64 Field Regiment RA - Salerno Italy

Does anyone have any war diaries for this unit for the period 01 - 15 September 1943. Trying to trace any info on 955195 Bombardier Francis Locke killed 12/09/43 @ Salerno.

Many thanks

Dave L

 

Dave.

I was at the Salerno CWGC cemetery the day before yesterday.

If you would like a photo of this Bombadier's headstone and do not have one I will be back there in Sep 13 guiding a group.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank

I am hoping to be there on the 12th, what dates are you doing your guiding.

Francis was my uncle

Regards

Dave

 

Dave.

26-30 Sep 13. We kick off with a visit to Pompeii - because we land in Naples, then go down to Paestum to look at the landings by 36 US Inf Div, the 45 US Div push up the Sele towards Ponte Sele, the German capture of Point 424 above Altavilla, the German counter-attack down the Sele-Calore Corridor and the VI (US) Corps defensive battle on 14-15 Sep 44.

After that, we move up to the X (BR) Corps sector to look at the Cdo defence of Dragonea, the 46 BR Inf Div landing at Magazzeno and move into the hills above Salerno, the 56 BR Inf Div landing and move towards Battipaglia, the Tobacco Factory and the airfield at Montecorvino. We also look at the Cdo attack on Piegolello. We finish by looking at the breakouts up the San Severino and La Molina/Nocera defiles.

If you cannot make those dates, you are welcome to use my briefing notes for each location.

Regards

Frank

 

Owen

Thanks for the info..........have checked out the BBC website - this guy was very comprehensive!

Dave

 

Hi,
I was at Kew yesterday and picked up the war diary for 64 Field Regiment for August and September 1943. Can anyone help with a map of Battipaglia as I am looking for a place called Castellucie (Map Ref 837244) where an O.P. of the regiment was supporting 9th Royal Fusiliers on 10 Sep 1943.

Regards
Tom

 

There's a 'Il Castelluccio' located at those co-ordinates on the modern map.

It's located on the North-East outskirts of Battipaglia just a few hundred metres north of the A2 road and just east of the SP29a road.
Nearest minor road appears to be 'Via Roberto II Guiscardo'

 

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. How do you compare original MRs with modern map?

Regard
Tom

 

Use this online co-ordinates translator

For example

Salerno is located in Grid rN in the South Italy Zone. Therefore for any original map reference in that area you just prefix it with rN and enter it into the translator (4th link down in top left corner) whilst having that Grid selected.

i.e. 837244 becomes rN837244

Also works for other map references in the European area with the correct grid selected & prefix added

 

Part of GSGS 4229, Italy 1:50,000, Sheet 198 IV Campagna, 1943 from the University of Texas site. This shows Castelluccia as it was, also confirms the "Coordinates Translator" location.

Richard.

 

Hello all,

I'm looking for more information on Gnr. Percy Fleetwood of 64th Field Regiment who was injured at salerno on 9th September 1943, during the invasion, and died of his wounds the same day in a field hospital.

Does anyone have any journals or diaries from the soldiers in the same regiment?

 

Dave,

Apologies, I know this has been a long time coming but I've just started transcribing the war diary for 64th Field Regiment for Sep 43 (WO169/9488) and came across this extract:

11 September 1943
1945 D Tp shelled. Ammo in pit hit. 2 Casualties killed: Sgt LEWIS No.1 and Bdr. LOCKE (died of wounds), 2 slight walking wounded.

Kind regards

Tom

 

The O.P. at Castellucio which was overrun on 10 September 1943 was from 254 Field Battery, 64th Field Regiment. It comprised Capt. David Maxwell who was sadly killed, and L/Sgt Hatto and two signallers, Gunners Netherton and Redd.

They had left their carrier ('R D') at the bottom of the hill and supported C Coy, 9 R.F. (Coy Comd Capt. Gaylard) on foot carrying a 21 Wireless Set.

It seems that L/Sgt Hatto and Capt. Gaylard were wounded by the same MG fire that killed Capt. Maxwell. Hatto was subsequently captured in the 9 RF RAP in Battipaglia. When the area was retaken, Lieut. Croydon from 254 Fd Bty and a party went out to search the area and found Maxwell's body and buried it in a trench at map ref 837244 (as marked on the map up thread). There was no sign of the two signallers though.

Capt. Gaylard isn't mentioned again in the 9 RF war diary after 10 Sep 43, does anyone have any idea what happened to him? Was he captured at Battipaglia as well? I've got a copy of the Bn war diary and Regt History and they make no mention of his fate.

Regards

Tom

 

Tom, Captain Gaylard was taken PoW by the Germans.

 

Gary,

Thank you. I’ll see if I can chase down any more details.

Regards

Tom

 

Gary,

Thanks, is that from a ‘missing personnel’ file?

Regards

Tom

 

I was wondering about whether there might be a POW Liberation Questionnaire as well for Capt. V.F. Gaylard (9166). Is there any way of knowing without looking at the right volume at Kew?

I suppose he'll be in here if he did one: WO 344/117/1 - GASTON - GAYLER.

Regards

Tom