12TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS

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
- Headquarters Battalion (Hq):
  - Headquarters Battery (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

Shelll 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".

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