- 26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery during the Great War -
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26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
XXVI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, made up of 116, 117 and 118 Batteries, served with 1st Division. 1st Division was one of the first British formations to proceed to France in August 1914, and fought on the Western Front throughout the war, taking part in most of the major actions. In 1914 they were involved in The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, the First Battle of Ypres and the Winter Operations of 1914-15. On the 4th of February 1915, 118 Battery moved to 31 Brigade RFA, 28th Division. In 1915 they were in action during The Battle of Aubers and The Battle of Loos. On 22nd of May 1916 40 (Howitzer) Battery, less one section, joined from 43 (Howitzer) Brigade, 1st Division. In 1916 they were in action in the Battles of the Somme. On the 14th of January 1917, 26th Brigade RFA left 1st Division to become an Army Field Artillery Brigade. 40 Battery transferred to 25 Brigade RFA, 1st Division and was replaced by A Battery from 165 Brigade RFA, 33rd Division. In 1917 they saw action in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 the Battles of the Lys, the Second Battles of Arras, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre, in which the Division fought the Passage of the Sambre-Oise Canal. At the Armistice, 1st Division was selected to advance into Germany and formed part of the Occupation Force at Bonn.
24th Aug 1914 Artillery Duel
26th Aug 1914 On the March
29th Aug 1914 At Rest
30th Aug 1914 On the March
31st Aug 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 Outpost Duty
2nd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
3rd Sep 1914 Advance Guard
3rd Sep 1914 Retirement
4th Sep 1914 In Action
6th Sep 1914 In Reserve
13th Sep 1914 In Action
14th Sep 1914 In Action
15th Sep 1914 In Action
16th Sep 1914 Artillery In Action
17th Sep 1914 In Action
18th Sep 1914 Artillery In Action
19th Sep 1914 Reliefs Complete
20th Sep 1914 In Action
27th Sep 1914 ombardment
30th Sep 1914 Under Shellfire
20th Oct 1914 Davidson of the Gunners
24th Oct 1914 Withdrawl
30th Oct 1914 Shelling
31st Oct 1914 Divisional HQ Hit
15th Nov 1914 Orders
25th Jan 1915 In Action
1st July 1915 Rounds Fired
2nd July 1915 Appointments
6th July 1915 Leave of Absence
7th July 1915 6th London Brigade RFA in Front Line
8th July 1915 Movement
9th July 1915 6th London Brigade RFA Register Targets
10th July 1915 6th London Brigade RFA in Action
11th July 1915 Wagons Move Back
12th July 1915 Orders Cancelled
13th July 1915 Reconnaissance
14th July 1915 Batteries of 6th London Brigade RFA Fire
15th July 1915 6th London Brigade RFA Fire
19th July 1915 New Gun Positions
3rd of February 1918 Weather Fine
28th of February 1918 On the MoveIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Want to know more about 26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery?
There are:5272 items tagged 26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
Those known to have served with
26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Caiger Walter Joseph. Drv.
- Hardley William Frederick.
- Howard George. Dvr. (d.7th Sept 1918)
- Moony P.. Driver
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 26 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery from other sources.
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259066Dvr. George Howard 116th Battery, 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.7th Sept 1918)
George Howard was born 29th June 1895, his parents were Henry and Mary Ann (Suett) they had 10 children. Henry was a fish curier. Both Henry and Mary died in 1905 the children went to relations. George got married in 1913 to Florence Clayton. Their son John was born 1914 but died a few months later.George joined the Royal Field Artillery at Woolwich in 1915 and was sent to the Front on 29th of July 1915. We do not have his service record. We have only one copy of a photo with 3 soldiers on and no one knows which one he is. His second son was born on 16 Nov 1917. He never knew his father as George was killed on 7th of Sept 1918 at Cherisy in France and is buried in Sun Quarry Cemetery. It is understood that he was with the Canadians. I am still researching. It's not easy. George was my late husbands's grandfather.
Marilyn Howard
235395William Frederick Hardley 26th Battery Royal Field Artillery
William Hardley served with 26th Bty. Royal Field Artillery.Mike Hardley
210112Driver P. Moony 26 Battery Royal Field Artillery
I have recieved a post card from a friend who is doing a house clearing, when he came across this postcard he sent it to me for interest.I would really like to pass it on to a relative of this soldier if at all possible.There is no forwarding address or date, but the content of the card is as follows:
Dear wife and child. Just a few lines hoping that you are going on alright and in the best of health as it leaves me at present. Dear wife I recieved your parcel safely this morning Sunday. The cakes were very nice and thank you very much. Dear wife please send me some Woodbines.I will try and come and see you but I shall have to pay half my fare but it will cost me a bit of money to come and see you. Dear wife please could you spare about a 1pound to get me home)unsigned,
W. Vanstone
207679Drv. Walter Joseph Caiger 149th Battalion, 26th Brig. Royal Field Artillery
This story of my Grandfather, Walter Caiger, was pieced together after considerable research due to his British Army Service records having been destroyed during WW2. Walter had entered the Army in 1899 at age 16yrs, and had taken part in the Anglo Boer War in South Africa during 1899-1902.Serving as a regular soldier when WW1 broke out, he was deployed from Aldershot with the 149th Battalion 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery to the Western Front with the 1st Division of British Expeditionary Forces under the command of Lt-Colonel Cunliffe-Owen, landing in France on 16th August 1914, where their first encounter with the German forces occurred on 23rd August 1914 at Mons. He also served with the Allied Expeditionary Forces at Thessaloniki (Salonica) in central Macedonia/Greece 1915-16.
Walter experienced a great deal of action in WW1 as quoted in the National Roll of the Great War:- "Caiger, W. R.F.A. A serving soldier who enlisted in 1900, he was drafted to the Western Front on the outbreak of hostilities. His service overseas lasted for 5 years, and during this time he took part in important engagements in practically all sectors, and was wounded. He was discharged on his return to England in February 1919. 23 Smalley Road Stoke Newington N16 Entry No. 7297"
The wounds he received were a result of Mustard Gas first used by the Germans in 1917. A lethal chemical, only requiring minimal amounts to be effective. It was almost odourless and took 12 hours for the effects to show, remaining in the soil for several weeks. Victims suffered blistered skin, sore eyes, vomiting, internal and external bleeding, with the mucous stripped from their bronchial tubes, they suffered a slow and agonising death over a period of 4-5 weeks. Walter was fortunate to survive but as a result, not able to continue his Army duties and was discharged in January 1920.
Walter was awarded the 1914 Star & Clasp, General Service and Victory Medals (Clasp No.14526 “Clasp & Roses†issued)W7585 c/a d29.1.20 Qualifying date 16.8.14. When the full size medal was worn, the clasp would have been attached to the ribbon, and when just the medal ribbon was worn, a small rosette was mounted in the middle of the ribbon to signify the recipient had earned the clasp.
Post war Walter took up duties with London County Council, which acknowledged its employees contributions during the Great War 1914-18, by keeping a Record of Service for each of them. Walter’s being: Caiger, Walter Joseph (1914-19); Sapper, U.F. ; France and Salonica 3 years.
Although not having known Grandfather, we admire the stamina, courage and valour he and his comrades would have shown throughout these hostilities, and give thanks for his safe return to his homeland, England.
Victoria Cope
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