Field Artillery Training. 1914

"Field Artillery Training. 1914" by Great Britain. War Office is a military training manual written in the early 20th century. It codifies the principles, drills, and tactics for training and employing horse, field, mountain, and heavy artillery in peace and war, ensuring uniform methods across the British Army. The manual covers everything from recruit instruction and dismounted drill to gunnery, fire control, logistics, and cooperation with other arms, including aircraft.

The opening of the manual establishes its official authority, scope, and intent: commanders are to adhere strictly to the stated principles to avoid confusion in war. It lists a comprehensive table of contents, then defines drill and tactical terms before laying out the aims of training—both moral and physical—emphasizing discipline, initiative, and endurance. Responsibilities are assigned from divisional artillery commanders down to battery and section leaders, followed by a progressive training system: recruit instruction (syllabi, teaching methods), individual training, and collective training (section, battery, brigade, and divisional levels), plus annual live-fire practice guided by realistic tactical schemes. There is guidance for Special Reserve, Territorial units, and Dominion forces. The text then begins detailed dismounted and rifle drill and moves into equitation and driving, setting high standards for riders and horses and outlining practical horsemastership on campaign, including watering, feeding, relieving saddle pressure, and related care. (This is an automatically generated summary.)