The Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) was a Brigadier with a small staff and an attached Royal Signals detachment. The Headquarters Commander Royal Artillery would be located with the HQ of the supported formation and co-ordinated the formation’s artillery units plus any others allocated from higher formations.
Headquarters Commander Royal Artillery were located with Infantry and Armoured Divisions and with Army Groups RA.
- HQRA Infantry Division
- Counter Battery Section (when attached from Corps)
- H Section Royal Signals
- HQRA Armoured Division
- H Section Royal Signals
- HQ Army Group RA
- Signals Section
HQRA Infantry Division
The CRA was the Divisional Commanders advisor on artillery matters. As he worked very closely with the Divisional Commander, he eventually took on the role of Divisional Second in Command. The Lorry Command Vehicle was the centre of the RA HQ and was always manned by the Brigade Major and the Staff Captain or Intelligence Officer. The CRA used this vehicle when at HQ but also had a Staghound Armoured Car as his Command Post when away from Divisional HQ. He also had a 4 x 4 Heavy Utility vehicle for use as transport, mobile office or sleeping quarters. Later in the war, Brigadiers were usually provided with a Command caravan providing sleeping and office space.
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | CRA, Batman, Driver – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Staghound Armoured Car (Royal Signals) | Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.19 wireless set & No.19 High Power set |
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Intelligence Officer, Driver |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Captain REME, Batman Driver |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Subaltern, Batman Driver |
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 Command LP Royal Signals | Corporal Operator, 2 x Operator’s, Driver Operator |
| Truck, 15 cwt Fitted for Wireless | Orderly Sergeant, 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House Royal Signals | Corporal Operator, Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | WO1 Clerk, Staff Sergeant Clerk, Clerk, Driver – carries 3 x Serjeant clerks from Field regiments |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | Flying Officer, Corporal, LAC all RAF, RA Driver – RAF Meteorological Section |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | 2 x Cooks, 3 x Batmen, Driver – carries cooking sets & supplies, tows water trailer |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | Quartermaster, Sanitary Dutyman, MT Bombardier, Vehicle Mechanic, Driver Mechanic |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS Royal Signals | Instrument Mechanic, Operator (spare), Electrician, Driver Mechanic |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
Counter Battery Section (when attached from Corps)
| Truck, 15 cwt | Captain, Clerk, Batman Driver |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | Clerk, Driver |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
H Section Royal Signals
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Subaltern, Batman Driver |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | Corporal Operator, Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Lorry, 3 ton GS | Instrument Mechanic, Relief Operator, Electrician, Driver Mechanic – carries 6Kw charging set, Bren LMG & PIAT |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 Command LP | Corporal Operator, 2 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – Carries Bren LMG & Wireless set No.19 & No.19 HP |
By 1945 the 3 ton GS was towing a 6Kw Generator trailer and an extra Motorcycle was added for a Radio Mechanic. A second 3 ton GS was also added with 3 Operators, 1 Relief Operator and a Driver to act as Signals Office.
HQRA Armoured Division
The set up for an Armoured Division was similar to that of the Infantry Division. The Lorry Command vehicle was exchanged for an Armoured Command vehicle and a number of other armoured vehicles added.
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | CRA, Batman, Driver – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Staghound Armoured Car (Royal Signals) | Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.19 wireless set & No.19 High Power set |
| Tank, Control | Tank & crew Royal Armoured Corps – carries 2 x No.19 wireless sets |
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Intelligence Officer, Driver |
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Scout Car | Captain Liason Officer, Driver Operator |
| Scout Car | Liason Officer, Driver Operator |
| Scout Car | Liason Officer, Driver Operator |
| Scout Car | Liason Officer, Driver Operator |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Subaltern, Batman Driver |
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Armoured Command Vehicle 4 x 4 LP Royal Signals | Corporal Operator, 2 x Operators, Driver Operator |
| Truck, 15 cwt Fitted for Wireless | Orderly Sergeant, 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Fitted for Wireless | 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | Corporal Operator, Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | WO1 Clerk, Staff Sergeant Clerk, Clerk, Driver – carries 3 x Serjeant clerks from Field regiments |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | Flying Officer, Corporal, LAC all RAF, RA Driver – RAF Meteorological Section |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Quartermaster, MT Bombardier |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | 3 x Cooks, 3 x Batmen, Driver – carries cooking sets & supplies, tows water trailer |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | Sanitary Dutyman, Vehicle Mechanic, Driver Mechanic |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS Royal Signals | Instrument Mechanic, Operator (spare), Electrician, 2 x Driver Mechanics |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
H Section Royal Signals
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Subaltern, Batman Driver |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | Corporal Operator, Operator, Driver Operator – carries a Wireless set No.22 |
| Lorry, 3 ton GS | Corporal Instrument Mechanic, Operator, Electrician, Relief Driver Mechanic, Driver Mechanic – carries 6Kw charging set, Bren LMG, PIAT |
| Armoured Command Vehicle LP | Corporal Operator, 2 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – carries Bren LMG, Wireless set No.19, Wireless set No.19 HP |
HQ Army Group RA
An Army Group RA controlled and administered a number of mostly Medium and Heavy units. It was a Corps level unit and almost identical to the HQRA of an Infantry Division. Although the number of units in an AGRA could vary to suit the tactical situation, the standard allotment was 1 x Field, 4 x Medium & 1 x Heavy Regiments.
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | CRA, Batman, Driver – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Staghound Armoured Car (Royal Signals) | Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.19 wireless set & No.19 High Power set |
| Car, 4 Seater 4 x 4 (Humber FWD Heavy Utility) | Brigade Major, Staff Captain, Intelligence Officer, Driver |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Motorcycle | Orderly |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Captain REME, Batman Driver |
| Car, 5 cwt 4 x 4 | Subaltern, Batman Driver |
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 Command LP Royal Signals | Corporal Operator, 2 x Operator’s, Driver Operator |
| Truck, 15 cwt Fitted for Wireless | Orderly Sergeant, 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | 2 x Driver Operators, Signaller – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House Royal Signals | Corporal Operator, Operator, Driver Operator – carries No.22 wireless set |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | WO1 Clerk, Staff Sergeant Clerk, Clerk, Driver |
| Truck, 15 cwt Office | Flying Officer, Corporal, LAC all RAF, RA Driver – RAF Meteorological Section |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | 2 x Cooks, 3 x Batmen, Driver – carries cooking sets & supplies, tows water trailer |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | Quartermaster, Sanitary Dutyman, MT Bombardier, Vehicle Mechanic, Driver Mechanic |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS Royal Signals | Instrument Mechanic, Operator (spare), Electrician, Driver Mechanic |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
| Car, 2 seater | Chaplain, Batman Driver |
Signals Section
| Motorcycle | Subaltern |
| Motorcycle | Sergeant |
| Motorcycle | Electrician |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | Batman, 2 x Cooks, Driver – carries stores and cable |
| Motorcycle | Lineman |
| Motorcycle | Lineman |
| Truck, 15 cwt GS | 2 x Linemen, Driver |
| Truck, 15 cwt GS | 2 x Linemen, Driver |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | 4 x linemen, driver mechanic – carries a mechanical cable layer |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | 4 x linemen, driver mechanic – carries a mechanical cable layer |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Motorcycle | Despatch Rider |
| Truck, 15 cwt GS | Driver |
| Lorry, 3 ton 4 x 4 GS | Driver – carries 14 x Operators |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | 3 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – carries wireless set No.22 |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | 3 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – carries wireless set No.22 |
| Truck, 15 cwt Wireless House | 3 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – carries wireless set No.22 |