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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

25th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery



11th March 2016   

25th Division of the Royal Field Artillery leaving Frome © Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) Frome Society for Local Study

The origin of the 25th Division of the RFA dates back to Army Order No. 388 in September 1914 with the formation of six divisions (21st to 26th) and Army Troops to the Regular Army. The war diary places the early formation of the 25th Division, as reported in the Somerset Standard newspaper, to have taken place in the Somerset town of Frome. The Somerset Standard of 20th November 1914 reported that Col Bethell had been in the market town of Frome during the week to advise those connected with the arrangements that had already been made, that the Market Hall and the Market Yard in the center of the town would be in use very shortly by the new recruits that were expected, quite soon, and that the officers of the newly formed 25th Division of the Royal Field Artillery would use the Masonic Hall as their headquarters. "On Monday 23th November 1914 the first of 300 new artillery recruits arrived by special train at Frome Railway Station for their initial training, from London. The men arrived "light" at approximately 6.30 am and marched in the direction of the Market Hall where they were given the first of many breakfasts. Following on from breakfast the men did some drills in the market yard and later in the afternoon marched back to the railway station and collected their kit bags. In the evening they were free to acquaint themselves with what the town of Frome had to offer. On the following day a further 400 recruits arrived. Of these first batch of 700 recruits the majority where Londoners with the remainder being Scots. "The Officer commanding the 25th Division of the Royal Field Artillery had recently been promoted to Brigadier-General with Colonel Grundy as his second in command. The division comprised of four brigades with each brigade made up of four batteries of 200 men in each battery. Most of the non-commissioned officers were men who had served at the battle on Mons and who had been wounded and subsequently recovered from their wounds. It was understood that six guns were to be allocated to each brigade and that some 200 horses would also be acquired, at some stage." Over the coming weeks the Somerset Standard reported that on 29th November a further 350 troops had arrived from Cosham near Portsmouth and that on 18th December an additional 600 troops had arrived from Exeter or from Ipswich or Brighton. Around Christmas 1914 the Somerset Standard reported that there was a further arrival of some 60 or 70 men from Torquay and that the troops quartered in the town now number some 1,500 and that in addition to dismounted drills the men are daily exercised with the horses and guns. The 25th Division of the RFA, led by Brigadier-General H A Bethell, left Frome for its next location in England, as stated in the Somerset Standard dated 16 April, 1915. It is assumed that the next location was in fact Heytesbury Military Camp and then possibly Larkhill Military Camp. The 25th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery was formed in May 1916 from the four brigade ammunition columns of 25th Division. The division was in action in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge in May 1916. They then moved to The Somme and joined the Battle just after the main attack, with 75th Brigade making a costly attack near Thiepval on the 3rd of July. The Division was in action at The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres and The Battle of the Ancre Heights. In 1917 they were in action at The Battle of Messines attacking between the Wulverghem-Messines and Wulverghem-Wytschaete roads. In the Third battle of Ypres were were in action during The Battle of Pilkem. In 1918 they were in action on The Somme, in the Battles of the Lys, where the suffered heavy casualties and in June the Division returned to England to reconstitute. They returned to France and fought in The Battle of the Aisne, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy.

21st November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade Order 44 ( B.O.O.44 )

21st November 1916 March Table B.O.O.44

22nd November 1916 Reference to Brigade Preparation Order of today

22nd November 1916 121st Infantry Brigade O.O.45. ( B.O.O.45. )

12th Dec 1917 Orders  location map

18th Jan 1918 Working Parties

19th Jan 1918 Working Parties

20th Jan 1918 Working Parties

21st Jan 1918 Working Parties

22nd Jan 1918 Working Parties

24th Jan 1918 Working Parties

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Those known to have served with

25th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Dyble Robert. Gnr. (d.13th Aug 1918)
  • Greenberg Harry. Dvr.
  • Taylor Frederick. Dvr.

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 25th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery from other sources.


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258374

Dvr. Frederick Taylor 113th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery

My grand dad, Fred Taylor, worked as a miner before signing up on the 5th January 1915, he started his training at no 1 Depot RFA Newcastle upon Tyne. Some time during 1915 he was transferred to the Army camp at Aldershot where at 7am on the 25th September 1915 his Brigade entrained at the Gov't sidings bound for Southampton. Brigade strength was 24 officers, 697 other ranks, 630 horses, 60 mules, 16 4.5" Howitzers and 48 4.5" ammunition wagons. The Brigade arrived at Harvem France at 1am 26th of September, at 7 am the Brigade disembarked, after resting and another train journey the Brigade marched to Nieppe which was the concentration area of the 25th Division.

Fred served with the 25th Divisional Ammunition Column and also was attached to the Canadian Royal Artillery for a time, on the 7th August 1916 Fred was transferred to the Royal Engineers C Special Company (gas) his rank was Private then Pioneer. I can find very little information regarding C Special Coy. RE I can only assume that he most probably transported gas shells to the guns.

Fred survived the war and returned to the UK in 1919.

Michael Tylor




254749

Dvr. Harry Greenberg 25th Divisional Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery

His favourite horse was named Nelson, having a dark area over one eye. Harry Greenberg survived the War relatively unscathed, but rarely spoke of his experiences.

Ian Greenberg






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