The Forth Royal Garrison Artillery and its successors were Scottish part-time coast defence units of the British Army from 1908 to 1956. Although they saw no active service, they supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I.
Origin When the Territorial Force (TF) was created from the old Volunteer Force under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, a new 'Defended Ports' unit of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) was formed from two Dunbartonshire companies of the 1st Renfrew and Dumbarton RGA (Volunteers), part of the 1st Argyll & Bute RGA (Volunteers), and personnel from the 1st Edinburgh City RGA (Volunteers). The new unit, named the Forth & Clyde Royal Garrison Artillery, totalled eight companies with its headquarters (HQ) at Edinburgh, but in 1910 it was split up, the Clyde elements being detached to form independent unit, the Clyde RGA, while the remainder became the Forth Royal Garrison Artillery at Edinburgh, with two detached companies on the north bank of the Firth of Forth.Frederick, p. 697.Litchfield & Westlake, pp. 24, 147.Litchfield, p. 307.Litchfield, p. 298.Forth Coast Rgt at Regiments.org.
The Forth RGA had the following organisation:Army List, various dates.Maurice-Jones, p. 166.Conrad, 1914. HQ at Easter Road Barracks, Edinburgh Nos 1–4 Companies at Edinburgh No 5 Company at Hunter Street drill hall, KirkcaldyFife at Great War Centenary Drill Halls. No 6 Company at East Leven Street, Burntisland
It was designated as a Defended Ports Unit in Scottish Coast Defences, which was also based at Edinburgh and included the Regulars of No 21 Company RGA at Fort Leith.Monthly Army List August 1914.Lawes. By 1914, these two units were responsible for the manning the following guns in the Forth defences:Maurice-Jones, pp. 187–8. 6 × 9.2-inch 12 × 6-inch 12 × 4.7-inch and 4-inch Quick-Fire (QF) guns 12 × 12-pounder QF
World War I Mobilisation On the outbreak of war, the Forth RGA mobilised under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. O'Connor, VD. Shortly afterwards, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service and, on 15 August 1914, the War Office (WO) issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these 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 companies and batteries were created, releasing the 1st Line units to be sent overseas.Becke, Pt 2b, p. 6.
By October 1914, the campaign on the Western Front was bogging down into Trench warfare and there was an urgent need for batteries of Siege artillery to be sent to France. The WO decided that the TF coastal gunners were well enough trained to take over many of the duties in the coastal defences, releasing Regular RGA gunners for service in the field, and 1st line RGA companies had been authorised to increase their strength by 50 per cent.WO Instruction No 248 of October 1914.
Although complete defended ports units never left the UK, they did supply drafts of trained gunners to RGA units serving overseas. They also provided cadres as the basis on which to form complete new units for front line service. 70th Siege Battery formed in October 1915 was based on a company (probably 1/4th Company) from the Forth RGA, and 108th Siege Battery formed in the Forth Defences in February 1916 also drew its cadre from the unit. A draft of 50–60 men from the Forth RGA volunteered to serve together in 178th Siege Battery when it was formed at King's Park, Edinburgh, in June 1916.Webber, p. 3. A number of other siege batteries formed in the Forth Defences in 1915–16 (89th, 90th, 118th, 138th, 152nd, 153rd, 181st, 210th, 228th, 251st, 263rd, 293rd, and 311th) may also have included trained men from the Forth RGA among the recruits, although the Army Council Instructions did not specifically order this.Army Council Instructions, 1915–1916.
Under Army Council Instruction 686 of April 1917, the coastal defence companies of the RGA (TF) were reorganised. The RGA companies serving in the Forth garrison (including one from the North Scottish RGA) were reduced from 12 companies to 10, and were to be kept up to strength with non-TF recruits:Army Council Instructions April 1917. 1/1st Company – became 1st Company 1/2nd Company – became 2nd Company 1/3rd Company – became 3rd Company 1/5th Company – became 4th Company 1/6th Company – became 5th Company 2/1st Company – became 6th Company 2/2nd Company – became 7th Company 2/3rd Company – became 8th Company 2/4th Company – became 9th Company 2/5th Company – became 10th Company 2/6th Company Forth RGA and 2/1st Company North Scottish RGA were disbanded
In April 1918, the Forth Garrison comprised the following batteries:Farndale, Forgotten Fronts, Annexes 4 and 7. Outer Defences: No 19 Coastal Fire Command, Inchkeith (including No 20 Company RGA)Frederick, p. 647. Inchkeith Battery 1 – 3 × 9.2-inch Mk X guns Inchkeith Battery 2 – 6 × 6-inch Mk VII guns Kinghorn Battery 1 – 1 × 9.2-inch Mk X Kinghorn Battery 2 – 2 × 6-inch Mk VII Pettycur Battery – 2 × 6-inch Mk VII Leith Docks – 2 × 6-inch Mk VII Middle Defences: No 20 Coastal Fire Command, Inchcolm (including No 21 Company RGA) Cramond Battery – 2 × 12-pdr QF Inchmickery Battery – 4 × 4-inch QF Inchcolm Battery 1 – 2 × 6-inch Mk VII Inchcolm Battery 2– 4 × 4.7-inch QF Inchcolm Battery 3 – 4 × 4-inch QF Inner Defences: No 21 Coastal Fire Command, Carlingnose Point, North Queensferry Hound Point Battery – 2 × 12-pdr QF Invergarvie Battery – 4 × 12-pdr QF Coastguard Battery – 2 × 12-pdr QF Downing Point Battery – 2 × 12-pdr QF Armoured Train, Craigentinny – 2 × 12-pdr QF These defences never saw action during the war. The Forth RGA was placed in suspended animation in 1919.
70th Siege Battery, RGA
70th Siege Battery was formed at Dover under War Office Instruction No 144 of 9 October 1915 from one company (probably 1/4th Company) of the Forth RGA, which provided half the personnel.Frederick, pp. 702–3. It went out to the Western Front on 26 March 1916 armed with four 8-inch howitzers and joined the Northern Heavy Group (40th Heavy Artillery Group or HAG) in X Corps. This Corps was part of Fourth Army preparing for that summer's 'Big Push' (the Battle of the Somme).'Allocation of Siege Batteries RGA', The National Archives (TNA) file WO 95/5494/4.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 195–7.
Somme The role of the northern division of X Corps, the 36th (Ulster) Division, was to attack astride the River Ancre and capture the Schwaben Redoubt on the edge of the Thiepval Ridge.Edmonds, 1916, Vol I, p. 403; Sketch 22. The bombardment programme was to extend over five days, U, V, W, X and Y, before the assault was launched on Z day. The bombardment began on 24 June, but on several days the weather was too bad for good air or ground observation and the programme was extended by two days (Y1 and Y2).Edmonds, 1916, Vol I, pp. 299–305.Farndale, Western Front, pp. 142–8. When the infantry launched their assault at 07.30 on Z Day (1 July) the heavy guns lifted to successive targets, repeating the process six times. On 36th Division's front the initial assault was entirely successful, except for the area immediately adjacent to the Ancre. The Ulstermen overran the German front line trenches and dugouts, and by 08.00 they had captured the front face of the Schwaben Redoubt. Although some parties got into the German 2nd Position, the divisions on either flank had met with disaster, allowing the defenders to get into their rear. Most of the 36th Division was pinned down in the open and had to be withdrawn after dark. The gunners helped to evacuate the wounded, a process that was not completed until 3 July.Farndale, Western Front, pp. 398, 403–8, 416–21.
By now, massive quantities of artillery were employed for each phase of the continuing offensive as Fourth Army and later Reserve Army attacked again and again:Farndale, Western Front, pp. 149–56.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 102–9. Battle of Bazentin Ridge (14 July) Capture of Ovillers (17 July) Battle of Pozières (23 July) Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15–22 September) Battle of Thiepval Ridge (26–28 September) On 3 October, 70th Siege Bty was transferred to 16th HAG with Reserve (later Fifth) Army, which continued to attack on the Ancre Heights until mid-November, and carried out minor operations on the Ancre through the winter.'Headquarters Heavy Artillery Groups', TNA file WO 95/5494/1.
Vimy On 22 March 1917, 70th Siege Bty was transferred north to join 31st HAG with First Army, which was preparing for the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The artillery plan for the heavy guns emphasised counter-battery (CB) fire. At Zero hour, while the field guns laid down a Creeping barrage to protect the advancing infantry, the heavy howitzers fired further ahead to hit the rear areas on the reverse slope of the ridge, especially known gun positions. The attack went in on 9 April with I Corps and Canadian Corps successfully capturing Vimy Ridge. Fighting in the southern sector (the Battle of Arras) continued into May.Farndale, Western Front, pp. 164–6, 174–6, Map 23.Cave, pp. 119–27, Map p. 121.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 74–8.
On 29 May, 70th Siege Bty was joined by a section from the newly-arrived 310th Siege Bty, bringing it up to a strength of six 8-inch howitzers. It came under the command of a number of different HAGs, finally joining 12th HAG with Third Army on 7 September.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 92–8.
Cambrai In October, Third Army began preparing for its surprise attack with tanks at the Battle of Cambrai. There was to be no preliminary bombardment or registration: when the battle began with a crash of artillery at 06.20 on 20 November the German defenders were stunned, and the massed tanks completed their overcome. In most areas the attack was an outstanding success. Exploitation over succeeding days was less spectacular.Cooper, pp. 85–8.Farndale, Western Front, pp. 216–30, Map 32.Miles, 1917, Vol III, pp. 26, 29.
By now, HAG allocations were becoming more fixed, and on 1 February 1918 they were converted into permanent RGA brigades. Because of the inclusion of 70th Siege Bty, the 12th Brigade was defined as an 8-inch Howitzer Brigade, though the other three batteries were all equipped with 6-inch howitzers. 70th Siege Bty remained with this brigade until the Armistice.Farndale, Western Front, Annex E.Farndale, Western Front, Annex M.
1918 12th Brigade was part of IX Corps' Heavy Artillery in the fighting at Mont Kemmel, during the Battle of the Lys (the second phase of the German spring offensive) in April 1918.Becke, Pt 4, pp. 187–91.Edmonds, 1918, Vol II, p. 410. It then moved to Fourth Amy on 18 August 1918 in time for the Battle of Amiens and to participate in the victorious Hundred Days Offensive.
By the end of September, Fourth Army had closed up to the Hindenburg Line. 12th Brigade came under the command of IX Corps once more for the assault crossing of the St Quentin Canal on 29 September. The canal defences were largely destroyed by the heavy guns, which continued firing on the canal banks until the last possible moment as 137th (Staffordshire) Brigade stormed the outpost line and then scrambled across the canal in the morning mist. 70th Siege Bty crossed the canal on 1 October to support 32nd Division's attack on the Beaurevoir Line.Blaxland, pp. 232-8.Edmonds & Maxwell-Hyslop, pp. 101–6, 133, 139.