When the above unit was re-formed in June of 1942, would I be right in thinking that it was on 3x Bty (103, 104 & 105) of 16x porteed 6Pdrs each?
79th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. RHQ, 103rd, 104th, 105th Raised: 15 October 1941 in India The regiment embarked for Iraq from Karachi on 22 March 1942 and arrived at Basra on 28 March, coming under command of 10th Army. The RHQ was redesignated RHQ ‘X’ Field Regiment, R.A. on 4 May 1942 and was numbered 164th Field Regiment on 2 June 1942. 470th and 515th Batteries joined from 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment and 157th Field Regiment. 3rd Indian Anti-Tank Battery was attached for a time. The regiment came under command of 25th Indian Infantry Brigade of 10th Indian Infantry Division on 25 May 1942 and arrived in Egypt with the brigade on 4 June 1942. The RHQ and 515th Batteries were disbanded in the Middle East on 1 August 1942. 470th Battery was placed into suspended animation. The RHQ of 79th Anti-Tank Regiment was reformed in the Middle East under 8th Army on 27 June 1942 and took over the same batteries. 291st Battery joined from 81st Anti-Tank Regiment on 8 September 1942. The regiment then came under command of 31st Indian Armoured Division in Persia on 10 September 1942. It moved to Iraq with the division. It arrived in Egypt with the division on 4 November 1943. It left for Jericho, Palestine with the division on 25 February 1944. It moved to Syria witht he division on 29 May 1944 and remained there until the end of the war. I am not sure about equipment.
Ouch! It looks like I was miles out. Thanks David. It would appear that in North africa after June 1942 the Regiment was only HQ + two batteries? Unless i am mis-reading the above. I assume that the Regiment was lost or mauled before the 1st Augus, hence the re-forming for the September move to Iraq?
I agree. That is what probably happened. The 10th Indian Division got chopped up pretty badly during the withdrawal from Mersa Matruh at the end of June 1942. During that time the 164th Field Regiment with two field batteries and the 3rd Indian Anti-Tank Battery served under the 25th Indian Infantry Brigade. Again, I do have any equipment for the 164th or the 3rd Indian Anti-Tank Battery.
David, was the 3rd Indian Anti tank battery part of any Indian Anti tank Battalion, or completely autonomous?
The 3rd Anti-Tank Battery, Indian Artillery was part of the Iraq based 1st Anti-Tank Regiment, Indian Artillery, part of 8th Indian Infantry Division. As was common practice during the Gazala period of battles, many anti-tank regiments were broken up or partially broken up to provide anti-tank batteries to the various field regiments.
Thanks for that David. I was not aware of the breaking up of the A/T battalions into seperate batteries. I will probably have to ask a raft of questions pertaining to which batteries were present in N.A and when! But that can wait a while!
June 1942 - early September 1942 would be most likely 6Pdrs I should imagine. I wonder if anyone else can confirm this? Also were the batteries at full strength? Were the guns porteed? Thanks.
Most Interesting, My father (William Dixon-Payne) (Bill) (Dicky) was a member of the 79th Anti-Tank, and was a Tank Driver, but never spoke about his war time experiences, I only found out about his regiment after he died, for many years he went to the Anti-Tank reunions (known as Mimosa). He was a very avid diary keeper, but after he died I looked for them and they had all gone. If you have any more info about his movements during the war, I would be most interested Regards Charles Dixon-Payne
Most Interesting, My father (William Dixon-Payne) (Bill) (Dicky) was a member of the 79th Anti-Tank, and was a Tank Driver, but never spoke about his war time experiences, I only found out about his regiment after he died, for many years he went to the Anti-Tank reunions (known as Mimosa). He was a very avid diary keeper, but after he died I looked for them and they had all gone. If you have any more info about his movements during the war, I would be most interested Regards Charles Dixon-Payne
Sorry, Charles. That is all I have on the regiment. You might explore trying to get a hold of the war diaries for the regiment from the National Archives. I have found the following war diaries available at the National Archives: Search results: 79 Anti-Tank Regiment | The National Archives There are members here that may be able to help you obtain these war diaries or provide the steps that you need to get them.
My grandfather, Clarence Percy Kerridge, was in the 79th anti tank from 1941 onwards - traveling across India (Karachi - now Pakistan), Persia ( Iran), Iraq, Egypt, Palestine and Syria. I’ve just commissioned some detailed research on the movements of the regiment. Very happy to share that when I have it. I also have some great photos of his battery (103).
Thank you - very helpful. I have some great photos from my grandfather who was in the 79th anti tank regiment following the route you outline above!