I was explaining to someone today who thought that it would pretty safe to be in one of the artillery batteries during WWI that it was in fact very unsafe. During WWI the ranging of fire against an artillery battery was perfected with deadly results, often killing everyone in the battery. Unless of course were a crew of Big Bertha (Dicke Bertha) which fired from a huge distance away.
Big Bertha
The normal artillery was much smaller and therefore used much closer to the front.
Australian 18 pounders at Ypres 1917
Australian gunners with 18 pounders in France WWI
Australia photos as an example.
