Hello My Grandad was a member of the 10th Field Regiment part of the British 2nd Division. We know from him and his memoirs some details of his service through India and Burma but they are sketchy. Does anyone know of any copy of the war diary and particularly information about the battle of Kohima and the advance to Mandalay? Many thanks
I should have said that his name was Lance Bombardier (or Gunner as conflicting info on that) Leonard Sharp.
Hi, 2 forum members offer a National Archive War Diary look up and copy service. Drop either one of them a line - they may already have a copy of the WD - for a quote. Drew - Drew5233 or Lee - PsyWar.Org Steve
Hi, I've just registered on this site looking for information and/or photos about my grandfather who was also a Gunner with this Regiment in Dunkirk and Burma. I look forward to hearing from anyone with any information, thank you in advance.
welcome apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records you will not find anything on pay for sites on the internet date of birth and death cert plus £30 is required Start a thread here and share his name and I am sure forum members will offer further advice Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy regards Clive
10 Field Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 THE FORGOTTEN GUNNERS OF KOHIMA. Any relation to you BBC - WW2 People's War - Burma with the Royal Artillery People in story: Lance Bombardier Leonard Sharp. 10th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, British 2nd Division, 14th Army. TD For info Burma 1942: British Artillery: 10 Field Regiment (Fd Regt) | The National Archives Burma 1943: Royal Artillery: 10 Field Regiment (RA Fd Regt) | The National Archives Field Regiments: 10 Regt. | The National Archives Field Regiments: 10 Regt. | The National Archives
In 1981 I made my first venture into military history. As the battery historian I wrote the battery history of 129 Dragon Field Battery RA between 1st September 1939 and 1947 to fill in the gap in the battery history. Until 1947 the battery was known as 51/54 (Dragon) battery, so there is a chance that your relative served in my old battery. The battery is still exists as part of 4th Field Regiment List of Royal Artillery batteries - Wikipedia Nope I did not keep a copy for myself. I interviewed Tony Barton who was awarded the MC for his role in the Irrawaddy crossing in 1945. 51/54 Field Battery RA, 10 Field Regiment RA “During the establishment of the 20 Indian Division’s bridgehead across the Irrawaddy starting on the night 12/13 February Major Barton was the Battery Commander and Artillery Advisor with OC 14 FF Rifles, the leading troops to cross. During the subsequent five days the bridgehead was heavily counterattacked and Major Barton’s handling of his FOO’s and coordination of the artillery fire was most effective. On the night 16/17 February a strong force of Japanese worked round the Northern flank of the 14 FF Rifles and Major Barton succeeded in putting down a concentration of fire which broke up the counter attack. During this phase he ranged and controlled the whole of the Corps Artillery group in darkness. He showed great initiative and was imperturbable when under fire and during periods of stress. It was very largely due to Major Barton’s excellent handling of the artillery that the bridgehead was held against all attacks.” Here is an MC citation for a Lieutenant Keith Stretton Jones from 51/54 battery at Kohima (L.G. 05.10.1944) 51/54 Field Battery RA, 10 Field Regiment RA Burma. “On 26 April 1944 on Firs Hill near Kohima Lt. Jones was acting as FOO with a company of the 1/6 Battalion LF. The infantry came under heavy fire and checked their advance. Lt. Jones took charge, led the infantry forward and captured the enemy light machine gun which was holding up the advance. He himself was wounded after killing the crew of the gun. The capture of the position was entirely due to his initiative, courage and powers of leadership.” You will find an account of the actions of the RA in Burma in the HISTORY ROYAL ARTILLERY FAR EAST: Far East Theatre 1941-46 (History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery) Hardcover – 15 April 2002 by Sir Martin Farndale.
Just spent a few hours going through the 1944 War Diary of 10th Field Regiment (WO172/4641) and they are very detailed. They were brought forward for the drive to retake Kohima in March 1944 as part of 2 Div and fought all the way through that Campaign until they were withdrawn in July and went into a rest-camp on the Kohima-Imphal road. They stayed there until November when they went forward with 2 Div to replace 11 (EA) Div in the drive down the Kabaw Valley. At the end of 1944 they were at Kaduna, supporting the KAR Battalions, having just crossed the Chindwin on 13 December. Unfortunately no maps at all and they often use codenames for units and places in the Kohima battle.
