These pics are the "Mad Hatters" 152 Battery hockey team-Harry Barnett front row far left. A Breda gun in Tobruk harbour and German prisoners under Aussie guard (perimeter).
Hi Steve, fantastic pictures. My grandfather was in 153 battery, I also have a photo album. Let me know if you would like to share pictures. Andy
Hi Penance, Yes, that would be fantastic. I have a feeling many of your pictures will be the same as mine ie from the same source. However, there may be some on both sides that are unique.
I think you may be right but some of yours already are photos I've not seen. I have most in an album on facebook, do you have a facebook account? Obviously I can send some higher res ones if you wish. Shall we take this to pm and exchane email details etc?
Yes Andy, sounds good. No I don't have a facebook account, but e-mails will be excellent- I'm pleased you seem to know how to do this!
I was looking at the Pathe film recommended by Bodston and noticed a bit in one of the other films "Defenders of Tobruk" at 6:51, this looks like it might be the disastrous luftwaffe attack on the gun sites in April '41. You can see the batteries firing from their emplacements and shows the stukas attacking. You never know with film editors, but there are shots of downed axis planes possibly from the same attack? This was a black day for the Hatters and they lost many men and guns during this attack.
Hi Penance I would really like to see some pictures if you have them. My grandfather david taylor was in the rest, I have posted some of the pics I have on the 51 haa regt thread
I am researching a member of our village who has a memorial in the Church of St Michaels, Great Oakley. I have the following information John Hadley who In 1941 was in the Royal Artillery 14th Lt. A.A. Reg. 40th battery and was involved in the siege of Tobruk (10th April – 27th November). I think I have found a reference to them being in the harbour defence but outside of that I am struggling to find out much about him and his life in North africa. On the 14th September John is killed in action and is buried in the Tobruk war cemetery Libya in plot 6, row H, grave 1 Appreciate any help bob