The 3rd West Lancashire Artillery (3rd West Lancs Artillery) was a volunteer unit of Britain's Territorial Force recruited from Liverpool that saw action during the First World War, distinguishing itself at the Battle of the Avre. During the Second World War, it served in the air defence and medium artillery roles at home and in the Far East. Its successor unit continues to serve as a battery in the modern Army Reserve.
Volunteer Force The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Volunteer Corps composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need.Beckett.Spiers, pp. 163–8. One such unit was the 15th Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVC) of two batteries, which was formed at Garston, Liverpool, on 2 April 1860, with additional batteries raised on 2 July 1863 and 16 November 1865.Frederick, p. 664.Litchfield & Westlake, pp. 107–13.Beckett, Appendix VIII.Lancashire Record Office, Handlist 72. The first officers commissioned into the unit included two Captains (one for each battery), with the senior, Philip Tinne, as Captain-Commandant.London Gazette, 2 April 1860. One of the First Lieutenants, John Mewburn, was formerly of the Queen's Own Canadian Militia. He was promoted to captain on 20 November 1860,London Gazette, 4 December 1860. and became captain-commandant in April 1862.London Gazette, 29 April 1862. By 1865 he was a Major.Army List, various dates.
Although the smaller Lancashire AVCs were grouped together into administrative battalions, the 15th remained independent, although between 1863 and 1867 it was attached to the Manchester-based 19th Lancashire AVC for administrative purposes. As the unit expanded, Mewburn was superseded in command by the local linen merchant Robert Trimble, who joined from the Liverpool Irish and had financed the raising of the third battery. Obituary, Hawera and Normanby Star (New Zealand), 5 September 1899. Trimble was commissioned lieutenant in the 15th Lancashire AVC on 13 December 1862,London Gazette, 26 December 1862. promoted to captain on 2 July 1863,London Gazette, 21 July 1863. and became Lieutenant-Colonel in command. Mewburn returned to the command with the rank of Lt-Col on 23 February 1875 after Trimble resigned to emigrate to New Zealand,London Gazette, 16 February 1875. whereupon Trimble became the first Honorary Colonel of the unit.London Gazette 13 July 1875. Mewburn retired on 19 April 1890.London Gazette, 18 April 1890. and H.J. Robinson, VD, later succeeded as Lt-Col in command (11 May 1892). The unit established its headquarters (HQ) at Lark Lane, Liverpool, in 1877, and moved to 65 Admiral Street by 1880.
When the Volunteers were consolidated in 1880, the unit was redesignated the 6th Lancashire AVC (the original 6th had been disbanded in 1863), with the following organisation: No 1 Battery at Liverpool No 2 Battery at Liverpool No 3 Battery at Liverpool No 4 Battery at Garston Half Battery at Hale No 5 Battery
By the end of 1880 the unit had reached a strength of nine batteries. In 1882 it was assigned to the Lancashire Division of the Royal Artillery, but when the divisional structure was reduced in 1889 it joined the Southern Division.Litchfield & Westlake, pp. 4–5.
The AVCs were intended to serve as garrison artillery manning fixed defences, but a number of the early units manned semi-mobile 'position batteries' of smooth-bore field guns pulled by agricultural horses. However, the War Office (WO) refused to pay for the upkeep of field guns and the concept died out in the 1870s. It was revived in 1888 when some Volunteer batteries were reorganised as 'position artillery' to work alongside the Volunteer infantry brigades. From 14 July 1892 the 6th Lancashire Volunteer Artillery had an establishment of one position bty and seven garrison companies, but by 1893 consisted entirely of position batteries, referred to as 'heavy batteries' from 1902.Litchfield & Westlake, p. 6.
On 1 June 1899 all the Volunteer artillery units became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) and from 1 January 1902 when the RA's divisional structure was abolished, the unit became the 6th Lancashire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers). Lieutenant-Colonel W.W. Gossage, VD, took over the command in 1904.
Territorial Force When the Volunteers were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908,Dunlop, Chapter 14.Spiers, Chapter 10. the 6th Lancashire transferred to the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) as the 3rd West Lancashire Brigade, with the following organisation:Frederick, p. 677.Litchfield, pp. 125–7.London Gazette 20 March 1908. HQ at 65 Admiral Street, Liverpool 12th Lancashire Battery at Admiral Street 13th Lancashire Battery at 1 Earp Street, Garston 14th Lancashire Battery at Widnes 3rd Lancashire Ammunition Column at Admiral Street
It formed part of the TF's West Lancashire Division, and each battery was equipped with four BLC 15-pounder guns.Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 133–9.55 (WL) Division at Long, Long Trail.
First World War Mobilisation
Annual training had just begun when war was declared on 4 August 1914, and the units returned to their peace stations to mobilise. 3rd West Lancashire Brigade mobilised at Admiral Street under the command of Lt-Col J.P. Reynolds, CO since 1909.Coop, p. 12. Immediately after the outbreak of war, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service, and on 15 August the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form them 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 brigades, batteries and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas.Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 1–7.
1/3rd West Lancashire Brigade, RFA
During the winter of 1914–15 the infantry of the West Lancashire Division were sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) fighting on the Western Front. In April 1915 the artillery and other divisional units remaining at home were attached to the 2nd West Lancashire Division, which was training round Canterbury and whose own artillery did not join until September.57 (2nd WL) Division at Long, Long Trail.
In September 1915 the brigade was re-equipped with modern 18-pounder guns, handing its old guns over to the 2nd Line, and it sailed for the Western Front with 2nd Canadian Division. It completed disembarkation at Le Havre on 1 October and moved up to Locre and Berthen. The Lancashire RFA brigades were only with the Canadians for a short time, because in November the War Office decided to re-form the 1st West Lancashire Division (as the 55th (West Lancashire) Division). The 3rd West Lancashire Bde joined the reformed division at Hallencourt on 4 January 1916.Coop, p. 23.
In May 1916 the BEF's field artillery underwent reorganisation. First, on 5 May, the 3rd West Lancashire formed a fourth 4-gun battery, designated D. Then on 15 May the other three batteries were redesignated A, B and C, and the brigade became CCLXXVII (or 277) Brigade, RFA. The brigade ammunition columns were absorbed into the divisional ammunition column on 18 May. Finally, on 23 May, D Bty was swapped with C (H) Bty of CCLXXVIII (H) Brigade (the former 4th West Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade, though C/CCLXXVIII Bty was originally a Kitchener's Army battery from 18th (Eastern) DivisionBecke, Pt 3a, pp. 79–85.18 (E) Division at Long, Long Trail.). This battery became D (H), armed with 4.5-inch howitzers.Coop, pp. 28–9.Frederick, p. 689.
Somme Once assembled, 55th (West Lancashire) Division went into the line in the Wailly–Bretancourt area. When the Battle of the Somme opened further south on 1 July, the divisional artillery fired an intense bombardment along its whole divisional front as a diversion. The division was then relieved on 25 July, when it moved south into the line opposite Guillemont in the Somme sector.Coop, pp. 25, 30. On 8 August, two infantry brigades of the division carried out an attack on Guillemont. For the whole of the previous day and up to Zero hour (04.20) on 8 August, the divisional artillery and heavy guns kept up a continuous bombardment (described as 'awe-inspiring') of the enemy positions, particularly Guillemont village, which was known to be strongly fortified. When the infantry advanced they were preceded by a creeping barrage (a new technique at the time) fired by the divisional artillery supported by other batteries. The attack on the right was successful, and at 05.20 the infantry on the left were reported to be in Guillemont Station, but the centre was held up by a belt of barbed wire and the barrage had to be brought back to support them. Meanwhile, the Liverpool Irish held on the village until most were killed or captured. The attack was renewed the following day with another barrage commencing at 04.20 and making its first 'lift' forward at 04.23. However, the leading battalion was unable to get into position until 05.00, and then made a gallant attack without the benefit of the barrage, suffering heavy casualties.Coop. pp. 31–5.Farndale, Western Front, p. 150.
The division was relieved on the night of 14/15 August, but the divisional artillery remained in the line supporting other formations. 55th (West Lancashire) Division came back into the line on 4/5 September, facing Ginchy and Delville Wood, where it launched an attack on 9 September (in the Battle of Ginchy). The divisional and heavy artillery began a deliberate bombardment at 07.00 and continued to Zero hour (16.45), when the field artillery fired a creeping barrage behind which the infantry advanced. The German artillery replied to the bombardment by shelling the support trenches and firing gas shells into the battery positions. The leading infantry companies followed the barrage closely and attacked 'Hop Alley', 'Ale Alley' and 'Pint Trench', but Hop Alley proved stronger than expected and there was an additional hidden trench that had not been discovered or bombarded. The rest of the divisional attack was successful, and another attempt on the Hop Alley–Ale Alley complex was made two days later by a surprise attack without artillery preparation, which was also unsuccessful.Coop. pp. 35–40.
After a short rest the 55th (West Lancashire) Lancashire Division was thrown in again at the Battle of Morval on 25 September. The infantry attacked at 12.35, keeping closer to the creeping barrage than ever before, and the first phase of the attack was successful. The captured position was consolidated behind a standing barrage, and then the barrage moved on and the infantry captured the second objective. Next day the success was exploited towards 'Gird Trench' and 'Gird Support' after a seven-hour bombardment. The Liverpool Irish took the objectives by 15.15 and the retreating Germans were caught by the barrage and suffered heavily. A counter-attack attempt at 15.50 was also caught in the open by the artillery and the German infantry fled from the guns. The division was relieved on 28 September and left the Somme front.Coop, pp. 41–44.Farndale, Western Front, p. 152.
Army Field Brigade In October there was another reorganisation of the field artillery to bring the 18-pounder batteries up to a strength of six guns each. On 4 October, A Bty was split up between B and C, and on 7 October it was replaced by B/CCLXXVIII Bty.