XIV Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery

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For a similarly numbered unit in World War II, see
14th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
.

XIV Brigade, RHA
Active1 March 1901 – 1 August 1913
September 1914 – May 1919
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArtillery
SizeBattalion
Part of7th Division
Third Army
EngagementsWorld War I
Western Front
Italian Front

XIV Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery was a brigade[a] of the Royal Horse Artillery which existed in the early part of the 20th century. It had been dissolved before World War I but was reformed for the war. It served with 7th Division on the Western Front before becoming XIV Army Brigade, RHA in February 1917. It was disbanded at the end of the war.

History

Formation

Honourable East India Company had been transferred to the British Army in 1861.[4] These brigades were reduced to five in 1871, then to three (of 10 batteries each) in 1877 and to two (of 13 batteries each) in 1882. The brigade system was finally abolished in 1889.[5]

As battery designations were tied to the brigade that the battery was assigned to, batteries were redesignated in a bewildering sequence as they were transferred between brigades. For example, E Battery of C Brigade (E/C Bty) might become N Battery of A Brigade (N/A Bty) upon transfer. Henceforth, batteries were designated in a single alphabetical sequence in order of seniority from date of formation.[5]

The brigade system was revived in 1901. Each brigade now commanded just two batteries and a small staff (a

B Battery).[7]

XIV Brigade, RHA was formed on 1 March 1901 as the IV Brigade-Division, RHA with

II Brigade, RHA at Canterbury.[13][c]

World War I

Reformed

XIV Brigade, RHA was reformed in September 1914 with

Somme.[16]

Changes in organization

On 19 October 1914, C Battery left the brigade to join

18-pounders each.[17]

57th (H) Battery, RFA joined from XXXVII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA on 27 November 1914. It returned to XXXVII (H) Brigade on 2 March 1915.[10]

D (H)/XIV Battery was formed on 17 May 1916 with one section[d] of 31st (H) Battery and one section of 35th (H) Battery (both of XXXVII (H) Brigade, RFA).[17]

On 7 October 1916, 509th (H) Battery (four 4.5-inch howitzers) joined the brigade. On 13 February 1917 it was broken up to make up 31st (H) and 35th (H) batteries to six howitzers each.[e]

Army brigade

On 10 February 1917, the brigade left 7th Division and became XIV Army Brigade, RHA.[f][17] On 13 February, B Battery of CLXIX Brigade, RFA (B/CLXIX Battery) joined as C/XIV and one section of C(H)/CLXIX Battery, RFA made up D(H)/XIV Battery to six 4.5-inch howitzers.[17] C/XIV Battery was later redesignated as 400th Battery[10] and D(H)/XIV as 401st (H) Battery.

The brigade moved to

Armistice, it was serving as Army Troops with the Third Army[21] with F Battery RHA, T Battery RHA, 400th Battery RFA and 401st (H) Battery RFA (eighteen 18-pounders and six 4.5-inch howitzers).[22]

The brigade was disbanded in Germany in May 1919.[20] 400th and 401st (H) batteries were disbanded, F Battery joined III Brigade, RHA and T Battery joined IX Brigade, RHA, both in the United Kingdom.[10]

See also

  • 14th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery for a similarly numbered regiment in World War II
    .

Notes

  1. Lieutenant-Colonel
    . Artillery brigades were redesignated as regiments in 1938.
  2. ^ From 1 July 1889, RHA batteries were lettered in a single alphabetical sequence in order of seniority from date of formation.[5] When more than 26 batteries were needed, double letters were used, AA,[8] BB,[9] etc.
  3. ^ Frederick says I Brigade, RHA.[14]
  4. ^ A Subsection consisted of a single gun and limber drawn by six horses (with three drivers), eight gunners (riding on the limber or mounted on their own horses), and an ammunition wagon also drawn by six horses (with three drivers).[18] Two Subsections formed a Section and in a six gun battery these would be designated as Left, Centre and Right Sections.[19]
  5. ^ Surprisingly, D(H)/XIV Battery was not broken up and returned to its original batteries.
  6. ^ Army Brigades, RHA and RFA were artillery brigades that were excess to the needs of the divisions, withdrawn to form an artillery reserve.

References

  1. ^ "The Royal Artillery". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. ^ Baker, Chris. "What was an artillery brigade?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 430
  4. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 53
  5. ^ a b c Clarke 1993, p. 54
  6. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 55
  7. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 58
  8. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 99
  9. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 100
  10. ^ a b c d e f Frederick 1984, p. 447
  11. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 141
  12. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 440
  13. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 124
  14. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 442
  15. ^ Becke 1935, p. 84
  16. ^ Becke 1935, p. 86
  17. ^ a b c d Becke 1935, p. 85
  18. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 43
  19. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 45
  20. ^ a b Clarke 1993, p. 145
  21. ^ BEF GHQ 1918, p. 15
  22. ^ BEF GHQ 1918, p. 78

Bibliography

External links
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