three more RFA brigades (CLXXIX (179th Bde), CLXXXIV (184th), and CLXXVII Howitzer (186th (H) Bde)), the 137th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, and the Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC), with a total of 2500 men recruited from Deptford, Lee Green, Brockley, New Cross and neighbouring Greenwich. 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery CLXXIV (Deptford) Brigade, RFA CLXXIX (Deptford) Brigade, RFA CLXXXIV (Deptford) Brigade, RFA CLXXXVI (Deptford) Howitzer Brigade, RFA 39th (Deptford) Divisional Ammunition Column, RFA 137th (Deptford) Heavy Battery and Ammunition Column, RGA Each New Army RFA brigade consisted of four 4-gun batteries (designated A, B, C and D) and a Brigade Ammunition Column (BAC). Training Major E.R. Phillips was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel to take command of CLXXIV Bde and set up headquarters (HQ) at the disused works of the former Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company in Blackheath Road. The other units were organised in Deptford and Lee Green. There was a great shortage of equipment, but the mayor and corporation managed to obtain uniforms for CLXXIV Bde within two weeks of the town meeting. They also obtained over 2000 horses before 39th DA left the borough, with those of 137th Hvy Bty being stabled in the London County Council Tramways yard. Early training was carried out with dummy guns and ammunition waggons on Blackheath before the first two guns (18-pounders) arrived in August. Deptford held a farewell parade for 39th DA on Blackheath on 24 September 1915 and the units marched to Aldershot where 39th Division was assembling. It joined the division on 1 October when the Divisional Artillery HQ was formed under Brigadier-General C. Goulburn as Commander, Royal Artillery (CRA). The units continued training as guns and equipment arrived. In November they moved to Milford Camp near Godalming in Surrey, with much trouble on the march caused by inexperienced drivers and horse teams. The full establishment of 18-pdr guns and 4.5-inch howitzers was received and towards the end of January 1916 the brigades moved in turn to Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain for target practice before being pronounced fit for service. On 2 March 39 DA (except 137th Hvy Bty) began entraining at Milford on for Southampton where CLXXIV–CLXXXVI Bdes and the DAC embarked for France on successive days, 4–8 March. Western Front After disembarking at Le Havre the units moved by train and road to the concentration area at Blaringhem. Almost immediately the brigades were sent up to the