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11th Field Artillery Brigade

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11th FAB.jpg
September 1917. 11th Field Artillery Brigade, near Bailleul, cleaning their guns preparatory to going into action. AWM E00697


Brief History

A part of the 4th Australian Infantry Division, the 11th Field Artillery Brigade comprised the:
41st Field Artillery Battery
42nd Field Artillery Battery

43rd Field Artillery Battery

111th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery.

Once formed, they sailed from Alexandria aboard HMT Haverford on 2nd Jun 1916 and arrived in Marseilles on 10 Jun 1916, going into the front lines first at Fromelles on July 4th. Each Field Artillery Brigade generally initially 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 ammunition natures including High Explosive fragmentation, Shrapnel, Smoke, Gas, Star (illumination) and Armour Piercing projectiles. In January 1917, batteries were increased in size to 6 guns each in order to economise on headquarters structures and the number of FAB in each division was reduced to two.

One hundred and ninety one men died while posted to this unit.

Unit Personnel - Battery unknown

Individual Honours

1 x Distinguished Service Order

  • 10 x Military Cross
  • 7 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
  • 47 x Military Medal
  • 3 x Bar to Military Medal
  • 4 x Meritorious Service Medal
  • 17 Mentioned in Despatches
  • 2 x Belgium Croix de Guerre
  • 2 x French Croix de Guerre

Notes


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