147 Regiment Field Artillery (supporting 8th Armoured brigade)

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Sherbet, Jan 18, 2011.

  1. Sherbet

    Sherbet Junior Member

    Hello all,

    Pleased to be a part of such a well-informed community.

    I have been conducting some (provisional) research into the war-time activities of my late grandfather, who served in the 147th, Essex Yeomanry, in Normandy and elsewhere. From the literature, I beleive that most of the 147th were firing their 25-pdr's from the Landing craft on the running in to Gold. I have also learnt that their targets were somewhere within Jig sector, and that both Sexton and Sherman (25 pdr's on a tank chassis) were on the beach sometime on the morning of 6 June.
    Everything else fits seemlessly with my Grandfather's accounts of that time: Tily to the Seine, Antwerp to Bremen, then later Kiel (having been detatched from XXX corps, following the German surrender).
    So why, please tell me why, was my Grandfather so adament about his claim that he, and his crew, were put ashore at Juno!!!? It doesn't make any sense.

    How could he possibly err on something so crucial?

    Much thanks for any light,
     
  2. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Hi Sherbet + Welcome
    147 (Army) SP Field Regt RHA
    As far as i can see they landed with 50th Div on Gold and then went up to Juno to meet with the Canadians before being attached to 8th Armd.
    The only way to be sure is their War-Diary
    WO171/995, Jan-Dec 44, at the NA Kew.
    Rob
     
  3. Sherbet

    Sherbet Junior Member

    Thanks Rob,

    That's what I understand, too: 50th Division as part of XXX Corps. Had not found any Juno connection at all, though, so that's news to me - where might I find this tantalising reference?

    As to the war diary, great news, again, thank you. Being new to all this, I can't help feeling like I'm stumbling, blindly, past all the decent material!

    best wishes,

    S
     
  4. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Hi Sherbet + Welcome
    147 (Army) SP Field Regt RHA
    As far as i can see they landed with 50th Div on Gold and then went up to Juno to meet with the Canadians before being attached to 8th Armd.
    The only way to be sure is their War-Diary
    WO171/995, Jan-Dec 44, at the NA Kew.
    Rob

    Gold may have been the beach that they were designated to land on, but there was a fair amount of confusion around at the time, and some sections are known to have landed on the wrong beaches.
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    welcome to the forum Sherbet
     
  6. Sherbet

    Sherbet Junior Member

    Hi Phil,

    Is there any evidence that this could have happened to a Sherman SP Gun. There were certainly a few tanks on the beach (personal account on the Essx Yeomanry site for one, that sexton which put out the blockhouse at Le Hamel, another).
    Maybe the regiment were dispersed across different LCTs. If not, he can't have landed at Juno. And that's that.
    ...Could a LCT really get the wrong beach? I don't know enough about all this to make a satisfactory inference.
     
  7. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    147th Essex Yeomanry June 1944, War Diary ยป Normandy War Guide

    Has...

    The June 1944 War Diary of the 147th Essex Yeomanry covers the unit from Southampton and their fighting in Normandy to Brettevillette.
    National Archive Reference: WO 171/995

    Including

    6th June 1944 -

    "D" Day OVERLORD. H Hour - 0730 hours.
    RHQ lands 0930 hours on Jig Red Beach.
    Major R.B. Gosling, Battery Commander, 431 Battery, wounded - Capt M.G. Beale assumes command.
    SP 25-pr, 511 Battery, knocked out two A/Tk guns at Le Hamel with open site shooting.
    RHQ established by 1200 hrs 908863.

    1430 - FOOs with 1 Hamps reported still mopping up in Le Hamel. RHQ established night 6/7 June 836828
     
  8. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Ramiles likes this.

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