I am trying to track down the history of a chap who served initially with the 523 Coast Regiment RteA at various locations in Cornwall before being posted to the 55th Field Regiment RA (WSY) late in 1943. I have his service record but after this date, other than attending a course in Redcar, Yorks in March/April 1944 I have no other information until his demob in 1946. Paperwork at this time are dated with the depot being at AACHEN, Germany. Is there any way that I may find any further details of his career? a Battery No may even be helpfull. Any Suggestions please Gunner Edward Blease 1752746. Bern
Bern I am no expert on the wartime movements of 55 (Wessex) Field Regiment but I believe the Regiment was part of the Guards Armoured Division during the period you are interested in. They certainly ended the war in the area of the Cuxhaven Peninsular between Bremen and Hamburg before moving in late June 1945 with the entire Division to the Rhineland. My working notes show that the Regiment were in the Aachen area for a time but moved north to Flensburg in late Spring 1946 (but by that time GNR Blease may have returned to civilian life) I was involved in researching a similar query regarding another member of the Guards Armoured Division. This showed that the Division was based in the then East and North Ridings of Yorkshire for a significant period of time in 1943/Spring 1944, the course at Redcar is consistent with this data. The excellent www.royalartillerynetherlands1944-1945 website also contains some details of the Regiments moves in Belgium and Holland in Autumn 1944 and Winter 1945.
Can help with locations post 8 May 45 Headquarters Royal Artillery Guards Armoured Division command 30th Corps Bargstedt west of Buxtehude – to Cuxhaven 19 May 45 – Dorfstrasse Eitze south-east Verden 9 Jun 45 – redesignated Headquarters Royal Artillery Guards Division 17 Jun 45 – Schloss Rahe Aachen command now 1st Corps District 55th (Wessex) Field Regiment Royal Artillery Regimental Headquarters: unknown – to Gudendorf – to Dorum both south of Cuxhaven 21 May 45 – Oyten north-west of Verden 373 Battery – Oyten 374 Battery – Ottersberg west of Rotenburg 439 Battery – Otterstedt north-west of Rotenburg 15 Jun 45 – Aachen 373 Battery – Herzogenrath north of Aachen 374 Battery – Merkstein north of Aachen 439 Battery – Kohlscheid north of Aachen Best of luck with your research
bluebell and Steve, thanks for your helpfull information, now can anyone help with identifying which battery he served with ? Are there any RA records that would point me in the right direction? As I mentioned before I have his service records but they dont appear to note any battery No after posting to 55th. bern