British

ORBAT FOR MOUNT SORREL 2 – 13 JUNE 1916

BRITISH Search Engine War Diaries of the Library and Archives Canada

It is hardly possible to differentiate between the British and Canadian Orbats when analysing the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Basically there are two reasons for this:

The 3rd Canadian Division had no Divisional Artillery of its own until July 14, 1916 and for this reason British Artillery units were attached to the 3rd Division when disaster struck on June 2, 1916.

When it was clear that the Germans had hit the 3rd Division very hard, infantry and artillery units were shifted from both Canadian 1st & 2nd Divisions and British (reserve) troops to this front. Partly to relieve pressure and to mount a counter-attack but also because of severe artillery unit losses. Dictated by these circumstances the composition of many units was changing frequently, especially amongst Artillery Units.

Naturally these changes were in a later phase also dictated by the large and well prepared offensive on the 13th June to drive the Germans back and retake the lost ground. The Artillery was instrumental in preparing for this attack as Haig didn’t want to commit many infantry units. He needed them for his Somme Offensives.....

For these reasons I have put extra emphasis on these changes, as this (in my mind)once more illustrates the need for a flexible approach when setting up the Orbats.

Whilst digging into the War Diaries of the Artillery units I sort of got stuck......as often the used nomenclature is not clear to me. I’m trying to remedy this and will update this Orbat when and where possible.

Let’s start once more with the Orbat of the 3rd Canadian Division of the 2nd June which mentions the following Artillery Units:

CANADIAN

3rd Battery Canadian Field Artillery

4th Battery Canadian Field Artillery

1st, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 85th Batteries Canadian Field Artillery

84th, 94th,458th, 461st Batteries Royal Field Artillery, 10th Composite Battery[M1]

BRITISH – attached at the time or later

LAHORE DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY - Brig.-Gen. E. S. Hoare-Hairne

1915/12/01-1916/11/30 Images associated with this entry

June 1916, p. 7 June 1916, p. 8 June 1916, p. 9 June 1916, p. 10

June 1916, p. 11 June 1916, p. 12 June 1916, p. 13 June 1916, p. 14

June 1916, p. 15 June 1916, p. 16 June 1916, p. 17 June 1916, p. 18 [M2]

Headquarters 11th Brigade Royal Field Artillery – Lt.-Col. J. McG-Maxwell

1915/11/01-1917/07/31 Images associated with this entry

June 1916, p. 3

83rd Battery Royal Field Artillery

85th Battery Royal Field Artillery

94th Battery Royal Field Artillery

D/5 Battery Royal Field Artillery (4.5 How.)

Headquarters 131st Brigade Royal Field Artillery – Lt.-Col. H. A. Koebel

1915/12/01-1916/06/30 Images associated with this entry

June 1916, p. 3 June 1916, p. 4

64th Battery Royal Field Artillery

73rd Battery Royal Field Artillery

81st Battery Royal Field Artillery

D/11 Battery Royal Field Artillery (4.5 How.)

Headquarters 5th Brigade Royal Field Artillery – Lt.-Col. G. D. Sherer

1915/12/01-1917/07/31 Images associated with this entry

June 1916, p. 2 June 1916, p. 3 June 1916, p. 4 June 1916, p. 5 June 1916, p. 6

June 1916, p. 7

84th Battery Royal Field Artillery

59th Battery Royal Field Artillery

D/18 Battery Royal Field Artillery (4.5 How.)

Medium Trench Mortar Batteries (2’’)

Some were annihilated and by midnight June 5, 1916 the 1st Divisional Artillery was composed of:

“MacLaren’s Group” – Lt.-Col MacLaren RAILWAY DUGOUTS

According to 1st Canadian Divisional Artillery W/D entries of June 1916, p. 7 & June 1916, p. 8 consisted of: 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th (and 1 section 8th) Batteries Canadian Field Artillery, 94th (Lahore Divisional Artillery), 458th & 461st (both 4.5 Howitzers) Batteries Royal Field Artillery.

“Mitchell’s Group” – Lt.-Col. J. Mitchell H.Q. ZILLEBEKE Lake

According to 1st Canadian Divisional Artillery W/D entries of June 1916, p. 7 & June 1916, p. 8 consisted of: 4th, 10th (plus 1 section 8th), 12th Batteries Canadian Field Artillery, 459th & D/18 (Lahore Divisional Artillery)Batteries (both 4.5 Howitzers).

During the attacks, counter-attacks and defensive fighting the Orbats of the different Artillery Units changed continuously.

Preliminary to the attack on Mount sorrel of the 13th June 1916 the following orders were issued:

Canadian Corps Operation Order No. 21 of September 11th 1916: Lahore Divisional Artillery, 3 Howitzer Batteries – 3rd British Division attached to the 2nd Canadian Division.

The 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery will consist of: the Sherer Group, Koebel Group, and Sykes Group.

“Sherer Group” – Lt.-Col. J. D. Sherer

According to Operation Order No. 45, June 11th, 1916, this Group consisted of: four 18 pounder and two 4.5 ‘’ howitzer batteries. Part of the 13th the D 75 Howitzer Battery was borrowed from the 20th Division (British).

“Koebel’s Group” – Colonel H. A. Koebel

According to Canadian Corps Royal Artillery Operation Order No. 5 of 9th September 1916: Koebel’s Group came under control of the Canadian Corps. It is composed of three 4.5 Howitzer Batteries of the 3rd British Divisional Artillery: D/23 (4 guns), 129 Battery (4 guns), 130 Battery (3 guns).

“Sykes Group” - Lt.-Col. C. A. Sykes

According to Operation Order No. 39 of the 2nd Canadian Divisional Canadian Royal Artillery of June 5th 1916 this Group consisted of: personnel of the Lahore Divisional Artillery, 84th & 85th Battery Royal Field Artillery and 4th & 5th Batteries, 7th Regiment Belgian Field Artillery.

Canadian Corps Artillery will consist of:

“Creelman Group”.

On the 8th June Lt.-Col. J. Creelman relieved Lt.-Col. J. Mitchell and this group is now called the Creelman Group.

MacLaren & Creelman Groups under Royal Canadian Artillery 1st Canadian Division.

Sherer’s & Koebel’s Groups under Royal Canadian Artillery 2nd Canadian Division.

Corps Canadian Heavy Artillery.

G.O.C. Royal Canadian Artillery in command at H.Q. 1st Canadian division at HOOGRAAF.

“Dodds Group” – Lt.-Col. W. O. M. Dodds[M3]

June 1916, p. 1 June 1916, p. 2 June 1916, p. 3 June 1916, p. 4 June 1916, p. 5

June 1916, p. 6 June 1916, p. 7 June 1916, p. 8 June 1916, p. 9 June 1916, p. 10

June 1916, p. 11 June 1916, p. 12 June 1916, p. 13 June 1916, p. 14

According to the W/D 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery, formed on June 8th and composed of:

4th, 6th & 7th Brigades Canadian Field Artillery and the 7th Belgian Regiment

Still going full blast on June 13th:

Report 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery

3rd Imperial Divisional Artillery

“Heavies of the British 5th and 14th Corps, on either flank, to cooperate”. (Nicholson)

5th – 10th – 11th Heavy Artillery Group

18th H.A.G.

51st Howitzer Battery

89th Siege Battery

Other British Units

V Corps[M4]

XIV Corps[M5]

3rd Division[1]

8th &9th British Brigade

20th Division[2]

1916/06 Images associated with this entry

June 1916, p. 2 June 1916, p. 5 June 1916, p. 6

No. 6 Squadron R.F.C. & 2nd Wing R.F.C.

2nd Dismounted Cavalry Brigade[M6]

SOUTH AFRICANS

71st & 72nd Howitzer Battery

Sources: Nicholson, War Diaries, some ‘Googling”.

[1] See W/D entry: Operation Order No. 57, June 4th 1916, 2nd Canadian Division: “Attached temporarily to 2nd Canadian Divion”.

[2] See W/D entry: “ Two Coys of 60th Inf. Bde. placed at disposal of 7th Canadian Brigade” & Chris Baker’s The Long, Long Trial.