121 field/medium regiment

Hi again Carole, first of all, the more questions the better I say!
Right - 121 Field arrived in Italy at Salerno on 7th October 1943 and left for England on the 19th Nov. During their time in Italy they were in action for three weeks under command of 2 Army Group Royal Artillery, 10 Corps, 5th U.S. Army. They were in action at the Volturno River crossing and places mentioned in the official history are: Capua, Rochetta, Francolise and Sparanese. During this time there were six casualties.
Hope that helps.

 

Thanks Reme, that's useful, I know what I'm looking for if I start reading on the Italian campaign now.

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Hi there,
not sure if thread is still active but will give it a go.
Interested if Reme may have access to any info pertaining to my Grand father.
His name was Edwin Johnson and was a Dispatch Rider. I believe he was in 121 field regiment and know that he served in Alamein.
He enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Bradford on 16/06/38. His service number is 205850.
Thankyou in advance
Mark

 

Hi Mark,

The best thing to do would be to apply for a copy of your grandfathers service records from the MoD. They cost £30 and will tell you all the units he served with and when.

Cheers
Andy

 

Link for service records here
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

 

My Grandad (92 and still going strong) Eric J Smith was in this regiment, so I've a huge interest in knowing more. It's frustrating but completely understandable that he finds it a very difficult subject to discuss, so I've only ever managed to get snippets of info from him, and of course most are the more positive stories.

He was a driver during the war and drove around a general I believe.

Any info you may have would be great.

Thanks

Luke

 

Hi and welcome to the forum Luke, good luck with your quest for info. Just a thought do you have his army records from the MOD?

 

Hi Luke - As mentioned above, if he doesn't already ask him to apply for a copy of his service records. They are free for him to apply and will help you enormously with your research.

Here's a link for applying
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Cheers
Andy

 

Really am interested in this regt as my grandfather served with them and I am trying to trade his movements during the war, especially Normandy. I did reply to another thread but this one seems more appropriate as i am trying to gain info from that same book you mention you have.

Any info on Gnr John EVANS would be gratefully received, but would especially love to know if there is anything to confirm which battery he was in??

I can get my hands on his service records if need be. Know he was wounded later on in the war when he was shot in the wrist I think in Holland??

Hope this helps?

Thanks

 

Hello all,

I know this is a very old thread, and note another request for help above, but over the weekend I've discovered that my great-grandfather served in the 121 Field Regiment from 15 June 1943 until being posted to the 55 Heavy Regiment on 16 June 1944.

Would anyone have any details as to where the 121 Field Regiment served during this time? On his service record it states MEF, BNAF and CMF (for a short period).

Thanks.

 

Hello I can see this thread is a few years old but I just found it after some research.

I've just been given Albert Arthur Levett's medals that his wife received after he was lost in service. His wife was a family friend so I'd love to find out more about Albert. I've just applied for a copy of their marriage certificate. Sadly they only married in 1941 and he never came home. She passed away in 2001 and I didn't ever know about her husband until my mum told me about him and then gave me the medals and documents I know have.

I found his memorial is at Alamein.

He was never found after the regiment left Africa for Italy, letters she received state that they believed he died between October 1942 and November 1942 something happened to the ship going to Italy. She had confirmation of his death in Feb 1944.

I'd like to get as much information as possible as I'd like to mount his medals and frame his scroll from the King.

 

I found this whilst researching the 121
121 (West Riding) Field Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 (ra39-45.co.uk)

 

Sian B,

Welcome aboard. I encountered the 121 Field Regiment in researching their part in a battle with the Afrika Korps, on 1/7/1942, when they were part of the 18th Indian Brigade (though only possibly one battery was there). The brigade was overwhelmed, with many captured, some escaped and using only the CWGC database and limiting the search for the 1/7/1942 and then up to 7/7/1942 it shows 7 + 3 dead buried (many of those who fell were never recovered).

I have not looked at their prior service upon arrival in Egypt, at the El Alamein front line. Only one battery, 275 appears to have been at Deir el Shein.

See: Deir el Shein sources - July 1942

The ra39-45 website refers to:

A very brief history:

From: Yorkshire Volunteers :: Regimental Family History Note it only shows the book cited in Post 1 as a source.

 

Now to your subject: Lance Serjeant Albert Arthur John Levett, Service Number: 777564. The CWGC show his death was between 31/10-14/11/1942. See: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2123366/albert-arthur-john-levett/

His name and service number do not appear here before your posts. There are no other threads on the regiment of the two batteries after July 1942.

If you review the regiment's seven deaths in the period, it has some clues: Search Results | CWGC

The Second Battle of El Alamein was 23 October – 11 November 1942), so he was captured during this battle somehow. Field artillery are not normally in the front line, certainly not in this battle. For background this is a starting point: Second Battle of El Alamein - Wikipedia

All Prisoners of War (POW) in North Africa were handed over to Italian custody, the 'Other Ranks' were transported by ship to Italy, officers were flown out. Others are experts on this aspect of WW2, so may be able to identify which ship he was on - as sometimes they sunk by Allied submarines, even aircraft.

We always recommend applying for his Service Record, from the MoD or national Archives (explained on a message to come next). The regiment's war diary might explain what happened and several members offer to copy them at the national Archives.

 

Movements post VE Day 8 May 45

121st (West Riding) Medium Regiment RA – 5th Army Group RA
1 Apr 46 – suspended animation

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

I've just checked the papers I got at the weekend. Following a letter to his wife and some correspondence with the Record & Pay office at Sidcup he was reported missing from 1st July 1942 in a letter dated 5th Aug 1942.
Then on 29th Oct 42 they wrote to Mrs Levett to say Albert was POW BUT that they did not know where specifically.
In January 43 The War Office wrote to her to say he was presumed dead and returned the final letter and postcard Albert had sent to her. Sadly these are not with the papers I have. She must have kept those safe somewhere else. The official notice of death was dated 28 Feb 1944.

 

Sian B,

All noted. Makes me think he was @ Deir el Shein and captured there on 1/7/1942, Not all of 121 Field Regmt. were there, as they had been supporting 1st Essex elsewhere.

 

Sian B,

Remedesertrat has uploaded a copy of the regimental history to another thread, so have a peek. I am about too myself. See: 121 Field/Medium reg. 1939/46 history

 

This thread is pre Derek Barton a member of this forum. His website lists as foillows:

121 (West Riding) Field Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

121 (West Riding) Medium Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

The Field Regiment became a Medium Regt in January 1944 as per above thread.
Their movements and equipment is also listed amongst other details.
Well worth a visit and browse.
A good starting point for RA Regiment and Battery details

 

Thank you Sian for resurrecting this thread, it has opened up a new door for me and one that I'm now going to investigate. Thanks to the others who have provided links as well - that website gives a great insight into things.