artillery observers on the high ground to the west having 'an admirable view'. Later that month the 60th (2/2nd L) Division played its part in the

1876:. For example, it was alongside 56th (L) Division's guns firing in support of 201st Guards Brigade's attack on 'Bare Arse Ridge' on 6 November during the Battle of Monte Camino. It supported 56th (L) Division again during the assault crossing of the Garigliano in January 1944. 486:

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

792:, was pleased with their work and promised them the first guns available, it was not until February 1915 that some old 15-pdrs arrived for training. In March 1915 the division took the place of 1/2nd London Division in the St Albans area. At the end of May, now numbered 1078:. 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. At 02.30 on 21 February 719:

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. The first to arrive was 1/19th Bty under its commander, Maj

779:

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

2141: 1350:, even though it was only partially equipped (its two field artillery regiments had 11 x 18/25-pounders, 4 x 18-pounders and 8 x 4.5-inch howitzers between them, and it had no anti-tank guns). It was redesignated 56th (London) Division in November 1940. 540:

locate the hidden German machine gun positions, which 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

2129: 754:

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

746:, 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 594:, the attacking portion of 47th (2nd L) Division made good progress towards its limited objective, and 15th (S) Division had almost broken through, though it had failed to take Hill 70. However, events had not played out so well further north at the 577:

from the French. In August the divisional artillery was rested for the first time since March, and the brigade began training on the 18-pounder for when these became available. The Loos sector had been selected for the next major British attack (the

762:

A further reorganisation of field artillery in the BEF was carried out in November 1916. To increase the batteries of other brigades of the division to six guns each, CCCXXXVII Bde was split up: B battery and half of A battery formed C Battery in

1034:, 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 1722:

and the draining away of men and units to Normandy, 47th (L) Division was dispersed in August 1944. It was reformed as a reserve division with a training and draft finding role in September 1944, when 117th Field Rgt quickly rejoined. After

552:

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

1919:

began to transfer selected British and Canadian forces from the Italian Front to reinforce 21st Army Group for its final offensive into Germany. 56th Heavy Rgt was one of the units transferred in an operation that involved a sea voyage to

1727:

was disbanded in January 1945, two of its batteries joined 117th as holding units: 138 Bty on 23 January and 156 Bty on 12 May. 117th (7th London) Field Regiment and all five batteries were placed in suspended animation on 23 March 1946.

923:. Their 'Katerini Trek' was a strenuous six-day march in bad weather, across flooded rivers, but the Salonika–Katerini railway was soon repaired, making supply more straightforward The Greek troops showed no signs of interfering with the 1825:

56th Heavy Regiment landed in North Africa with 16 x 7.2-inch howitzers and reached the front line in Tunisia in mid-January 1943 – the first Royal Artillery regiment of heavy artillery to go overseas since Dunkirk. It formed part of

1149:

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.

582:), to which part of 47th (2nd L) Division would provide the southern 'hinge'. 1/VII London Bde with its obsolescent guns was not assigned a major role in the complex artillery plan, and it remained in reserve behind the attack of 1781:

of First World War vintage. The 9.2-inch was an effective but relatively immobile siege gun. The regiment was serving in Eastern Command of Home Forces, and transferred to South-Eastern Command when that was split off in 1941.

1428:

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

815:

On 28 April 1916 3/3rd Wessex Bty arrived as a fourth 18-pdr battery for 2/VII London Brigade. Then, as with the TF artillery brigades in the BEF, those in 60th Division were numbered on 17 May, 2/VII Londons taking the number

894:

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

1469:). H-Hour was at 03.30, the division's leading infantry landing craft touched down at 03.35 covered by naval gunfire, and 64th Fd Rgt's guns began landing at 06.00. The whole regiment was in action at 17.15. 723:, who brought it up into the shell-hole area immediately behind High Wood. He then made a reconnaissance of the whole divisional front with Maj E.H.Marshall of 1/18th Bty. Lord Gorell was awarded a 4517: 871:) 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. 1030:, 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 714:. 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 1990: 874:

On 30–31 August the divisional artillery underwent the same reorganisation into six-gun batteries that was going on throughout the BEF. In CCCII Bde this meant A and half of B Bty joined from

2107:

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

4512: 3997:

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

1228: 1138:

the Londoners could not break through the Turkish positions in the foothills, and the raiding force was withdrawn on 4 May. 60th (2/2nd L) Division then went into Corps Reserve for a rest.

1692:. However, from December 1941, 47th (L) Division was no longer considered part of the field force and was placed on a lower establishment, though it remained in the static defences of the 1665:

in the UK for the whole war. During the Phoney War period it was stationed to defend London as part of Eastern Command. However, after the Dunkirk the poorly-equipped division was sent to

1484:

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

535:. 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 500: 1172:

began and units were gradually reduced to cadres, though still with some responsibility for internal security and seizing illegal arms. The division ceased to exist on 31 May 1919.

1131: 4507: 1209: 1082:

were ordered to Nebi Musa, which they reached by 06.00, but it took 38 hours of struggle for a battery of CCCII Bde to cover the same distance. On 21 February the Australian

662: 347: 3680:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional Units), 14 August 1942, with amendments, TNA files WO 212/7 and WO 33/1927.

2165: 1955:, where they established a concentration area for surrendered German troops and equipment. The regiment also took over the coastal defences from their German garrisons. 1220:(RA) on 1 June 1924, its units were redesignated as 'Field Brigades, RA'. In the reformed TA, 64th (7th London) Field Bde was again part of 47th (2nd London) Division. 1114:, 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 4502: 4497: 1026:

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

633:. However, there was now a policy of pushing a few guns close up behind the infantry's trenches, and a gun of 1/19th Bty was brought into action from the mine pit ( 613:

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

1673:. It was redesignated 47th (London) Division in November 1940. 117th Field Rgt formed its third battery HQ, 482 Bty, on 21 January 1941, while it was stationed at 1986: 694:

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.

629:, with Observation Posts (OPs) in the cottages of Maroc. The guns carried out a great deal of counter-battery (CB) work against battery positions in and around 1164:

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

1801:(a relined 8-inch howitzer from the First World War) began to be issued to heavy regiments in 1942, and by then the regiment had its own signal section of the 1567: 3701:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional Units), 22 November 1942, TNA files WO 212/8 and WO 33/1962.

1997:, to which the regiment contributed P (7th London) Bty at Fulham High Street. 254 (City of London) Rgt in turn was reduced into S (City of London) Bty in the 3982:

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)

3659:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional units), 22 October 1941, TNA files WO 212/6 and WO 33/1883.

1051: 710:

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

310: 3650:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional Units), 25 March 1941, TNA files WO 212/5 and WO 33/2323.

1236: 507:

holding the line, the TF field batteries with their obsolescent 15-pounders were interspersed with those of the two Regular divisions equipped with modern

366:, in West London. The VII (or 7th) London Brigade was formed on 1 May 1908 from Nos 8–10 Companies of the 1st City Artillery, descended from part of the 1416:, covering approximately 3,200 miles (5,100 km) between 19 March and 19 April 1943. As soon as it arrived it was thrown into the last stages of the 306:

Drill Hall built at Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, in 1898 for some of the batteries of the 1st City London Artillery, later used by the 7th London Brigade.

511:. However, ammunition was very scarce, and the guns were restricted to three rounds per gun per day during April. Ammunition was being saved up for the 645:

On 24 April 1/VII London Bde was joined by an additional 4-gun battery, manned by half of 93rd Bty RFA, a Regular battery that had come to France from

1806: 479: 258:

formed in West London in the 1860s, which had later been incorporated into a larger London unit. Together with its wartime duplicate it served on the

1998: 2153: 1496:. Attacks at Monte Camino continued in early December, with large numbers of guns in support, until the division seized the heights on 6 December. 4492: 1842: 1180:

The TF was reconstituted on 7 February 1920 and 7th London Bde, RFA, was reformed at Fulham High Street. When the TF was reorganised as the new

702:. While the infantry underwent training with the newly-introduced tanks, the divisional artillery went into the line on 14 August in support of 4185: 3602: 2002: 1438: 1235:

in 1929 and appointed commander, Royal Artillery (CRA) of 47th Division in 1934. In 1935 most of 47th (2nd London) Division was converted into

504: 1618:(15–19 April) despite the shortage of artillery ammunition. Once through the gap, 56th (L) Division drove on through German rearguards to the 971:

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

4236: 4087: 4036: 4021: 3905: 1724: 1528: 3668:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery (Non-Divisional units), 2 April 1942, TNA file WO 212/515.

2097:. The left-hand (northern) figure flanking this memorial depicts a Royal Artilleryman representative of the various London Artillery units. 1239:

and the remaining London units including 64th Fd Bde were organised with those of 56th (1st London) Division into a single London Division.

875: 821: 768: 764: 601: 2364: 948:, leaving CCCII Bde with just two batteries until 10 October when 413 (H) Bty arrived to become C (H) Bty (413 (H) Bty was a New Army (' 848:

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

371: 3641:

Order of Battle of the Field Force in the United Kingdom, Part 3: Royal Artillery, 26 December 1940, TNA files WO 212/4 and WO 33/2365.

665:). At the same time the brigade ammunition columns (BACs) were abolished and incorporated into the divisional ammunition column (DAC). 314:

Entrance to the former drill hall of the 7th County of London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 86 Fulham Road, in 2012 (now demolished).

1939:

with 1st Canadian AGRA. By now it had adopted the new standard organisation of two batteries of 4 x 7.2-inch howitzers and two of 4 x

618:

which they had been training since August; ammunition supply also improved. Colonel Chambers was succeeded as CO by Lt-Col W.E. Peal,

4433: 4418: 4403: 4385: 4362: 4341: 4322: 4303: 4284: 4269: 4254: 4220: 4201: 4178: 4163: 4148: 4129: 4110: 4070: 4055: 4004: 3989: 3310: 1864:

tractor towing a 7.2-inch howitzer of 18 Bty, 56th Heavy Regiment, round a tight corner in 46th Division's sector, 23 December 1943.

1715:

as a self-propelled field artillery regiment, but it does not seem to have served in this role and remained with 47th (L) Division.

1181: 1099: 804:. Finally, at the end of November it began to receive new 18-pdr guns and towards the end of January 1916 the division moved to the 587: 291: 1145:

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

952:') battery formed in 1917 and equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers). On 8 August, the brigade's CO, Lt-Col Drake, was promoted to 915:

against the base at Salonika. It was followed a few days later by a cross-country column comprising CCCII Bde, the transport and a

1670: 1312: 1873: 1753: 1662: 1641:

in the immediate aftermath of the fighting. 64th (7th London) Field Regiment was placed in suspended animation on 15 May 1946.

967:(EEF), where its units were reorganised (the BACs were absorbed into the DAC once more) and underwent training before crossing 591: 367: 283: 112: 3212: 2100:

Each unit listed also had a brass plaque depicting the memorial: the 7th London Brigade's is in the Parish Memorial Garden at

1527:

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

1242:

When the RA adopted the term 'regiment' instead of the obsolete 'brigade' for a lieutenant-colonel's command, the unit became

2465: 1869: 1827: 1603: 1389:. The troops in PAIC were, therefore, free to undergo intensive training, and 56th (L) Division was selected for the planned 1031: 785: 781: 720: 2108: 1580:

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

1381:(PAIC) in November. By the time it arrived, the threats to the Persian oilfields had diminished with the British victory at 856:

between 22 and 26 June, with CCCII Bde under the command of Lt-Col H.M. Drake. The division concentrated in the area behind

730: 1975: 1524: 562: 1409: 1039: 996: 976: 964: 904: 793: 554: 403: 287: 267: 213: 169: 108: 104: 4464: 2065: 1810: 1442: 1382: 724: 715: 619: 483: 446:

Chambers. After completing their mobilisation the 2nd London Division's artillery brigades moved to the country round

259: 1947:

aerodrome and returned its ammunition to the supply column. The personnel were then moved through liberated towns to

1157:, 60th Division was transferred to the coastal sector where the breakthrough was to be made. The opening attack (the 1273:

while 117th formed part of the newly-formed 2nd London Division, both divisions being organised as motor divisions.

1599:, forcing its way into Sant'Andrea on 31 December. However, ammunition shortages limited the use of the artillery. 1347: 1079: 972: 953: 583: 532: 2858: 1307:

period 1st London Division (commanded by the 7th Londons' former CO, now Maj-Gen Claude Liardet) was stationed in

2101: 1959: 1689: 1615: 1532:

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

1453:

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

1390: 1358: 1286: 920: 789: 3825: 3239: 2035: 1994: 1982: 1884: 1838: 1831: 1785: 1712: 1541: 1509: 1466: 1405: 1232: 1154: 945: 927:' operations, and the brigade group at Katerini marched out on 5 March to join the rest of the division in the 861: 703: 443: 339: 331: 738:

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

4470:

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

2147:

Second World War memorial to the 7th London Artillery in the churchyard of All Saints Church, Fulham, in 2012

1504:

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

1445:

coming south, whose leading troops were able to spot for X Corps' guns via 56th (L) Division's wireless net.

598:, and the battle raged on after 47th (2nd L) Division had been relieved between 28 September and 1 October. 2135:

First World War memorial to the 7th London Artillery in the churchyard of All Saints Church, Fulham, in 2012

1857: 1846: 1378: 1338:, the division was reformed as a conventional infantry division, defending the prime invasion area from the 1142: 1122: 1091: 1083: 820:(302 Bde), and the batteries were lettered. 3/3rd Wessex Bty was exchanged with 2/22nd (Howitzer) Bty from 747: 407: 3601:

Order of Battle of the Forces in the United Kingdom, Part 2: 21 Army Group, 24 July 1943, with amendments,

690: 2086: 2082: 2069: 1802: 1741: 1634: 1576: 1560:

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

1270: 1266: 1262: 841: 512: 508: 279: 182: 144: 4079:

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

1121:

The EEF settled down to defend its Jordan bridgeheads; CCCI Brigade was posted to support the Australian

515:

on 9 May, when the 15-pounders of 1/VII London Bde joined with the guns of 1st and 2nd Divisions and the

439:

for its annual training camp, and it was immediately recalled to London to mobilise under the command of

1461:

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

1253:

the TA was rapidly doubled in size. On 1 May 1939, 64th (7th London) Field Regiment created a duplicate

1118:, and with its communications back to the Jordan threatened, the raiding force withdrew on 30–31 March. 1107: 1090:, leaving the Turks with only small bridgeheads west of the Jordan. CCCII Brigade played no part in the 1057: 1027: 924: 743: 654: 650: 626: 516: 465:

On the outbreak of war, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. On 15 August 1914, the

335: 1074:

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

657:. This became R/VII Bty, but only stayed a short time: on 17 May 1916 1/VII London Bde was renumbered 4043: 2043: 1778: 1774: 1758: 1746: 1627: 1561: 1386: 1365:. Then in June 1942 it came under direct War Office control as it was prepared for overseas service. 1126: 985: 825: 751: 739: 595: 375: 1094:

that followed. 181st Brigade, with CCCII Bde (less one battery) in support, secured the line of the

4076: 2116: 1916: 1489: 1401: 1165: 1146: 1047: 949: 699: 630: 606: 558: 536: 499:

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

370:, which had been absorbed by the City of London Artillery in 1883. The commanding officer (CO) was 208: 187: 159: 149: 4392: