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88 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
LXXXVIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, served with 19th (Western) Division. The Division was formed in September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Second New Army. The new units concentrated in the Bulford area with the infantry being based at Tidworth, Ludgershall and Grately. The battalions spent the winter in billets in Andover, Whitchurch, Basingstoke and Weston-super-Mare, returning to the area around Tidworth on the 15th of March 1915. They proceeded to France in mid July and concentrated near St Omer. Their first action was at Pietre, in a diversionary action supporting the Battle of Loos. In 1916 They were in action during the Battle of the Somme, capturing La Boisselle and being involved in The attacks on High Wood, The Battles of Pozieres Ridge, the Ancre Heights and the Ancre. In 1917 they were in action in The Battle of Messines and the Third Battles of Ypres. In 1918 They fought on The Somme during The Battle of St Quentin and The Battle of Bapaume and in the Battles of the Lys at Messines, Bailleul and The First Battle of Kemmel Ridge. They fought in The Battle of the Aisne and during the Final Advance in Picardly they were in action in The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre and the passage of the Grand Honelle. At the Armitice were were in billets near Bavay. Demobilisation began in December 1918 and the final cadres returned to England on the 27th of June 1919.
Jul 1915 Training Instruction
Jul 1915 Billets
2nd Apr 1917 Heavy Snow
1st Oct 1916 Orders
2nd Oct 1916 Brigades Training
3rd Oct 1916 Reliefs
4th Oct 1916 On the Move
6th Oct 1916 Orders 
8th Oct 1916 Orders Issued
12th Oct 1916 Shelling
14th Oct 1916 Orders
15th Oct 1916 Orders
1st Dec 1916 Training
2nd Dec 1916 Training
5th Dec 1916 On the Move
7th Dec 1916 On the Move
18th Dec 1916 Inspections
21st Dec 1916 Sports Medals
22nd Dec 1916 Company Training
31st Dec 1916 Training
1st Apr 1917 Artillery Registration
3rd Apr 1917 Blizzard
4th Apr 1917 Artillery Active
5th Apr 1917 Some Shelling
6th Apr 1917 Artilery in Support
7th Apr 1917 Shelling
8th Apr 1917 Artillery Registration
9th Apr 1917 Hail Stones
22nd February 1918 0900 hours. Left for Khan abu Rayat
23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting
24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
4th of April 1918 Hostile Shelling
10th Apr 1918 In Action
22nd Sep 1918 Enemy Wire
23rd Sep 1918 Enemy Wire
24th Sep 1918 Enemy Wire
25th Sep 1918 Infantry Patrols
26th Sep 1918 Night Patrols
27th Sep 1918 Patrols
28th Sep 1918 Enemy Posts
30th Sep 1918 Attack Made
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Want to know more about 88 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery? There are:5271 items tagged 88 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.
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Those known to have served with88 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery during the Great War 1914-1918. - Collins Harry. Drvr. (d.22th Mar 1918)
- Cunningham Arthur Francis. Bmdr. (d.7th July 1917)
- Davies MM.. Edward John. Bdr.
- Davies MM.. Edward John. Bmbdr.
- Dougall VC MC.. Eric Stuart. Mjr. (d.14th April 1918)
- Farran George Francis. Mjr. (d.18th July 1916)
- Lawson Robert. A/Bmbdr. (d.10th March 1916)
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 88 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery from other sources.
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264240 Bmbdr. Edward John Davies MM. 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery Local newspaper The Aberdare Leader dated 6th of July 1918 has a picture and a caption saying, Hirwaun Man Wins MM. It then goes on to say: News has been received that Bombardier Edward John Davies has been awarded the Military Medal for rescuing wounded under heavy shell fire at Kemmel on 25th of April 1918. Previous to enlisting in January 1915 he was employed at Tower Colliery Hirwaun.
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260896 Drvr. Harry Collins A Bty. 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.22th Mar 1918) Harry Collins (born 1890) served as a driver with A Battery, 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. I only recently discovered that this was my great-uncle, who was killed in WW1. I cannot believe my grandmother (his sister) did not tell me and my sister about him. He died on 22nd of March 1918 in France on the second day of the German offensive named Operation Michael. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. RIP.
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257411 A/Bmbdr. Robert Lawson D Bty. 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.10th March 1916) Robert Lawson was the father of my dear and wonderful great uncle Matt who was conceived on leave before Robert returned to the front to die without ever seeing his son. He served with the 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in WW1 and died on 10th of March 1916 aged 28 years and is buried Rue-du-Bacquerot No 1 Military Cemetery at Laventi in France. Son of Mrs. Swinbank, of Bowburn, husband of Sarah E. Lawson, of 1, Walker St., Bowburn, Coxhoe, Co. Durham.
Matt spent his entire working life down the pit, marrying his beloved Olive and dying a proud, kind and dearly loved man in the early 2000s.
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226209 Mjr. George Francis Farran 88th Bde. A Bty. Royal Field Artillery (d.18th July 1916) Major George Farran was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme. 18th July 1916. Aged 34 years. he was the eldest son of Mr. G. H. Farran (late of High Court, Bombay) and Mrs. Farran of Georgeville, Highfield Rd., Dublin, husband of Susan F. Farran of 103 Cheriton Rd., Folkstone.
A true and gallant soldier. A devoted husband and son.
“until the day break and the shadows flee away.â€
a memorial was erected in his local church by his sorrowing wife and mother.
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220735 Bmdr. Arthur Francis Cunningham 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.7th July 1917) Arthur Cunningham was my great uncle on my fathers Grandmothers side. He is buried at Lore Cemetery but I do not know how he died.
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220102 Bdr. Edward John Davies MM. 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery Ted Davies served with 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and was awarded the Military Medal. I have been unable to find any additional information about my grandfather
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218743 Mjr. Eric Stuart Dougall VC MC. A Battery, 88th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.14th April 1918) Eric Dougall was killed in action 14/04/1918, aged 32. He is commemorated on Special Memorial 1 in the utre British Cemetery in Belgium.
Son of the late Andrew Dougall, of Tunbridge Wells, and of Emily Elizabeth Dougall, of 16A, Loudoun Rd. St. John's Wood, Londonm he was born at Tunbridge Wells.
An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 31st May, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leadership in the field when in command of his battery. Capt. Dougall maintained his guns in action from early morning throughout a heavy concentration of gas and high-explosive shell. Finding that he could not clear the crest owing to the withdrawal of our line, Captain Dougall ran his guns on to the top of the ridge to fire over open sights. By this time our infantry had been pressed back in line with the guns. Captain Dougall at once assumed command of the situation, rallied and organised the infantry, supplied them with Lewis guns, and armed as many gunners as he could spare with rifles. With these he formed a line in front of his battery which during this period was harassing the advancing enemy with a rapid rate of fire. Although exposed to both rifle and machine gun fire this officer fearlessly walked about as though on parade, calmly giving orders and encouraging everybody. He inspired the infantry with his assurance that "So long as you stick to your trenches I will keep my guns here". This line was maintained throughout the day, thereby delaying the enemy's advance for over twelve hours. In the evening, having expended all ammunition, the battery received orders to withdraw. This was done by man-handling the guns over a distance of about 800 yards of shell-cratered country, an almost impossible feat considering the ground and the intense machine gun fire. Owing to Captain Dougall's personality and skilful leadership throughout this trying day there is no doubt that a serious breach in our line was averted. This gallant officer was killed four days later whilst directing the fire of his battery."
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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Artillery Operations of the Ninth British Corps at Messines, June 1917 Army War College (U.S.)
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