1st Durham Volunteer Artillery
The 1st Durham Volunteer Artillery was a unit of Britain's Volunteer Force and Territorial Army from 1860 to 1956. During World War I, it was the only coastal defence unit to engage the enemy, and it also trained siege gunners for service on the Western Front. It continued its coast defence role in World War II, after which it was converted into air defence and engineer units.
Photograph of Lt Col Lancelot Robson, VD, Commanding Durham RGA, Fire Commander, Hartlepool Batteries, on 16 December 1914 during the bombardment.
FWD Model B lorry towing a 6-inch 26 cwt howitzer. 41st Siege Bty was the first unit to be issued with this new gun.
Moving a 60-pounder during the Third Ypres offensive, September 1917.
9.2-inch howitzer in action on the Somme, 1916.
Tynemouth Volunteer Artillery
The Tynemouth Volunteer Artillery claims to be the oldest volunteer artillery unit of the British Army. It served coastal and siege guns in World War I and World War II, and also served in the infantry role.
40-pounder gun being fired.
Mk VII 6-inch gun in typical coast defence emplacement, preserved at Newhaven Fort.
12-inch Railway howitzer on the Western Front, 1917.
A gunner of 508th (Tynemouth) Coast Regiment keeps watch at the 9.2 inch gun coastal defence battery at Castle Priory, Tynemouth, 28 November 1940 (IWM H5799)
