Feldartillerie-Übungsplatz Sebourg

This training camp was set up in mid-December 1916 in the 1st Army's rear area. It was located not only in the commune of SEBOURG, but also extended over several communes across the Franco-Belgian border.

This training camp was run by the command of the 28th reserve field artillery brigade (known as the 124 Artillerie Kommandeur or Arko 124 after 1917).

The camp kommandantur was in SEBOURG, but the camp was divided into 6 accommodation sectors, each subordinate to a local kommandantur (Ortskommandantur):

Sector I:  in ELOUGES

Sector II: in MONTIGNIES

Sector III: in BELLIGNIES

Sector IV: in SAINT WAAST

Sector V: in SEBOURG

Sector VI: in WARGNIES le GRAND

Service mail sent by the Kommandantur in SEBOURG via the Feldpoststation 325.

The camp was served by the Feldpoststation no. 325 in SEBOURG. Mail arrived at the camp at 9am and 2.30pm, and left at 9.50am and 5.10pm.

Card written by an artilleryman of the 24th Field Artillery Regiment and sent via Feldpoststation 325.

There were 3 firing ranges:

1: west of the BRY-ETH-SEBOURG-ROMBIES line

2: to the east of this line

3: towards MARCHIPONT and VALENCIENNES

The firing exercises took place between 10am and 5pm.

An artillery group was permanently assigned to the camp and equipped with 2 batteries of field guns and a battery of howitzers. This group was responsible for training recruits. The units on training brought their own equipment.

24 December 1917, card from a recruit assigned to the 3rd battery of the training camp artillery group (Feldartillerie Abteilung 1001). The date stamp is that of Feldpoststation 325.

Artillery pieces were maintained by the Bavarian workshop for siege artillery No. 3 (Bay. Werkstätte der Belagerungs-Artillerie Nr. 3) located in the Escaut et Meuse factory in ANZIN.