NO. 6 RESERVE BRIGADE ARTILLERY

WAR  DIARY

KETTERING, NORTHANTS (Later BISCOT CAMP, LUTON)

DECEMBER  1915

Moves

Organisation

The School moved from High Wycombe to Kettering , Northants on 1^st December 1915 by 3 Special trains – Instructions  W.O. Telegram No. 3695 dated 27^th November 1915.

Strength – 36 Officers, 750 Warrant Officers, N.C.O’s and men, 1 Horse, 24 Vehicles and 50 tons of baggage and stores.

All Officers and men were billeted

On 1^st December, 1915 the School was organised into two Wings – Right Wing and Left Wing.

Each Wing was commanded by a Field Officer, Viz. Lt. Col and Hon. Colonel F. GRIFFITHS (Right) and Major and Hon.  Lt. Col F.R. GRAHAM (Left), with staff of 1 Signalling Officer, 1 Musketry Officer and one Orderly Officer to each Wing.

The Right Wing comprised Groups I & II and the Left Wing Groups III & IV.  Each group comprised two Sub-Groups, Viz. Sub-Group I and Sub-Group II.

Group I comprised 3/1^st Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G .I) and 3/2^ND Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. II)

Group II comprised 3/3^rd Depot, Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. III) and 2/2^nd Lond. D.A.C. (S.G. IV)

Group III comprised 3/5^th Depot, Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. V) and the 3/6^th Depot Lond. Bde R.F.A. (S.G. VI)

 Group IV comprised 3/7^th Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. VII)

The following N.C.O’s and men were transferred from No. 4 Artillery training School on 1^st December 1915 and taken on strength of the Permanent Cadre from that date:-

1 Sergeant,   2 A/Bombardiers.  4 Gunners.  2 Drivers

Moves.

3^rd Line

Depots

The 3^rd Line Depots, strength as under, arrived at Kettering on 16^th December 1915 and were taken on the strength of the School from that Date:-

3/1^st Lond. R.F.A.

19 Officers   241 Other Ranks.   56 Horses

3/2 Lond. R.F.A.

19 Officers.     252 Other Ranks.   33 Horses

3/3^rd Lond. R.F.A.

14 Officers.  250 Other Ranks.  47 Horses.  6 Vehicles.

2/2^nd Lond. D.A.C.

3 Officers.  90 Other Ranks.  40 Horses.

3/5^th Lond. R.F.A.

16 Officers.  314 Other Ranks.  49 Horses.

3/6^th Lond. R.F.A.

11 Officers.  244 Other Ranks.  39 Horses.  15 Vehicles.

3/7^th Lond. R.F.A.

11 Officers.  242 Other Ranks.  28 Horses.  8 Vehicles.

Xmas Leave

10% of the total strength of each Wing of the School were granted Xmas Leave.  Special Entertainments were arranged for those remaining in Kettering during the Xmas Holidays.

Telegram from

“The King”

Xm as 1915

Copy of Telegram received from Horse Guards, London

Telegram No. A 4545 Dated 24^th December 1915:-

The following message has been received from the King and “His Majesty” commands that it be published in Orders of the various Garrison Towns, Defensible Ports, and Military Camps, on Xmas Day.

“Another Xmas finds all the resources of the Empire still engaged in War, and I desire to convey on my behalf and on behalf of the Queen a heartfelt Xmas Greeting and our good wishes for the New Year to all who on Sea or  Land are upholding the honour of the British name.  In the Officers and men of my Navy whom the security of the Empire depends I repose in common with all my subjects a trust that is absolute, on the Officers and men of my Armies, whether now in France, in the East or in other fields, I rely with an equal faith confident that their devotion, their valour, and their self-sacrifice will, under Gods guidance, lead to Victory and an honourable peace.

There are many of their comrades now alas in hospital, and to these brave men also I desire, with the Queen, to express our deep gratitude and our earnest prayers for their recovery.  Officers and men of the Navy and Army, another year is drawing to a close as it began in toil, bloodshed and suffering, but I rejoice to know that the goal to which you are striving draws nearer into sight,

May God Bless you and all your undertakings.”

Authority W.O. telegram 6654 (A.G.4)

Dec 19

Officers from the following Units were ordered to proceed Overseas:-

3/1^st Lond. Bde. R.F.A.

Lieut. V. STRANDERS

2^nd Lt. W.G. WHITE

Dec 21

Officers from the following units were ordered to proceed Overseas:-

3/1^st Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – Two Officers

3/2^nd Lond Bde. R.F.A. – One Officer

3/6^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – One Officer

Dec 26

The following men comprised a draft which proceeded Overseas on Boxing Day 1915, total 81.

3/5^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 1 Telephonist.  12 Gunners.  9 Drivers.

3/6^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 15 Gunners.  15 Drivers.

3/7^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 14 Gunners.  15 Drivers.

Move of School to Luton

On 24^th December 1915, Instructions were received from War Office to hold No. 6 Artillery Training School ready to move to Luton on 5^th January, 1916

NO. 6 RESERVE BRIGADE ARTILLERY

WAR  DIARY

KETTERING, NORTHANTS (Later BISCOT CAMP, LUTON)

DECEMBER  1915

Moves

Organisation

The School moved from High Wycombe to Kettering , Northants on 1^st December 1915 by 3 Special trains – Instructions  W.O. Telegram No. 3695 dated 27^th November 1915.

Strength – 36 Officers, 750 Warrant Officers, N.C.O’s and men, 1 Horse, 24 Vehicles and 50 tons of baggage and stores.

All Officers and men were billeted

On 1^st December, 1915 the School was organised into two Wings – Right Wing and Left Wing.

Each Wing was commanded by a Field Officer, Viz. Lt. Col and Hon. Colonel F. GRIFFITHS (Right) and Major and Hon.  Lt. Col F.R. GRAHAM (Left), with staff of 1 Signalling Officer, 1 Musketry Officer and one Orderly Officer to each Wing.

The Right Wing comprised Groups I & II and the Left Wing Groups III & IV.  Each group comprised two Sub-Groups, Viz. Sub-Group I and Sub-Group II.

Group I comprised 3/1^st Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G .I) and 3/2^ND Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. II)

Group II comprised 3/3^rd Depot, Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. III) and 2/2^nd Lond. D.A.C. (S.G. IV)

Group III comprised 3/5^th Depot, Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. V) and the 3/6^th Depot Lond. Bde R.F.A. (S.G. VI)

 Group IV comprised 3/7^th Depot Lond. Bde. R.F.A. (S.G. VII)

The following N.C.O’s and men were transferred from No. 4 Artillery training School on 1^st December 1915 and taken on strength of the Permanent Cadre from that date:-

1 Sergeant,   2 A/Bombardiers.  4 Gunners.  2 Drivers

Moves.

3^rd Line

Depots

The 3^rd Line Depots, strength as under, arrived at Kettering on 16^th December 1915 and were taken on the strength of the School from that Date:-

3/1^st Lond. R.F.A.

19 Officers   241 Other Ranks.   56 Horses

3/2 Lond. R.F.A.

19 Officers.     252 Other Ranks.   33 Horses

3/3^rd Lond. R.F.A.

14 Officers.  250 Other Ranks.  47 Horses.  6 Vehicles.

2/2^nd Lond. D.A.C.

3 Officers.  90 Other Ranks.  40 Horses.

3/5^th Lond. R.F.A.

16 Officers.  314 Other Ranks.  49 Horses.

3/6^th Lond. R.F.A.

11 Officers.  244 Other Ranks.  39 Horses.  15 Vehicles.

3/7^th Lond. R.F.A.

11 Officers.  242 Other Ranks.  28 Horses.  8 Vehicles.

Xmas Leave

10% of the total strength of each Wing of the School were granted Xmas Leave.  Special Entertainments were arranged for those remaining in Kettering during the Xmas Holidays.

Telegram from

“The King”

Xm as 1915

Copy of Telegram received from Horse Guards, London

Telegram No. A 4545 Dated 24^th December 1915:-

The following message has been received from the King and “His Majesty” commands that it be published in Orders of the various Garrison Towns, Defensible Ports, and Military Camps, on Xmas Day.

“Another Xmas finds all the resources of the Empire still engaged in War, and I desire to convey on my behalf and on behalf of the Queen a heartfelt Xmas Greeting and our good wishes for the New Year to all who on Sea or  Land are upholding the honour of the British name.  In the Officers and men of my Navy whom the security of the Empire depends I repose in common with all my subjects a trust that is absolute, on the Officers and men of my Armies, whether now in France, in the East or in other fields, I rely with an equal faith confident that their devotion, their valour, and their self-sacrifice will, under Gods guidance, lead to Victory and an honourable peace.

There are many of their comrades now alas in hospital, and to these brave men also I desire, with the Queen, to express our deep gratitude and our earnest prayers for their recovery.  Officers and men of the Navy and Army, another year is drawing to a close as it began in toil, bloodshed and suffering, but I rejoice to know that the goal to which you are striving draws nearer into sight,

May God Bless you and all your undertakings.”

Authority W.O. telegram 6654 (A.G.4)

Dec 19

Officers from the following Units were ordered to proceed Overseas:-

3/1^st Lond. Bde. R.F.A.

Lieut. V. STRANDERS

2^nd Lt. W.G. WHITE

Dec 21

Officers from the following units were ordered to proceed Overseas:-

3/1^st Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – Two Officers

3/2^nd Lond Bde. R.F.A. – One Officer

3/6^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – One Officer

Dec 26

The following men comprised a draft which proceeded Overseas on Boxing Day 1915, total 81.

3/5^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 1 Telephonist.  12 Gunners.  9 Drivers.

3/6^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 15 Gunners.  15 Drivers.

3/7^th Lond. Bde. R.F.A. – 14 Gunners.  15 Drivers.

Move of School to Luton

On 24^th December 1915, Instructions were received from War Office to hold No. 6 Artillery Training School ready to move to Luton on 5^th January, 1916