Light Trench Mortar units

[armourersergeant]

Would i be correct in assuming that the Trench Mortar batteries that originally came under the infantry control until being moved to brigade control would have been manned by infantry personnel from the unit to which they were attatched?

I have read the article on the main site but this does not appear to answer this particular question, least not as far as i can see. It does seem to intimate it though.

Also what was the composition of the battery when under brigade control?

Arm.

[robwilliams]

the Light TMBs were staffed with infantrymen. I am not sure how they came to be selected. The infantrymen stayed with these units even when they became part of the Brigade organisation. Artillerymen manned the medium and heavy TMBs.

Each infantry battalion in a brigade provided a section to form the brigade company.

Rob

[Geoff Parker]

Arm

As Rob says light TM troops appear to have been taken from the rifle

regiments when they were required. I suspect they were offered a course

and considered it a good way to get out the front line for a while. I would

also suspect that extra pay was involved as well. I certainly can find not

reference to the raising of TM units with pre trained specialists

Geoff

[robwilliams]

The big attraction was that specialists such as MG/TMB/signallers were excused many of the routine duties that the rifleman had to endure.

Rob

[Guest doranrf]

Certainly the mortar batteries were recruited from infantry personnel. For example the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment provided such, and I'm trying to locate the circumstances of his death near Beuvry on March 17th 1918. This seems to have been a quiet time just before the German spring offensive starting 21st March. Interestingly enough, it would appear that he was killed with all his team at the same time, and only seven of the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regimen are buried, and are together, at the Gorre British Indian Cemetry near Beuvry.

Perhaps this might be an indication that mortar personnel were employed separately along the line.

[Ken Lees]

For example the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment provided such, and I'm trying to locate the circumstances of his death near Beuvry on March 17th 1918.

Doranrf,

Who is it that you are researching?

I have a copy of the 55th Divisional History if you need anything looking up.

Ken