Feb: Annual Ball
1914 started normally for the Brigades with their eleventh annual ball:
The 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery held their eleventh annual ball at the Hotel Cameron on Thursday evening, when there were present about 170 guests. The dance was an unqualified success, and reflected much credit upon the committee and the hon. secretary (Q.M.Sergt. J Newton Jones), who completed the arrangements.
South Wales Weekly Post, 14/2/1908. Welsh Newspapers Online
Apr: New Drill Hall in Neath
The Brigade also celebrated the opening of a new Drill Hall in Neath in late April.
Aug: Summer Camp
As tensions rose across Europe, the Brigade still prepared for their Summer Camp. On 3rd August (the day before War was declared), the local daily newspaper reported:
The 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, R.F.A., leave tonight (Saturday) for Fargo, West Down, Salisbury Plain, at 12.30p.m. The advance party left on Wednesday.
Cambrian Daily Leader 3/8/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
Aug: War & Mobilization
War on Germany was declared on 4th Aug 1914 and across the country, Territorial Units received emergency orders to return from their Summer Camps to their drill halls. On that afternoon, the Territorial Force was mobilized for War Service and instructed to move to their allotted positions.
The Brigade assembled in Swansea and using various different modes of transport moved to Shrewsbury, the home of the Welsh Division.
St Michaels School, Shrewsbury, 20/8/1914
The history of the Momnouthshire Artillery Volunteers (later the 4th Welsh Brigade, RFA) describes their mobilisation and move to Shrewsbury. Its reasonable to assume the Welsh Howitzers followed a similar route.
In the afternoon [of the 4th Aug] came the fateful order to mobilise – just a briefly worded telegram calling upon the flower of the Nation’s manhood to uphold the Empire’s honour and the observance of the plighted word.
It was a time of hustle and bustle and soon Lieuts…. were about the town commandeering horses and vehicles from bewildered citizens!
The Brigade’s first destination was Shrewsbury where it stayed for 3 weeks only, being encamped on the Midland Show Ground and, later, on the Race Course; it was warmly welcomed by the people of Shrewsbury.
The Story of the Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers, More & Phillips, Hughes & Son Ltd, 1958
A postcard dated 20 August also makes reference to St Michaels School, which is likely to have been their base during this period.
Sept: Imperial Service
Meanwhile, on 13 August 1914, General Kitchener indicated that, under certain conditions, he would call upon Territorial Units to undertake Imperial (Foreign) Service. There appear to have been 2 criteria:
- That the War Office required their services;
- That over 80 percent of the unit volunteer for Imperial Service – the term used for service overseas. This criteria dropped to 60 percent at the end of August.
Local newspapers make it clear that as late as 27 August, no decision had been made by the War Office in regards to the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade.
However, the decision appears to have been made shortly afterwards and members of the Brigade were requested to volunteer for Imperial Service at the start of September. A number of copies of the Army Form survive, the majority dated Northampton, 3rd and 4th September 1914.
Those who volunteered went on to form the core of the newly designated 1st Line unit, referred to as the 1/1 Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, and those who did not formed a Reserve (2nd Line) unit referred to as the 2/1 Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade that served at Home.
Aug/Sept: Northampton
The Imperial Service forms confirm that the Brigade left Shrewsbury at the end of August/start of September 1914 and moved to Northampton where the Welsh Division concentarted. Again the history of the 4th Welsh Brigade provides an insight:
It then moved to Northampton were the 53rd Division was concentrated. Here vigorous training was carried out and orders were received to to be prepared to entrain at two hours notice for any destination. The weather in later Autumn was vile and training was much hampered by the appalling mud on the Racecourse where the horses were quartered. Classes were held for for Officers and N.C.O.s, with rides and a parade of some description every day.
The men were particularly happy in the billets chosen for them and the Brigade received much kindness from the people of Northampton.
The Story of the Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers, More & Phillips, Hughes & Son Ltd, 1958
In late October, The Cambrian Daily Leader reported:
AT NORTHAMPTON. Impressions of the Welsh Troops at Work. Thorough Training
… When a town of 90,000 inhabitants has 25,000 troops dumped in its midst, it can scarcely evade the fact.
That is the position of Northampton, which has quickly absorbed thousands of khaki-clad gentlemen into its daily life and now finds it difficult to remember the times when these things were not.
… Though military reasons prevent me giving the exact composition of the division now quartered in the town, it is betraying no secret to say the majority come from Wales.
Northampton has watched the outward signs of the growing efficiency of her military guests with pardonable pride.
The first day’s brigade training found the citizens rapidly becoming learned in the importance of various movements, quietly enthusiastic. The news of the first divisional route march was hailed almost with a shout.
Each day the town and surrounding district have taken progressive steps in the greater lessons of war’s preparations.
Only on Wednesday, farmers coming in to the weekly market found certain roads barred to them. The new 32 target ranges at Dallington and Hackleton, and the extended range at Brington, on Earl Spencer’s land, were in use for the first time ….
On the vast racecourse, thousands daily witness the evolutions of the field-gun batteries, the more cumbrous movements of the howitzers, squads of Yeoman at riding-drill, or companies of infantry learning, among other things, the difference between the right hand and the left.
Cambrian Daily Leader, 24/10/1914. Welsh Newspaper Online
In Swansea, the local community came together to support their soldiers by ‘obtaining’ garments for them, again the Cambrian Daily Leader reported:
The excellent work that the ladies of Swansea are doing is acknowledged by Col. Henry of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade, R.F.A., to Mrs. Aeron Thomas, of Swansea. Writing from Northampton, Col. Henry says:
“I am writing to thank you for the kindly efforts you have made to obtain clothing, etc., for the men of this brigade, and also through you to thank the many ladies of the district for the large number of garments, etc., which they have been good enough to make and send us. We chiefly require sleeping caps, mufflers, belts and gloves, and would be very grateful for these.”
The articles from Swansea to this brigade include 400 shirts and 400 pairs of socks, in addition to numbers of several other garments. Sleeping helmets, belts, and gloves are wanted. A number of ladies at Neath also, are doing excellent work in this direction.
Cambrian Daily Leader, 31/10/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
Nov: George Bell – Heroic Swansea Gunner
In early November, Gnr George Bell (serv. no. 700), of the Ammunition Column bravely saved a mother and child from a burning building in the town, this was widely reported over the following weeks:
Honour for Brave Swansea Gunner
The following appeared in the orders of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade, who are training at Northampton, relative to the plucky action of Gunner G. Bell of Swansea, in rescuing a woman and child from a burning house on Sunday:-
The Chief Constable has drawn the attention of the Officer Commanding the Brigade to the gallant conduct of Gunner G. Bell of the Ammunition Column, who rescued a woman and child from a burning room at 22, Cromwell-street, on Sunday. The Officer Commanding congratulates the gunner on his action.
The Officer Commanding is General McLeod, and since they have been at Northampton he has also commended the Howitzer Brigade upon the skilful manner in which they have constructed gun pits.
The new Mayor of Swansea (Ald. Dan Jones) has a son in the artillery at Northampton, Corporal Dan Jones, who is a gun-layer. He is billeted with the battery in the Regent-Square Wesleyan Sunday Schools, and it is only recently that straw beds have been provided for the men. For about seven weeks they had to sleep on the bare boards. They have BORNE ALL SUCH PRIVATIONS AND HARDSHIPS cheerfully. Col J. Henry is the Commanding Officer.
The “Post” representative at Northampton heard on very good authority on Thursday that it is probable that the whole of the Welsh troops at Northampton may move off -“somewhere”- in ten days.
South Wales Weekly Post, 21/11/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
Gunner Bell was further recognized in February 1915, when he was awarded a bronze medal of the Society for the protection of Life from Fire by the Mayor of Northampton.
As the Brigades’ time in Northampton drew to a close, there was one more noteworthy incident. The surviving records show that as a result of an incident that took place on the 1st December, 6 members of the Brigade were discharged for Disobedience of Orders.
Aug: New Recruits
Back in Swansea, the start of the War triggered a major recruitment drive with the local units competing to fill their establishments. Once again, the Brigade was successful and 150 men were recruited in August and September alone and then recruitment was put on hold.
Patriotic Reporting & Rolls of Honour
Local newspapers sought to reinforce and celebrate the recruitment drive and throughout the remainder of 1914 and early 1915, regularly published Rolls of Honour, highlighting the number of volunteers that local businesses had provided into the services. Other common articles detailed how local families had done their ‘patriotic duty’ by offering multiple ‘sons to the colours’.
Sept: Basic Training
In Swansea, the new recruits underwent basic training. Due to the rapid mobilization of the Army, basic military materials, including uniforms and weapons were in short supply, so it’s likely training was basic, focusing on drill, physical fitness and theory.
Little information has currently been found from this period other than a number photographs and articles relating to the Brigades sporting activities.
On 9th November, the local paper reported on the training being undertaken by the various units in Swansea, also referencing the fact many men were still not in uniform:
800 Recruits. Swansea’s Own Growing
… the remainder alongside the 4th and 6th Welsh and 1st Welsh Howitzers in the Victoria Park, where altogether there was a fine show of practical work this morning.
Before the end of the week, the men should be in uniform …….
Cambria Daily Leader, 9/11/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
A postcard shows the Brigade Gunners in training at this time. It is worth noting the incomplete uniforms being worn with no leather bandoliers and some men not wearing cap badges and/or lanyards. The inconsistent nature of the uniform deficiencies (some have neither cap badge or lanyard, some have a lanyard) suggest this relates to uniform shortages and not their stage of training.
Oct: Recruiting Paused
In October, the War Office issued an instruction to the Brigade that only 25 per cent of their war establishment should be attested. Because the Howitzers had already exceeded that number, a pause was immediately put on recruiting.
Dec: First Draft leaves Swansea
At the start of December, the first batch of 112 recruits were given notice that they would leave Swansea to join the Brigade in Northampton on 7th December.
Prior to their departure, the Mayor made a presentation to the men on 5th December:
PIPES FOR HOWITZERS
Although the departure of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade, fixed for today, has been deferred, the arrangements made by the Mayor for Saturday evening were not interrupted, and 106 men (two-thirds) of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade Reserve were at their Swansea headquarters presented with pipes and tobacco by the Mayor of Swansea on behalf of the town.
The men, of fine physique, looked exceedingly well on parade in the New Drill Hall, with Captain F.H Edwards in command…….
Addressing the men, the Mayor said on behalf of the town he would present each with a mark of the appreciation they felt for them in joining the brigade. He wished the articles were of greater intrinsic value, but the good wishes behind them were what mattered. He hoped that their stay at the training camp would be pleasant, that they would always remember that they were Swansea boys; and he knew that if they got to the front – as he knew every man of them was anxious to do – they would uphold the reputation of the old 1st Welsh Howitzers. The town would follow their doings very carefully and from the fine body of men before him he knew there would come nothing that would not re[??]ed to the credit of themselves and to the town.
Cambria Daily Leader, 7/12/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online.
The South Wales Daily Post gave more detail:
SWANSEA GUNNERS: PRESENTATION BY THE CORPORATION: BUT DEPARTURE FOR NOTHAMPTON DELAYED
The men, to the number of 100, were lined up in square formation, the officers present being Capt F.H. Edwards (in command of the battery), and Lieutenants J.S. Davies, S. Hooper, R. Jones, Keith Halden and W.L. Davies. Both officers and men, the latter wearing their new bandoliers, presented a very smart appearance.
The Mayor, addressing the men, mentioned that Mr Rowe had two sons in the battery, and said it was a desire of the town that they should not go away without some mark of appreciation felt at their having joined the colours. He hoped their stay at Northampton would be pleasant, and that they would always remember ‘THEY WERE SWANSEA BOYS’.
South Wales Weekly Post, 12/12/1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
On 9th December 1914, the Cambria Daily Leader published a photo of the Reserve prior to their departure:
80 men finally left Swansea for Northampton on 9th December to much fanfare:
HOWITZERS DEPART
Eighty men of the 1st Welsh Howitzer Brigade Reserve left Swansea on Wednesday for training, and were given a fine send off. By the original arrangement, cancelled almost at the last moment, 116 (or two-thirds of the Reserves’ present strength) were to have left on Monday, and were accordingly presented with pipes and tobacco by the Mayor on behalf of the town.
Marching through Oxford-street and High-street, along which were admiring crowds, the men looked a particularly fit and powerful lot. The procession was headed by an escort of the 6th Welsh Reserve and the Swansea Temperance Band. Capt F.H. Edwards was in front of his men, and at the rear were the remainder of the Brigade, sorry they were not accompanying their comrades.
Mid Glamorgan Herald, 12 Dec 1914. Welsh Newspapers Online
Dec: Division moves to Cambridge
No sooner had the men arrived at Northampton, they made the short move, along with the rest of the Brigade and entire Welsh Division to Cambridge, arriving in time for Christmas.
Again, this move is described in the history of the 4th Welsh Brigade:
It was with genuine regret when orders were received to entrain for Cambridge on 21st December, all the more so because every man in the Brigade had been invited by some generous Northampton household to share their Christmas dinner.
In Cambridge the Brigade was again lucky in its billets chosen for them and both Officers and men received much kindness.
The Story of the Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers, More & Phillips, Hughes & Son Ltd, 1958
The local newspaper described their Christmas.
Unfortunately, the Territorials arrived such a short time before Christmas that there was not sufficient time to organise anything on a large scale to deal with so many troops. Householders did their best to make as pleasant a possible the Christmastide of the lads who had left their distant homes at the call of duty and most shared in the family’s Christmas dinner. Some men billeted in empty houses spent rather and rough and ready Christmas.
Cambridge News, 1 Jan 1914. Courtesy of Mike Petty
Dec: Recruiting Resumes
Back in Swansea, the year ended with the local papers announcing that recruitment into the Brigade Reserve had resumed.