Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers

Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers
Active 1859–1961
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
Type Artillery Regiment
Role Garrison Artillery
Field Artillery
Coast Artillery
Heavy Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Garrison/HQ Cardiff
Port Talbot (from 1938)
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		 Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth (1890-1908)

The Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers were formed in 1861 as a response to a French invasion threat. They became part of the Territorial Force in 1908 and served during the First and Second World Wars until amalgamated in 1961.

Artillery Volunteers 1859–1908

On 8th November 1861 the 1st Administrative Brigade of Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers was formed. It comprised the following Corps:[1]

In May 1880 the Corps were consolidated as the 1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteer Corps with 17 batteries provided by the following Corps:

In 1890 headquarters were moved to Swansea from Cardiff and some of the batteries were detached to form a new unit, the 2nd Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers. By 1892 the Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteer Corps were organised as follows:[2]

Territorial Force 1908

In 1908 on the formation of the Territorial Force the 1st Corps formed the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF), whilst the 2nd Corps provided five companies of the Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery (TF).[3]

First World War

1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF)

During the First World War the 1st Welsh served in the UK, France, Egypt and Palestine. In 1916 the Brigade was renumbered as 265th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF).[4]

Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery (TF)

During the First World War the Glamorgan RGA were mobilised for the defence of the home ports. They were part of No26 Coastal Fire Command, responsible for the defence of Swansea, Cardiff and Barry.[5] The unit was placed in suspended animation in 1919.[6]

Interwar years

After the war, the units were reconstituted in the reformed Territorial Army. The 1st Welsh Brigade RFA (TF), being redesignated 81st (Welsh) Brigade RFA (TF) in 1921. In 1938 it was redesignated 81st (Welsh) Field Regiment RA (TA) [7]

The Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery became the Glamorgan Coast Brigade (TA), later the Glamorgan Heavy Regiment RA (TA).[8]

Second World War

Both units were mobilised for the Second World War. The 81st (Welsh) Field Regiment RA (TA) was placed in suspended animation in 1946.[9]

The Glamorgan Heavy Regiment (RA) was redesignated 531st (Glamorgan) Coast Regiment RA (TA) in 1940 and disbanded in 1942.[10] It was responsible for manning the two 6-inch guns at Lavernock Battery near Cardiff, and the two 4.7-inch guns at Mumbles Battery, near Swansea.[11]

Postwar

In 1947 the unit was reconstituted as 281st Field Regiment RA (Welsh) (TA).[12] In 1953 the unit was redesignated as 281st (Glamorgan Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA (TA). In 1956 it was amalgamated with the Glamorgan Batteries of 408th Coast Regiment RA (TA).

In 1961 the unit was further amalgamated with 282nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (Welsh) (TA), 283rd (Monmouthshire) Field Regiment RA (TA) to form 282nd (Glamorgan & Monmothshire) Field Regiment RA (TA).[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, and Westlake, R, 1982. The Volunteer Artillery 1859–1908, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p81
  2. ↑ Army List, HMSO, 1892, p219
  3. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p81.
  4. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p78.
  5. ↑ Gen Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base 1914–18, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988, pp. 402, 409
  6. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p81.
  7. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p78
  8. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p81
  9. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p78
  10. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p81
  11. ↑ Col K W Maurice-Jones, 1959. The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army, Royal Artillery Institution, London, p221
  12. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p78
  13. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p78

References

External sources

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