5th Division Ammunition Column

Ammunition at the sharp end having been delivered to the gun line of the 54th Battery, 36th Heavy Artillery Group.

Shoulder patch

Brief History

Each Division had an Ammunition Column to keep ammunition up to the guns by moving it from "Third line" storage up to the Front ("First Line"). It was a mammoth task involving motor and horse drawn transport, heavy and light rail and tramways. Ammunition dumps and transport near the Front Line were high priority targets of the enemy's guns , and later, aircraft. Horse drawn transport laden with ammunition is a doubly risky business. Horses are vulnerable to all forms of small arms and artillery and the cargo is such that a hit is generally catastrophic. It is not for nothing that many drivers received bravery awards.

The unit supported the 5th Division artillery units until after hostilities had ceased, participating in the Battles of Fromelles (Jul 1916); 2nd Bullecourt (3 - 17 May 1917); Menin Road (20 - 25 Sep 1917); Polygon Wood (26 Sep - 3 Oct 1917); 1st Passchendaele (12 Oct 1917); 2nd Passchendaele (26 Oct - 10 Nov 1917); Avre (4 Apr 1918); Villers-Bretonneux (24 - 25 Apr 1918); Amiens (8 - 11 Aug 1918); Albert (21 - 23 Sep 1918); 2nd Bapaume, including occupation of Péronne (31 Aug - 3 Sep 1918); and St Quentin Canal (29 Sep - 2 Oct 1918). Forty five men lost their life while posted to this unit.

Unit Personnel

• George Wales McGillivray 25 May 1916 - 24 Jan 1917
• Josiah James Skinner 21 Aug 1916 - 25 Oct 1916
• Terry de Bohun Helm 20 Nov 1916 - 13 Feb 1917
• Hugh Gibson Winning 24 Sep 1917 - 20 May 1919

Individual Honours

• 1 x Distinguished Service Order
• 4 x Military Cross
• 22 x Military Medal
• 1 x Bar to Military Medal
• 4 x Meritorious Service Medal
• 5 x Mentioned in Despatches
• 1 x Belgium Croix de Guerre
• 1 x French Croix de Guerre