106th Regiment R.H.A Anti Tank Regiment (Lancashire Yeomanry)

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by DavidW, Dec 30, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    These guys are a bit of a nightmare for me, as i have only pencilled notes, and nothing confirmed. But I'm sure that you will be able to help:)

    I have them as arriving in North Africa during August of 1940?
    With, I think, 423 & 424 Btys?
    Possibly armed with 37mm Bofors?

    Clarification would be appreciated!

    Thanks in advance, David.
     
  2. Combover

    Combover Guest

    I'm no expert (by any stretch!) but I have it as:

    Formed as a Field Regiment in 1939, changed to A/T Regiment in August 1940.

    Arrived in Palestine January 1940 with the 1st Cavalry Division.

    They were Liverpool based (Shaw Street, I believe).

    Likely to be armed with 2pdr A/T guns but that's just a guess.

    Sorry I can't help more.
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello David,

    I spotted this a few months ago whilst researching the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment and thought it may prove useful to you; link: Artillery Regiments Page

    "106th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (Lancashire Hussars) served with 7th Armoured Division in November/December 1940 during Operation Compass, in an anti-tank role being equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank guns and captured Italian 20mm Beda AA/AT guns and later at Beda Fomm. It also served with the Division again during Operation Battleaxe, in June 1941. It then served on Crete in 1941 as a Light Anti-Aircraft unit and as infantry, before being put into suspended animation in July the same year.

    Short History;

    The Lancashire Hussars were originally formed in 1798 as independent troops, before becoming the Lancashire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1828 and then being disbanded in 1832. In 1848 the regiment was reformed as the Lancashire Hussars, becoming the Lancashire Hussars Imperial Yeomanry in 1901 and the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, in 1908.

    In 1920 it became the 2nd (Lancashire) Army Brigade, RFA and in 1921 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA and in 1924 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Brigade, RA

    In 1938 it was re-titles the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA. At the start of the war it consisted of 423rd and 424th Batteries, based in Liverpool. By November 1939 it was part of 1st Cavalry Division in the UK before moving to Palestine in January 1940, equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers (424 Bty) and 18 pdr Field Guns (423 Bty). Later in 1940 it became 106th RHA, consisting of 423 and 424 Batteries. It moved to North Africa in August 1940, after serving in Crete, by which time 424 Bty had become No. 1 and No. 2 Batteries (Anti-tank) and 423 Bty had become No. 3 and No. 4 Batteries (Anti-aircraft), known as 1/106 Bty, 1/102, Bty, etc. The former teo were equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank gunson Portees and the latter two with captured Italian 20mm Beda AA/AT guns. Each new battery consisted of only two troops, A and B (No. 1 Bty), C and D (No. 2 Bty), E and F (No. 3 Bty) and G and H (No.4 Bty). It served with 7th Armoured Division during many of the earlier battles in North Africa.

    At the end of February 1941 the regiment was advised it was to become a LAA regiment of just three batteries and was then later known as 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Lancashire Hussars). It was placed in suspended animation in July the same year, with many of its men going to reinforce the Northumberland Hussars, who were being strengthened and re-equipped after being evacuated from Greece and Crete."

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks Steve! & Combover.
     
  5. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is some more:


    106th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Lancashire Yeomanry) (T.A.)
    HQ, 423rd, 424th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Btys: 76 Shaw Street, Liverpool

    The regiment served under 1st Cavalry Division from 1 November 1939 until 16 August 1940, remaining in the United Kingdom until 18 January 1940. It was at sea until 30 January 1940 and arrived in Haifa, Palestine on 20 February 1940 after travelling through Cherbourg and Marseilles. On arrival it began to give up its horses and mechanize. In September 1940, it moved to Ismailia, Egypt and from there to the Baggush Box. It served under command of the Western Desert Force (XIII Corps) from September 1940 until February 1941 with 2-pounder and Bofors anti-tank guns. It fought at Bardia in support of 6th Australian Division. On 20 January, 3rd and 4th Troops supported 4th Armoured Brigade for the advance on Benghazi. The regiment was in action with the brigade at Antelat, where it guns were credited with stopping an enemy tank attack with its 37mm anti-tank guns. By the end of the day the rest of the regiment arrived to support the attack on 6 February.
    The regiment was converted to 106th Light AA Regiment RA (Lancashire Hussars) (TA) on 14 March 1941 with batteries becoming 271st and 272nd Light AA Batteries respectively. 273rd Light AA Battery was also formed and added. It gave up its anti-tank guns and was hastily requipped with thirty-six 20mm Breda guns captured from the Italians in the desert. It was sent to Pireaus, Greece in March 1941. It was located in the southern area defending the route foward at the start of the campaign. On 9 April, the regiment was sent forward as part of 19th Australian Infantry Brigade to hold the pass at Veve. After the remaining 20 guns of the regiment covered the withdrawal. It destroyed its guns during attacks on Argos airfield and after leaving Athens was evacuated to Crete. One section of the regiment fought on Crete with two 2-pounder guns under 19th Australian Infantry Brigade at Georgeopolis. The rest of the regiment fought as infantry at Suda Bay. By 1 June, remnants of the regiment were evacuated from Crete and returned to Egypt to refit and reequip. By the start of the ‘Battle-Axe’ offensive on 15 June, the regiment was under command of 7th Armoured Division as its AA regiment. After the battle, the unit was disbanded on 1 July 1941 in Egypt, being amalgamated with 149th Anti-Tank Regiment.
     
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  6. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thank you David.
     
  7. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Re reading the above, I am a little confused.

    Steve Mac has 1/424 & 2/424 Btys on porteed 37mm Bofors in late 1940. Presumably 8 each?

    But David Ryan quotes 37mm Bofors & 2 Pdrs during the same period.

    Can anyone clarify please.
     
  8. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    Hi, I do have some copies of the War Diaries of 106th Regt. Royal Horse Artillery (Lancashire Yeomanry) from 1940 and/or 1941, tucked away in the loft. They are no great quality as the originals are in poor condition. TNA references

    WO 169/248 106 R.H.A. Regt 1939 Sept.- 1940 Nov
    WO 169/1434 106 R.H.A. Regt 1941 Jan.- Feb

    Should this help anyone.
     
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  9. Lek

    Lek New Member

    Hi my dad has got my grandads book from war. He was in the 106th and this shows where he was in what year
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. breda 20/65

    breda 20/65 New Member

    hi gerboa - is it possible for me to have a look at these copies. please let me know - thanks
     
  11. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    I will try and dig them out and get them scanned. They are on A3 paper, but I have an A3 scanner, so it will just be a time constraint. Once scanned I can zip them up and send you a WeTransfer link or put them on here. ne thing I will say that when I ordered them from the TNA years ago they did come with a 'Best copy we could do......' hote, but they are readable,

    One day I do hope to transcribe them. I have recently been transcribing 3 RHA diaries for 1940 and at least two Btys of 106 RHA are mentioned and I am sure one of them has 20mm Breda AA/AT guns as the ammo clips were mentions

    4/10/40 Major HAROLD 2i/c 106 Regt RHA arrived in the morning . He was introduced to divisional staff and had interview with General CREAGH. His reports cite more Bofors being delivered to his regiment within ??? week. He thinks that ammunition clips and vehicles will be available for BREDA AA GUNS , in about three weeks time. During trials on towed targets one being carried out at Alexandria to test out the new sights .

    30/10/40 3rd A.A. BTY 106th RHA arrived.

    Will be in touch when I have them ready.
     
  12. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    I can confirm that the diaries I have seen refer to them as 1/106 Bty, 2/106, 3/106 & 4/106 Btys
     
  13. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    Link sent via PM for these files.

    I only have the top two of these below

    WO 169/248 Royal Horse Artillery: 106 RHA Regiment 01/09/1939 30/11/1940 1939 Sept.- 1940 Nov.
    WO 169/1434 106 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) 01/01/1941 28/02/1941 1941 Jan.- Feb.
    WO 169/257 Royal Horse Artillery: 1/106 Battery 01/09/1940 31/12/1940 1940 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 169/258 Royal Horse Artillery: 2/106 Battery 01/10/1940 31/12/1940 1940 Oct.- Dec.
    WO 169/259 Royal Horse Artillery: 3/106 Battery 01/11/1940 31/12/1940 1940 Nov.- Dec.
    WO 169/1440 3 106 Battery 3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) 01/02/1941 31/03/1941 1941 Feb.- Mar.
     
  14. breda 20/65

    breda 20/65 New Member

    thanks very much - gerboa do you know what divisional markings / numbers was used by the 106th rha in north africa
     
  15. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    Have you downloaded the files, as the link expires on 13th April???

    I did do a study of markings and AoS a few years ago and alas never found any photos to confirm, but like 4 RHA I believe they were under GHQ Command and the available info leads to a Serial of 32 on RA AoS with white band at bottom, denoting GHQ & Command.
     
  16. breda 20/65

    breda 20/65 New Member

    hi gerboa i got the files thanks but some of them are unreadable i did try and zoom in but the copies they sent you was not very good like you said.
     
  17. Gerboa

    Gerboa Gerboa Desert Rat History

    Yes there are a few feint ones. Now I have digitised they I hope that imagine software (i.e. the like of 'Photoshop'. etc) can be used to enhance them, so they are readable.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2021

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