Its successor units expanded recruitment to Aberdeenshire and again fought in North West Europe, during the Second World War.

[17][18][19][20] II Heavy Artillery Reserve consisted of a variety of heavy and siege batteries whose role was to support the assault of IV Corps by demolishing strongpoints and farms that were beyond the range of divisional field guns, and for counter-battery (CB) fire in the Ligny le Grand–Aubers–Fromelles sector.

The group was provided with Royal Flying Corps reconnaissance aircraft fitted with wireless to assist observation in the flat country.

[21] In spite of the CB fire, German guns were able to open up on the British trenches, which were soon packed with wounded men from the first attacking wave, and support troops waiting to follow up.

Then, at Zero hour, howitzers laid a standing barrage on the German trenches while the 60-pounders swept and searched in depth to catch machine gunners and moving infantry.

On XVII Corps' front the attack was a great success, the 60-pounders laying a standing barrage on the distant final objective until the infantry reached it.

However, the follow-up over succeeding days was less successful, the guns having to be moved forward through mud and destruction, and the later bombardments were rushed and less effective.

The Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde were highly successful because of the weight of artillery brought to bear on German positions.

During February and March the gun positions and the nearby village of Bailleul were regularly shelled with high explosive and Mustard gas.

Just before the attack 83rd Bde had pulled its most forward batteries back behind the ridge, avoiding much of the German bombardment when it opened at 03.00.

German casualties had been so heavy that they only made a few tentative advances in the afternoon, and did not renew the attack on the following days.

By 15 April 1/1st Highland Bty was back up to four guns, and was temporarily controlled by 50th Bde, RGA, under Canadian Corps.

The corps' front was not involved in the Battle of the Lys in April, when the third German offensive (Operation Georgette) failed to break through in the Ypres sector.

By the end of the month the brigade's 60-pdr batteries were being pushed forward alongside the French 75mm field guns at the least sign of German withdrawal.

On 7 September the brigade moved to Renancourt near Amiens and two days later reverted to British command in GHQ Reserve.

Over the next few days the guns carried out HF and CB tasks, particularly against the strongpoint known as the Quadrilateral, though they also received a good deal of enemy shellfire, especially on 21–23 September when 1/1st Highland Bty lost 2 other ranks killed and 9 wounded.

On 27 September the 60-pdr carried out a heavy programme of harassing fire on enemy road junctions, railways and HQs as Fourth Army had closed up to the Hindenburg Line.

On 29 September IX Corps carried out an assault crossing of the St Quentin Canal, with 83rd Bde amongst the mass of artillery supporting the operation.

From now on the lighter guns of the brigade, including 1/1st Highland Bty, were affiliated directly to 46th (NM) Division for the advance.

[25][38][55][56][57][58] By 3 October, the brigade was supporting IX Corps' attack on the Beaurevoir Line, bombarding Sequehart, Ramicourt, Montbrehain and other commanding features.

Fourth Army then pursued the Germans to the River Selle, the 60-pdrs and lighter howitzers keeping up with the advance and coming into action as required.

From 11 to 17 October Fourth Army prepared for another set-piece attack with vigorous HF and CB work, 83rd Bde among the mass of artillery supporting IX Corps.

Next day 46th (NM) Division pushed on, and the 60-pdr batteries crossed the canal with four guns each on 6 November, with 1/1st Highland Bty coming in to action at midday.

During the night it carried out harassing fire at extreme range, and this continued as the advance became a pursuit, all, the heavier guns having been left behind.

[69][70] When the TF was reformed on 7 February 1920, the battery was reconstituted as the 1st (Highland) Medium Brigade, RGA, with the headquarters now at Aberdeen.

[80][81][82] When the Battle of France began on 10 May 1940, the regiment accompanied the BEF's advance into Belgium, and then its retirement to defend the Escaut line.

[83] German breakthroughs elsewhere forced the BEF to retreat to Dunkirk, where the artillery had to destroy its guns and await evacuation (Operation Dynamo).

[84][85] It was sent, with whatever guns could be obtained, to assist in the defence of Essex, where it came under the Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) of 15th (Scottish) Division.

[80][84][90][91] The regiment landed on 8 June and proceeded to Colleville-sur-Orne, where it initially gave fire support to 1st Special Service Brigade, 6th Airborne and 51st Highland Divisions.

[92] The regiment (less one battery) was in 4th AGRA on 8 February 1945 supporting XXX Corps for the opening of Operation Veritable to clear the Reichswald.