Mobilisation Annual training had just begun when war was declared on 4 August 1914, and the units returned to their peace stations to mobilise. 3rd West Lancashire Brigade mobilised at Admiral Street under the command of Lt-Col J.P. Reynolds, CO since 1909. Immediately after the outbreak of war, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service, and on 15 August the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form them into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate brigades, batteries and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas.
1/3rd West Lancashire Brigade, RFA . During the winter of 1914–15 the infantry of the West Lancashire Division were sent to reinforce the
British Expeditionary Force (BEF) fighting on the
Western Front. In April 1915 the artillery and other divisional units remaining at home were attached to the 2nd West Lancashire Division, which was training round
Canterbury and whose own artillery did not join until September. In September 1915 the brigade was re-equipped with modern
18-pounder guns, handing its old guns over to the 2nd Line, and it sailed for the Western Front with
2nd Canadian Division. It completed disembarkation at
Le Havre on 1 October and moved up to
Locre and
Berthen. The Lancashire RFA brigades were only with the Canadians for a short time, because in November the War Office decided to re-form the 1st West Lancashire Division (as the 55th (West Lancashire) Division). The 3rd West Lancashire Bde joined the reformed division at
Hallencourt on 4 January 1916. . In May 1916 the BEF's field artillery underwent reorganisation. First, on 5 May, the 3rd West Lancashire formed a fourth 4-gun battery, designated D. Then on 15 May the other three batteries were redesignated A, B and C, and the brigade became
CCLXXVII (or 277) Brigade, RFA. The brigade ammunition columns were absorbed into the divisional ammunition column on 18 May. Finally, on 23 May, D Bty was swapped with C (H) Bty of CCLXXVIII (H) Brigade (the former
4th West Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade, though C/CCLXXVIII Bty was originally a
Kitchener's Army battery from
18th (Eastern) Division). This battery became D (H), armed with
4.5-inch howitzers.
Somme Once assembled, 55th (West Lancashire) Division went into the line in the
Wailly–
Bretancourt area. When the
Battle of the Somme opened further south on 1 July, the divisional artillery fired an intense bombardment along its whole divisional front as a diversion. The division was then relieved on 25 July, when it moved south into the line opposite
Guillemont in the
Somme sector. On 8 August, two infantry brigades of the division carried out an attack on Guillemont. For the whole of the previous day and up to Zero hour (04.20) on 8 August, the divisional artillery and heavy guns kept up a continuous bombardment (described as 'awe-inspiring') of the enemy positions, particularly Guillemont village, which was known to be strongly fortified. When the infantry advanced they were preceded by a
creeping barrage (a new technique at the time) fired by the divisional artillery supported by other batteries. The attack on the right was successful, and at 05.20 the infantry on the left were reported to be in Guillemont Station, but the centre was held up by a belt of
barbed wire and the barrage had to be brought back to support them. Meanwhile, the Liverpool Irish held on the village until most were killed or captured. The attack was renewed the following day with another barrage commencing at 04.20 and making its first 'lift' forward at 04.23. However, the leading battalion was unable to get into position until 05.00, and then made a gallant attack without the benefit of the barrage, suffering heavy casualties. The division was relieved on the night of 14/15 August, but the divisional artillery remained in the line supporting other formations. 55th (West Lancashire) Division came back into the line on 4/5 September, facing
Ginchy and Delville Wood, where it launched an attack on 9 September (in the
Battle of Ginchy). The divisional and heavy artillery began a deliberate bombardment at 07.00 and continued to Zero hour (16.45), when the field artillery fired a creeping barrage behind which the infantry advanced. The German artillery replied to the bombardment by shelling the support trenches and firing
gas shells into the battery positions. The leading infantry companies followed the barrage closely and attacked 'Hop Alley', 'Ale Alley' and 'Pint Trench', but Hop Alley proved stronger than expected and there was an additional hidden trench that had not been discovered or bombarded. The rest of the divisional attack was successful, and another attempt on the Hop Alley–Ale Alley complex was made two days later by a surprise attack without artillery preparation, which was also unsuccessful. After a short rest the 55th (West Lancashire) Lancashire Division was thrown in again at the
Battle of Morval on 25 September. The infantry attacked at 12.35, keeping closer to the creeping barrage than ever before, and the first phase of the attack was successful. The captured position was consolidated behind a
standing barrage, and then the barrage moved on and the infantry captured the second objective. Next day the success was exploited towards 'Gird Trench' and 'Gird Support' after a seven-hour bombardment. The Liverpool Irish took the objectives by 15.15 and the retreating Germans were caught by the barrage and suffered heavily. A counter-attack attempt at 15.50 was also caught in the open by the artillery and the German infantry fled from the guns. The division was relieved on 28 September and left the Somme front.
Army Field Brigade In October there was another reorganisation of the field artillery to bring the 18-pounder batteries up to a strength of six guns each. On 4 October, A Bty was split up between B and C, and on 7 October it was replaced by B/CCLXXVIII Bty. The recently joined A Bty left again and was replaced by A/CLXXIX Bty (from
179th (Deptford) Brigade, RFA, of
39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery). D (H) Bty was brought up to 6-gun strength by Right Section from D (H)/CLXXIX. • A Bty (6 x 18-pounders) – originally A/CLXXIX from Lee Green • B Bty (6 x 18-pounders) – originally 13th Lancashire Bty + half 12th Lancashire Bty • C Bty (6 x 18-pounders) – originally 14th Lancashire Bty + half 12th Lancashire Bty • D (H) Bty (6 x 4.5-inch howitzers) – originally 266 (H) Bty from Eastern England + R Section of D (H)/CLXXIX from Deptford
Ypres At first the brigade was attached to
VIII Corps supporting 55th and 39th Divisions. Then on 28 May it moved to
X Corps for the
Battle of Messines (7 June) when it fired in support of
41st Division. The field artillery were allocated 1000 rounds per gun for 18-pounders and 750 rounds for 4.5-inch howitzers, together with large amounts of gas and smoke shells. The guns and all this ammunition were assembled in secrecy, the AFAs moving into the area a battery at a time over a long period, though some were subjected to German
counter-battery (CB) fire. The battle is remembered for the explosion of massive
mines, but after that it was fundamentally an artillery battle, with two-thirds of the 18-pounders firing a creeping barrage ahead of the attacking infantry, the remainder and the 4.5s firing standing barrages beyond that. These barrages were practised on 3 and 5 June. At Zero on 7 June, after the mines had been fired, the infantry advanced behind their barrage with little opposition. Local counter-attacks were destroyed by the creeping and standing barrages. Later in the day the field batteries began to move forward across the shattered
No man's land to bring the further objectives into range. CCLCCVII AFA left X Corps on 8 July and moved to
II Corps supporting
8th Division to prepare for the
Third Ypres Offensive. Once again there was a massive concentration of guns and ammunition: for this assault there was one 18-pounder for every of the attacking front. On II Corps' front the guns were hidden close-packed behind woods between
Zillebeke and Verbrandemolen. The artillery duel went on for several weeks before the attack, with British batteries taking heavy casualties from German CB fire and gas shelling. The offensive opened on 31 July with the
Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the infantry advancing behind the biggest barrage programme yet devised. Despite setbacks – II Corps suffering the worst hold-up in front of Westhoek on the Gheluveldt Plateau and losing the barrage – a general advance of was achieved, but by evening rain was falling heavily and it proved almost impossible to move the guns and ammunition up through the mud. Gun detachments became exhausted and the bombardment for the next phase attack had to be postponed. The brigade came under the orders of
25th Division for the
Capture of Westhoek on 10 August and then of
18th (Eastern) Division for the
Battle of Langemarck on 16–18 August. The time for preparation had been too short and the artillery plan for Langemarcke was not a success. After a spell back under 8th Division, the brigade was withdrawn for rest on 25 August. It moved to
IX Corps on 9 September, supporting
19th (Western) Division in the more successful series of set-piece battles at the
Menin Road Ridge (20–25 September),
Polygon Wood (26 September–3 October), and
Broodseinde (4 October), followed by the failures at
Poelcappelle (9 October) and the
First Battle of Passchendaele (12 October). The earlier battles were marked by effective artillery support, but later the strain of bringing guns and ammunition up through the mud, casualties suffered, and the unstable gun platforms leading to inaccuracy, led to this support falling away as the campaign developed. At First Passchendale the 18th Division advanced scarcely .
Cambrai After Passchendaele, CCLXXVII Bde was withdrawn to rest for the remainder of the month, then spent the first half of November in a quiet sector with
46th (North Midland) Division in
I Corps before moving to support
12th (Eastern) Division in
III Corps for the
Battle of Cambrai. As with Messines, the first phase of this battle was an artillery victory thanks to massive and well-planned preparation and tactics, though in this case the element of surprise was provided by the first mass use of tanks and the guns were silent until Zero hour on 20 November. Behind its tanks and barrage (one third smoke shell, one third
Shrapnel shell, and one-third high explosive (HE)), 12th Division took its objectives of Bonavis Rdge, Gonnelieu Ridge and Lateau Wood. The barrage was fired according to plan, with two successive lifts (rather than creeping) to Lateau Trench, then falling behind Bonavis Farm (leaving the buildings for the heavy guns) and finally providing a protective barrage beyond the Brown Line (the second objective). The guns were then moved forwards. After its initial success, the battle bogged down into bitter fighting round Bourlon Wood, during which 12th Division was largely inactive. The Germans were preparing a major counter-offensive, and on 29 November III Corps assigned HQ, A and D (H) Btys of CCLXXVII Bde to support
6th Division. Both divisions were caught up in the counter-attack that came on 30 November, when the Germans penetrated behind 12th Division to Gonnelieu and III Corps lost 12 18-pounders and other guns. Desperate defence continued for several days, with the British withdrawing to a stronger line on 5 December.
Spring Offensive On 8 December the brigade was reunited and transferred to
16th (Irish) Division in
VII Corps, with which it stayed during the winter, apart from a period of rest for most of January 1918. By 27 March, 16th Division had been transferred to
XIX Corps and had received some replacement guns, so that its own two field brigades and CCLXXVIII fielded 60 guns between them. The division made a stand at
Proyart but was driven out by the heavy attacks made that day, some of the field batteries remaining in action until the enemy were only away. 16th (Irish) Division was pulled out of the line on 3 April, but its guns remained to cover
14th (Light) Division. 14th Division came under heavy attack on 4 April (the
Battle of the Avre) and fell back about , but then the enemy were stopped dead by the artillery. All the batteries had been shelled heavily with HE and gas during the preliminary bombardment, and again the OPs were blinded by mist. When the German bombardment shifted to the infantry's front line trenches at 06.20, the field batteries responded by firing their pre-planned 'SOS' tasks blindly into the mist. About 11.00 the mist began to clear and the OPs brought down shrapnel fire on the massed German infantry with devastating effects. But they still came on and the commander, Royal Artillery (CRA), of 14th Division issued the order that 'This attack can and must be stopped by artillery fire. If any battery can no longer effectively stop the enemy from its present position, it will at once move fighting to a position on the crest, to engage the enemy over open sights. It is essential that the artillery should hold the line and they will do so'. As the RA historian comments, the order was obeyed: one gun of C/CCXXLVII AFA Bde 'stood in the open for two hours with no pause in its firing, and lived to tell the tale. D Battery of the same brigade smothered attack after attack with a pile of lethal gas shell which it found dumped'. All afternoon 14th Division's guns fought on until at 15.30 the enemy had withdrawn, and the CRA was able to order 'cease firing' after 10 hours continuous fighting, the guns having fired about 500 rounds each. CCLXXVII AFA brigade was itself pulled out to refit on 6 April. On 22 April the brigade went back into the line, attached to
56th (1st London) Division near
Arras. There were no major actions, but normal trench warfare bombardments and support for small trench raids continued. On 15 July the
Canadian Corps took over the sector and CCLXXVIII Bde transferred to the command of
1st Canadian Division and later
4th Canadian Division.
Hundred Days Offensive On 31 July the brigade joined
52nd (Lowland) Division, newly arrived from the
Palestine, which went into the line north-east of Arras. Then on 14 August, as the Allied
Hundred Days Offensive was getting under way, it rejoined 8th Division in VIII Corps, supporting it in the
Battle of the Scarpe (26–30 August).
50th (Northumbrian) Division from 8 to 13 October (including the
Second Battle of Cambrai and the pursuit to the
Selle) and then from 13 October back to the 12th (Eastern) Division as it established a bridgehead across the
Scheldt on 28 October. When 12th Division was relieved on 3 November After the war CCLXXVII Brigade was
demobilised in 1919.
2/3rd West Lancashire Brigade, RFA Training for the 2/3rd West Lancashire Brigade was seriously delayed by lack of arms and equipment. Finally, in June 1915 it received two obsolete
15-pounder Mk I guns (without sights). In September 1915 it was designated
CCLXXXVII (or 287th) Brigade, reorganised into A, B, C (H) and D (H) Btys. It moved from
Weeton Camp in Lancashire to join 57th (2nd WL) Division at Canterbury where it took over BLC 15-pounders and
BL 5-inch howitzers from the 1st Line. Now serious training could begin. In December the divisional artillery received its first 18-pounders, and in January 1916 the 4.5-inch howitzers arrived. Until the middle of 1916, 57th (2nd WL) Division formed part of
Second Army,
Central Force, in home defence. By July it had transferred to the emergency reserves and moved into
Aldershot Command's area in
Hampshire. On 5 January 1917 the War Office ordered it to France, embarkation beginning on 6 February. CCLXXXVII Brigade, consisting of two 6-gun 18-pounder batteries (A and B) and two 4-gun howitzer batteries (C (H) and D (H)), disembarked at Le Havre on 9 February, but it was immediately broken up. Batteries and sections were distributed to brigades within 57th (2nd WL),
59th (2nd North Midland) and
66th (2nd East Lancashire) Divisions and to AFAs. Brigade HQ joined 57th Divisional Ammunition Column on 20 February and the brigade ceased to exist. ==Interwar==