War Services of the 62nd West Riding Divisional Artillery

In Short

This historical record outlines the operational life of the 62nd Divisional Artillery on the Western Front from January 1917 through the Armistice and into post-war Germany. Written by its commanding officer, Brigadier-General Austin Thomas Anderson, the narrative tracks Yorkshire gunners through the mud of Miraumont, the breakthrough at Cambrai, the desperate defensive stand against the 1918 German offensive, and final victorious advances. It endures as a meticulously detailed testament to military logistics, inter-branch cooperation, and the sheer physical stamina of frontline artillerymen working under unyielding environmental and martial strain.

The Story

The narrative opens in early 1917 as the 62nd Divisional Artillery prepares for its first major movement forward toward the line holding Bucquoy, Achiet-le-Petit, and Loupart. Reaching positions near Miraumont, the gunners confront immediate and overwhelming hardship. The single access road is under constant German shellfire, forcing ammunition supply lines to rely on long trains of pack horses struggling through deep mud. Despite freezing weather, squalor, and exhaustion, the men continuously man the guns, dug into flimsy shelters while officers dodge booby-trapped dugouts.

By summer 1917, the division adapts to brutal trench warfare in the Noreuil and Ecoust valleys. Anderson emphasizes the technical evolution of protective digging, turning exposed positions into elaborate underground networks with deep stairways and sleeping chambers. Battery commanders, including specialized mining engineers, build heavily fortified bunkers to survive continuous bombardment. Amidst the daily threat of gassing and high explosives, the units perfect quick-response S.O.S. firing drills and integrate trench mortars directly into front-line operations.

Autumn 1917 marks a major turning point at the Battle of Cambrai. Supporting infantry and tanks, the artillery moves up to Graincourt and Bourlon Wood under heavy machine-gun and shell fire. The offensive results in sweeping advances, thousands of captured prisoners, and enemy artillery pieces seized, earning high praise from top commanders. However, the victory is tempered by the impending threat of a massive German counter-offensive as Russia exits the war and American forces have yet to arrive in force.

In March 1918, the great German offensive strikes. The artillery faces its most critical test, maintaining rapid rates of fire to break up repeated mass infantry attacks near Foncquevillers and Hebuterne. The arrival of Australian and New Zealand reinforcements helps stabilize the desperate situation. Exhausted gunners fight through intense gas bombardments, saving pieces and mending communications wires under open fire.

By July 1918, the division shifts to assist the 5th French Army, taking part in fierce battles along the Marne near Cuitron and Marfaux. The artillery provides crushing barrages that allow infantry to capture hundreds of enemy troops and machine guns, winning accolades from French divisional commanders.

The final phase features a continuous advance from the Ancre to the Tortille river, breaking through the strong defensive lines at Flesquières, Ribecourt, Orsinval, and Frasnoy. Despite heavy horse losses from night bombing and relentless artillery duels, the unit pushes forward until the November Armistice. The book concludes with the division’s march into Germany, occupying Gemund and surrounding areas through early 1919 before demobilization brings an end to the unit's existence.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins In early 1917, the divisional artillery advances into positions around Miraumont under atrocious weather conditions. Gunners build primitive dugouts in sloughs of mud while pack horses carry vital ammunition along routes kept under constant German shellfire.

Life in the valley of death Through mid-1917, the unit hunkers down for trench warfare in the Noreuil and Ecoust valleys. Officers and men construct deep underground shelters to withstand incessant enemy bombardment, while perfecting rapid S.O.S. barrage responses to support infantry raids.

The thrust at Cambrai In October and November 1917, the guns march forward to support the infantry and tank assault near Bourlon Wood. The coordinated attack achieves massive gains, taking thousands of prisoners and capturing enemy artillery batteries before the line stabilizes.

Holding the line against the spring offensive In March 1918, the unit faces the onslaught of the German spring offensive. Gunners fire continuously through intense gas and high-explosive bombardments, holding key positions until Australian and New Zealand troops reinforce the front.

Fighting alongside French allies During July 1918, the artillery transfers to assist the 5th French Army near Cuitron and Marfaux. Delivering devastating barrages, the batteries destroy enemy resistance, recapture lost French guns, and receive formal commendations from French commanders.

The final advance and victory Through the autumn of 1918, the division drives through the Hindenburg Line and liberated French villages like Frasnoy. Following the November Armistice, the batteries make their final march through snowstorms into Germany for occupation duty before demobilization.

The People

• Brigadier-General Austin Thomas Anderson — The commander of the 62nd Divisional Artillery and the author of the chronicle. He wants to maintain high operational standards, protect his men, and ensure their sacrifices are recorded. He travels constantly between observation posts and wagon lines, ultimately guiding his command from the mud of 1917 to final victory and demobilization.
• Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Braithwaite — The commander of the 62nd Division who oversees the unit’s development on Salisbury Plain and through major battles. He seeks absolute discipline, grit, and inter-branch cooperation between artillery and infantry, expressing immense pride in his men's achievements at Cambrai and beyond.
• Major R. C. Foot — A battery commander in the 310th Brigade and a mining engineer by profession. He uses his technical background alongside fellow student subalterns to build model, deeply fortified underground positions in the Noreuil Valley, setting the standard for defensive construction.
• Major G. A. Swain — A resilient battery commander who narrowly escapes a booby-trapped German dugout in Miraumont when a hidden wire and explosive charge are discovered just in time. He later wins top prizes in divisional tent-pegging competitions during rare periods of rest.
• Captain S. V. Bowden — The commander of the heavy trench mortar battery who provides crucial close-range fire support during trench operations before transitioning to command medium trench mortars following organizational restructuring.

In Its Own Voice

"The men fall asleep while working at the guns. For nine or ten weeks now they have worked without a rest, and it is a question whether human endurance can go much further."

This observation from the spring of 1917 captures the staggering physical exhaustion of the gunners during continuous operations in the mud.

"Where all the positions were so good, it would be difficult to discriminate between them, but perhaps the palm should be given to D/310."

Anderson highlights how technical skill and professional engineering were applied to create underground strongholds capable of keeping men alive in shell-swept valleys.

"The discipline, valour, and steadiness of all ranks has been beyond praise."

General Braithwaite praises the entire division in an official order following their dramatic achievements during the opening days of the Battle of Cambrai.

What It's Really About

Behind the operational logs and lists of commendations, the book examines the limits of human endurance and the mechanical realities of modern industrial warfare. It details how raw discipline and specialized training transform average citizens into a reliable military instrument. Anderson emphasizes that artillery exists primarily to protect and support the infantry, highlighting the vital necessity of trust and seamless cooperation between different branches of service. Furthermore, the record acts as a tribute to collective labor, showing how shared suffering, harsh environment, and constant danger forge an unbreakable brotherhood among the surviving officers and men.

Why Read It Today

Military historians and readers of World War I non-fiction will appreciate this book for its stark, authentic, and unembellished perspective on field artillery operations. Rather than offering grand strategic theory, it provides a gritty, ground-level view of logistics, horse transport, trench construction, and barrage tactics.

The reading experience feels immediate and unvarnished, structured almost like a operational diary rich with specific names, dates, and unit locations. What stays with the reader is the incredible stoicism required to survive the Western Front—managing thousands of panicked pack animals under fire, digging thirty feet underground to survive 4.2-inch shells, and serving field guns without sleep for months on end.

The prose reflects the period's straightforward military reporting, meaning readers should be prepared for dense operational details, frequent citations of officer movements, and list-heavy award appendixes. Yet beneath the formal tone lies a deeply respectful tribute to the ordinary Yorkshiremen and overseas allies who bore the physical brunt of the Great War.

<ElicitationsGroup message="To explore this topic further:">

<Elicitation label="Analyze the military tactics of the 62nd Divisional Artillery" query="Analyze the specific artillery tactics, barrage techniques, and logistical methods used by the 62nd Divisional Artillery as described in the text."/>

<Elicitation label="Summarize the Battle of Cambrai section in detail" query="Provide a detailed summary of Chapter III: The Battle of Cambrai from Anderson's history of the 62nd Divisional Artillery."/>

<Elicitation label="Examine the role of horses and logistics in the history" query="Detail the role, challenges, and casualties regarding horses, mules, and supply lines described in War Services of the 62nd West Riding Divisional Artillery."/>

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