Austrian 73rd Artillery Battalion

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Many thanks as always mate.

Cheers

S.B

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Sorry mate, but were these two Austrian Btys also the two shown with the 2nd invasion force with the 3rd Division in Aug 1916

Cheers

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

Yes That's right. Cemal pasha wrote Enver before Canal Expedition that he needs howitzers that could easly hit the British at the behind the sand dunes. For that reason the Kuk artillery division come to Jerusalem before the expedition. Kuk say division to a battalion. Thety took part at canal expedition under command of 3rd Div of Birinci Kuvve-i Seferiye ( 1st Expeditory Forces)

[stevebecker]

Mate,

As shown by Tosun that I was mistaken and the 73rd Artillery Bn was Turkish not Austrian.

It was shown in British records as;

73rd Heavy How Bn (12Bty 13Bty or 13Bty 14Bty 8x 150mm)

The two batteries appear in Jan 1918 as the 12Bty and 13Bty, but by March it had the 13Bty and 14Bty.

It appears these batteries could switch around the other Heavy Bn's?

I could find no confirmation before Sept 1918 that the 73rd How Bn was with the 22nd Corps I did notoce this in Sept 1918

shown Sept 1918 Allied reports
1Bn/6th FAR (8x field guns)
2Bn/6th FAR (8x field guns)
8Bn/16th FAR (8x Field guns)
73rd Heavy How Bn (13Bty 14Bty (8x 150mm How)
268th Heavy How Bty (2x 105mm How)
72nd Heavy How Bn (11Bty 12Bty (6x 150mm How)
80th Heavy How Bn (3Bty 15Bty (5x 150mm How)
20Bty KUK (2x10.4cm skoda M15 guns)
229th Heavy How Bty July (4x 120mm How) Sept (2x 105mm how)
47th Heavy How Bty (2x ?)

The 73rd How Bn (only one Battery) was shown with the 7th Army Troops in March 1918;

shown March 1918 Allied reports
73rd Heavy How Bn (14Bty (4x 150mm How)
45th Heavy Bty (4x 150mm How)

Cheers

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

Hero of Gaza Artillery Captain Rudolf Schaffer.
After Truzkowski was KIA at Muntar Hill he was made commander of the KuK battalion. Most decorated soldier of Kuk.
Phhoto Tosun Saral collection

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

This must relate to the units shown in the Tiller Group at Gaza during the battle there.

units as per the Turkish official history

179th Regt
125th Regt
2Bn/81st Regt
1sqn/6th Cav Regt
Hcsv (camel Company)
AVS Mountain Artillery Bn
79th MG Co
125th MG Co
267th MG Co
10th Agir Battery
2 Top Battery
1/6th Battery (100mm guns)
2/6th Battery (100mm guns)
38th Eng Co

The 1/6 and 2/6 must relate to the two KUK batteries used at this battle.

1/4th Bty + 2/6th Bty (KUK) (each 6x 10cm Skoda Mountain guns) (1/4 Capt Schaffer & 2/6 Capt Truszkowski KIA 26-3-17

I am still to confirm what units were these

AVS Mountain Artillery Bn
10th Agir Battery
2 Top Battery

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

10th Agir Battery : Agir means heavy
2 Top Battery : top means : gun

[Tosun Saral]

Here is the right list:
Source: Official Turkish history book published by Turkish War History Department (ATASE) of Turkish General Staff in Ankara.
Birinci Dünya Harbinde Türk Harbi. IV cilt I nci Kısım Sina Filistin Cephesi Harbin Başlangıcından İkinci Gazze Muharebeleri sonuna kadar ( Turkish War During WW1, vol.IV, 1st part, Sinai-Palastina Front, From the beginning of the war to the end of 2md Gazze battles)
p.516
The 1’nci Kuvvei Seferiye ( The 1st Expeditory Forces) was ordered to defend Palestine after Canal . Tel eş Şeria was the general Quarters of the Force. The Force took 4 necessary Groups to defend the area
1st Group Gazze : commanded by German major Tiller.
- 79th IR with 1,2,3 Battalions and a heavy MG company from 27th Div.
- 125th IR with 1,2,3 battalions and MG company from 16th Div.
- 2nd Batt of (1st IR
- 267th MG company
- 1st company of 6th Cav R.
- A camelraiders company
- 1st and 2nd batteries with quick firing Scgneider field guns of 1st artillary battalion of 6th Artillery R.
- 106 mm mountain Howitzer Battalion of KuK (2 batteries with each 6 guns)
- 100 mm long gun battery with 2 guns
- Radio station
- A company of engeneers
- 38th mobile field hospital
- 3500 rifles, 42 MGs, 5 artillery battries with 22 guns.

2nd Group at Cemame commanded by Staff Col Edip Bey (Col. Tör) C of 3rd IDiv.
- 3rd IDiv. (less a R and a battery)
- 254Th Mörser Battery with 150 mm guns
- Total: 5000 rifles, 24 MGs, 5 field artillery batteries, a 15 cm battery total: 2 guns)

3rdGroıup at Teleşşeria:C by Col. Halil Rüştü
- 16th IDiv les 125th IR which was given to the order of Gazze Group)
- Total: 5000 rifles, 12 MGs, field batteries with 16 guns
Th Gruop of Birüssebi C by Staff Col Esat Bey C of 3rd Cav Div.
- 3rd Cav Div with 6th and 7th cav Rs,
- 138th IR fof 3rd IDiv. with 1,2,3 Battalions and a MG company
- Total: 1500 rifles, 500 sabres, 12 MGs, 2 batteries with maountan and field guns

[Tosun Saral]

AVS Mountain Artillery Bn : What is AVS ? I thing AVS is the short of AVUSTURYA (Austria)

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Many thanks for clearing these units up.

AVS Mountain Artillery Bn

Must be the unit HQ for these two KUK batteries.

The 1Bn/6th FAR is interesting as I did'nt show this unit showing up in Palestine until late 1917 and 1918?

Also thanks for showing the 10th Heavy How Bty (2x 100mm guns), this unit had been with the 8th Corps for some time and is mentioned in records during 1916, 1917 and 1918. Although mostly as 4x 150mm guns later in the war.

The 254th Heavy How Bty (2x 150mm guns), must be a new Bty, but disappears after this battle?

Known Heavy How Btys (I found so far) in Palestine;

March 1917 10th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (2x 100mm) 254th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (2x 150mm) -

shown Jan 1918 Allied reports 2nd Heavy (Agir) How Bty (3x 150mm How) 3rd Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 150mm) 7th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 150mm) 8th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 150mm How) 10th Heavy (Agir) How bty (4x150mm guns) 30th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (2x 150mm how) 31st Heavy (Agir) How Bn 37th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (3x 150mm How) 41st Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 105mm) 44th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x105mm) 45th Heavy (Agir) How Bn (1Bty 7Bty 10Bty (8x 150mm 4x 105mm) 47th Heavy (Agir) How Bty 4Bty/51st How Bn (4x 105mm) 61st Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 120mm How) 63rd Heavy (Agir) How Bn (263rd How Bty (4x 105mm How) 72nd Heavy (Agir) How Bn (11Bty 256Bty or 11Bty 12Bty or 5Bty 12Bty 13Bty (4x150mm & 2x105mm) 73rd Heavy (Agir) How Bn (12Bty 13Bty or 13Bty 14Bty (8x 150mm) 74th Heavy (Agir) How Bn (14Bty 15Bty or 15Bty 257Bty or 256Bty 257Bty (8x 150mm) 75th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (2x 150mm how) 140th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (1x 150mm how) 80th Heavy (Agir) How Bn (3Bty 15Bty (5x 150mm How) 268th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (2x 105mm How) 209th Heavy (Agir) How Bty 229th Heavy (Agir) How Bty July (4x 120mm How) Sept (2x 105mm how) 230th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 105mm) 257th Heavy (Agir) How Bty (4x 150mm)

shown 40th Heavy (Agir) How Bn (4Bty 49Bty 50Bty (11x 150mm how) - & Sept 1918 Allied reports reinforcements 40th Heavy (Agir) How Bn (4Bty (4x 150mm How) 29Bty (not sent to Palestine) 49Bty (3x old 150mm How) 50Bty (3x old 150mm How) from 3rd Army Caucasus Sept 1918

Cheers

S.B