New Zealand Field Artillery

Page 3 – Ammunition Column

Loading ammunition on the Somme, 1916
Loading ammunition on the Somme, 1916

Ammunition columns transported ammunition from shell dumps behind the lines to the gun positions. Its men used horses and mules to tow vehicles stacked with shells.

A brigade ammunition column served each of the New Zealand artillery brigades at Gallipoli. In March 1916 these were reorganised in into a single Divisional Artillery Column (DAC). The DAC’s four sections each served one of the artillery brigades, with the 2nd (Army) Brigade’s column retaining the name of ‘Brigade Artillery Column’. All served on the Western Front.

Brigade Ammunition Column, August 1914–February 1916

NameUnit attached toCampaignsDates
No. 1 Brigade Ammunition Column1st New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeGallipoli, 1915August 1914–January 1916
No. 2 Brigade Ammunition Column2nd New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeGallipoli, 1915February 1915–February 1916
No. 3 Brigade Ammunition ColumnNew Zealand Field ArtilleryGallipoli, 1915?February 1915– February 1916
(A) Howitzer Battery Ammunition Column4th (Howitzer) Battery, New Zealand Field ArtilleryGallipoli, 1915February 1915– February 1916
(B) Howitzer Battery Ammunition Column6th (Howitzer) Battery, 2nd New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeGallipoli, 1915June 1915– February 1916

Divisional Ammunition Column, March 1916–November 1918

NameUnit attached toCampaignsDatesFurther information
Divisional Ammunition Column1st New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeWestern Front:
Somme 1916;  
Messines 1917;
Passchendaele 1917;  
Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918.
March 1916–January 1919Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand
Brigade Ammunition Column2nd New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeWestern Front:
Somme 1916
Messines 1917;
Nieuport, 1917;
Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918
March 1916–March 1919Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand
Divisional Ammunition Column3rd New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeWestern Front:
Somme 1916;  
Messines 1917;
Passchendaele 1917;  
Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918.
March 1916– January 1919Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand
Divisional Ammunition Column4th New Zealand Field Artillery BrigadeWestern Front:
Somme 1916
March 1916–January 1917Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand

Note: this table gives the broad picture; the DAC sections were sometime broken down into smaller ad hoc units which served with sections of the artillery brigades to which they were attached. 

Cloth patch, badge, shoulder title and puggaree

Cloth patch worn by the New Zealand Field Artillery’s divisional ammunition column. Cloth patches sewn on the backs of uniform jackets from October 1916 identified which unit – or part of a unit – an individual belonged to.

NZFA badge

Cap badge: A gun surmounted by ‘NZ’ in a scroll, and a crown. Below, a scroll reading Quo fas et gloria ducunt (Where right and glory lead). Collar badges: a seven-flame grenade.

Shoulder title

Shoulder title worn by all New Zealand Field Artillery units. 

The scarlet-on-dark blue puggaree (hatband) worn by all New Zealand Field Artillery units.

How to cite this page

'Ammunition Column', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/new-zealand-artillery/ammunition-column, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 22-Mar-2017

Community contributions

No comments have been posted about Ammunition Column

What do you know?