Ordnance BLC 15 Pounder - Combat Service

Combat Service

The weapon was used by British Territorial Force and New Army, and Canadian, infantry divisions in all theatres of World War I until replaced by the 18 pounder from 1916 onwards.

10th Battery of the Royal Canadian Field Artillery (RCFA), equipped with 4 guns, fought a notable action in the evening of 22 April 1915 north of St Julien to hold the left of the British line where the German infantry was breaking through following their gas attack on the first day of the Second Battle of Ypres. Hence when skillfully utilised in the role it was intended for - against troops in the open - the gun was still effective despite being obsolete. Where infantry avoided being caught in the open the guns were of limited use due to their light shell.

After they became redundant, from late 1916 some were retained in fixed positions on the Western Front as anti-tank guns, freeing up modern guns for their usual duties.

Number 1 15 Pounder Camel Battery RGA (today's 21 (Air Assault) Battery) served with 6 guns with the Indian Expeditionary Force in the Aden hinterland from 1915–1918 during the South Arabia campaign, to defend the important port at Aden against any Turkish advance. In July 1915 actions were fought in initially losing and then regaining the British advanced post at Sheik Othman controlling the water supply to Aden. Sgt Curtis was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for saving his gun in these actions (presumably the first, in which 2 guns were lost). The Camel Battery was present when the British captured Hatum in January 1918.

The gun was the standard field artillery for the early South African Union Defence Force and saw action with the Cape Field Artillery at the Battle of Kakamas and Battle of Upington during the South-West Africa Campaign.