10th Medium Regt (RF) RA

Hi Rob,

Allow me to be the first to pass on my congratulations and wish you every success with the book.

Regards
Andy

 

Well done Rob. Have sent you a PM.

 

Ofcourse I will take one, I will be in London soon, can you get one signed to Paul Pariso, so I can picked it up and pay him

 

Hi Rob,

I'll have a signed copy too, if Philip would be so kind to pick it up in London for me!

 

Hi Rob, well done many of us dream about achieving things some of us get on and do it. Congratualtions.
When and where's the book launch? Are you doing a tour and talk too?
Cheers
Jez.

 

Rob, first batch arrived safely thank you. Many a tear in eye. Further orders to follow. Just read to D-Day so far, tragic that some of the regiment were killed in training and hadnt even faced the enemy.

Also interesting that they trained in so many UK places many known to me for other reasons. I guess it was important to get the Regiment really proficient at moving and firing at short notice.

I like the books format hard facts laced with anecdotes personal or researched and then so many photographs maps etc must have cost a fortune.

Your books will make excellent Christmas presents. Also seems appropriate to have got the book out before rememberance Sunday.

Thanks again Jez.

 

Hi Rob, 2nd consignment of your books have arrived thanks again. I've read through to the Battle of the Bulge now. Excellent book.

GIL's service records have finnaly arrived with an apology from the records office! Does "G Locating Battery" mean anything to you? The G could possibly be a C. Could it be the part of the regiment he was in or something to do with going on reserve lists after being demobbed? Is it a Fusilier reference or 10th Medium? Thoughts welcome.

I can see he was a qualified Signaller and Driver. On your Dad's service record is there any mention of which battery he was with if so where about on the record do you have to look?

Best regards Jez

 

Jez
Many thanks for your kind comments about the book, glad to know they arrived safely for you.
As you can see it's more a reference work than a read, because to format it 70yrs after the events took place and with hardly any personal anecdotes from surviving veterans to speak off it was the only way to go with it realy.
As you GIL was a wireless op its not suprising he spent time with a Locating Battery (general Arty term). This was a small unit commanded by the Counter Bombardment Officer and his staff, sent out to locate enemy positions and weapons for the Regt and too report (wireless) back.
As too the "G", I would think possibly one of 3 things:
Gun Locating Bty
general index of the unit
Late war there was a "G" Troop added to 84 Bty (page 194 in book)
Regards
Rob
PS a PM sent on his Bty.

 

Thanks Rob, closer examination of GIL's service record reveal embarkation I assume for D-Day 3-6-44 !!!

The regiment arent mentioned as having embarked until 9-7-44 etc. Assuming he was with CBO or the like perhaps they went in advance?

The family story is that he landed on Sword (I think will double check) beach on D-Day. The emabarkation date ties up. Also a mention of awful seas which would link in with bad weather postponement (though this may have been reference to the training in Ireland). Any thoughts as to where the CBO and his team may have been on D-Day or where or how I could check?

On service records he becomes a driver class 3 anyone know what class 3 means? Also a signaller. Under trade it says GNR (gunner) or DVR OP which I assume is driver observation post and would tie in with the locating and OP functions.

I will scan and email PM you with the service record when time allows ( a week or two).

In your book I've got to the first Germany shoot. You can sense the boost to morale. I'm amused by the jump in fire rate whenever they have even a sniff of incomming. 1 air burst shell the lads suss the direction and approx range then give it 250 rounds of 80-100 lb shells!..... No more airbursts. Followed by RPG restriction no doubt.

Great stuff
Cheers Jez.

 

Dvr OP = Driver/Operator?

 

Thanks drew, ok operator? Wireless operator? Tracked vehicle operator?

 

You did say he had done a Signallers course

 

lol....Wireless Operator. Yes he did do a Signallers course. Forgive me I'm not military or use to all the abbreviations yet. He was a class III driver too so I wondered if the abbreviation could have meant anything else.

 

Dvr OP = Driver/Operator?

Drew

Quite correct, in fact it was a designation for a Driver who was also responsible for operating the vehicles wirelss set. As opposed to having a dedicated operator.

Phil

 

Have just recieved another great picture from a relative of one of the men which was too late for inclusion in the book.
It's of a detachment "C" Troop 84th Bty.
I now have pics of detachments of "A" Troop "B" Troop, "C" Troop but would you belive none of dads "D" Troop.
Sods law i suppose!
Rob

 

Good news Rob 2nd edition.

Was the usual mode of transport for a 10th Med Reg (FS) (RA) OP / CMO / FOO a Bren Carrier?

Rob & OP-ack have either of you approached the Royal Armouries with your books? I'm going to one tomorrow I'll sound them out if I dont see your books their.

 

He Rob

I came across some Flash spotting base postions of the Regiment on 1 march 1945, don't know if you already had them but they are:

602775= near river Rhine at Randwijk
605773= near Indoornik
617727= near Zetten
639690= near Valburg

 

He Rob

I came across some Flash spotting base postions of the Regiment on 1 march 1945, don't know if you already had them but they are:

602775= near river Rhine at Randwijk
605773= near Indoornik
617727= near Zetten
639690= near Valburg

Many thanks for that Philip
I had Randwijk & Zetten, but not the other two.
Rob

 

If I run into any others I will let you know

 

If I run into any others I will let you know

Cheers Philip
They were firing at targets Nth of Arnhem & Zand for 49th Div at that time.
Rob