12th Field Artillery Brigade

Preparing an 18 pounder battery site behind Vaulx, for registration on Lagnicourt. AWM E00430

Shoulder patch

Brief History

In size, a Field Artillery Brigade was equivalent to an Infantry Battalion. The 12th Field Artillery Brigade formed in Egypt in early 1916 to support the newly raised 4th Division. The 12th Field Artillery Brigade, from February 1916 – 20 January 1917 comprised:

• Roderick McCaskill
• Sydney Chadwick McDonald

45th Field Artillery Battery

46th Field Artillery Battery

• George Wales McGillivray 25 Jan 1917 - 8 May 1919

47th Field Artillery Battery

101st Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery

• Sydney Charles Welch

119th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery

12th Brigade Ammunition Column

Each Brigade generally comprised three Batteries of four 18 Pounder Mk 1 or II guns. With a range of about 6,500 yards (almost 6km) they fired a range of ammuntion natures including High Explosive fragmentation, Shrapnel, Smoke, Gas, Star (illumination) and Armour Piercing projectiles. In March 1916 a fourth battery of four 18 pounder field guns was added. In January 1917, batteries were increased in size to 6 guns each in order to economise on headquarters structures and the number of Field Artillery Brigades in each division was reduced to two. After 20th January 1917, the 12th FAB was re-allocated under Army level command and control.

One hundred and twenty two men lost their life while posted to this unit.

Individual Honours

• 1 x Distinguished Service Order
• 15 x Military Cross
• 1 x Bar to Military Cross
• 9 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
• 28 x Military Medal
• 9 x Meritorious Service Medal
• 25 x Mentioned in Despatches
• 3 x Belgium Croix de Guerre
• 1 x French Croix de Guerre