I think my father, who drove a lorry in WW2, was part of the Regimental HQ of the 68th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. What would this have involved him in? As far as I know he was never near any o f the fighting. Thanks Joan Whyte
The 68th Field Regiment were I believe a Midlands Regiment in the Birmingham Area. I am studying the 67th Field Regiment originally raised in Worcestershire. In principle they were the same in their organisation. RHQ (Regimental Headquarters) were the heart of the Regiment. They did not fire the guns (25 pounder field guns) but controlled them. They were also where the specialists were based such as the Commanding Officer, Adjutant (Admin Officer), Medical Officer, Signals Officer and the Quartermaster.. They also controlled the guns at Battery level maintained contact at higher levels. RHQ's whilst a fair way behind the guns were often the targets of enemy aircraft or long range guns. In the Senio Valley in Italy the 67th RHQ frequently came under fire from an illusive enemy mobile gun who sped up the road, round a bend and fired his 88mm gun at their RHQ then disappeared. The guns and the infantry tried many times to catch him but never did. It was the Quartermaster who made sure that everyone was fed and supplied with all their needs including weapons and ammunition. He would have a fleet of trucks at his disposal to collect and deliver stores and ammunition. Your father it seems was one of the drivers. However RHQ was generally regarded as a Cushy job and in many men's eyes existed to put out orders and make life uncomfortable for everyone else. Below them came the Battery HQ's who had a similar but smaller and more local organisation.
And working for the Quartermaster was often reckoned to be one of the cushiest as it provided opportunities to acquire little extras.
Joan. Most of Uncle Target's information is correct but the bit about the Quartermaster is not. Regimental Headquarters was indeed a very small team. It was at RHQ that the Regt was administered. However, the Quartermaster was part of Headquarters Battery rather than RHQ. The Quartermaster spent most of his time in the rear organising the pushing forward of every kind of hardware that the Batteries needed - food, water, ammunition, fuel and spares. He would visit RHQ to consult with the Regt 2IC but would not live there. His focus was on securing everything from Division. RHQ was mobile so it is likely that he drove one of the trucks in which everything was carried - tentage, desks, lighting, stationery box - that allowed the RHQ to perform its role. Regards Frank
This is so helpful and explains a lot. My Dad was almost 35 when he was called up in 1941 and had been driving a van for some years, making deliveries for the family greengrocery business and I imagine this may be the reason why he became a driver. When he was demobbed his commanding officer wrote that he was a good driver. I imagine he mostly drove stores and I remember telling us once that he had the regimental band's instruments in his lorry and, going up a mountain somewhere, the tailgate came open and they all fell out. My sister and I thought this was highly amusing. I was at the National Archives yesterday going through the regiment's war diaries which were absolutely fascinating. I just wish Dad was still here or that I asked him more when he was still alive. Many thanks for your help. Joan
Thanks, Frank for this extra information. I certainly always had the impression that Dad mostly drove stores. It was only when I was going through the regiment's diaries at the National Archives yesterday that I kept coming across references to RHQ and it reminded me that Dad had said that was what he was in. They were absolutely fascinating and I found out a lot. Regards Joan
So true Frank my mistake It occurred to me after I signed off. It had entered my mind that when on the Gothic Line RHQ was at San Clemente the Q was in Borgo San Lorenzo. Having been with 267 FR HQ Battery as a cadet I should have known better but that was in 1964.
Joan. These are the movements of 68 Fd Regt RA during the war. As you can see, they spent their time in Italy supporting 10 Indian Division. They were one of three Fd Regts that supported that Division. Regards Frank
Thanks for this, Frank. I remember seeing the battery numbers listed in the regiment's diaries. Regards Joan
