Headquarters Battery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by timuk, Dec 8, 2019.

  1. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I have not come across the term 'Headquarters Battery' before. My Dad's LAA Regt's War Diary always refers to Advanced HQ and Rear HQ. As in "Advanced HQ established at......" and "Advanced HQ moved to........", similarly "Adjutant remained at Rear HQ" and "Lt QM remains in charge of Rear HQ". Obviously Headquarters Battery is the same as Rear HQ, I just wondered where the term came from.
    Also I am not too clear on the responsibility of the Lt QM with regard to the attached RASC platoon. The RASC platoon's War Diary talks of obtaining rations, vehicles etc for the Regiment and issuing them, but they seem to receive instructions and report to the OC, RASC rather than the Regt and never mention the Regt's QM. Also the platoon was commanded by a Captain whereas the Lt QM was a Lieutenant.

    Tim
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2019
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  2. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    I cannot think offhand of a RA war establishment that called for a Regt HQ, a HQ Battery and 'x' number of firing Batteries. It's always RHQ and the relevant number of firing Batteries as I recall. US Field Artillery units did have a distinct HQ Battery, with its own CO.

    Gary
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I've not come across a Headquarters Battery either. This particular photo was taken of 336 Battery HQ in late 1943, early 1944. Consisting of a Major, Captain, Lieutenant and 16 other ranks.

    upload_2019-12-8_16-21-40.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
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  4. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Sorry that photo is of a Battery HQ. What I am querying is RHQ and the term 'Headquarters Battery'. Thanks though.

    Tim
    Edit: To clarify. Frank(Minden) was saying that the Lt(QM) was part of [a Unit called] Headquarters Battery rather than RHQ.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I was a cadet in HQ Battery 267 Field Regiment RA (TA) in 1964 the term HQ Battery is found in the Centenary brochure published that year.
    I have a photo of myself standing outside the HQ Battery building in Redditch which has a sign on the wall saying Regimental Headquarters.
    RHQ was in fact 30 miles away in Worcester. There they had an Officers Mess where mere mortals feared to tread.
    We cadets trained in a building across the yard. After passing Cert A Part 1 and 2 we were able to go over to their building to learn signals and surveying as the Battery had no guns. These were at Worcester Malvern and Stourbridge. Much time was spent talking about their war experiences which to be honest at that time went in one ear and out the other. I cant recall their faces or their names. Banana Ridge stuck in my mind as did Anzio.
    However if you refer to Page 224 Organisation of a Field Regiment in Ubique by Arthur Cheetham MC the QM is part of RHQ, this was my original reference.
    Ubique is the story of the 2nd Field Regiment who fought alongside the 67th Field Regiment in 1st Infantry Division in WW2.
    267 is the post war designation for the 67th Field Regiment.
    I think that the term HQ Battery must be a post war term and the sign on Redditch Battery building was placed there some years before under previous management.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
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  6. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    Yes, I think it being a postwar development is a good bet. I had a quick look in an old book on 1980s Army organisation, and while it doesn't include any diagrams it mentions Abbot or M109 equipped Regiments having a HQ Battery. However I couldn't see any examples of a HQ Battery in 1940s era Field, Medium or Heavy Regts, or Atk, LAA, or HAA Regts.

    Gary
     
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  7. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Gary.

    I could well be wrong. I am an infanteer by training.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  8. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    When you think about it, Armd Regts of all types had a HQ Squadron, and Inf Bns a HQ Coy, so the RA was bucking the trend by comparison! I had a quick look to see if there's a date mentioned somewhere for when a HQ Bty may have appeared in the postwar but couldn't find anything.

    Gary
     
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  9. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Thanks everyone, I think we've nailed it more or less. I've had a look at the Trux site for an infantry Brigade and the Battalion organisation shows Battalion HQ and Headquarters Company.

    Tim
     

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