1st Staffordshire Artillery Volunteers
| 1st Staffordshire Artillery Volunteers 2nd North Midland Brigade, RFA |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1860–1969 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Territorial Army
|
| Role | Garrison artillery Field artillery Super-heavy artillery Locating unit |
| Garrison/HQ | Shelton, Staffordshire |
| Engagements |
North West Europe (World War II)
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Sir Smith Hill Child, 2nd Baronet |
North West Europe (World War II)
The 1st Staffordshire Artillery Volunteers, later 2nd North Midland Brigade, was a Volunteer unit of the Royal Artillery of the British Army recruiting primarily from Staffordshire that fought on the Western Front during World War I and World War II in the Normandy Campaign and Belgium, Holland and Germany.
The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many units composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. The 1st Staffordshire Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVC) was one such unit, formed at Etruria, Staffordshire, with the first officers' commissions being issued on 18 December 1860. Initially, the 1st Staffordshire (along with the 1st Shropshire and 1st Worcestershire AVCs; there were no 2nd AVCs in any of these counties) formed part of the 1st Cheshire Administrative Brigade. In 1869 it became part of a new 1st Shropshire Administrative Brigade (again with the 1st Shropshire and 1st Worcestershire), with William Field of the 1st Shropshire as lieutenant-colonel in command.
Later, the Worcester Volunteers left to join with the Warwickshires, and in 1880 the 1st Shropshire and Staffordshire Volunteer Artillery were consolidated into a single unit, with the Staffords providing Nos 5 to 8 Batteries. It was organised as a brigade of 'position artillery', equipped with 16 Pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading field guns, and was attached to the Southern Division of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) and in 1902 was renamed the 1st Shropshire and Staffordshire RGA (Volunteers) with two companies. As late as 1906 they were still using the 16 Pounders, in their annual camp at Bare, Morecambe. The brigade's headquarters was at Etruria, later moving to Shelton, Staffordshire.
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