1st Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers

The units of the Welsh Division had just departed for their annual summer camp when the order to mobilise was received on 4 August 1914. They then returned home and assembled at their drill halls to mobilise. The 4th Welsh Brigade mobilised at Newport under the command of Lt-Col D.E. Williams, VD, who had been CO since 1911.[6][19][23]

By 11 August the units had completed their concentration and Territorial Force members were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. Four days later the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units, and 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 batteries, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those Territorial Force formations being sent overseas.[19][20][24][25]

18-pounder preserved at the Imperial War Museum.

At the end of August the Welsh Division concentrated at Northampton to continue its training. On 18 November the division was warned for garrison duty in India, but this was cancelled and in December it moved to Cambridge, then to Bedford in May 1915. In July the infantry of the division (now renamed the 53rd (Welsh) Division) embarked for service at Gallipoli, but the divisional artillery remained at Bedford. In October the batteries were re-armed with modern 18-pounder guns and on 8 November they handed over their obsolescent 15-pounders to the 2nd Line unit, which had just arrived at Bedford.[19][20][23][26][27]

53rd (Welsh) Divisional Artillery was now ordered to France to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front. It embarked on 20 November and had concentrated at Pont-Remy by 25 November, from where parties were sent to various divisional artilleries for instruction in front line duties.[19][20][23]

Meanwhile, after suffering appalling casualties at Gallipoli, 53rd (Welsh) Division had been withdrawn to Egypt to refit. On 30 January 1916 the divisional artillery was ordered to rejoin the rest of the division. The batteries entrained at Pont-Remy, embarked at Marseilles on 3 February and disembarked at Alexandria on 11 February. By 22 February the artillery had rejoined the division at Beni Salama. For the rest of the year the recuperating division was stationed in the Suez Canal defences.[19][20][28]

In May 1916 the Territorial Force field brigades were numbered, the 1/IV Welsh being designated CCLXVIII (268) Bde, RFA, and the batteries became A, B and C. Then on 25 December 1916 the divisional artillery was reorganised: A Bty was broken up between B and C Btys (to make them up to six guns each) and they were redesignated A and B, while B Battery (the former 2nd Glamorgan Bty) joined from the old CCLXV (I Welsh) Bde and became C (Howitzer) Bty, equipped with 4.5-inch howitzers. The brigade itself was redesignated CCLXVI (266) Bde. 53rd (W) Divisional Ammunition Column had remained in France, and was reformed in Egypt by abolishing the Brigade Ammunition Columns.[15][19][20][23][24][29]

4.5-inch Howitzer with 'ped-rails' (sand tyres) around wheels, as used in crossing Sinai

Early in 1917 the Egyptian Expeditionary Force launched the Sinai and Palestine Campaign by crossing the Sinai desert and advancing against Turkish forces at Gaza City. The First Battle of Gaza began during the night of 25/26 March when 53rd (W) Division advanced 12 miles (19 km) to cross the Wadi Ghuzzeh, with CCLXVI Bde following 158th (North Wales) Infantry Brigade. Despite the darkness and morning fog – 158th Brigade lost its way and arrived late – the infantry were in position by 08.30 and at 10.10 CCLXVI Bde opened fire on Ali Muntar. However, the attack orders were late reaching the infantry, and the main bombardment did not begin until 12.00. The division's attack went well, with 158th Bde establishing a lodgement at Ali Muntar, but the artillery was too weak to suppress the Turkish fire – CCLXVI Brigade had to support the frontage of two infantry brigades, and there were not enough forward observation officers (FOOs) or signal cable – and casualties were heavy. By 18.30 the division had taken all its objectives and its troops were in the eastern streets of Gaza when the attack was stopped for lack of water. Although 53rd (W) Division consolidated its position, it was very congested by next morning, with the guns of 53rd (W) and 54th (East Anglian) Divisions firing back to back. The infantry were withdrawn to Wadi Guzzeh the following day.[30][31][32]

18-pounder gun in Sinai.

For the Second Battle of Gaza, beginning on 17 April, 53rd (W) Division's role was to advance up the coast across Wadi Ghuzzeh, and then attack Gaza after an artillery bombardment. The bombardment was begun by the heavy artillery and warships offshore, then the 4.5-inch howitzers began firing gas shells against Turkish batteries. At 07.20, 10 minutes before Zero, the 18-pounders began engaging the objectives, CCLXVI Bde firing at Samson's Ridge. The infantry attacked punctually at 07.30 and 53rd (W) Division got onto Samson's Ridge. However, it could not push straight on to the redoubt on the ridge because the artillery support was too weak (the gas shelling was ineffectual) and the neighbouring division was badly held up. 160th Brigade carried the redoubt later in the day, but were still short of the main Turkish defence position. Casualties had been high and gains minimal, and the EEF dug in for a summer of trench warfare. The artillery batteries were regularly ordered to fire test rounds at specified map coordinates to prove their readiness for defensive fire[33][34][35]

Although the War Office was unable to provide more divisions for the EEF, it could send guns: 53rd (W) Division's batteries were temporarily brought up to a strength of eight rather than six guns, until further troops arrived.[36] The reorganised EEF renewed its offensive (the Third Battle of Gaza) on 27 October. XX Corps, including 53rd (W) Divisional artillery, moved into position during the night of 30/31 October to capture Beersheba, and the bombardment began at 05.55. After a pause at 07.00 to let the dust settle and determine the effect, the guns reopened. Infantry parties advanced to within 30 yards (27 m) of the barrage to finish cutting the barbed wire. They then rushed Point 1069 and the 18-pounder batteries began to move up to more advanced positions. Beersheba had fallen to the Desert Mounted Corps and XX Corps could bivouack on the objective.[37][38][39] On 3 November 53rd (W) Division was ordered to advance to the Tel es Sheria road led by 158th Brigade. It was a difficult march over broken country in hot weather and CCLXVI Bde, escorted by 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (RWF), made a wide movement out to the east where there was a track over comparatively flat ground. There were several sharp actions with enemy detachments, and 5th RWF was called from escort duty to support the attack on the Khuweilfe heights. Water was so short that the artillery horses had to be sent back to Beersheba for the night and afterwards only brought forward when guns actually had to be moved. Over following days 53rd (W) Division kept up pressure on the enemy in the hills so that the EEF could roll up the main trench lines (the Battle of Hareira and Sheria). CCLXVI Brigade and other units of the divisional artillery moved east with 5th RWF to find the best road. Then on 6 November the division assaulted the Khuweilfe position supported by an intense bombardment by all its own guns and a heavy battery. The guns had been dragged into position using double horse teams, and simply lined up alongside batteries that had already registered their targets. Early in the morning a mist rose, preventing the gunners from seeing their targets, and causing a delay in the attack. After confused fighting the position was taken and then held with the support of the divisional artillery breaking up Turkish counter-attacks.[40][41][42]

18-pounder with sand wheels.

After breaking through the Gaza positions, the EEF pressed on to Jerusalem in appalling weather. The city was to be captured by XX Corps after a rapid advance by a flying column known as 'Mott's Detachment' based on 53rd (W) Division. It included the howitzer batteries of the divisional artillery in its advance guard and main body, while the field batteries of CCLXVI Bde provided flank guards to the long column advancing through terrible weather and road conditions. The batteries also support 7th Cheshire Regiment in its preliminary attack on 7 December. Jerusalem fell to the EEF the following day.[43][44][45]

There was still heavy fighting around Jerusalem. 53rd (W) Division improved its positions on 17 December by seizing the commanding ridges east of Abu Dis, with CCLXVI Bde supporting 4th Royal Sussex onto its objectives of 'Scrag Hill' and 'Sussex Ridge'. The division moved on to attack Ras ez Zamby and White Hill on 21 December, with CCLXVI Bde participating in a preliminary bombardment and then a lifting barrage at 05.15. The attack took the crest but was then held up, so the barrage was re-arranged and from 07.20 to 07.40 all the 18-pdrs concentrated on ez Zamby and 'the Wall'. Bringing up ammunition through the rough country was difficult, and many artillery horses died under the harsh conditions. On 27 December the Turks counter-attacked to try to regain Jerusalem. They retook the crest of White Hill, but the divisional artillery rendered it untenable, and it remained in No man's land. Meanwhile, the EEF had launched an advance on another part of the front, and 53rd (W) Division joined in next day, with CCLXVI Bde supporting 160th Bde. By 30 December all organised resistance in front had ended.[46][47][48]

When the weather improved in February 1918, XX Corps advanced to the Capture of Jericho, but the ground was so bad that one field battery took 36 hours to cover 8 miles (13 km). To widen the EEF's base of operations, XX Corps attacked Tell 'Asur in March. 53rd (W) Divisional artillery was reinforced by other divisions so that there were had four composite brigades available for its attack, two to each attacking infantry brigade, but arranged so that three (including CCLXVI) could concentrate if necessary to support the main assault by 158th Bde. The Battle of Tell 'Asur was launched early on the morning of 9 March. The leading battalions began crossing the wide Mo man's land at 02.00, but the guns remained silent while the infantry picked their way forward in fog. The subsequent fighting was confused, with false reports that Tell 'Asur had been captured, and the fighting went on all day while the peak was taken, lost, and retaken, followed by four more Turkish counter-attacks before it was secured. That night the division also took Chipp Hill, which had defied the neighbouring division during daylight. The advance was resumed on 10 March and the ridges in front were captured with the help of a heavy and well-directed bombardment. The artillery was now able to move forward, but the wadi in front was too steep to climb. A number of other hilltop positions were captured on 12 March, after which the artillery passed over the wadi during darkness. The fighting died down and the new line was held through the summer months.[49][50][51] CCLXVI Brigade moved down to the Jordan Valley with 158th Infantry Bde in late March to cover the EEF's First Transjordan raid, then rejoined the rest of the division at Ramallah at the beginning of April.[52]

The EEF was now required to send urgent reinforcements to the Western Front where the German spring offensive threatened a breakthrough. In the summer of 1918 the 53rd Division was 'Indianised', with three quarters of the infantry battalions replaced by others drawn from the British Indian Army, but this did not affect the divisional artillery, which retained its composition to the end of the war.[19][20][53][54][55]

At the climactic Battle of Megiddo 53rd Division was positioned on the right flank above the Jordan Valley. The division launched its attack late on the first day (18 September). the artillery opened slow fire on 'Keen's Knoll' to drown the sound of the leading infantry scrambling down from the heights. 17th Indian Infantry were in position to attack at 22.00 and a 20-minute bombardment crashed down before the regiment went in with the bayonet. Coming from an unexpected direction, the attack was completely successful, and the rest of 159th Bde attacked. The divisional commander ordered the artillery to increase their rate of fire on the wadis behind to block the enemy's retreat. 160th Brigade then attacked in the darkness, guided by the glow of smoke shells fire by the artillery. The 3rd Battalion, 152nd Punjabis, had the severest fighting in attempting to capture Malul at the end of 'Nairn Ridge': in this area the Turks did not actually occupy their trenches, so the bombardment was ineffective. When the artillery lifted and the infantry attacked they were met by fire from untouched Turkish machine guns. The attack was broken up, though some parties of the regiment hung on within 150 yards (140 m) of the crest. The telephone line was cut by Turkish artillery fire, so the battalion could not call down a repeat bombardment; by the time a runner could get through with the request, the battalion had withdrawn after two more attempts to reach the top. Apart from this failure, the main enemy positions had been taken. The afternoon of 19 September was quiet on 53rd Division's front, though one Turkish force was discovered eating a meal, and five batteries were turned onto them. This disaster to the Turks that probably contributed to the division's easy advance that evening, when Malul was secured, allowing the guns to move forward. However, a Turkish counter-attack while the guns were moving temporarily retook some of their lost positions. The division now blocked the enemy's line of retreat eastwards across the Jordan. The pressure was kept up on 20 September and by the end of the next day the Turkish army was shattered and could be seen streaming north – to the annoyance of the gunners who were out of range.[56][57][58]

After the battle the pursuit was continued by the cavalry and air force, and 53rd Division was used to clear the battlefield and repair roads. It was then withdrawn to Alexandria before the Armistice of Mudros came into effect on 31 October. Demobilisation began on 20 December and was completed in June 1919.[19][59] CCLXVI Brigade was placed in suspended animation.[15]

French De Bange 90 mm gun

Although 2/IV Welsh Bde was raised before the end of 1914, the 2nd Welsh Division (68th (2nd Welsh) Division from August 1915) did not concentrate at Northampton until Spring 1915, the brigade joining it on 29 April. It moved to Earlswood on 4 August 1915 and then arrived at Bedford to replace the 1st Line brigade on 2 November. Training of the units was made difficult by the lack of arms and equipment, and the requirement to provide drafts to the 1st Line overseas. In June the first saddlery and horses began to arrive, but no guns until August, when the brigade received four French De Bange 90 mm guns. Some ammunition wagons arrived in September, and eight more 90 mm guns in October. Training began to speed up, with the 90 mm guns standing in for 15-pounders. When the brigade arrived at Bedford it took over 12 x 15-pounders from the 1st Line. In December 1915 these in turn were replaced by modern 18-pounders.[26][60]

68th (2nd Welsh) Division was assigned a role in Home Defence in November 1915 when it joined First Army (Home Forces) in Central Force, with its units quartered across Eastern England. In May 1916 the brigade was numbered CCCXLIII Brigade (343 Bde) and the batteries became A, B and C. Later in the year CCCXL (Howitzer) Bde (formerly 2/I Welsh Bde) was broken up and its A Bty (formerly 2/1st Glamorgan Bty) joined CCCXLIII Bde as D (H) Bty.[15][24][26]

The Home Defence divisions continually supplied drafts to units fighting overseas. In the autumn of 1916, A/CCCXLIII Bty was detached tand replaced by a newly raised 502 (H) Bty, RFA. A Battery was then given back its old Territorial Force title as 502 (2/1 Monmouth) (Howitzer) Battery and left for France, while the new battery in CCCXLIII Bde was renumbered as 545 (H) Bty. 502 (2/1 Monmouth) (H) Bty disembarked at Le Havre on 6 October 1916, left two days later and joined CXXVI Bde RFA in 37th Division on 9 October, becoming its C (H) Bty on 23 October. It was equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers.[61][62]

37th Division had been in France since the middle of 1915, but it had still not taken part in a major operation. Now it was involved in the Battle of the Ancre (the last phase of the Somme Offensive) starting on 13 November. 37th Divisional Artillery was in the line for the whole six-day battle, at first covering the front of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division before 37th Division took over the front.[62]

On 25 January 1917, C(H)/CXXVI Bty (the former 2/1 Monmouth Bty) was broken up and its Right and Left Sections used to make up D(H)CXXIII and D(H)CXXIV Btys up to six howitzers each. These two batteries served with 37th Divisional Artillery on the Western Front for the rest of the war.[62]

The rest of CCCXLIII Bde had disappeared from 68th (2nd W) Division's order of battle by mid-1917.[26]

The TA was doubled in size after the Munich Crisis of 1938, and most regiments split to form duplicates. Part of the reorganisation was that field artillery regiments changed from four six-gun batteries to an establishment of two batteries, each of three four-gun troops. For the 83rd (Welsh) Fd Rgt this resulted in the following organisation from 1 July 1939:[15][63][66][67][65]

Emplacing an 18-pounder with wooden wheels at the start of World War II.

83rd (Welsh) Field Regiment

• 329 (Monmouthshire) Field Bty at Newport
• 330 (Monmouthshire) Field Bty at Cross Keys

133rd Field Regiment

• 331 (Monmouthshire) Field Bty at Griffithstown
• 332 (Radnorshire) Field Bty at Knighton

Both regiments were in 53rd (Welsh) Division throughout World War II and shared similar histories.[68]

Parts of 53rd (Welsh) Division were sent to Northern Ireland from October 1939, and the whole division was stationed there from 3 April 1940 to 30 April 1941 as part of VI Corps.[68][69][70][71] The establishment of a field regiment from 1941 onwards was three batteries, each of two four-gun troops of 25-pounders with Quad gun tractors.[72]

On returning to mainland Britain, the division served in Northern Ireland.[68] One of the lessons learned from the Battle of France was that the two-battery organisation did not work: field regiments were intended to support an infantry brigade of three battalions. As a result, they were reorganised into three 8-gun batteries. On 8–9 February 1941 83rd (W) Fd Rgt formed 460 Fd Bty at Downpatrick and 133rd Fd Rgt formed 497 Fd Bty at Portadown. 133rd Field Rgt was authorised to use its parent unit's 'Welsh' subtitle from 17 February 1942.[63][65][73]

53rd (W) Division returned to England under III Corps on 1 May 1941, and moved to Western Command on 11 November. On 8 April 1942 it was assigned to XII Corps District, then from 15 May 1943 in XII Corps it became part of 21st Army Group training for the Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord).[68][74]

25-pounders and Quad tractors advancing in Normandy August 1944.

53rd (Welsh) Division was among the follow-up troops landing after D-Day (6 June). Its units were at sea from 21 June and completed landing on 27 June.[68] On 1 July it relieved 15th (Scottish) Division on the River Odon after the Battle of 'Scottish Corridor'.[75] 53rd Division was then involved in the Second Battle of the Odon from 15 July, capturing Cahier and holding on to it by hard fighting.[76][77] When the breakout from the Normandy beachhead began in early August, 53rd Division cleared the banks of the River Orne and then fought its way towards Falaise to help in closing the Falaise Pocket. By late August its units were across the Seine and driving over open country towards the River Somme.[78][79][80] On 4 September the division cleared St Pol and was working its way through the canal area west of Lille.[81][82] On 12 September 83rd Regiment moved into the outskirts of Antwerp, where they were treated with hospitality by the liberated inhabitants, even while engaging enemy targets round the docks in grain elevators, tall buildings and hotels.[83]

There was a pause at the Meuse-Escaut Canal before Operation Market Garden was launched on 17 September. XII Corps had an important subsidiary role clearing the country west of XXX Corps' main thrust.[84][85] 83rd Field Regiment came into action to support 158 Bde's crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal, suffering some casualties from Luftwaffe air attack on the night of 18–19 September while crossing the canal. 133rd came into action and crossed the canal the following day in support of 160th Bde.[83][86] During an attack on Reusel on 25 September, Capt Frank Smith of 133rd Fd Rgt with his signaller accompanied a company of 6th RWF as FOO. The company became engaged in house-to-house fighting and after all the officers were wounded Smith took command, and led it within 300 yards (270 m) of the objective before the company second-in-command could come up and take over. Smith was later awarded a Military Cross (MC).[87]

On 4 October, the 83rd Regiment moved to Sint-Oedenrode in the Market Garden 'corridor' supporting 158th Brigade, and two days later 133rd Regiment moved with 160th Bde into the Nijmegen bridgehead captured during Market Garden. Both positions were under frequent fire: on 13 October the 330 Battery of the 83rd Regiment was shelled as the Germans prepared a counter-attack against 158th Bde; the battery lost seven killed and 12 wounded when the battery command post (CP) was hit by two shells. The CP was quickly re-established, partly due to the actions of Lt. Trevor Scholes, Royal Signals, who won an MC in this action for his efforts to make good the radios and to continue to relay fire orders to the guns. The battery's defensive fire tasks were instrumental in defeating an attack that got within 20 yards (18 m) of 158th Bde's positions.[83][86][88] On 16 October 83rd Regiment took part in Operation Winkle: an intense fire programme by all arms rising to a crescendo, followed by loudspeaker appeals to German soldiers to desert to the Allied lines, covered by a smokescreen fired by the regiment.

25-pounders in action during the advance on 's-Hertogenbosch, 23 October 1944.

After the failure of Market Garden, XII Corps was ordered to advance westwards towards 's-Hertogenbosch. The regiments left the Nijmegen area on 19 October and took up new gun positions. The attack on s'Hertogenbosch (Operation Alan) began at 06.30 on 22 October, the infantry of 160th Bde advancing behind a timed artillery programme, after which the guns moved forward. After two days' fighting, 158th Bde took up the attack, but it took two more days of house-to-house fighting supported by the artillery to clear the old town.[83][86][89][90][91]

Next XII Corps was switched to clearing the country between the Wessem-Nederweert Canal and the Zig Canal as 21st Army Group closed up to the River Maas.[92] On 14 November the corps carried out Operation Mallard to cross the Wessem Canal. Both regiments fired in support of 51st (Highland) Division's assault crossing (Operation Ascot), followed by 53rd (W) Division's own crossing (Operation Bristol) in the evening.[83][86][93]

On 3 December the guns supported 15th (S) Division in Operation Guildford to clear the banks of the Maas up to Blerick, opposite Venlo. The Commanding Officer of the 133rd Field Regiment was responsible for firing a large-scale smokescreen, which was maintained for over 11 hours during the operation, which was described as 'textbook'.[86][94][95] Further operations were halted by winter weather. On 20 January 1945 the division moved to the Eindhoven area to refit and train for a special operation. On the night of 4/5 February the gunners moved into concealed positions near Nijmegen.[86]

The Battle of the Reichswald (Operation Veritable) opened at 05.00 on 8 February with the heaviest concentration of artillery employed by the British Army so far in the war. The bombardment hit enemy gun positions, HQs, and communications. After a pause and dummy attack at 07.40 to induce the Germans to man their guns, the Counter-battery fire was resumed and a barrage was laid down to protect the assaulting columns. At 10.30 the full barrage made its first lift and the advance began. Both regiments supported the advance of 71st Bde. By 15.00, 133rd Regiment was out of range, but it took over 2 hours to extract its guns from their muddy positions to move forward. 83rd Regiment also moved forward at 19.00. 53rd Division's objectives were the Brandenburg and Stoppelberg features in the northern part of the Reichswald. Opposition was not strong but the terrain was difficult. By 02.00 on 9 February the leading units were through the Siegfried Line defences and closing on the Stoppelberg. That feature was taken during the morning and the division pushed on to the edge of the forest, but it was hard to get guns and vehicles along the muddy forest tracks. The regiments deployed on German soil for the first time on 11 February. It took several days for the division to push on through Pfalzdorf towards Goch, mopping up opposition and fending off counter-attacks. Goch fell on 21 February.[83][86][96]

53rd Division was not involved in the assault crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder) on 23/24 March, but it crossed on 26 March and the next day attacked through Hamminkeln to Dingden. It then took part in the drive to the Elbe.[97] The German surrender at Lüneburg Heath, ending the fighting on 21st Army Group's front, came on 4 May.

83rd and 133rd (Welsh) Field Regiments were placed in suspended animation in British Army of the Rhine in 1946, on 21 June and 4 April respectively; when the TA was reformed on 1 January 1947 133rd was formally disbanded.[15][63][98]