AMMUNITION COLUMNS. 
199 
GHEiLT BRITAIN. 
The only suggestion for the formation of a pack ammunition column 
on our Imperial establishment was that put forward by Major 
W. L. White, R.A., in his prize essay twelve years ago,* and is here 
re-produced in the following table :— 
Proposed Establishment Required for two Artillery and one 
Infantry Ammunition Columns. 
Staff. 
s’ 
1 
Horses. 
Establishment of 
Columns. 
1st 
Artillery 
Column. 
2nd 
Artillery 
Column. 
Infantry. 
Total. 
Major. 
I 
1 
Lieutenants ... 
1 
1 
1 
3 Officers. 
Captain 
1 
1 
Sergeants 
2 
2 
2 
S 
Sergeant-Major 
1 
1 
Corporals 
2 
2 
2 
Battery Q.M.8. 
1 
1 
Bombardiers 
2 
2 
2 
^ 196 N.C.O.'sand 
O.S. conductor 
1 
1 
Drivers 
56 
60 
66 
Trumpeters ... 
2 
2 
Wheelers 
1 
1 
1 
men. 
Farrier . 
1 
1 
Collar makers 
1 
1 
1 
Servants and drivers 
12 
Shoeing smiths 
1 
1 
1 
j 
Baggage mules 
0 
Mules 
Ammunition.. 
set 
86f 
86+ 
Total ... 
Baggage and stores 
12* 
12$ 
12$ 
j 
294 mules. 
Officers ... 
2 
Horses. 
Men ... 
18 
lieutenants. 
1 
1 
1 
Mules.. 
0 
Sergeants 
2 
2 
2 
>12 horses. 
Horses 
8 
Collar makers 
1 
1 
1 
) 
Ammunition carried. § 
Common 
640. 
Shrapnel 
1600. 
Case shot . 
320. 
Cartridges 
2660. 
S.A.A. boxes of ammunition 
160. 
Now the ‘personnel for these columns he proposed to take from the 
battery at home and the number of animals required in addition to the 
home establishment of the battery were to be obtained in the country 
in which the column was serving and driven by native drivers. But 
this scheme assumes that the battery at home on mobilization of these 
columns would not be required itself as a combatant unit ; surely most 
improbable, unless it was proposed to employ only field batteries 
with all but their limber supply of ammunition in pack. This latter 
circumstance would surely be of rare occurrence. 
It seems to me that it would be a sound system to organize at home 
in peace the nucleus of an ammunition column equal to the require¬ 
ments of a brigade of all arms, of such strength as usually constitutes 
the convenient highest tactical unit in mountain or irregular warfare, 
viz 
Four battalions of infantry 
One mountain battery 
Four machine guns 
One squadron of cavalry (or one company of mounted infantry) 
One section Royal Engineers. 
* “Mountain Artillery, its Organization, Equipm nt and Tactics.’’ by Captain W. L. White, R.A., 
R.A.I. “ Proceedings ”, Vol. XV. No. 9. 1887. 
t Including eighteen spare (twelve saddled and six unsaddled). 
1 Including three spare (saddled). 
5 Including proportion of tubes and fuzes. 
