No. 2 Canadian (Overseas) Siege Artillery Battery, CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force artillery from Prince Edward Island

‘created’ order-in-council pc 2831, in november 1914, militia headquarters (ottawa) authorized, on 20 april 1915, organization of no. 2 heavy battery depot, first designated, recruiting replacements no. 2 heavy battery (halifax). become pei recruited canadian garrison artillery: siege battery, mobilized @ charlottetown, approved manning of 5 officers , 161 other ranks. of officers, , many of men, joined battery, had served in pei heavy brigade ... , ... few new brunswick , nova scotia, great britain , united states. unit first quartered in agricultural building, in charlottetown, being instructed in workings of 4.9 inch gun, , until late fall stationed in tents on armoury grounds, on brighton road, first commanded major a.g. peake, take england.

1 september there enough volunteers begin training @ brighton camp, 200 strong; battery cross-section of island’s population ... , though before leaving overseas draft of regulars royal garrison artillery attached unit. on 25 september 1915, authorized recruit battery ammunition party , base (support) details, brought strength of unit 218 ranks, , on 29 september, battery re-designated no. 2 overseas battery, canadian siege artillery. after grand farewell in charlottetown, on 26 november, battery moved out of charlottetown, on ss northumberland pictou, ns , halifax. embarked on ss lapland sailing on 28 november, arrived @ plymouth sound, on 5 december, increased strength of 6 officers , 273 other ranks.

it proceeded raffey camp, @ horsham siege artillery school, in west sussex, , in training there, 4 months, until 12 april 1916, when moved second rga school , ranges in lydd, kent, firing , ranging practices. still under training, , not yet assigned canadian formation, conform system of numbering british heavy rga batteries, battery re-designated no. 98 (canadian) siege battery, canadian siege brigade, 29 february 1916.

prior proceeding france, major w.b. prowse selected , appointed officer commanding, later major s.t. layton , major h.r.n. corbett, officers commanding, succeeding him. on 18 may, moved stockcross, in berkshire, sourced 4 of newly produced bl 6-inch 26 cwt howitzer. on 31 may, battery crossed channel southampton on board s.s. king edward , disembarking @ le havre. landing in france on june 1, 1916, first unit of canadian (garrison) siege artillery cross channel.

the battery moved forward, , part of 2nd brigade, cga, coming service, organized right , left section, @ sailly-au-bois, firing first rounds on 16 june 1916. operating outside of canadian corps, reflecting nature in employment of of dominion garrison artillery, first @ verdun, successive bef corps engaged or moved, battery remained actively engaged: 5 june 4 july 1916, detailed vii corps(uk) heavy artillery; 4 july 3 september 1916, during battles of albert , bazentin ridge, detailed xv corps (uk) heavy artillery; 4 september 11 december 1916, detailed third corps (uk) heavy artillery group.

before somme offensive ended in fall of 1916, (where had been continuously engaged), battery lose 5 killed , ten wounded, , before war on bury on 30 men . 2nd siege battery, designated 98th canadian, served continuously behind uk 4th army s front, serving in bef, entry operations until december 1916, when ordered dig guns out of mud , move northward.

in january 1917, battery becoming part of canadian corps heavy artillery, renamed no. 2 canadian siege battery, canadian garrison artillery, on 29 january 1917. battery engaged in battle of vimy ridge part of counter-battery (fire) group no.3, 2nd canadian heavy artillery group, before being moved 57th heavy artillery group. @ vimy ridge, canadian corps heavy artillery consisted of eighteen heavy, twenty-six medium, 9 60-pounder, , 2 bl 6-inch mk vii naval gun batteries, formed 8 siege , 3 counter-battery fire groups. following action on vimy ridge, battery again engaged in canadian corps action in taking of hill 70, east of loos , north of lens, again part of reconstituted 2nd canadian heavy group, in august 1917.

having been detailed canadian corps heavy artillery, @ angres on 12 december 1916, remained canadian corps until move 11 october 1917. reassigned bef, firing @ levin, 12 20 october 1917, detailed v corps (uk) heavy artillery; , ypres, 21 october 19 november 1917, detailed first 48th , 68th group canadian corps heavy artillery; , again bef, 20 november 10 december 1917, detailed viii corps (uk) heavy artillery, having remained in ypres.

ever flexible, rejoined canadian corps on 16 december 1917, first engaged @ artois, battery continued canadian heavy artillery until termination of war, assigned 1st canadian heavy artillery group and, on 22 december, joined 2nd canadian heavy brigade. in january 1918, 2 additional howitzers received, bringing battery s establishment 6 bl 6-inch howitzers. not directly engaged, positioned on north flank of battle, in responding 1918 german spring offensive in west flanders, battery in action in hundred days offensive starting in august, moving frequently, through hindenburg line, , advancing north during battle of cambrai (1918) october. no. 2 canadian (overseas) siege battery, 2nd heavy brigade, in readiness ten miles west of mons, in thuin, when armistice declared, strength of 7 officers , 189 other ranks.

it moved germany, ready engagement, during initial stage of occupation of rhineland, crossing german frontier on 9 december. on 12 december, went position on west bank of rhine @ cologne protecting crossing of 1st canadian division, on new south bridge on 13 december 1918, under command of major l.c. ord. battery left continent france on 30 march 1919, via le havre , uk @ weymouth.

it remained based @ witley camp, until sailed southampton on board “rms mauretania (1906) on 3 may 1919. arrived @ halifax, ns, on 9 may , demobilized @ charlottetown (and kingston, on) in may 1919, under major j.p. hooper mc, officer commanding. cef active service units administered on paper, no.2 heavy battery depot, disbanded on 1 november 1920. no. 2 canadian (overseas) siege artillery battery, cef perpetuated prince edward island regiment (rcac).

the officer commanding: major w.b. prowse, dso

waldron (waldrum) brewer prowse born on june 14, 1873 @ brackley point road, in lot 33, on prince edward island. lived family in charlottetown royalty, youth, accomplished athlete, later worked in brothers company, prowse brothers ltd, merchant, until going overseas.

listed captain in 4th pei regiment (heavy brigade), while training in england , prior crossing france, no. 2 siege battery, on promotion, appointed officer commanding. detailed somme, commanding unit in action, extended period of engaged , continuous action, without relief, service recognized in award of distinguished service order.

giving command, on 15 december 1917, major prowse returned england, attended ten-week ‘battalion commanders course’ @ ‘senior officers’ school’ @ aldershot , returned france, being promoted lieutenant-colonel. on 25 february 1918, appointed officer commanding 1st brigade, canadian garrison artillery, responsible coordinating actions of 4 siege batteries, command retained until demobilization on 23 february 1919.

while in command, 3 times additionally mentioned in dispatches, war cost lt-colonel prowse health, not since returning pei, entirely well. in addition business interests brother, became successful in fox farming, , automobile dealer in charlottetown. @ 63, on january 15, 1937, passed away in charlottetown, pei.