Millar Buzzard

Appendix 5.2
Composition of 12th Australian Field Artillery Brigade

Shoulder Patch of 12th AFAB

When Millar was in action with the Aust. Field Artillery Brigade (AFAB), it consisted of four field batteries, 3 of which were equipped with Quick Firing (QF) 18 pounder field guns and one with 4.5 inch howitzers. In addition, a brigade ammunition column supplied ammunition for the guns.

Millar is mentioned in the names of those that served with the 12th AFAB. Details of this Brigade can be found on the Virtual War Memorial website. [156]

The four batteries comprising the 12th Australian Field Artillery Brigade were the following (all commanded by a Major):

44th Battery 18 Pounder
45th Battery 18 Pounder
47th Battery 18 Pounder: (Millar’s Battery but he was not in command)
112th Battery 4.5 Howitzer

18 Pounder Field Artillery Piece

The Quick Firing (QF) 18 pounder (named after the 18 pounds the shell weighed) was the standard field gun of the Australian Army throughout WW1 and was known as the “infantry killer”. Its ammunition had the shell combined with the cartridge thus giving it the description of ‘quick firing’. The gun was designed for an army that could move very quickly around the battlefield. The weapon was light, mobile and rapid firing with a flat trajectory and a range of 6,500 yards (5,940 metres). The 18 Pounder would be brought into action to support the infantry firing at targets that were beyond the range of infantry weapons.

They fired a range of ammunition including High Explosive fragmentation, Shrapnel, Smoke, Gas, Star (illumination) and Armour Piecing projectiles. For the record, most gas used in WW1 was fired from specialized low velocity projectors operated by Engineers.

18 Pounder [157]

18 Pounder [158]

4.5 Inch Howitzer

A later addition to the brigade’s batteries was the 4.5 inch howitzer. A howitzer is a relatively short-barrelled gun that fires a comparatively heavy shell at moderate velocity on a high trajectory causing the shells to fall steeply or ‘lob’ onto enemy positions. When the shell is fitted with a delay fuse, the projectile will detonate sub-surface which is the desired effect to destroy trenches dugouts and the like.

4.5 Inch Howitzer [159]

Ammunition Column

The gun, and its ammunition limber, were towed by a team of six light draught horses. A driver was allocated to each two-horse team and rode the left horse of each pair. The two wheeled ammunition limber was hooked up to the horses and the trail of the gun was hooked to the limber. Further to this, each gun had two additional ammunition limbers towed by their own team.

The gun detachments, led by the detachment sergeant on his own horse, rode into action either on the horses or on the limber. During the early stages of the war, an ammunition limber was positioned on the left of the gun, but as the war progressed and larger quantities of ammunition were being used, stockpiles of ammunition were dumped in pits next to the guns.

18 Pounder gun in horse-drawn configuration [160]

Casualties and Honours [161]

One hundred and twenty two men lost their lives while posted to the 12th A.F.A.B. Individual Honours:

1 x Distinguished Service Order
15 x Military Cross
1 x Bar to Military Cross
9 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
28 x Military Medal
9 x Meritorious Service Medal
25 x Mentioned in Despatches
3 x Belgium Croix de Guerre
1 x French Croix de Guerre

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[156] Virtual War Memorial Australia - ANZAC House, Torrens Training Depot, Adelaide
[157] Australian War Memorial
[158] BirtwistleWiki Website
[159] Landships
[160] Australian War Memorial
[161] BirtwistleWiki Website