155 Battery 172 Royal Field Artillery

Hi Drew - just checked the RAA FB page - no responses to my post? Do you mean the RA page?

 

Just checked both again - can see no info? Kind regards, T

 

Found it last night - I've already posted on both RA pages - hoping someone might see it but nothing since my original post last month. TY tho - just want to help William.

 

Hi
My grandad was there in E Troop I believe

 

Hi there - can I ask your Grandads name?

 

Hardy Alfred John
I have the invite to the 25th centenary dinner which has photos of E and F troop before deployment overseas. Unfortunately his beja badge and a beja plaque which was on his house were stolen when he died.

 

Can I ask a huge favour - could you scan the photo's & send them to me at the magazine? I am going to run a serial story in the next couple of magazines - it would be amazing to surprise William with a copy too.

 

Would you mind asking William if he knew my grandad as I would love to talk with him

 

Hi Tara,
I'm about half a century late discovering this forum and I'm not exactly sure how it works. But here goes!
My father was L. Bombardier. Norman H. Lovelock with the 155th R.A. at Sidi N'sir 26th.February 1943. I'm not sure whether he was with Troop E or F initially, but was manning the last remaining gun of E troop until it was destroyed. He was knocked unconscious by an incoming shell and temporarily blinded and deafened.
It was all over when he came to and was thus captured.
As with the other prisoners from that battle, he was transported to Italy and a prison camp before being moved to Germany when Italy capitulated.
We emigrated to New Zealand in 1954 and my father died in 1983, just 3 weeks short of 70 years old.
My brother and I, as young boys, heard the story of the battle frequently and in much detail but as we grew up our interest waned.
Recently, my nephew in NZ and my grandson in Australia simultaneously became interested in Dad's war history. Hence my renewed curiosity and my immense surprise at the continued interest by so many people in that crucial and underappreciated battle.
My brother has my Father's campaign medals and I have his gold Oak Leaf and well as his war diaries written in pencil, yet to be transcribed - a future project, although I remain aware that I am now only 2 weeks short of 70 myself. I'm unsure as to why there is no unofficial commemorative badge as described in so many posts
We also have the newspaper reports from 1943, some with the names of those who were taken prisoner, over and above the initial battle survivors who made it back to their lines.
If any one is interested in this belated contact, feel to comment.
Given the amount of information available now, it's unlikely I can add much that's new.
I can say that Dad recounted the bravery of the men who continued to replace the observers on high ground as they were endlessly being killed by enemy fire.
I also have a photo of my Father and two other R.A. members (during training) standing in a foxhole manning a Lewis machine gun. There are no names but a inscription on the back, 155th R.A. 1st Army.

 

Photos can tell so much. One of the links here took me to: The Beja Battle Badge Part 1 - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Within that is a post:

 

Hi John

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: N H Lovelock
Rank: Gunner
Army Number: 1091313
Regiment: Royal Artillery
POW Number: 155295
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: XVII-B
Camp Location: Gneixendorf, Austria

Looks as though he was shipped to Austria rather than Germany - small but significant difference, you could apply for his service records if you wish, forms are in this link Request records of deceased service personnel

TD

 

Hi Tricky Dicky,
Thanks for that clarification. The Austrian connection piqued my interest and I dug out Dad's diaries and had a good read. Over 75 years old and in tiny pencil writing it is very hard work. However, I discovered he did know he was in Austria in Stalag 17-B. Why he said Germany may just have been because he figured, as youngsters, we wouldn't know where Austria was.
I also discovered that he was in F Troop and was on the last active gun. In the diary is a draft of the letter he sent to a Mrs Lewington (I think I've read it correctly) advising her that her Jim had been killed in the Sidi N'Sir action.
" Dear Mrs Lewington,
No doubt by now Jim has been reported missing. I regret to say he passed away. I was with him when we were hit by a shell from a Jerry tank. He did not suffer but died an instant and gallant death firing our last round of ammunition. I offer my deepest sympathy. May God comfort you and keep safe you and the boy.
Yours sincerely,
N Lovelock"

Regards
Kiwi John

 

Here very late in the day, but was fascinated to read other posts.

My late father was with the 172nd RA at Beja and received the Beja badge. He died in 1976 and sadly the badge was lost: a matter of great regret to me.

He went on to fight in Sicily, was at the Salerno landings and fought as far as Monte Cassino. He was there when the monastery fell.

He went on to serve in India and finished his military career as an officer with the Sohan Mountain Battery on the North West Frontier.

There are so many tales of bravery from WWII; it’s astonishing what trials these men and women endured, yet most of them recovered and went on to live happy lives.

 

Hi kiwi John
Any chance you could send the image over and I could try and identify the men in it?

 

Hi Drew
How do I obtain these? What red link?
Regards
Darrell

 

Hi all
Here is a photo of my grandfather I recently unearthed( seated front) can anyone shed any further light on the other men or vehicles?
Regards
Darrell

 

That was quick thanks!
Any idea on the three stripes on the side or X 42?