2 Field Regiment, RA. 1940

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Rowslow, Dec 7, 2022.

  1. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    My Dad didn’t make it to the boat. He was a casualty on 19 or 31 May according to the war diary that was sent to me, as that are the only two days that men of the 2 Field Regiment were mentioned as dying or wounded. He had his arm amputated in France or Belgium on 31 May 1940. Two months later he showed up in the German POW camps as a POW and after three and a half years he was repatriated back to England. I was 3 when he first met me? We moved from Borden where he was trained as an electric welder before being discharged from the army. We then moved to Hanley in Staffordshire. Our family emigrated to Canada in 1952 and my Dad died too soon of a massive heart attack in 1970. He was only 57 years old.
     
  2. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    The war diary of the 2 Field Regiment says they were posted on the Bachy Line from May 1-11. Moved into Brussels on May 12 and Duisburg where Regtl H Q W was established, May 17 action in Groesbeek and went into hide out in area of Aspelaere no casualties.
    18 & 19 May withdraw through Renaix and on 19th in Estaimbourg enemy bombed area 42 Bty hidden wood had casualties 3 killed and 5 wounded. On 21 May and 22 withdrew to Roubaix withdrew on 27th and action in Beveren. 29 May remained in action in Les Moeres 35 Battery embarked at Bray Dunes, and 42 Battery told to wait till 30/31st. Enemy action increased on 31st and several casualties reported. Withdrew troops to Ghyvelde two vehicles hit during move and several casualties reported. 1 June withdrew on HMS Worcester.
     
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  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks for the last posting. Now I have all I really need to add to their history of WW2.
    The rest well described in Ubique by A.M Cheetham.

    So many who went to France in the BEF never fought again.
    The Regulars had a good idea what to do to survive but many of the Territorials were terribly inexperienced.
    The 67th were well endowed with ex regular reservists and some very capable new officers.
    The 2nd Field, as the senior Artillery Regiment in the Division, were in direct support of the 1st Infantry Brigade,
    three battalions of The Guards.
    67th Field as a TA Regiment were in direct support of the 2nd Infantry Brigade 6th Gordon Highlanders,
    1st Loyals and 2nd North Staffs.
    The 1st Infantry Division was Commanded by General (later Field Marshall) Harold Alexander.
    Little is written or recorded about the other Regular Artillery Regiment in the Division 19th Field Regt.
    It seems Regulars did their job and individually went away.
    The TA went home to their jobs, many mixed socially in the local pubs and talked about the war.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2022
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  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The two columns on the prisoner cards are headed 'zugang' and 'abgang' - arrival and exit. It looks to me as if his amputation was on 31/5/1940 at Ronse. (Ronse is close to the Belgian language boundary and is 'Renaix' in French). He was there until 24/7/40 when he was moved to Lokeren and then on 31/7/40 to Gent where he remained until 10/8/40
     
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  5. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    But what about the second card which says he arrived from Dunkirk Hospital on 24 July 1940, that contradicts the first card says he was in Renaix until 24 Jul 1940?
     
  6. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    And his card from the POW camp which suggests he was in Dunkirk and Camiers before he was in Renaix!
     
  7. adbw

    adbw Active Member

    I've had another go at sharpening up the images .. DSCF4353.JPG DSCF4354.JPG DSCF4355.JPG DSCF4356.JPG
     
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  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    adbw, thanks for letting us all see these excellent copies, whilst it is not often anyone enquires about the 2nd Field Regt it builds up a picture for those who do.

    I take it that you have read Ubique by Arthur Cheetham MC.
    It is often available online for a few pounds and covers the story well from the point of view of a junior officer straight from OCTU.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
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  9. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    No I haven't read it yet, I looked for it on Amazon and it's expensive and delivery isn't till Jan.

    Do you know what the German abbreviation dfg.means? I think it means something like fit for POW camp! It from one of the German cards!

    A lot better, can you email them to me please!

    Do you know where La Coquerie is? I cant find it on a map?
     
  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Search Douai on google maps.
    Lecocquerie.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
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  11. adbw

    adbw Active Member

    I do have his book. I hoped that, as the author was with 35 Battery for some time, there might be a mention of Sgt. John Clarke but sadly not. A very interesting account of the Regiment’s war, although only from when he joined in March 1941. Goes well with the war diaries too, all of which I have, if anyone’s interested.
     
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  12. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    adbw
    I might make contact with the lady who was in touch with me a few years ago. Her grandfather was in the REME LAD attached to the 67th. He knew them all as he lived in Malvern but when I transcribed his Service Record I found that he was transferred to 2nd Field for the whole of the War. Upon his return he became a publican, so had lots of customers from the 67th. They were all so close that it was a though he never left. He just had different friends in his photos.
    I think she bought Ubique so might be happy with what she has.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
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  13. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    Ive added a page of the war diary for the 2nd Field Regiment, RA which we got from London when there many years ago.
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum Rowslow.

    Do you have your Dad's full service records?

    The file from the Ministry of Defence that you posted on Page 2 of this thread is a summary- I believe that in the past the MoD used to provide these rather than a copy of the full records. It is an interpretation by an admin staff member. Not to cast any aspersions on that busy MoD bod who compiled it 30 years ago, but there might be small details missed. If you applied for his service records now you would get precise photocopies of everything they have in his file, rather than a typed-up outline.

    As Uncle Target has mentioned, that attachment from 2nd Fd to 67th Fd noted on 16/02/40 could be very important. He might have been 'officially' with 2nd Fd but detached to the 67th in some capacity while in France. Or maybe not - the full records might make it clearer exactly who he was with during the critical period of fighting in May/June 1940, though you're always at the whim of what some overworked clerk decided to record.

    Full service records might reveal a few obscure details that could fill in some blanks for you, so may be worth making a new request.
     
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  15. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    Thank you very much for this information, I had no idea that I only had a summary. I will be sure to send for the full service records. So glad I posted what I had, learning a lot since joining this group!
    Thank everyone!
     
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  16. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Good luck! It might take a while to get the records, but lots of people on this forum will be glad to help you out with the obscure abbreviations they contain.

    A 'Ceased To Be Attached' or 'Rejoined Unit' mentioned on the full records might make all the difference. Or maybe not - unfortunately you never know what level of detail will be recorded. Overall it is worth reapplying, as direct copies of the original files are the closest you will ever get to an official history of your Dad's service.
     
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  17. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    Does anyone have a web site to apply for Dad's full service records. I thought I saw the link on here but reading back over the posts I can't seem to find it.
     
  18. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Refer back to davidbfpo at #2 who said that you are Canadian and might have issues applying to the MOD for his Service Records by all means try.
    The Records are actually pay codes and records of postings, training, illness or anything that might affect his pay.
    Including time as a POW. They would probably be useful at least confirming what you already know.
    You will need to send a copy of his death cert to prove that he is deceased otherwise he would need to apply himself. and pay a fee of £30.

    There are a number of people on the forum that can transcribe these for you if you want
    I did the Records for the REME /LAD man who transferred to the 2nd Field.
    As well as several others on the forum.

    Get a copy of military service records.

    It may take some time to get them as there are various changes going on.
    If you have a relative in the uk you might be able to do it through them.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
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  19. Rowslow

    Rowslow Daughter of William Herbert Clifford

    Thanks for the link, I'll read it over tomorrow and decide whether to apply by mail or email!
     
  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

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