This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the units of the British artillery.

This photo, kindly supplied by Ros Davies, is of a gun team of 126 Brigade Royal Field Artillery

According to military historian John Terraine in his excellent White Heat - the new warfare 1914-18, "The war of 1914-18 was an artillery war: artillery was the battle-winner, artillery was what caused the greatest loss of life, the most dreadful wounds, and the deepest fear". The history and affiliations of every British artillery unit can be found on the Long, Long Trail.

The Royal Horse Artillery

The RHA was armed with light, mobile, horse-drawn guns that in theory provided firepower in support of the cavalry and in practice supplemented the Royal Field Artillery.

The Batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery

The Royal Field Artillery

The most numerous arm of the artillery, the horse-drawn RFA was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line and was reasonably mobile. It was organised into Brigades, which were under command of Divisions or higher formations.

The Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery
What did a Brigade of RFA comprise?

During the war a whole new form of artillery was developed to meet the unusual conditions of war on the Western Front: the trench mortar. The lighter weapons being manned by the infantry, the RFA provided the manpower for the heavier mortars:

The Trench Mortar Batteries

The Royal Garrison Artillery

The RGA developed from fortress-based artillery located on British coasts. From 1914 when the army possessed very little heavy artillery it grew into a very large component of the British forces. It was armed with heavy, large calibre guns and howitzers that were positioned some way behind the front line and had immense destructive power.

The Heavy Batteries of the RGA
The Siege Batteries of the RGA
The Mountain Batteries of the RGA
The Anti-Aircraft Artillery of the RGA
The Royal Marine Artillery

The Royal Horse, Field and Garrison artillery at home

A vast training structure of Reserve artillery units was created during the war, adding to the artillery kept at home for defence purposes.

The home-based artillery