12th FIELD ARTILLERY
Battalion Headquarters (Hq)
Note: the 12th Field Artillery Battalion was in general support of the entire 2nd Infantry Division as a whole, providing reinforcing fire. This battalion was armed with 155 mm howitzers. Therefore, it was not paired with an Infantry Regiment.
- + 12th Field Artillery Battalion
- Battalion Headquarters (Hq)
- Battery Headquarters (Hq)
- Battery A: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Battery B: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Battery C: 4 x 155mm Howitzers.
- Service Battery: The "muscle" and logistics. They ran the M5 Tractors and brought the 95lb shells forward to the guns.
- Medical Detachment: The battalion's own doctor and medics
- Battalion Headquarters (Hq)
Shell Weight: Each high-explosive shell weighed about 43 kg (95 lbs which is 6.8 Stone ! ).
Range: It could hit targets over 14 kilometres (approx. 9 miles) away.
Transport: These guns were too heavy to be pulled by horses or light trucks; they were towed by massive M5 or M4 high-speed tractors (often called "Prime Movers").
APRIL 1944 - GOSFORD CASTLE ARMAGH NORTHERN IRELAND
1st April 1944 - HQ of the 12 FA Battalion - Final days in Ireland
The Final Days in Northern Ireland, the battalion was still stationed at Gosford Castle, Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Firing Problem: The HQ participated in a "firing problem," leaving at 0750 and returning at 1600.
Distance: They travelled 75 miles to and from the range. This was likely the final heavy training before the cross-channel move.
Morale: Noted as "very good".
17th April 1944 - HQ of the 12 FA Battalion - Leaving Ireland
The battalion left their "home station" at Gosford Castle at 0012 hours (just after midnight).
- 0115: Arrived at Armagh by truck.
- 0130: Departed Armagh by train.
- 0245: Arrived in Belfast.
- 0355: Boarded the transport ship USAT James Parker at the Belfast quay.
- 1630: The ship sailed for its "Destination Unknown".
USAT James Parker (United States Army Transport)
18th April 1944 - HQ of the 12 FA Battalion - Docked in Newport, South Wales
The destination was revealed as Newport, Monmouthshire (spelled "Newport, Eng." in the report, though it is in Wales).
The ship docked at 1800 hours.
Conditions: Weather was fair and the sea was calm.
19th APRIL 1944 - HQ of the 12 FA Battalion -- Arrival at Island Farm
- 1000 hours: The Headquarters, 12th FA Battalion debarked from the USAT James Parker.
- 1015 hours: The unit "entrained" (boarded a train) at Newport, England.
- 1105 hours: The train departed from the depot at Newport.
- 1315 hours: The unit "detrained" (arrived and got off the train) at Bridgend, South Wales.
- 1315 to 1345 hours: The men travelled on foot from the Bridgend station to the garrison at Island Farm.
- 1345 hours: The unit arrived at the Island Farm garrison.
- 1430 hours: Major Alvan M. Muldrow (Serial Number O-305741) returned to duty from "DS" (Detached Service) at a "Destination unknown".
- 2400 hours: The report was closed for the day, noting the weather had been "rainy & cool" and morale was "good".
The document also confirms the battalion's strength at the end of the day as 7 assigned officers and 1 Warrant Officer (Frederick J. Dollard), with one additional officer listed as "absent".