4th Division Ammunition Column

4th Division battery under German shelling. AWM 00650

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.

Forty four men died while posted to this unit.

Unit Personnel

• George Alfred Hill
• Henry Herman Powell
• George Turner

Individual Honours

• 1 x Distinguished Service Order
• 1 x Military Cross
• 13 x Military Medal
• 1 x Bar to Military Medal
• 2 x Meritorious Service Medal
• 8 x Mentioned in Despatches
• 2 x Belgium Croix de Guerre