User:Coldstreamer20/Cumberland Artillery Volunteers

The Cumberland Artillery Volunteers was a volunteer unit of Britain's Territorial Force which recruited from the county of Cumberland and saw action during the First World War. However, following post-war reductions to the army after the 'Geddes Axe', the regiment was merged into a fellow North-West England unit, the 1st East Lancashire Artillery Volunteers. The regiment's successors would continue to serve until the artillery lineage was ended following a reduction in the Territorial Army in 1961.

Formation
The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of Rifle, Artillery and Engineer Volunteer Corps in towns up and down the United Kingdom, composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need.

On 10 July 1860, the 1st Administrative Brigade, Cumberland Artillery Volunteers was formed with the following structure:


 * Brigade Headquarters, in Carlisle
 * 1st Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, in Whitehaven – formed 7 May 1860
 * 2nd Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, in Carlisle (augmented to two corps by April 1860) – formed 15 February 1860
 * 3rd Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, in Maryport – formed 28 April 1860
 * 4th Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, in Workington – formed 5 march 1860, later disbanded in April 1866
 * 5th Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, in Harrington – formed 11 May 1860 as a section, disbanded May 1876

On formation, the new corps used their own uniforms, typically wearing their business clothes to training, but eventually the Royal Artillery's 1850s field uniform was adopted. Not much detail is available regarding inidividual changes to the uniform, but the Royal Artillery's standard uniform consisted of the following: dark blue, infantry-style uniforms, with two rows of ten brass buttons and red facings. Their belts were white. The red cuffs had dark blue, three-button, trident shaped rectangular flags, which were edged in yellow or gold (gold for NCOs and Officers) braid according to rank. The red collars bore a flaming grenade and were edged in yellow/gold braiding (again, gold for NCOs and Officers).

The headdress was the 1843-pattern 'Albert shako' with a white plume and a large, eight pointed brass star badge, bearing the royal arms over a cannon. The plume holder was in the form of a brass flaming grenade. The shako had brass chin chains, held by round bosses, bearing a flaming grenade. For parades epaulettes were worn; they had red straps with yellow edging and tassels for junior ranks, gold for sergeants and officers. Sergeants and officers wore crimson waist sashes. Officers' collars and turnback junctions bore gold grenades; field officers also had gold, laurel leaf embroidery to collar and cuff flaps.

The blue trousers had a wide red stripe. In barracks, a dark blue forage cap was worn; for officers it had a black peak, gold headband and gold pompom on top. It also had a black chinstrap. That of senior NCOs had no peak or pompom, but did have a gold headband and a red piping around the rim of the crown; that of corporals (bombardiers) and below had a red headband and brass chevrons were worn on the front above the headband. For barracks duties the dark blue, waist-length shell jacket was worn with a forage cap. It had a red collar, a single row of 14 buttons, yellow/gold shoulder cords and plain cuffs with a single button.

Artillerymen were armed with the Snider–Enfield breech-loading rifle, sergeants wore straight swords in black seaths with brass fittings. Badges of rank were yellow/gold chevrons on the upper sleeves, although Roger Fenton (1819–69), one of the first war photographers, photographed a staff sergeant with four chevrons, point up, on the right forearm only. Sergeants wore a brass cannon over their chevrons. Officers could also wear the dark blue, double-breated frock coat in undress (with the forage cap); it had a dark blue collar and plain, dark blue cuffs.

In August 1862 the 1st Cumberland Engineer Volunteer Corps was attached for administrative purposes, but in May 1864 the corps became independent once again.

Consolidation
Under the 1880 reorganisations of the Volunteer Force, the brigades were consolidated into single 'corps', this time the size of battalions, rather than that of the former corps, which were company sized. The corps was therefore consequently redesignated as the 1st Cumberland Artillery Volunteer Corps, and reorganised into the following by May 1880:


 * Corps Headquarters, in Carlisle
 * No. 1 Battery, in Whitehaven – former 1st Corps
 * No. 2 Battery, in Carlisle – former 2nd Corps
 * No. 3 Battery, in Maryport – former 3rd Corps
 * No. 4 Battery, in Carlisle – former part of 2nd Corps

On 1 April 1882 all artillery volunteer units were affiliated to one of the territorial divisions of the Royal Artillery (RA), with the 1st Cumberland joining the Northern Division, Royal Artillery. The Northern Division contained four regular brigades in addition to 15 volunteer corps, and oversaw artillery defences within Northern England. By 1 July 1889, three new batteries numbered No. 5–No. 7 were raised in Workington, Silloth, and Workington respectively.

On 20 December 1889, The Honourable Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale became honorary colonel of the Cumberland artillery, a position which he held until his death in 1944. In 1917 he became Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland, another position which he held until his death.

However, in 1889 the garrison artillery was reorganised again into three large divisions of garrison artillery and one of mountain artillery. Although the names of the garrison divisions were still territorial (Eastern, Southern and Western) the assignment of units to them was geographically arbitrary, with the militia and volunteer units formerly in Northern Division being grouped in the Southern and Western Divisions (where there were the most coast defences to be manned in time of war), while the regular batteries were distributed across all four divisions and completely renumbered.

Following the above reorganisations, the corps was redesignated as the 1st Cumberland Artillery Volunteers and subsequently assigned to the Southern Division, Royal Artillery. In November 1891, the regiment was once again renamed, now simply as the 1st Cumberland Volunteer Artillery.

On 1 June 1899 the Royal Artillery was split into two 'branches', the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery (operating the field guns) and the Royal Garrison Artillery, which oversaw all heavy guns and coastal defences. Following the abolition of the Royal Artillery's divisional organisation on 1 January 1902, the unit was once again redesignated, now as the 1st Cumberland Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers).

By the time of the Second Boer War (known also as the South African War), the British Army's uniforms went through massive changes. The old 'full dress' was gradually replaced by 'field khaki', which would remain until the mid 1960s. The new dress was now as follows: Polish-style tunic, cuffs, and trousers in dark-blue colour and khaki coloured cloth cover over pith helmet with a ball on top. For undress, the red five-buttoned frock was preferred, although still with regimental distinctions (the full dress tunic had seven buttons). The equipment was in dark brown.

Territorial Force
Under the army reforms introduced by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane in 1907, the existing auxiliary forces (the Imperial Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces) were to be combined (with effect from 1 April 1908) as a new organisation to be known as the Territorial Force (TF). In his 'Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill', Mr Haldane set up an establishment of fourteen divisions (infantry), fourteen mounted brigades (yeomanry), army troops, and troops for coastal defence. These to be raised and administered locally by a number of Territorial Force Associations. Under these reforms, the structure of artillery units was also completely revamped. The volunteer artillery was mostly transferred to the Royal Field Artillery in new divisional support roles and redesignated as 'Field Brigades' or '(Howitzer) Brigades', the former manning QF 18-pounder gun and the latter with the BL 5-inch howitzer. In addition, several 'heavy batteries' were formed within the Royal Garrison Artillery, taking over the role of the later volunteer artillery in coastal defence and manning heavy guns.

The new Royal Field Artillery brigades were allotted to each of the fourteen new Territorial Force divisions. The 4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, as the Cumberland corps was now known was consolidated into a 'two battery' structure. The new structure included a brigade headquarters, two 'gun batteries' and an ammunition column (all lead by a Major). The peacetime establishment of the brigade was therefore 389 personnel, including farriers, shoeing smiths, saddlers, and wheelers. Each brigade was commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, thereby making it equivalent to that of an infantry battalion or cavalry regiment. The new organisation of the brigade was now as follows:


 * Brigade Headquarters, at the Artillery Hall, Carlisle – moved to Workington in 1909
 * 1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery, in Carlisle (4 x BL 5-inch howitzers)
 * 2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery, in Workington (4 x BL 5-inch howitzers)
 * 4th East Lancashire Ammunition Column, in Workington, Maryport, and Whitehaven

In March 1909, the brigade headquarters moved to Workington, and shortly thereafter the suffix '(The Cumberland Artillery)' was added to the unit's official title completing the link with the old volunteers. The unit's new name thereby became 4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade (The Cumberland Artillery), Royal Field Artillery. By this time, the brigade was 30th in precedence of the volunteer artillery. Under the same reorganisations, the brigade became part of the Divisional Royal Artillery of the East Lancashire Division.

Following the reorganisation of the Volunteer Force, the new Territorials adopted the field uniform of their regular counterparts, with only badges and patches marking their unique history. By 1914, the uniform of the Royal Field Artillery (including the Territorials now), was as follows: drab tunic with gilt, and dome buttons bearing the device of a gun and crown. Privates (Gunners) and NCOs wore a shoulder strap with the initials 'RFA'. Officers wore jackets with rank shown at the cuff and with a lapel/collar badge of a bursting grenade above a scroll bearing the motto 'UBIQUE' (everywhere in Latin). Khaki drill jackets and tunics were worn in hotter climates, but gunners often just wore the blue-grey flannel shirt.

Gunners wore trousers with braces or belts, only those serving as drivers wearing breeches with puttees or leggings and ankle boots with spurs (mounted drivers also wore lanyards). Officers tended to wear breeches of the universal pattern with brown cavalry boots or brown leather leggings. In addition, officers wore Sam Brone belts and brown waist belts.

Equipment was for the infantry, with the 1908 pattern web equipment. This was extremely novel, and a very flexible system which marked British troops apart from their Continental allies and enemies, still reliant on the less practical and uncomfortable leather belts and pouches. The enlisted troops were equipped with the Lee–Enfield bolt action rifle and bayonet, noted for its reliability even in the middle of the mud and constant rain of the trenches. Officers were equipped with a sword and pistol, though this was gradually removed in favour of a repeating pistol and pace stick.

The Cumberland Artillery gradually replaced their basic RFA shoulder badge with a 'T' above the 'RFA' and 'CUMBERLAND' in an upwards bent half-circle to distinguish them from their regular counterparts. The cap badge was the same as the regulars, but with a spray of laurel replacing the motto. After adoption of the new field uniforms, a new 'ceremonial' or 'full dress' uniforms was introduced to the Royal Artillery.

Mobilisation
Under the conditions of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907 7 Ed. VII, c.9, members, if embodied, were liable for service anywhere in the United Kingdom, but they could not be ordered to go overseas. Officers and men of the peacetime TF could also offer to serve outside the United Kingdom in time of national emergency. Under the conditions set out for the Imperial Service Section, a territorial could undertake to serve abroad, but only with his own unit, or with part of his own unit: he could not be drafted as an individual to any other unit except at his own request.

After the outbreak of war, units of the TF were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. On 15 August 1914, the War Office 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 of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate battalions, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas, and absorbing the large numbers of volunteers coming forward. Later the 2nd Line TF battalions were raised to full strength ready to go overseas, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units to supply reinforcement drafts.

1/4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade
At the outbreak of the Great War, in accordance with the order given by the WO in August, the brigade was split, with those volunteers for serving overseas becoming the 1/4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade upon formation of the new 2nd line unit.

Home Defence
Following the mobilisation of the East Lancashire Division, orders were given to move to Ireland, but due to its pacifist state, the intended move did not materialise. After a brief period at its drill halls, the brigade was moved to large tented camp near Bolton. The personnel were asked to volunteer for overseas service, and the overwhelming majority did so, the deficiencies made up of men from the National Reserve and other re-enlistments. The 'home service' men formed the cadre of duplicate units, intended to train the rush of volunteers at the drill halls. These would form the divisional reserve, and later become the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

When the East Lancashire Division moved to Egypt in September 1914, the brigade remained at home training and preparing for a deployment. On 14 June 1915, the brigade arrived in Egypt to defend the Suez Canal against anticipated Turkish attacks. From there, the brigade soon proceeded to Gallipoli, landing at Cape Helles between the 9th and 11th July 1915.

Gallipoli
As a result of the Army reorganisations in May 1915, numbers were allocated to the TF forces according to the order that they went overseas, though their pre-war designations were retained in brackets after the number. By this time however, the formation of the New, or 'Kitchener's' Army had been completed, its divisions having received numbers up to 41. It followed that the original 14 TF divisions, together with their second line, were numbered from 42nd on. The East Lancashire Division thus became the 42nd, as it was the first to be sent overseas. In addition to the renumbering of the TF infantry brigades, the artillery brigades were also brought into the numerical sequence in 1916.

In early 1916, the artillery brigades lost their numerals to become numbered by Roman numerical designation, started at CCX (210) in the 42nd, and moving on, with gaps, throughout the divisions. At the same time, the old designations such as '1st Cumberland' were removed and lettered as 'A' and 'B', etc. As a result of the above changes, the brigade became the CCXIII (213th) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (TF). However, a further supplement was provided to the Royal Field Artillery specifically with the composition of the field brigades altered from three field batteries to four batteries (3 x field and 1 x howitzer). As a consequence, the brigade was disbanded shortly thereafter and its batteries split up to provide one howitzer battery for each field brigade (thus seeing the brigade's strength actually expand by one battery in theory).

Krithia Vineyard
Originally devised as a diversionary action to deflect Turkish Ottoman attention away from the forthcoming relief landing at Suvla Bay, it developed into a further attack on Krithia (Alci Tepe). The attack began on 6th August with 29th Division's capturing some of the Turkish trenches, before being forced back in a counter-attack. The following day 126th (East Lancashire) Infantry Brigade and 127th (Manchester) Infantry Brigade of 42nd (East Lancashire) Division attacked an area of ground known as Krithia Vineyard, about 1000 yards (900m) south of Krithia village.

Units of 127th Infantry Brigade did manage to break through the Turkish lines, but were counter-attacked and forced to withdraw. In an advanced area in the north-west corner of the Vineyard, Lieutenant William Forshaw of the 9th Manchester Regiment personally held back the counter-attacks for over 40 hours, by continuously throwing approximately 800 jam-tin bombs he had at the ready, an action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The Turkish counter-attacks went on repeatedly until 9th August, whilst fighting in the area continued until 13th August.

Evacuation
On 26th December, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was ordered to prepare to leave Gallipoli. Between 27th and 31st December the Division reached Mudros (less the Divisional Artillery, 1st and 3rd Field Ambulances and a Royal Engineer detachment who stayed to assist 13th Division are left with it in the evacuation of Helles).

The Division embarked for Egypt between 12th and 16th January 1916, and following concentration at Mena, returned to take over part of the Suez Canal Defences. After arriving back in Egypt, the brigade was equipped with the modern QF 4.5-inch howitzer.

213 (Cumberland) (Howitzer) Battery
Following the reorganisation of the Royal Artillery in 1916, the 1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery was redesignated as 213 (Cumberland) (Howitzer) Battery, RFA. Following the breaking up of the brigade on 26 December 1916, the battery became 'C Battery, 211th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery' and consequently joined that brigade.

Following another reorganisation on 11 February 1917, C Battery became D (Howitzer) Battery of the brigade. In March 1917, the 42nd Division finally left Egypt for France, where it arrived in March 1917. On 23 June 1917, a howitzer section (of two QF 4.5-inch howitzers) joined the battery from C (Howitzer) Battery of 332nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, thereby bringing the battery's strength to 6 x QF 4.5-inch howitzers.

Egypt and the Sinai Campaign
After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt, and was renamed the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. As such it participated in the Battle of Romani and the advance from Romani to Katia.

The 42nd Division served at Kantara on the Suez Canal in No. 3 Section of the Suez Canal Defences under General Lawrence until they were entrained for the railhead at Pelusium on the first day of the Battle of Romani on 4 August 1916. On the second day of battle, 5 August 1916, the 42nd Division along with the 52nd (Lowland) Division, which had fought the previous day from their entrenched position, were ordered to move out to support the Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades in a pursuit of the enemy. The 42nd Division was not prepared for the conditions they found in the Sinai desert. They had not been trained to operate in heavy sand in mid summer heat, and with insufficient water, extreme distress and tragedy followed. The mounted troops alone, were unable to stop the enemy making a disciplined withdrawal to water at Katia and to fall back in good order, the following day.

By December 1916, the 42nd Division was furnishing units to protect the lines of communication at Salmana, Abu Tilul and the railway station Maadan and took part in a practice attack on 13 December. On 21 December, 42nd and 52nd Divisions marched from Kilo 128 to Bardawil and continued to move eastwards towards Masaid.

On 17 January 1917, the 42nd Division was no longer in the Sinai Campaign, having been among the first of the Territorial Force to receive orders for the Western Front. The division was replaced in Desert Column by another Territorial Division, the 53rd (Welsh) Division commanded by Dallas. The two other Territorial infantry divisions, the 52nd at Rafa and the 54th (East Anglian) Division ordered out to Romani from the Suez Canal, were put directly under General Dobell commander of Eastern Force. The 42nd Division departed Egypt early in February 1917.

Western Front
The division moved to France and joined 3 Corps in the Fourth Army in March 1917. It relieved 48th (South Midland) Division on 8 May 1917 and held the line at Épehy before relieving 20th (Light) Division and holding the line at Havrincourt, north of Epéhy, from 23 May 1917. Its infantry was relieved by 58th (2/1st London) Division on 8 July 1917 but its divisional artillery remained in the line in support of 58th and then 9th (Scottish) Division at Havrincourt Wood. It moved to the Ytres sector on 9 July 1917. On 23 August 1917, it joined 5 Corps in the Fifth Army, although the infantry in Poperinghe area behind Ypres for training. Its divisional artillery entered line immediately in support of 15th (Scottish) Division near Potijze Chateau. Its infantry relieved 15th Division in the line to the right of Potijze Road near Frezenberg Ridge at Ypres on 1 September 1917 and on 6 September 125 Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fortified Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The divisional infantry were relieved by the 9th Division and retired to Poperinghe area on 18 September 1917. Its divisional artillery remained in the Line until 29 September, participated in heavy fighting from 20 September and advanced to exposed positions on Frezenberg Ridge on 25 September during the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. On 26 September it relieved 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. The divisional artillery rejoined and it held the line at Nieuport. On 29 November 1917 it relieved the 25th Division and held the line at Givenchy on La Bassée sector. It constructed fortifications according to the new British defensive doctrine of "defended localities" in anticipation of major German attack. Private Walter Mills of C Company, the 1/10th Manchesters, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for actions at Red Dragon Crater, Givenchy on the night of 10 December 1917.

It relieved by 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 15 February 1918. It was held in reserve and undertook training at Busnes – Burbure – Fouquieres area, forming part of the 1 Corps reserve and then the GHQ reserve from 1 March 1918.

On 23 March 1918 it joined 6 Corps under the command of Lt-General Sir Aylmer Haldane in the Third Army, initially in reserve, and then at Ervillers, to defend the line against the German Seventeenth Army under the command of General Otto von Below on the right (i.e. north) wing of the "Michael 1" German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) in the First Battle of the Somme and then the First Battle of Bapaume.

It counterattacked in the afternoon with 7 tanks and 300 infantry from Logeast Wood to delay the German VI Reserve Corps on 25 March 1918. The 10th Manchesters repelled eight attacks by the German 2nd Guards Reserve Division, at Ervillers. It retired the Ervillers – Bucquoy area on 26 March 1918. Together the 42nd and 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division it held the Rossignol Wood – Bucquoy sector under heavy shelling against six attacks by the German 3rd Guards Infantry Division, the last with assistance of 11 Mk. IV tanks. It then held the line until end of final German assault on 5 April 1918 at Bucquoy and held the line at Bucquoy, Gommecourt, Hébuterne from 6 April 1918. It served with the 4 Corps in Third Army from 21 August 1918 and attacked and advanced Miraumont, across the River Ancre, Pys, Warlencourt during the Second Battle of the Somme including the Battle of Albert. Their opponent was the German 183rd Division. Lance-Sergeant Edward Smith of the 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions in the capture of The Lozenge (Hill 140, a German machine-gun nest) on 21 August and enemy counterattacks on 22 August.

The infantry withdrew for two days rest in Miraumont-Pys area on 25 August 1918. The divisional artillery went into action under heavy fire in support of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on outskirts of Loupart Wood. It then relieved 63rd Division in the line and resumed advance on 28 August 1918. It attacked and advanced to Thilloy, Riencourt-lès-Bapaume, Villers-au-Flos, Ytres, across the Canal du Nord to Metz-en-Couture in the Second Battle of the Somme including the Second Battle of Bapaume. Its infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and moved to rest in Pys-Tholloy area on 6 September 1918. The divisional artillery remained in the line in support of New Zealand Division. On 21 September 1918 it relieved 37th Division east of Havrincourt Wood. On 27 September 1918 it attacked and advanced Havrincourt Wood through the Siegfried Stellung section of the Hindenburg Line via successive planned objectives denoted Black, Red, Brown, Yellow, Blue Lines, to Welsh Ridge. The Hindenburg Line was attacked in enfilade, or diagonally, as can be seen from the map. Many casualties were sustained from machine guns situated in Beaucamps to the right of the division's front during the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Its infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and withdrew to Havrincourt Wood for rest on 29 September 2018. The divisional artillery remained in action in support of the New Zealand Division in the Pursuit to the Selle.

On 9 October 1918 its infantry marched up to the front through Lesdain, Esnes, Beauvois and relieved New Zealand Division, who had established a bridgehead across the River Selle at Briastre. It defended Briastre against heavy German counterattacks and shelling from 12 October 1918 and then advanced across the River Selle to Marou, Virtigneul and Belle Vue Farm during the Battle of the Selle. Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson of the 1/5th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 20 October 1918 at Marou. The division's opponent in these actions was the German 25th Division.

It was relieved by New Zealand Division on 24 October 1918 and withdrew to Beauvois for a rest. It then moved up though Le Quesnoy and Forest of Mormal in support of the advance of 37th and New Zealand Divisions on 3 November 1918. It relieved the New Zealand Division in line of attack on eastern edge of Forest of Mormal and attacked and advanced to Hautmont in the Arrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe on 6 November 1918. It was standing fast on line Maubeuge – Avesnes-sur-Helpe Road when the armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.

Commanding officers
Commanding officers of the volunteers have included:


 * 9 March 1910 – xxxx, Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Dudgeon