War Services of the 62nd West Riding Divisional ArtilleryAnderson, Austin Thomas
History
War Services of the 62nd West Riding Divisional Artillery
Anderson, Austin Thomas
Great Britain. Army. Division, 62nd; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The Divisional Artillery remained with the Highland Division, though
greatly changed in personnel and with an almost entirely new set of
commanding officers. Major Lockhart was, I believe, the only battery
commander who stayed on until the final breaking up. The artillery left
Germany in the middle of August, and returned to England (Salisbury
Plain); on the 5th December the headquarters' office closed, and on
that date the Divisional Artillery may be said to have ceased to exist.
That it may long exist, however, as a brotherhood of officers and men,
bound together by a thousand memories of danger and privation borne in
common, proud in the consciousness of duty done, and strong to maintain
in peace the steadfast and loyal comradeship which knit them together
in war, is the sincere hope of the writer of this little chronicle.
APPENDIX A
SUBSEQUENT SERVICES OF THE 311TH BRIGADE
I should like to have been able to bring the records of the 311th
Brigade within the scope of this work, but the difficulties have proved
too great, and I must content myself with giving a brief digest of its
services after leaving the 62nd Division, for which I am indebted to
the kindness of Lieut.-Colonel A. Gadie.
The brigade was first attached to the 34th Division, and took part in
the battle of Arras on Easter Monday, 1917; after this it occupied
positions in the Arras sector, opposite Gavrelle and Oppy.
In May it marched to Ploeg Street Wood, and fought in the battle of
Messines, in support of the Anzacs. The battery positions in this
battle were in some cases within 850 yards of the Boche front line.
In June, 1917, the brigade enjoyed a rest at Bailleul, and then
returned to its old positions at Messines, near Warneton.
In October, 1917, it pulled out and went to the Ypres salient, where it
took part in the strenuous fighting at Passchendale.
December, 1917. St. Quentin sector.
February, 1918. In action at Jeancourt until the big German offensive
began. The brigade then retired steadily to the Somme, taking up as
many as five separate positions in one day. At St. Christ's bridge
it held on to its positions for two days, and then only retired on
being outflanked by the enemy. The batteries remained in action on
this occasion, firing over open sights, until the infantry had retired
behind the guns. Positions were finally taken up about 8 miles east of
Amiens.
May, 1918. To the Arras sector. When the final great advance was in
preparation, the brigade moved into seven different positions in ten
days, in order to cover the withdrawal of the Canadians, who were being
sent south. It finished up by occupying positions on the top of the
Vimy ridge.
During the advance, which began in August, the brigade was attached to
the 8th Division and to the Canadians.
When the armistice was concluded on the 11th November, 1918, it was at
the village of Le Havre, about three miles east of Mons.
The following officers were awarded Military Crosses:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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