Royal Artillery Captured at Tobruk, June 1942

I have a hunch that I may be able to narrow down a 4 Survey Regiment man to his Battery as I think the regiments batteries were seperated and spread out all over the place.

Does anyone know if a specific battery from 4 Survey Regiment was captured at Tobruk?

 

A battery of the regiment was captured, but I haven't been able to pin down which one.

 

more info

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/royal-artillery/4861-4th-durham-survey-regiment.html#post176613

 

Tar

 

www.defencesurveyors.org.uk/world-war-2/item/download/96.html

The above links to an article called Z Troop or Location in War subtitled :
The Story of the 4th Durham Survey Regiment Royal Artillery
From page 46 on it covers Tobruk.
This quote is from page 46:

In consequence, 'A' Flash Spotting Troop and 'R" Sound Ranging Troop, under command of Major L. Kellett, the Flash Spotting Battery Commander, embarked on HMS Water Hen on 2nd June, 1941, at Mersa Matruh and sailed at 12 noon for the Fortress. Flight Lieutenant Bradshaw and his R.A.F. Meteorological Station accompanied 'R' Troop.


Cheers
Mark

 

Those were the troops in Tobruk for the siege .. they were relieved in December 1941 and most went to Syria in February 1942

No 2 Battery was formed of X Survey, B Flash Spotting at S Sound Ranging troops and came under Major Curtis at the time of capture ... see Z Location pages 57 and 58

Robin

 

Here is a quote from Z Location
""""In the capture of Tobruk, No.2 Composite Battery was taken prisoner, except for a small group of men under Sergeant T homas, who joined up with a company of Coldstream Guards. This company, under a Major Sainhill, broke through the enemy lines and escaped.

Just before the fall of Tobruk, Major Fewkes had left No.2 Battery, handing over command to Major B.A. Curtis. Major Curtis, however, was wounded shortly after assuming command of the Battery and command was taken over by Major G.D.H. Flowerdew, who had returned from sickleave in South Africa, only to be taken prisoner almost as soon as he had assumed command of the Battery.
Further misfortune befell those who were captured, many being lost crossing the Mediterranean to Italy. T he C.O. received a personal telegram from the M.G.R.A. informing him of the loss of the Battery.""""

 

I have a hunch that I may be able to narrow down a 4 Survey Regiment man to his Battery

Hi Drew
Who are you looking for?
R

 

Major Sainthill. He had been with the Coldstream Guards during CRUSADER as well, commanding a column, so would have been quite experienced at this stage.

SAINTHILL, HEREWARD MARYON, D.S.O., 3BN

All the best

Andreas

 

Hello Andreas
Do you have the book "Sounds like the enemy " online ?
We were in contact some years ago and it was most useful

Robin

 

Hi Robin, It's for Sue. I'll drop her an email letting her know the most likely battery. I'll look up the PoW Q for her to.

I've got 3 CG's war diary for 1942 but September is missing.

 

Hi Robin, It's for Sue. I'll drop her an email letting her know the most likely battery. I'll look up the PoW Q for her to.

I've got 3 CG's war diary for 1942 but September is missing.

Great

CG...?

Robin
twins born hour ago next on go now..

 

CG?
3 Coldstream Guards Diary

Robin
twins born hour ago next on go now..
I hope they won't be ending up on my dinner plate

 

No 2 Composite Bty, BC Maj Douglas Flowerdew. A few individuals notably L/Sgt Thomas got out.

The best source for all surveying unit detail is Mangilli-Climpson's 'Larkhill's Wartime Locators'

 

Pretty positive now that dad was in no2 composite battery. Thank you so much everyone for all your interest and help
Sue

 

Hi Sue - These are the following diaries I would consider obtaining. There are earlier diaries too.

WO 169/4684 4 Survey Regiment (Durham) 1942 Jan.- Dec.

WO 169/4690 4 Survey Regiment(Durham) 2 Battery 1942 Feb.- June, Oct.- Dec.

There's some Troop diaries to but not sure what troops were is what battery.

 

Hi Sue - These are the following diaries I would consider obtaining. There are earlier diaries too.

WO 169/4684 4 Survey Regiment (Durham) 1942 Jan.- Dec.

WO 169/4690 4 Survey Regiment(Durham) 2 Battery 1942 Feb.- June, Oct.- Dec.

There's some Troop diaries to but not sure what troops were is what battery.
Hi Andy. I'm not sure if you got my reply to go ahead with getting the diaries for me? If it's not too much trouble could you get both the ones you mentioned? I can't remember if i posted the reply here (can't find it) or if i emailed you, in which case it's disappeared as my hard drive crashed recently.

Recently bought Larkhill's Wartime Locators to get some more info - blimey it's
like reading the bible!

I'm sorry to see your dog passed away,
Kind regards

 

Recently bought Larkhill's Wartime Locators to get some more info - blimey it's
like reading the bible!


I got a copy too - It is thick isn't it !

I didn't get a message from you but will add the diaries to my copy list-I'm next at Kew next month, just not sure when yet.

Thanks for your kind words about our dog....We miss him greatly, he was a major part of our family

 

I got a copy too - It is thick isn't it !

I didn't get a message from you but will add the diaries to my copy list-I'm next at Kew next month, just not sure when yet.

Thanks for your kind words about our dog....We miss him greatly, he was a major part of our family
Many thanks Andy, I'll wait to hear from you.

 

Hello Robin, I'm very interested in the book "sounds like the enemy". Do you know how I might get a copy? My dad was captured 12 June 1942 near Knightsbridge.
Thanks
Irene


Hello Andreas
Do you have the book "Sounds like the enemy " online ?
We were in contact some years ago and it was most useful

Robin