2nd Kent Artillery Volunteers

2nd Kent Artillery Volunteers
Active 1860–1961
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
Type Artillery Regiment
Role Garrison Artillery
Field Artillery
Airborne Artillery
Garrison/HQ Gravesend (later Lewisham)
Nickname(s) Lewisham Gunners

The 2nd Kent Artillery Volunteers were formed in 1860 as a response to a French invasion threat. They became part of the Territorial Force in 1908 and served during the First and Second World Wars until amalgamated in 1961.

Artillery Volunteers 1859–1908

In August 1860 the 1st Administrative Brigade of the Kent Artillery Volunteers was formed. It comprised the following Corps:[1]

In May 1880 the Corps were consolidated as the 1st Kent Artillery Volunteer Corps with eleven batteries provided by the following Corps:

In 1889 the 3rd Kent (Royal Arsenal) was designated as position artillery with eight batteries. By 1892 the Kent Artillery Volunteer Corps were organised as follows:[2]

In 1905 the Headquarters of the 2nd Corps were moved to Lewisham.

Territorial Force 1908–1920

In 1908 on the formation of the Territorial Force the 1st Corps provided seven companies of the Sussex and Kent Royal Garrison Artillery (TF).

The 2nd Corps was split into two, transferring as the 10th and 11th County of London (Howitzer) Batteries, as part of 4th London (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF), as well as the 21st and 22nd County of London (Howitzer) Batteries of the 8th London (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA. New headquarters for the 4th London were opened in Ennersdale Road, Lewisham in 1911.[3] They were armed with 5-inch Breech Loading Howitzers at this time.

During the First World War the 4th London served in the UK and France. In 1916 the Brigade was renumbered as 283rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF).

They were placed in suspended animation in 1919.[4]

Interwar years

After the war, the unit was reconstituted as the 4th London Brigade RFA (TF) in the reformed Territorial Army.

In 1938 it was again reorganised as the 91st (4th London) Army Field Regiment RA (TA).[5]

Second World War

The Regiment was mobilised for the Second World War and was equipped with 25 Pounder Gun/Howitzers. [6] It became part of the 5th Division Artillery for the whole of the Second World War, being withdrawn from Dunkirk in 1940. It then saw service in Italy having landed there in September 1943. It then transferred to France and finished the War in Germany in May 1945.

The unit was placed in suspended animation in 1946.[7]

Postwar

In 1947 the unit was reconstituted as 291st (4th London) Airborne Field Regiment RA (TA).[8]

In 1954 the Regiment was adopted by the Vinters Company, one of the London Livery Companies. In 1961 the Regiment was reduced to Battery strength as Q (4th London) Battery, 263rd Field Regiment RA (TA).

Notes

  1. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, and Westlake, R, 1982. The Volunteer Artillery 1859–1908, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p98
  2. ↑ Army List, HMSO, 1892, p219
  3. ↑ Osborne, Mike, 2006. Always Ready: The Drill Halls of Britain's Volunteer Forces, Partizan Press, Essex, p190
  4. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p152.
  5. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p152
  6. ↑ Ikin, C W, Maj, Lewisham Gunners: A centenary history of 291st(4th London)Field Regiment,R.A.(T.A.),formerly 2nd Kent R.G.A.(Volunteers), (1962), p33
  7. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p152
  8. ↑ Litchfield, Norman E H, 1992. The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988, The Sherwood Press, Nottingham, p143

References

External sources

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