This website is respectfully dedicated to members of the 138th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who were killed in action during the First World War, and to all who served with the Battery between July 1915 and April 1919.

It describes the experiences of the Heavies during those years and gives all details of the Battery's personnel that I have been able to establish.

INTRODUCTION

The 138th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was formed in Autumn 1915 from volunteers many of whom lived in the Borough of Hampstead, north west London. Most of the Battery's initial training from October 1915 to March 1916 took place on Hampstead Heath and it soon became known as "The Hampstead Heavies".

The Heavies, equipped with 60-pounder field guns, served in France and Belgium during the First World War, being on active service from April 1916 until November 1918. During 1916 the Battery was based mainly in the vicinity of Bèthune and the following year was engaged in heavy fighting around Ypres and, later, on the Belgian coast near Nieuport Bains. In the last year of the war the Battery faced the final German offensive, from March 1918 onwards, and was then involved in the Allied offensive which lasted from 8 August until the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

The Battery on completion of training in 1916

Of the 200 officers and men who landed in France with the original Battery, only 1 officer and about 30 other ranks were left when the last round was fired. My father, Gunner Sydney W.H. Ridler, Driver C Sub-Section, Regimental Number 293142, was fortunate to be one of the 30.

Please send any comments or corrections to: John Ridler

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