137 Fd Regt RA (Blackpool Regt)

Anyone point me in the direction of the War Diary for this unit. The Regt was caught at Singapore not very long after it was formed. I've been transcribing the Regtl Roll of Honour/Memorial and I have a history of the Fall of Singapore but would like to know more. I realise the Diary may well have been destroyed in the Far East. Regards to all. Mike

 

I can only find this one. Its worth noting that WO 166 is the UK series:

WO 166/1549 137 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.- 1940 June, Aug.- 1941 Aug.

Do you know what the Battery's were in the Regt? It's always worth having a look for those to.

Cheers
Andy

 

Just found this one in my Excel files but I'm not sure if its the same unit:

WO 172/155 Singapore Fortress: 137 A. Fd. Regt. R.A. 1941 Sept., Dec.

Anyone know what the 'A' stands for? I think this diary just covers Sept and Dec not Oct and Nov.

 

Just found this one in my Excel files but I'm not sure if its the same unit:

WO 172/155 Singapore Fortress: 137 A. Fd. Regt. R.A. 1941 Sept., Dec.

Anyone know what the 'A' stands for? I think this diary just covers Sept and Dec not Oct and Nov.

"A" stands for "Army". The late David Nelson in his book "The Story of Changi" ( the National Archives library do not have a copy ) lists the personnel rolls prepared by prisoners of war ( in secret) in a schedule to the book and includes the word "Army" when referring to the 137 Field Regiment Royal Artillery.

The Bureau of Record and Enquiry rolls emerged at The National Archives in April 2011. File WO361/2095 should contain the roll, but the listing omits the "A".

File WO172/155 is interesting because it does not appear to be open. Here is a copy and paste of the file description from The National Archives:

Piece reference WO 172/155

Singapore Fortress: 137 A. Fd. Regt. R.A.
Jump to : Summary | Access


Context
WO Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies
Division within WO Records of the Armed Forces from commands, headquarters, regiments and corps
WO 172 War Office: British and Allied Land Forces, South East Asia: War Diaries, Second World War
MALAYA
GARRISONS
Top of page
Record Summary
Scope and content
Singapore Fortress: 137 A. Fd. Regt. R.A.
Covering dates 1941 Sept., Dec.
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status Public Record(s)
Top of page
Access
Access conditions Closed For 29 years

 

137 Field was part of the 11th Infantry Division (Indian) which surrendered on 15/2/1942 at Singapore. No war diaries would have existed after that date.

228 men are listed as having died in the run up to the surrender (including the Co) and during captivity and after release.

You may find some useful information in the missing men files for 137 Field Regt at the National Arhvives at Kew. Otherwise it's a case of trawling the internet for stories posted by survivors or their relatives.

 

137 Field was part of the 11th Infantry Division (Indian) which surrendered on 15/2/1942 at Singapore. No war diaries would have existed after that date.

228 men are listed as having died in the run up to the surrender (including the Co) and during captivity.

You may find some useful information in the missing men files for 137 Field Regt at the National Arhvives at Kew. Otherwise it's a case of trawling the internet for stories posted by survivors or their relatives.

Although no conventionally prepared war diaries existed after surrender I believe that members of the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment prepared a document which was aimed at filling the gap. Other units may have done the same.

 

I have the Batteries as 349 and 350 with 501 being added in Dec 41.
An Army Field Regt is normally one employed at Corps level or above.

 

Here is a brief service history for the regiment:


137th Field Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
HQ: Blackpool
349th (9th West Lancashire) Bty: Preston
350th (10th West Lancashire) Bty: Lancaster

The regiment served as an army field regiment in the United Kingdom at the start of the war. It served as the School of Artillery field regiment in the autumn of 1940. It added 501st Battery formed at Larkhill on 17 March 1941. The regiment arrived in Singapore on 28 November 1941. It first stopped at Kajang, near Kuala Lumpur and arrived in the 11th Indian Divisional area on 12 December. It served with the division during the Malayan campaign. It was captured at Singapore on 15 February 1942. The title (2nd West Lancashire) was authorized two days later.

 

Just checked and there doesn't appear to be any battery diaries.

 

I was just browsing and came across this forum... my dad was in the 137th and is still with us.. he's 93 now.

 

Hi Dianesev. My Grandad was in the RAOC attached to 137th Field Regiment. He survived to return from the POW camps but died in 1966. I never knew him......

 

There is a copy of the Regimental war diary held at http://www.firepower.org.uk/
The Regimental HQ in Woolwich.
See the website for details of research and opening times http://www.firepower.org.uk/index.php/research/ for which there is a small charge....!!

Having seen it, there is really little information and, like the other regiments in the area it ceases after the Slim River episode when everyone scattered.

There are some excellent resources on the https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Fepow-Community/info forum and also at http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/

If you are specifically interested in the 137th there is an excellent write up of their Commanding Officer (CO) Robert Hartley at http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/2nd_Lt_Robert_Hartley/

My Grandfather served in the 137th 501st Battery and died 70 years ago this week as a POW in Japan. RIP

 

Hi, I saw your post whilst researching my Uncle who served with the 137th. Field Regiment and was captured at Singapore and remained a POW until his release in August 1945. I recently obtained a copy of his POW questionaire which list the camps in which he was a prisoner. He was a hairdresser by trade and resumed his business upon his return to Bristol. Sadly he died at a relatively young age, partly attributed to his period as a POW. His name was Gunner Fred Lewis and wondered (a long shot I know) whether he remembered Fred. I also have a programme for the Regimental Dinner held in Blackpool in 1946.

 

May I reopen this posting? Thanks for all help so far. I'm writing up the History of 137 Fd Regt RA (T) and its forebears, which was my local unit. I'm in the North so not likely to get to London for Firepower nor Nat Archives any time soon, so any help getting access to the War Diaries, where they exist, would be really helpful, if there is anyone in that neck of the woods. Thanks again for all help so far.

 

Any chance of a scan of the dinner menu?

 

Hi All. Still working on the Story of the 137 Fd Regt RA, now its the Liberation, Recovery & repatriation of those who made it to come home. You can pick it up at: www.fyldecoaster.wordpress.com Looking at the Casualty List, I note that a number are shown as Killed in Action, long after the Surrender in Singapore, some a couple of years after. Is this an error? Any explanation gratefully Recd.

 

Without sight of the Casualty Lists you are referring to it is difficult to give an explanation. Names often appear on several lists. Lists were updated as and when information became available - an onerous task for the Casualty Branches located remotely in the UK. You need to follow the information. ie. The List may be headed 'Killed in action', 'Reported missing', 'Now reported POW', etc. When a casualty's information is amended there is normally a reference to the previous Casualty List. The Far East theatre was particularly difficult and information took a long time to get through. KIA might not even be known until after the war was over.
If you post a copy of the Casualty List you refer to I or others can probably give you a better answer.

Tim

 

Mike, an interesting and well researched story so far.
Cant see any mention anywhere regarding the 14 men sent to Formosa, and repatriation from Formosa and mainland Japan seems a bit bypassed. Not a criticism, meant to identify where detail is lacking in a story that is elsewhere well detailed.
Mike

 

Hi Enigma1003. I know this is a long shot after so long, but 137 research continues and I've been away from this forum for ages, but found your post above of interest. Can you let me have more info on the 14 sent to Formosa, or provide a source? Thanks in advance. Mike

 

Mike,
See Never Forgotten :: The Story of the Taiwan POW Camps and the men who were intered in them. In the search box enter '137' in 'Regiment' and the men will be listed.

Tim