4th Field Artillery Brigade

2 Sep 1918 Men of the 4th Brigade having lunch beside their camouflaged gun, established in an open field. AWM EO3145

Artillery going through a cutting in the Canal du Nord, on the approaches to the Hindenburg Line in 1918.

Brief History

The 4th Field Artillery Brigade was raised on 23 September 1915 and retained its structure to past the end of hostilities, and comprised

• 10th Field Artillery Battery
• William Harold Raynor 19 Jul 1917 - 25 Feb 1919
• 11th Field Artillery Battery
• William Harold Raynor ??Sep 1915 - 18 Jul 1917
• 12th Field Artillery Battery
• 104th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery
• 4th Brigade Ammunition Column
  

following the formation of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the raising of the 2nd Division in Egypt during September 1915. In November the brigade embarked for overseas service and sailed to Egypt, where it joined the 2nd Division. A fourth battery, 19 Field Artillery Battery, was formed from the brigade's ammunition column. In March 1916 the brigade embarked at Alexandria for France, as the AIF moved to the Western Front.

Arriving at the port of Marseilles, the brigade travelled 800 kilometers by train to Le Havre, where it drew its 18-pounder guns and vehicles, before continuing to Armentieres, near the French-Belgium border, on 8 April. In May, 19th Battery was replaced by the 104th Howitzer Battery. The 4th Field Artillery Brigade's first major offensive was the battle of the Somme in 1916, and then in 1917 as the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line took place they moved to Flanders and saw constant action supporting allied attacks on Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, and then Passchendaele. During this period, the brigade suffered its heaviest casualties of the war '151 in October and 145 in November' including killed, wounded, and evacuated ill. They played a role in resisting the German advance of 1918, before being active in the Australian offensive between August and October, finally being relieved on 18 October.

The 4th Brigade was moving through Peronne on 11 November, returning to the front lines when it received news of the Armistice. One hundred and fifty eight men lost their life while posted to this unit.

Battle Honours

• Battle of Amiens
• Battle of Broodseinde Ridge
• Battle of Messines
• Battle of Pozieres
• First Battle for Passchendaele
• German Spring Offensive
• Hindenburg Line
• Third Battle of Ypres

Individual Honours

• 1 x Distinguished Service Order
• 9 x Military Cross
• 2 x Distinguished Conduct Medals
• 3 x meritorious Service Medals
• 3 x mentioned in Despatches