In May 1916 the 2nd North Midland Brigade RFA became 231 Brigade RFA under a reorganisation, with the 3rd (Leek) Battery becoming ‘C’ Battery.
The 1st and 2nd Batteries, both based in Stoke, became ‘A’ and ‘B’ Batteries respectively.
231 Brigade RFA was still part of the Divisional Artillery of the 46th (North Midland) Division.
Operations the battery participated in:-
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1915
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Messines Ridge
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Ypres Salient:-
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Hooge
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Hooge Liquid Fire Attack
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Hill 60
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Loos:-
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Hollernzollern Redoubt
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Armentieres Sector
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1916
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Arras Sector:-
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Pommier Wailly
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Battle of Albert (Somme):-
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Gommecourt
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1917
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Operations on the Ancre
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Occupation of the Gommecourt Defences
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Attack of Bettemoy Greben
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German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
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Attack on Lieven and Lens
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Hill 70
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1918
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German Lys Offensive:-
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Battle of Bethune
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Advance in Flanders
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Battles of the Hindenburg Line:-
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Epehy
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St Quentin Canal
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Ramicourt
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Montbrehain
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Battle of the Selle
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Battle of the Sambre-Ouise Canal
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The names of the Battles around the top of the memorial (Hooge, Loos, Ypres, Somme, Bellenglise, Ramicourt, Bohain, Lens and Gommecourt) are those of the major engagements of the 46th (North Midland) Division and hence where the Old Leek Battery saw action whilst serving with the Division.
From the book “Over There” by JE Bloor (of the Leek Battery) and JH Sherratt and using the military maps contained in the book, we have plotted the exact locations (to within about 50 yards) of the Battery throughout the war. You can scroll and zoom on this page or open up in Google Maps.
View Old Leek Battery Positions 1915 – 1918 in a larger map