The 2nd Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery from 1890 to 1955. Raised as coastal defence artillery, it later served as field artillery in Mesopotamia during the First World War and in the Battle of France and Second Battle of El Alamein during the Second World War. Its successor units later operated as medium artillery in North West Europe, and as jungle artillery in Burma. Postwar, it became an anti-aircraft unit.
Volunteer Force
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. A large number of coastal artillery units were formed in the seaports along the Kent and Sussex coast (the ancient Cinque Ports), and in September 1862 these artillery volunteer corps (AVCs) were brought together to form the 1st Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers at Dover:
On 1 April 1890 the Sussex batteries were separated from the 1st Cinque Ports Artillery to form the 2nd Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers in the Eastern Division of the Royal Artillery (RA). As well as manning fixed coast defence artillery, some of the Volunteer companies were now being reorganised with semi-mobile field guns as 'position batteries' to work alongside the Volunteer infantry brigades. On 14 July 1892 the 2nd Cinque Ports AV were reorganised with one position battery and by 30 September 1894 had two, together with three companies: HQ at St Leonards-on-Sea No 1 Battery at St Leonards – originally 7th Cinque Ports AVC, raised on 23 November 1867 No 2 Battery at Hastings – originally 6th Cinque Ports AVC, raised on 20 February 1860 No 3 Company at Ninfield – originally 2nd Bty, 9th Cinque Ports AVC, raised in 1874 No 4 Company at Pevensey – originally 1st Bty 9th Cinque Ports AVC, raised on 9 April 1866 No 5 Company at Bexhill-on-Sea
In 1899 all artillery volunteers became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). In 1901 the whole unit was converted to position artillery, later 'heavy artillery', with No 4 and 5 Companies amalgamating as 3rd Heavy Battery at Bexhill. When the divisional structure was abolished on 1 January 1902 the unit was designated the 2nd Cinque Ports RGA (Volunteers).
Territorial Force
When the Volunteers were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, the 2nd Cinque Ports RGA merged with the 2nd Sussex RGA and transferred to the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) to form the II (or 2nd) Home Counties Brigade in October 1908 with the following organisation:
II Home Counties Brigade, RFA
HQ at The Goffs, Eastbourne, – from 2nd Cinque Ports
4th Sussex Battery at Eastbourne – from 2nd Sussex
5th Sussex Battery at Hatherley Road, St Leonards – from 2nd Cinque Ports
6th Sussex Battery at The Downs, Bexhill – from 2nd Sussex
2nd Home Counties Ammunition Column at Hailsham – from 2nd Cinque Ports
The three batteries were each equipped with four 15-pounder guns. The unit was assigned to the Home Counties Division of the TF.
Affiliated with the unit were the Imperial Service Cadet Corps, Eastbourne, and St Leonards Collegiate School Cadet Corps.
World War I
Mobilisation
On the outbreak of war, the Territorial Force was mobilised for home defence and units were then invited to volunteer for overseas service. On 15 August 1914 the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. Duplicate battalions, brigades and divisions were thereby created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way the 1/II and 2/II Home Counties (Cinque Ports) Brigades were formed.<ref name = Frederick676/