Hi, reading official NZ History i found this: "a mobile column under the command of Brigadier Weir, CRA 2 NZ Division." Which is the Acronym of CRA? Thanks in advance for help. Enzus
Commander Royal Artillery Weir, Stephen Cyril Ettrick - Biography - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand Presume this is him? Lesley
Commander Royal Artillery 2 New Zealand Division. Normally he coordinaded the use of artillery within the division.
Yes. Commander Royal Artillery. He not only commanded the divisional artillery but became the 'de facto' second in command of the division. Artillery was so important that the CRA was closely involved in all operational planning and was well placed to act on behalf of the divisional commander. This probably explains why he is commanding a column. Mike
so as CRA, Brigadier Weir leaded a column with units of 4th NZ Bde like Deputy commander of 2nd NZ Div. Who was the 4th NZ Bde Commander on July 1942? Thanks Enzus
Check you out Lesley ! Enzo from a British Army point of view I believe that a Div had a commander and then CRA and CRE etc were in charge of and responsible for their own area of expertise. So if the DIV Commander wanted advice on anything Artillery he would ask the CRA at a conference etc and anything Engineer focused he would ask CRE - There are quite a few Commanders in a Div (Artillery, Engineers, Transport, Ordnance etc) and they normally hold the rank of a full Colonel or Brigadier. It certainly seems that way in 1940 with the BEF.
hi Andy, that's is correct but CRA, CRE and so on are deputy commanders for art, eng.... During Staff Meetings they are specialists of Div Commander ... But i think that it is a little different when a CRA (Wier) leads a tactical group against enemy consisting of a infantry Bn, a engineer coy and an arty rgt. Cheers Enzo
Same happened in Semarang in Oct '45. Hawthorn ran out of Brigades and put one together of different units under command of his CRA Brigadier Bethell DSO.
Commander Royal Artillery is different to the commanders of the various services in several ways. CRA has a higher rank, Brigadier, than the others. He routinely commanded five artillery units and usually has more on operations. Most other Commanders command only a battalion size unit or equivalent and are Lieutenant Colonels. Artillery is an arm and artillery officers can command in battle. Officers of Infantry, Armour, Artillery and Engineers may all command. The others cannot. CRA is much more closely concerned with operations and tactics since it is very rare indeed that an operation can be carried out without artillery support. He will understand infantry and armour tactics. Assuming that the infantry Brigadiers are fully occupied the CRA is the next in line for command. Mike
The best way to think of the CRA is as the comd of an artillery brigade, he wasn't the dep comd of div for arty, like a bde comd he had a Bde Major as his principal staff offr.
Stig - Lucky you - I only get ONE letter from the Revenue - they ask " what did you earn last year ...? " "Send it to Ottawa" Cheers
Communist Revenue Agency Take from all, give to Quebec. Stig - Lucky you - I only get ONE letter from the Revenue - they ask " what did you earn last year ...? " "Send it to Ottawa" Cheers
