Ist Light Scout car Field Park at Ballantrae. Hi I am trying to discover my dads war history and I have a record that shows he was in the Royal Artillery 9th battalion but in Jan 1943 was Permanently Attached to the 1 light Scout field park at Ballantrae. From there he was posted to India and was in India and Burma until 1946. Can anyone assist in a history or description of the Scout car Park and its purpose in India. Or assist in where I can look. Many thanks Tim
Did you dad ever say what type of scout car were used? It sounds like a specialist unit so good luch with your search. there as quite an archive at the public records office Sonic Warfare Records, WWII - Your Archives
Hello Singeager, That is the strange thing. In his war photos and his tales it was all about large trucks (Bedfords I think) The scout car reference seems to be a bit of a red herring.
Hi there, I too have been looking into my granddads war history. He was enlisted into the RAOC as a storeman in 1944. From this point he moved about a fair bit posted to Earlstoke which I found to be an American Hospital. From what he told my dad it appears he had some involvement in this sonic deception unit as well. He was also attached to the 1st light scout field park at Ballantrae (this is stamped onto his papers as a restricted posting) then on to India. All of these postings were with the 60 special squadron. (Again as stamped on his papers). So far I haven't been able to find out any information about 60 special squadron. I know that your posts were from a few years ago have you found out any more information about there postings to India? Do you have any squad pictures as they may have served together at some point? many thanks Christopher Blackman
I have tried to find out more about my father's work at Ballantrae. His army records show that he was commissioned as second lieutenant and posted to the Coastal Artillery Training Unit in Plymouth in mid - January 1944. At the end of January 1944 he was posted to 3 Light Scout Field Park, Ballantrae. I know that place was a "secret". In fact, it was so secret that when I inquired on trip to Ballantrae a few years ago nobody had any knowledge of that secret work nor where it was carried out. My father told me that he was involved in making the sounds of tanks. Apparently the British Army had full sized model "tanks". These fake tanks were deployed over a large area. The enemy knew that the British Army had fake tanks but did not know which ones were fake and therefore had to spend their defences over that large area. The sonic unit that my father was attached to was involved in making the sounds of tanks to further add to the confusion between fake and real tanks.
Yes my dad also drove the Bedford trucks in India. Driving around with large speakers and a large recording device that he used to play battle sounds on. In an attempt to confuse the Japanese.
Sounds like they were possibly involved in psychological warfare in Burma. We had a great thread on this a while back. Might be relevant to your research: History of SOE Political Warfare Section, Force 136
For the record, files held at TNA Kew [WO 166 Series = Home Service] 1 Light Scout Car Field Park | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/11067 Description: 1 Light Scout Car Field Park [Royal Armoured Corps] Date: 1942 Dec.-1943 June 2 Light Scout Car Field Park | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/11068 Description: 2 Light Scout Car Field Park Date: 1943 Jan.-Dec. 2 Light Scout Car Field Park | The National Archives Reference: WO 166/16625 Description: 2 Light Scout Car Field Park [Royal Armoured Corps] Date: 1945 Jan.-Oct. [WO 171 Series = North West Europe] 3 Light Scout Car Field Park | The National Archives Reference: WO 171/905 Description: 3 Light Scout Car Field Park [Royal Armoured Corps] Date: 1944 June- Dec.
Tim, I have the following notes that might help you. Other folks on here may be able to expand further: In September 1942, the 303rd Indian Armoured Brigade was "formed" in Baghdad to command three Indian cavalry regiments: 65th, 66th and 67th. This was set up by Advance H.Q "X" Force (a three-man team sent from "A" Force in Cairo) to create deception measures for Persia and Iraq into fooling the Germans that there were larger forces in theatre than there actually was. The "regiments" were deception units with only skeleton staff and the whole "Brigade" numbered less than 200 men. The "Brigade" built dummy armoured vehicles. However, by early 1943 the need for a "dummy tank brigade" in the theatre had diminished and in April 1943 it was decided the send the "brigade" to India to conduct deception measures against the Japanese. The "brigade" sailed with elements of 5th Indian Division to India, arriving in early June 1943. After two months, it was decided to re-designate the "Brigade" as 303rd Indian Infantry Brigade and the units reorganised into a H.Q. Unit and six "Observation Squadrons", numbered 51st to 56th. These were manned by the Intelligence Corps (India) and were to deal in tactical deception against the Japanese. Each "squadron" consisted of a thirty-man field section. In December 1943 this force was augmented by the 4th & 5th Light Scout Car Companies, trained and equipped in the U.K. for sonic deception warfare with Bedford lorries, Scout White Cars and jeeps, and 1st Light Scout Field Park that produced soundtracks for their Poplin equipment 51st Squadron served at Imphal, 53rd & 56th Squadrons served with the second Chindit expedition, whilst 52nd, 54th & 55th Squadrons served on the Arakan front. By mid-1944 all of the squadrons were withdrawn as they only had limited success and collected at Barasat, near Calcutta. In September 1944 the Light Scout Car Companies were converted into two more Observation Squadrons, now totalling eight, and these were in turn re-designated Companies and assigned a specific ethnic group: 51st Company - Punjabi Mussulmen 52nd Company - Pathans 53rd Company - Jats 54th Company - British 55th Company - Sikh 56th Company - British 57th Company - Punjabi Mussulmen 58th Company - British On 18th October 1944 the "Brigade" was re-designated "D" (Deception) Force and all companies, except the 56th, were in action in Burma by January 1945. "D" Force returned to India in May 1945 and the three British companies were amalgamated and re-designated the 59th & 60th Special Squadrons That's all I have, hope it helps a little Regards RobG64
Hi everyone, Having been a while since the last post on this thread has anyone found out any more information about the light scout cars and involvement out in India. My own research has led me to discover the ship that transported my grandfather from the UK to Bombay "SS Strahnaver" and I have found that when he arrived he was sent to a transit camp in Kaylan which there was an active RAF airfield (until 1947) 6km south of the town. Also does anyone now where to find out what the basic training upon call up consisted of or where to find this as my searches throw up training from the present day. Many Thanks Regards Chris.
Hi everyone, Just wondering if anyone has managed to uncover any more information in there research. Regards Chris.
Hi, I feel I have struck gold. I have been looking into my fathers army service during WW2. I have his army records, he was originally with 58th (Sussex) Field Regt RA. However, his trace goes a bit odd after the regt returned to UK from North Africa in 42/43. (He was awarded the BNAF medal) His service record has him on an X-List at Ballantrae and Colmonell, Ayrshire Scotland, assigned to 2 Light Scout Car Coy and 3 Light Scout Car Field Park (or could be Party). and then, from late 42 through part of 43 he is shown as embarking/disembarking overseas. He has Italy Star and I have a photo of him somewhere in Italy in early 44. I have tried in vane to fine any references to these Light Scout Car units, until, that is I read this post. Not only that, my dad, who would not talk about his service, did on one occasion talk to me and my son about being involved in deception by making battle sounds and broadcasting these over loud speakers, and, I think he inferred this was done at at least one of the Italian landings. So, Thanks to those who have posted, and I would appreciate any help or additional information on this topic, and the post have helped me regain my efforts after a period of dead ends. Thanks John H
