Hi all Does anyone know how many batteries the regiment had in late 1941 for CRUSADER? Was it on the old 2-battery or the new 3-battery organisation? many thanks! All the best Andreas
2nd Field Brigade (Natal Field Artillery) A Battery moved to Potchefstroom at the end of November 1939. The brigade was raised on 8 February 1940 from A and B Batteries, The Natal Field Artillery at Durban and C Battery, The Natal Field Artillery at Pietermaritzburg. These batteries were renamed 4th, 5th and 6th Field Batteries. It became part of 2nd South African Infantry Division on its formation on 23 October 1940. It moved to the Middle East with the division in 8-17 August 1941. It was retitled 2nd Field Regiment on its arrival in Egypt. The regiment served under command of 2nd South African Infantry Division until it was lost at Tobruk on 20 June 1942. It was detached under Oases Force (29th Indian Infantry Brigade) during the Crusader battles in November and December 1941, but returned for the frontier battles of Bardia-Sollum-Halfaya in December 1941 to January 1942.
Do you know if there is a list of NFA soldiers captured at Tobruk who ended up in Italian POW camps? I have tried to trace details of my father, Gerald Allan Vincent, NFA, ended up near Perugia in pow camp. I am visiting the area in 4 weeks, and would dearly like to find out where he was held. He escaped in 1942 and got back to Durban where he continued to serve as an interpreter for Italian pow's until the end of the war. Thanks Cheryl Orton
I have discovered, thanks to help from WWIItalk folk, that my father was in H206 Military Hospital Nocera, but as he always talked about Perugia, I presume he was moved from Nocera. I am still trying to make the link. Hope someone can help. Thanks Cheryl
There are several Nocera in Italy. Nocera Umbra is about 20 miles to the East of Perugia. Perhaps a matter of generalisation.
Cheryl My partner is from near Perugia. If you send me what other information you have, I might be able to help you. All the best Andreas
Hello Andreas. Here is what I have so far. Gerald Allan Vincent, born 22nd August, 1922. Natal Field Artillery, Durban. Rank: Gunner. Serial No. Could be 51183. Could be linked to - 2 Field Regiment, NFA, 2 SA Division, captured at Tobruk, around 26th June, 1942. National Archives, Kew – Catalogue WO392/21 G A Vincent, Gunner, Serial No 51183. H206 Military Hospital, Nocera. Could be Nocera Umbria, 20 mls east of Perugia? Interned in a p.o.w. camp near Perugia. Could be Marsciano, south of Perugia. Listed in places as PG115/3 The prisoners were put to work in the brick factory and on the roads, could have been sent to work on the farms. Memories from brother Allan Vincent in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – Worked on a tobacco farm belonging to an Italian Count. Tobacco was dried by the heat from the chimneys of the brick factory. They escaped by climbing the chimneys and got over the top. Eventually made his way back to South Africa, and in Durban he rejoined his regiment and because of having picked up the language in Italy, he became an interpreter for the Italian Prisoners of War in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. He befriended many of the Italian prisoners, and his batman, Gregorio Fiasconaro, stayed in South Africa after the end of the war, and became leader of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, and was a leading figure in opera and classical music circles in South Africa. He eventually married a South African lady and they had a son, Marcello Fiasconaro, who was an elite athlete. Some assistance has been offered by a contact of our accommodation near Gualdo Tadino, he is from the Institute for Contemporary History of Umbria. I believe they hold documents regarding prisoners of war, and might come up with something. That is everything I know. Many thanks to you and all the others for offers of assistance. Regards, Cheryl and Martin
This may help a bit: http://www.badgergate.demon.co.uk/LUSIGNANA/PDF_files/WWII/Escape%20Routes%20Italy%201943.pdf All the best Andreas
I am trying to obtain a picture or pictures of the Umgeni Battery in Durban South Africa. I am attaching some text sent to me by Ken Gillings as it gives more detail of the battery. "Umgeni Battery was established in 1942. Its task was to cover the Outer Anchorage and ships were able to be covered while at anchor 3 km or more from the harbour. When convoys called at Durban there could be as many as 30 ships lying at anchor outside the harbour. The battery position is close to Virginia Airport and the guns were covered with camouflage nets. The Battery was equipped with two BL 6-inch naval guns (serial numbers 37 and 59). The guns were numbered K1 and K2, were situated to the north and south respectively." Any information on this would be of real interest.
