From 10 July 1860 these independent corps were attached to the 1st Administrative Brigade, Cumberland Artillery Volunteers, based at Carlisle under the command of Major Thomas Salkeld, a former lieutenant in the 11th Hussars.

[13][14][15] On 15 May 1880 the admin brigade was consolidated as the 1st Cumberland Artillery Volunteers with four batteries, later augmented to seven:[6][7][16] The increase in companies entitled the corps to a lieutenant-colonel in command from 1884.

These offers were not accepted, but 18 members of the Cumberland Artillery did serve in South Africa in the Regulars, the Imperial Yeomanry or colonial units.

[12][25][27] Units of the East Lancashire Division had been on their annual training when war came: on 3 August they were recalled to their drill halls and at 17.30 next day the order to mobilise was received.

On 15 August 1914, the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had opted for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units.

[29][30][31] On 20 August the East Lancashire Division moved into camps around Bolton, Bury and Rochdale, and on 5 September it received orders to go to Egypt to complete its training and relieve Regular units from the garrison for service on the Western Front.

[25][27][32][33] On 10 October the brigade moved, with its 2nd Line recruits, to Crownhill Fort, Devon, and then on 17 November it went to Newcastle upon Tyne to continue its training.

From Alexandria the brigade (without its ammunition column) landed at Helles between 9 and 11 August 1915 where the division had just fought the bloody Battle of Krithia Vineyard.

[25][27][35][36] After a short period in reserve, 42nd (EL) Division then spent the following months engaged in Trench warfare, suffering from sickness, and then from bad weather as winter set in.

[24][25][27][44][45] The canal defences were situated east of the waterway, with a string of self-contained posts, each garrisoned by an infantry battalion and an artillery battery.

The division then returned to the Romani and Pelusium area by 15 August, with the bulk of the artillery and ammunition columns at Kantara and Ballah.

[25][27][50] The 2nd Line units of the East Lancashire Division were raised in September and October 1914, with only a small nucleus of instructors to train the mass of volunteers.

At the turn of the year the brigade was issued with modern 4.5-inch howitzers and in early 1916 the division moved into the East Coast defences, with its artillery at Colchester.

66th (2nd EL) Division was withdrawn from the front line after the Spring Offensive, but despite their losses the divisional artillery remained in action throughout 1918 until the Armistice with Germany.

203 (Cumberland) Battery served independently in the Norwegian Campaign, then with 51st (W&C) Regiment in North Africa, including the Siege of Tobruk, and finally as part of a 'Chindit' long range penetration infantry column in Burma.

[8][24][52][53] The batteries of the IV East Lancashire Bde, RFA (TF), wore a brass shoulder title with 'T' over 'RFA' over 'CUMBERLAND', while the ammunition column carried the same 'T' over 'RFA' over 'E.

[9] Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, was appointed Hon Col of the Cumberland Artillery on 20 December 1884, and continued in the position with the IV East Lancashire Brigade.