War Diaries Talk

Moving batteries

  • erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be by erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be

    It was a hectic time for the RHA, moving from one place to another. But how long did it take for a battery

    1. to be ready to withdraw from a position
    2. to go in to action in another one?

    Posted

  • ral104 by ral104 moderator, scientist

    The short answer is that I don't know exactly 😄

    Certainly speed was of the essence - the RHA needed to be able to provide fire support to fast-moving cavalry formations - but of course getting the guns and limbers in position still took time and needed a certain amount of room to achieve. Have a look at this film: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060022735

    It gives a sense of how fast the batteries could move when they needed to, but also some of the perils of moving the guns and limbers over rough ground. You can also get a sense of how exposed they would have been when withdrawing.

    Posted

  • cyngast by cyngast moderator

    Interesting film. But did they really canter through streams like that? Wouldn't the ammunition get wet?

    Posted

  • marie.eklidvirginmedia.com by marie.eklidvirginmedia.com

    I believe the cartridges were wrapped in waxed paper in wooden boxes to keep the water off in WW1.

    Posted

  • erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be by erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be

    They lose a gun in the film. Why don't they stop and pick it up again? What is a battery without a gun? Or is it just a "propaganda" film and is the need for a gun less important?

    Posted

  • marie.eklidvirginmedia.com by marie.eklidvirginmedia.com

    Maybe a film to show what they did. If they were going at that speed probably did not have time to pick the gun carriage up or retrieve the limber. It all depends on the situation. As it says a stock film , rear areas of the Western Front, 20 June 1918.

    Article regarding RHA. - In 1914 the establishment of the RHA was one battery to each brigade of cavalry. A battery had six 13-pounder field guns and included 5 officers and 200 men. Motive power was supplied by the battery's 228 horses. The original BEF included only one division of cavalry of 4 brigades, and thus it had four batteries RHA, which were organised into two brigades. Link: http://www.1914-1918.net/rha.htm

    Really interesting to see them in the film. Thanks to Ral for showing it.

    Posted

  • cyngast by cyngast moderator in response to erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be's comment.

    Yes, I think it was a staged film to show off the RHA in action. They are obviously going back and forth over the same ground.

    Posted