Headquarters commander royal artillery.

HEADQUARTERS COMMANDER ROYAL ARTILLERY.

Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Infantry Division.War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Infantry Division. War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945
Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Armoured Division.War Establishment II/104/2. December 1943
Royal Artillery Headquarters in an Armoured Division. War Establishment II/104/3. March 1945
Headquarters Army Group Royal Artillery. War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
Headquarters Army Group Royal Artillery. War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945


ROYAL ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS – INFANTRY DIVISION.
War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945

The Royal Artillery Headquarters was the equivalent of a Brigade Headquarters. It coordinated the artillery units of the division plus any units allocated from higher formations. The Commander Royal Artillery was a Brigadier and had a comparatively small staff, to which was added a Royal Signals detachment. The Royal Artillery Headquarters would be near to the Divisional Headquarters with the command vehicle at least being parked alongside those of the divisional staff.

The Commander Royal Artillery advised the Divisional Commander on artillery matters, and since this involved almost all operations in the all arms battle the Commander Royal Artillery worked very closely with the Divisional Commander, accompanying him on his rounds, attending order groups etc. Thus the Commander Royal Artillery came to perform the role of divisional second in command. The Commander Royal Artillery and his staff were also responsible for implementing plans for the divisional artillery and attached artillery units, and for coordinating with Corps artillery and that of neighbouring divisions. Other units which might be attached to the division included

• Medium artillery units from the supporting Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA). In an advance it was common for two medium regiments to be placed directly under the command of a forward division.
• Heavy artillery units form the supporting AGRA could be attached for specific operations and counter battery work.
• Heavy Anti Aircraft units could be attached later in the campaign when they had little anti aircraft work to do.
• Counter Mortar units were added later in the campaign.
• Detachments from the Corp Survey Regiment were usually deployed across the divisional area.

The Lorry Command Vehicle was the nerve centre of the headquarters and was always manned by the Brigade Major, the Staff Captain or the Intelligence Officer and the situation map was kept up to date. When at Headquarters the Commander Royal Artillery could use the Lorry Command Vehicle but he could also use the Staghound armoured car as a command post when away from divisional headquarters.

The CRA also had a 4 X 4 Humber Heavy Utility which could be used as transport, mobile office or sleeping accommodation. Later in the campaign it was usual for officers of Brigadier rank to have a Command caravan. These were caravan bodies on a Bedford QL chassis. They had sleeping quarters at the front and an office at the rear.

Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
1 X jeep
3 X motorcycle
2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
2 X 15cwt FFW
2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X water trailer
2 X car 2 seater for chaplains

Royal Signals vehicles
1 X motorcycle
1 X jeep
1 X 15cwt Wireless House
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Lorry Command Vehicle Low Power
1 X Staghound Armoured Car

Personnel
Brigadier
Brigade Major
Staff Captain
Captain, Intelligence Officer
Warrant Officer
3 X NCO
23 X gunners
2 X Chaplain
plus three serjeant clerks from field regiments.

Subaltern RS
3 X NCO RS
12 X privates RS

Subaltern RAF
NCO RAF
Aircraftsman RAF

Captain REME

Organisation.

4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


Commander Royal Artillery (Brigadier), batman, driver IC
[/list]

Carries Wireless set No22
[/list]

Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
[/list]
operator, driver operator

Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC
Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
orderly

5cwt car 4 X 4
Captain REME, batman driver
5cwt car 4 X 4
Subaltern, batman driver
Motorcycle
serjeant

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP Royal Signals
corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator

15cwt truck FFW
orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22
15cwt truck FFW
2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22

Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
corporal operator, operator, driver operator
Carries wireless set No22

15cwt office truck
WOI clerk, staff serjeant, clerk, driver IC
Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
15cwt office truck
Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC
Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal
Artillery.

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
2 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
Carries cooking sets and supplies.
Tows a water trailer.
Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


sanitary dutyman, quartermaster and motor transport bombardier, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
[/list]

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
[/list]

instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, driver mechanic

[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver


[/list]

Counter Battery Section, from Corps (if attached)
[/list]

15cwt truck
[/list]

Captain, clerk, batman driver
[/list]

15cwt Office truck
[/list]

clerk, driver IC
[/list]

motorcycle
[/list]

orderly


[/list] H section (Commander Royal Artillery) Royal Signals
Motorcycle 1
serjeant
Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep) 2
Subaltern, batman driver
15cwt wireless house
corporal operator, operator, driver operator
Carries a Wireless set No22
This vehicle for A echelon
3ton lorry GS
instrument mechanic, relief operator, electrician, driver mechanic
Carries 6KW charging set
Carries Bren lmg and PIAT
Lorry Command Vehicle LP
Corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic
Carries Bren lmg
Carries Wireless set No 19 and Wireless set No19 HP
This vehicle for CRA and staff. Provides rear link and forward control.
Armoured car
operator, driver operator
Carries a Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No19 HP

A wireless set No22 is carried in the CRA’s car.

Note:
By 1945 the following had been added
Motorcycle 2
Radio mechanic
3ton GS 1 now tows a 6Kw generator trailer
3ton 4 X 4 GS 2
3 X operator, 1 X relief operator, driver IC
For use as Signal Office

 

ROYAL ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS – ARMOURED DIVISION.
War Establishment II/104/2. December 1943
War establishment II/104/3. March 1945

The Headquarters CRA in an Armoured Division was similar in role and composition to that of the Infantry Division.

Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
1 X jeep
4 X motorcycle
2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
2 X 15cwt FFW
2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
4 X scout car
1 X water trailer
3 X car 2 seater for chaplains

Royal Signals vehicles
1 X motorcycle
1 X jeep
1 X 15cwt Wireless House
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Armoured Command Vehicle Low Power
1 X Staghound Armoured Car

Personnel
Brigadier
Brigade Major
Staff Captain
2 X Captain
3 X Subaltern
Warrant Officer
6 X NCO
31 X gunners
3 X chaplain
plus two serjeant clerks from field regiments.

Royal Signals
Subaltern
5 X NCO
11 X privates

RAF
Subaltern
NCO
aircraftsman


Organisation.

4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


Commander Royal Artillery (Brigadier), batman, driver IC
[/list]

Carries Wireless set No22
[/list]

Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
[/list]
operator, driver operator

Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
Tank Control
The tank and the crew were Royal Armoured Corp and provided by one of the
armoured regiments of the division.
Carries 2 X Wireless set No19
4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC

Motorcycle
orderly serjeant
Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
Orderly

Scout Car
Captain Liason Officer, driver operator
Scout Car
Liason Officer, driver operator
Scout Car
Liason Officer, driver operator
Scout Car
Liason Officer, driver operator

5cwt car 4 X 4
Subaltern, batman driver
Motorcycle
serjeant

Armoured Command Vehicle 4 X 4 LP Royal Signals
corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator

15cwt truck FFW
orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22
15cwt truck FFW
2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22

Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
corporal operator, operator, driver operator
Carries wireless set No22
15cwt office truck
WOI clerk, staff serjeant clerk, clerk, driver IC
Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
15cwt office truck
Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC
Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal
Artillery.

5cwt 4 X 4
Quartermaster and mechanical transport bombardier.

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
3 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
Carries cooking sets and supplies.
Tows a water trailer.
Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


sanitary dutyman, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
[/list]

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
[/list]

instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, 2 X driver mechanic

[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver


[/list] H troop (Commander Royal Artillery) Royal Signals
Motorcycle
serjeant
Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
Subaltern, batman driver
15cwt wireless house
corporal operator, operator, driver operator
Carries a Wireless set No22
This vehicle for A echelon
3ton lorry GS
corporal instrument mechanic, operator, electrician, relief driver mechanic,
driver mechanic
Carries 6KW charging set
Carries Bren lmg and PIAT
Armoured Command Vehicle LP
Corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic
Carries Bren lmg
Carries Wireless set No 19 and Wireless set No19 HP
This vehicle for CRA and staff.
Armoured Car
Lance corporal operator,
Driver operator
Carries a Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No19 HP

A wireless set No22 is carried in the CRA’s car.




HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUP ROYAL ARTILLERY
War Establishment II/117/3. January 1944
War Establishment II/117/4. March 1945


The Army Group Royal Artillery Headquarters held, administered and controlled a number of heavy and medium artillery units. It was almost identical to the Headquarters of Infantry Divisional Artillery. The Commander Officer was a Brigadier and had a comparatively small staff, to which was added a Royal Signals detachment. The AGRA Headquarters would be near to the Headquarters of the Corp to which it was assigned.

Each AGRA normally had

• 1 X Field Regiment
• 4 X Medium Regiment
• 1 X Heavy Regiment
• 1 X signal company
• 1 X RASC ammunition platoon per regiment

Normally one AGRA supported each Corp but for particular operations they could be used flexibly. If a unit transferred to another AGRA it took a signal section and an ammunition platoon with it. There were also unattached units which could be attached to an AGRA for a particular operation. These spare units were held by 9 AGRA between attachments. When an AGRA had so many attached units that it became unwieldly there were two spare AGRA Headquarters which could be used. Spare AGRA Headquarters could also undertake separate independent tasks.

The Lorry Command Vehicle was the nerve centre of the headquarters and was always manned by the Brigade Major, the Staff Captain or the Intelligence Officer and the situation map was kept up to date. When at Headquarters the Commanding Officer could use the Lorry Command Vehicle but he could also use the Staghound armoured car as a command post when away from headquarters.

The CRA also had a 4 X 4 Humber Heavy Utility which could be used as transport, mobile office or sleeping accommodation. Later in the campaign it was usual for officers of Brigadier rank to have a Command caravan. These were caravan bodies on a Bedford QL chassis. They had sleeping quarters at the front and an office at the rear.

Royal Artillery Headquarters vehicles
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 (Humber FWD)
1 X jeep
3 X motorcycle
2 X 15cwt office (Ford WOT2H)
2 X 15cwt FFW
2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X water trailer
4 X car 2 seater for chaplains

Royal Signals vehicles
1 X motorcycle
1 X jeep
1 X 15cwt Wireless House
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Lorry Command Vehicle Low Power
1 X Staghound Armoured Car

Personnel
Brigadier
Brigade Major
Staff Captain
Captain, Intelligence Officer
Warrant Officer
3 X NCO
23 X gunners
plus one clerk from each regiment in the AGRA to form the RA clerks section.

Royal Signals
Subaltern
3 X NCO
12 X privates

RAF
Subaltern
NCO
aircraftsman

REME
Captain

RAOC
clerk

 

Organisation.


4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)


Brigadier, batman, driver IC
[/list]

Carries Wireless set No22
[/list]

Armoured car (Staghound) Royal Signals
[/list]
operator, driver operator

Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set HP
4 seater car 4 X 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility)

Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Captain Intelligence Officer, driver IC

Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
orderly
Motorcycle
orderly

5cwt car 4 X 4
Captain REME, batman driver
5cwt car 4 X 4
Subaltern, batman driver

Motorcycle
serjeant

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP Royal Signals
corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver operator
15cwt truck FFW
orderly serjeant, 2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22
15cwt truck FFW
2 X driver operator, signaller
Carries wireless set No22
Truck 15cwt Wireless House Royal Signals
corporal operator, operator, driver operator
Carries wireless set No22
15cwt office truck
WOI clerk, staff serjeant, clerk, driver IC
Carries 3 X serjeant clerk from Field regiments.
15cwt office truck
Flying Officer RAF, corporal RAF, leading aircraftman RAF, driver IC

Carries RAF Meteorological Section. Vehicle and driver provided by Royal

Artillery.

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS
2 X cook, 3 X batman, driver IC
Carries cooking sets and supplies.
Tows a water trailer.
Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS


sanitary dutyman, quartermaster and motor transport bombardier, vehicle mechanic, driver mechanic
[/list]

Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS Royal Signals
[/list]

instrument mechanic, operator (spare), electrician, driver mechanic

[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver
[/list]

Car 2 seater
[/list]

Chaplain, batman driver



[/list] HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUP ROYAL ARTILLERY, SIGNAL SECTION.

Subaltern
serjeant

lance serjeant
3 X corporal
9 X lance corporal
42 X private

6 X despatch rider
electrician
14 X lineman
23 X operator
5 X driver mechanic
driver IC as batman
5 X driver IC

Total 57

Plus attached 2 X cook ACC

11 X motor cycle
3 X 15cwt GS
3 X 15cwt wireless house
4 X 4 X 4 3ton GS

1 X pistol .38”
38 X rifle .303”
20 X Sten gun


Command and Administrative Detachment

Motorcycle 1
Subaltern
Motorcycle 2
serjeant
Motorcycle 3
electrician
Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 1


batman, 2 X cook, driver IC
[/list]

Carries stores and cable

[/list] Cable Detachment
Motorcycle 4
lineman
Motorcycle 5
Lineman
15cwt GS 1
2 X lineman, driver IC
15cwt GS 2
2 X lineman, driver IC
Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 2


4 X lineman, driver mechanic
[/list]

Carries a mechanical cable layer
[/list] Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 3


4 X lineman, driver mechanic
[/list]

Carries a mechanical cable layer

[/list] Signal Office Detachment
Motorcycle 6
despatch rider
Motorcycle 7
despatch rider
Motorcycle 8
despatch rider
Motorcycle 9
despatch rider
Motorcycle 10
despatch rider
Motorcycle 11
despatch rider

15cwt GS 3


driver IC
[/list] Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 4


driver IC
[/list] These two vehicles also carry 14 X operator


Wireless Detachment
Truck 15cwt Wireless House 1
3 X operator, driver mechanic
Carries wireless set No22
Truck 15cwt Wireless House 2
3 X operator, driver mechanic
Carries wireless set No22
Truck 15cwt Wireless House 3
3 X operator, driver mechanic
Carries wireless set No22