107 regiment Royal Armoured Corps

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by Peter Dillon, Jul 10, 2020.

  1. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    My Dad served in the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, "A" Squadron, in Churchill Tanks,between 1940 when he signed up and May 1946 when he was demobbed.
    I have managed to find out most of what he did and where he was between 1940 and and 1944 when the war ended in 1945, but I am unable to find any information from then until he was demobbed, just wondering if anybody knows what happened to the soldiers in the period from May 1945 and the following 12 months. I do know he was in Lengerich (Germany) around August 1945, but cant get to know what he was doing.
    If anybody had relations in the 107 regiment, I was advised to get a book called 'Twin Tanks', it is excellent and very informative, as the author is one of two brothers who actually were in the "B" squadron of that regiment,and he tells about their service from July 1944 until the War ended. Very good and do recommended it.
     
  2. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

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  3. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    Hi, Steve
    Thanks for the reply, where do you get all that information!!!, from what you have shown me I take it that the "A" Squadron were billeted in those places for variable times. Thanks very much. I just have some letters from Dad to my Mum, and one of them he says, that when he was in Lengerich he was managing an Hotel and was due to be moved to another one, I just cant understand why or how he would be doing that, as he was a very much hands on person, I have sent a request for his service record to the Ministry of defence in Glasgow, and see if they have any any more information.
     
  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  5. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

    Hi Peter, details taken from 34rd Armoured Brigade and 76th Anti-Aircraft Brigade War Diaries
    Best of luck with your research
     
  6. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I feel compelled to point out that the title of the book is Tank Twins as you can see from the photo in the Amazon listing.
     
  7. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    Hi, Stolpi,
    Regarding the book, It has now been pointed out to me that it is called 'Tank Twins' and just checked on the book itself and that person is correct, sorry about that.
    It is Tank Twins and the author is Stephen Dyson, it is very good, and is the story of the two brothers who were in the 107 Regiment "B" Squadron. I am not to sure you would get the info you would be looking for, as it is a a personal story about them and their "B"Squadron.
    But I have got a book called 'The History of the 107 Regiment RAC (Kings Own)', and in that there is a lots of information regarding each battle the 107 were in, it goes into detail of how the battle actions were planned and decided, how many men were lost, how many many prisoners were taken and how many tanks were lost in each battle, covering 1944 to 1945. I will send you a few pages covering the time you mentioned,but not being an expert on this site, I am not to sure how I would email them to you. The book is available from www.kingsownmuseum.com, the cost is £7.00 plus postage, if you are a person who is really interested in details of the 107 during those 2 years it is well worth purchasing it, only problem at the moment is they are on lockdown, but if you speak to the Curator he is very helpfull. If you explain to me how to email the pages I have chosen for you, please do so and I will send them.
     
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  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Hi Peter - thank you for you respense. I would be interested in the chapter of the 107 RAC History re the Reichswald (Op Veritbale) Feb 1945.

    You could email the pages to me by using 'We Transfer', which is a free and user friendly tool on the internet by which you can upload files and email them.

    I'll send you a PM
     
  9. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    I have scanned a few pages that I think cover the information you are looking for. I did look at the Tank Twins book and they cover a couple of chapters regarding the Reichswald Battle and the Battle of the Seigfried Line.again that book is really good and you can get from a website called abebooks.co.uk the books are second hand, and you can at various prices,I paid £12.00 including postage, I have had two from them and they are in excellent condition.
    I have noticed that you have also given me your email address so I will send them scanned pages onto you.
    Regards
    Pete Dillon
     
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  10. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Pete - Pages arrived ... excellent! I will sent you the War Diary 107 RAC for Feb 45 in return later this day.
     
  11. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    Great, hope they are what you wanted!, I will be interested to see the War Diary.
     
  12. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    Hi, I have got the files lots of them!!
    I will have to get them all in the Landscape format so will be able to read them all, after reading a couple look as though they will be interesting.
     
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  13. Matt Neame

    Matt Neame Member

    Thanks for the book recommendation. My Grandad’s brother was 107. I think Grandad was too as he “claimed” his younger brother when he was called up.
     
  14. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    Have you got the book!!, it is very good and gives you understanding of what they went through in the different actions they was involved in, I got the book from a company called AbeBooks.co.uk. it is about £7.00 plus postage. There is also another one which is The 'History of the 107th Regiment '
    If you go on a website called KIngs Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster, you my find it available ,but not to sure, as they may be shut down due to the Virus.
    But on their website there is still lots of info which you may be interested in regarding the 107 Regiment, and also on Wikipedia there is good info to. If you cant get the 107 History and are interested I could possibly get a copy of mine and send it to you. You just need to send me your address.
     
  15. Matt Neame

    Matt Neame Member

    I ordered the book yesterday and should be with me for Saturday.

    I had a look at their site yesterday too. It’s available on CD Rom. I just need to call up to order it. Unfortunately the museum is shut at the moment, but hopefully someone will be available to take my order.
     
  16. Peter Dillon

    Peter Dillon Member

    They have been shut since the first Lockdown, I somehow managed to contact the Curator,who at that time only worked on Thursdays, but I have been trying to get it touch with him for a few weeks now and had no reply.
    But like I mentioned, if you go on their website you will find quite a lot of info on the 107 regiment, if you do go on the website, go to Regimental History then on the left hand side you will see 20th century, click on that and you will get how the regiment was formed and all the details and dates of were and when they went from the 30th June 1944 to August 1945.
    I did not get the CD I purchased the book, as I said if you want I will get mine copied and send it to you if you give me your address.
    My email is dillonpeter38(at)gmail.com
     
  17. Matt Neame

    Matt Neame Member

    Hi Gents,

    Me jumping on this thread again. Does anyone have the diary for 107 or where I could source a copy from in exchange for £? If so any idea how much it’s likely to be?

    cheers,
    Matt.
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I have a copy of the 1944 diary. Drop me a direct message if you'd like to purchase a copy.

    Cheers
     
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