hi everone, just picked up a lot of stuff via a car boot from a family of the deceased veteran, included medals paybook, release book photos letters ect ect to a l.Cpl Arthur James, of 1536 Artillery Platoon (Heavy) RASC. also included is a personal diary most of which is written 41-44 in north africa and italy. Iam wondering what exactly an artillery platoon was and what he may have done. what divisions he may have been attatched to. 46th? and where they served, he also mentiones a transfer to 56th division, he also has the france and Germany star, but can't find out where on when he served any ideas, any information would help many thanks matt
Hi Matt Just checked the National Archives database and found the following:- There was an RASC Unit called 1536 Platoon. The war diary numbers are:- WO169/12051 - Dec 42 to Dec 43 - Middle East WO170/2043 - Jan to Dec 1944 - Italy WO170/5890 - Jan to Mar 1945 - Italy WO171/6394 - Apr to Oct 1945 - North West Europe. As to what they did, your guess in as good as mine. Only looking at the war diaries can tell you that. The info as to where he was certainly tallies. Cheers - Rob
Matthew - try looking up 5th Infantry Division which was known as the globetrotters as they were all over the place - Madagascar - Palestine - Desert - Tunisia -Italy - Anzio etc finishing up in NWE Cheers
thanks for the reply's will do, the diary mentiones Sudan as well, will read through the diary see where else he gets to, matt
you could well be right, his personnal diary talks about Alamain, and bringing up ammo to the guns..... matt
Matt This is from the Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations: During WW2, the War Establishment for a Medium Regiment RA laid down that it should contain an Artillery Platoon drawn from the Royal Army Service Corps. This unit consisted of two officers and one hundred men, equipped with 40 three-ton lorries. It was responsible for providing ammunition, preserved rations and petrol or diesel oil. Hope that helps. Phil
phil, it certainly does! Just wonder what divisions or larger units he may have been part of al least i have a better idea what he did now matt
Matt Just to confirm what Phil has already said, AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) Medium & Heavy Regt's RA/RCA also had an Arty RASC Coy attached. Rob War-Diary: On arrival at the beachhead the formation of 9 AGRA now consisted of the following regiments:- 9th Med RA 10th Med RA 11th Med RA 107th Med RA 146th Med RA 738 Arty Coy RASC
