The units of the Royal Field Artillery
This set of tables describes the formation, attachments and history of each Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. For details of movements and battles, click through to the Divisions concerned. Note: in early 1917 many RFA Brigades were detached from Divisions and placed under orders of higher formations. From this point they were known as Army Brigades. This change in command and organisational structure affected regular, Territorial and New Army units alike. In all of the unit designations below, "(H)" means "Howitzer". Throughout the war there was many changes, with batteries being moved from one brigade to another. This tended to blur the distinctions between regular, Territorial and New Army brigades, increasingly so as the war progressed.
RFA units of the regular army
As with all elements of the regular army, these units were, after being mobilised in August 1914, manned by a mixture of serving regulars, army and Special Reservists. From around October 1914 they began to be supplemented by wartime recruits and by the war's end the majority of the complement of most regular units were not career soldiers. In general the regular RFA units were under command of the regular Divisions, until from late 1915 they were increasingly mixed into the New Army Divisions
RFA units of the Territorial Force
In general the TF artillery units were under command of the TF Divisions although some were sent overseas early to supplement the firepower of regular Divisions.
RFA units of the New Armies
The "Kitchener" units were generally under command of the New Army Divisions.
RFA Brigades
Please note that this page is currently undergoing a complete rebuild. If the unit in which you are interested does not yet appear please check the old page.
Please also note that RFA Brigades often appear designated by Roman numerals.
1 Brigade (regular, I)
In August 1914 this bde was at Edinburgh and comprised numbers 13, 67 and 69 Batteries.
- 13 Battery left to join 17 Brigade
- 67 Battery left to join 20 Brigade RFA, changing places with 98 Brigade from 20 Brigade
The brigade was re-formed at Winchester on 23 November 1914 and came under command of 27th Division. It now comprised numbers 98, 132 and 133 Batteries. Went to France with the Division in December 1914 and moved with it to Salonika in late 1915.
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11 Battery joined from 15 Brigade on 9 February 1915. One section of 11 Battery left next day for 20 Brigade.
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133 Battery left for 129 Brigade on 25 July 1916.
- B Battery from 129 Brigade joined on the same day and was renamed as D (How) Battery.
- 98 Battery was broken up on 28 December 1916, the two sections joining 11 and 132 Batteries respectively. 132 Battery was then renamed as a new 98 Battery.
The brigade thus ended the war with 11, 98 and D (How) Batteries.
2 Brigade (regular, II)
In August 1914 this bde was in Ireland and comprised number 21, 42 and 53 Batteries. On mobilisation it came under orders of 6th Division. It landed in France with the Division in early September 1914 and remained within the Division on the Western Front for the rest of the war.
- On 12 May 1916 the brigade was joined by 87 (How) Battery (less one section) from 12 Brigade.
3 Brigade (regular, III)
In August 1914 this bde was at Jullundur in India under command of 3rd (Lahore) Division and comprised numbers 18, 62 and 75 Batteries (the latter being at Peshawar). It was ordered to England and arrived on 16 November 1914. The brigade was re-formed at Winchester, the batteries being split into sections that also formed 146 Brigade. 75 Battery left at this point and the brigade came under command of 27th Division. It now comprised numbers 18, 62 and 365 Batteries (the latter having been part of the original 62 Battery). Went to France with the Division in December 1914 and moved with it to Salonika in late 1915.
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22 Battery joined from 34 Brigade on 20 February 1915. It left before the Division moved to Salonika.
- D Battery joined from 146 Brigade on 10 August 1917 and now became D (How) Battery of 3 Brigade,
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365 Battery was broken up on 11 August 1917, the two sections joining 18 and 62 Batteries respectively.
The brigade thus ended the war with 18, 62 and D (How) Batteries.
4 Brigade (regular, IV)
Comprising numbers 7, 14 and 66 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army.
5 Brigade (regular, V)
Comprising numbers 64, 73 and 81 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army. It moved to the 3rd (Lahore) Division on 22 November 1914. When the Division left France, the brigade remained and eventually came under command of the 3rd Canadian Division (between 20 March and 13 July 1916) before going to the 4th Canadian Division in September 1916, with which it served until July 1917. At that point it became an Army Brigade and served with the following: Second Army in October 1917, Third Army in December 1917, First Army in February 1918, Fifth Army in July 1918 and finally returned to Fourth Army in October 1918.
6 (Howitzer) Brigade (regular, VI (How))
Comprising only number 77 Battery and based at Jhansi, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army. It remained in India throughout the war, leaving the Division when it went to France. In 1915-6 it was under the 1st (Peshawar) Division.
7 Brigade (regular, VII)
Comprising numbers 4, 38 and 78 Batteries RFA plus 68 and 84 Companies RGA and 104 Battery RGA and based at Rawalpindi, this brigade came under command of the 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division of the Indian Army. It remained in India throughout the war.
- 68 Company RGA left in August 1914 and became 68 Heavy Battery RGA.
- 104 Battery RGA left for Mesopotamia in March 1915.
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In June 1915 the 1/4th Sussex Battery TF joined the brigade. It left in June 1916.
- 77 (How) Battery arrived to replace 78 Battery in June 1917.
8 (Howitzer) Brigade (regular, VIII)
Comprising numbers 37, 61 and 65 (Howitzer) Batteries RFA , this brigade came under command of the 5th Division and was in Ireland. It landed at Le Havre in France in mid August 1914.
- 61 (How) battery left for 27th Division on 21 February 1915.
- The brigade was broken up on 21 May 1916; 37 (How) Battery less one of its sections went to 27 Brigade RFA; 65 (How) Battery less one of its sections went to 28 Brigade RFA; the two spare sections formed D Battery of 15 Brigade RFA.
8 Brigade (formed during the war, VIII)
A new 8 Brigade was formed in Norwich on 12 January 1917, comprising 372, 373, 374 and 375 Batteries. It moved to Mesopotamia, arriving at Basra in August 1917. In April 1918 it went on to Palestine and joined 3rd (Lahore) Division there in May 1918.
9 Brigade (regular, IX)
Comprising 19, 20 and 28 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army. It moved to France with the Division in 1914 and also went with it to Mesopotamia and Palestine in 1915 and 1917 respectively. On 1 April 1918 it transferred to the 52nd (Lowland) Division at Moascar (by which time it had been joined by D battery of 69 Brigade) and moved once again to France. It sailed from Alexandria on 4 April 1918 but its ship the Kingstonian was torpedoed en route. The guns and equipment were lost but the men were rescued and finally arrived at Marseilles on the ships Lychnis and Berberis 12 April. New guns and equipment were received by the brigade on 23-26 April 1918.
10 Brigade (regular, X)
Comprising 76, 81 and 82 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 6th (Poona) Division of the Indian Army. 63 Battery replaced 81 before the Division sailed for Mesopotamia. It arrived there in 1914 and saw service in the Tigris campaigns before being besieged at Kut-al-Amara. The gunners were taken prisoner when the garrison of Kut was surrendered on 29 April 1916. The brigade was not rebuilt until after the war.
11 Brigade (regular, XI)
Comprising numbers 83, 84 and 85 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army. It moved to the 3rd (Lahore) Division on 22 November 1914. When the Division left France, the brigade remained and eventually came under command of the 3rd Canadian Division before going to the 4th Canadian Division in October 1916, with which it served until August 1917. At that point it became an Army Brigade and served with the following: Fourth Army in August 1917, Fifth Army in November 1917, Fourth Army again in December 1917, Second Army in February 1918.
12 (Howitzer) Brigade (regular, XII)
Comprising numbers 43, 86 and 87 (Howitzer) Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 6th Division and went with it to France in September 1914.
- 86 (How) Battery left for 4th Division on 18 May 1915.
- The brigade was broken up on 12 May 1916: 43 (How Battery less a section went to 24 Brigade; 87 (How) Battery less a section went to 2 Brigade; the two sections forned D Battery of 38 Brigade.
13 Brigade (regular, XIII)
Comprising 2, 8 and 44 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army.
14 Brigade (regular, XIV)
Comprising 39, 68 and 88 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 4th Division and went with the Division to France in August 1914.
- 39 Battery left for 19 Brigade on 8 February 1915.
- 86 (Howitzer) Battery (less one section) joined in May 1916
The brigade left 4th Division to become an Army Brigade on 14 January 1917
- B Battery then joined from 188 Brigade RFA and became A Battery
- 86 (Howitzer) Battery was transferred to 32 Brigade RFA.
15 Brigade (regular, XV)
Comprising 11, 52 and 80 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 5th Division and went with the Division to France in August 1914.
- 11 Battery left for 1 Brigade on 9 February 1915.
- A section from each
of 37 (How) and 65 (How) Batts joined May 16 and formed D Battery
- 526 (How) Battery on 14 October 1916 and was made C Battery of this brigade by 11 December 1916. It was broken up on 21 January 1917 with sections going each to D Battery and to 28 Brigade
- A Battery joined from 28 Brigade on 21 January 1917 and became A Battery of this brigade.
16 Brigade (regular, XVI)
Comprising 89, 90 and 91 Batteries, this brigade came under command of the 1st (Peshawar) Division of the Indian Army and was based at Nowshera. It remained in India throughout the war, only leaving Nowshera for rawalpindi in November 1918.
- 91 Battery was detached for duty at Peshawar between January and June 1915
- 74 (Howitzer) Battery replaced 91 Battery in December 1916
- 74 (Howitzer) Battery was detached for duty at Peshawar in June 1918.
17 Brigade (regular, XVII)
Comprising 10, 26 and 92 Batteries, this brigade was at Allahabad when war was declared. It was ordered to return to England, where on arrival it came under command of 29th Division.
- soon after arrival, 10 Battery was replaced by 13 Battery from 1 Brigade RFA
- 370 Battery left England on 15 March 1916 and joined the brigade on 30 March
- 370 Battery then went to 132 Brigade, changing places with 460 (Howitzer) Battery
- 460 (Howitzer) Battery was then renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery
- D (Howitzer) Battery left for 15 Brigade RHA on 16 September 1916 and was replaced by D (Howitzer) Battery from 132 Brigade.
18 Brigade (regular, XVIII)
Comprising 53, 93 and 94 Batteries, this brigade was under command of 3rd (Lahore) Divisionof the Indian Army throughout the war.
19 Brigade (regular, XIX)
Comprising 95, 96 and 97 Batteries, this brigade was under command of 6th (Poona) Division of the Indian Army but was recalled to England. It arrived at Winchester on 19 November 1914 and was placed under command of the new 27th Division.
- 97 Battery then left for 167 Brigade, whereupon the brigade was reorganised, with part of 95 Battery being split away to form a basis for a new 131 Battery
- 39 Battery joined from 14 Brigade on 9 February 1915
- 95 Battery left for 129 Brigade on 25 July 1916
The brigade thus ended the war with 39, 96 and 131 Batteries.
20 Brigade (regular, XX)
Comprising 98, 99 and 100 Batteries, this brigade was in India when war was declared but was recalled to England. It arrived at Winchester on 19 November 1914 and was placed under command of the new 27th Division.
- 98 Battery then left for 1 Brigade and 100 Battery went to 31 Brigade (both less one section), and 67 Battery arrived from 1 Brigade, whereupon the brigade was reorganised, with a new 364 Battery being formed from the spare sections of 99 and 100 Batteries
- 148 Battery joined on 10 February 1915, having been formed by one section each from 11 and 39 Batteries
- 364 Battery left for 129 Brigade on 25 July 1916 in exchange for that brigade's C (Howitzer) Battery, which on arrival was renamed as D (Howitzer) Battery
- 95 Battery was broken up on 27 December 1916, one section each going to 133 and 364 Batteries (and 364 was then renumbered as 95 Battery)
- 148 Battery was broken up on 27 December 1916, one section each going to 67 and 99 Batteries
The brigade thus ended the war with 95, 133 and D (Howitzer) Batteries.
21 Brigade (regular, XXI)
Comprising 101, 102 and 103 Batteries, this brigade was at Hyderabad and under command of 4th (Quetta) Division of the Indian Army, which remained in India throughout the war.
- 103 Battery left in December 1914
- 21 Brigade was placed under orders of the Karachi Brigade (of the same Division) from June 1917
- 1107 (Howitzer) Battery joined
in April 1917 (it was formerly C (Howitzer) Battery of 228 Brigade)
- 101 Battery was detached for duty at Quetta in December 1917
- 1107 (Howitzer) Battery moved to Quetta between June and December 1918
- 101 Battery returned to the brigade in November 1918, in exchange for 102 Battery.
22 Brigade (regular, XXII)
Comprising 104, 105 and 106 Batteries, this brigade joined 7th Division before it sailed for Zeebrugge in October 1914 and remained with it throughout the war.
- 35 (Howitzer) Battery joined
from IV Corps on 24 June 1915.
23 Brigade (regular, XXIII)
Comprising 107, 108 and 109 Batteries, this brigade was under command of 3rd Division before it sailed for France in August 1914.
- 109 Battery left for 283 Brigade on 15 April 1916.
- 534 (Howitzer) Battery joined 23 November 1916 and was renamed as C (How.) Battery.
- Brigade left 7th Division and became an Army Brigade on 21 January 1917.
- A Battery joined from 169 Brigade 24 January 1917.
- C (How.) Battery renamed as D (How.) Battery on
29 January 1917. The former A Battery from 169 Brigade then became C Battery.
24 Brigade (regular, XXIV)
Comprising 110, 111 and 112 Batteries, this brigade joined 6th Division before it sailed for France in August 1914.
- 43 (Howitzer) Battery, less a Section, joined
from 12 Brigade on 12 May 1916.
- A Section joined 43 (How.) Battery from C Battery of 38 Brigade 14 January 1917.
Please note that this page is currently undergoing a complete rebuild. If the unit in which you are interested does not yet appear please check the old page.
