21st Anti Tank Regt, Y Battery R A. attached to XXX Corps

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Richard 21, Nov 19, 2015.

  1. Richard 21

    Richard 21 New Member

    I am interested in anything known or held , relating to 21st Anti Tank Regt , ( Y Battery ). Which was attached to the Guards Amoured Div and XXX Corps. The period of interest is from 21.6.44 to 25.1.46.

    The reason for this is that my late father was a WS/BDR, with this battery from landing in Normandy 21.6.44, Nijmegen, Meuse (Arennes), through to southern Germany and returning to UK 25.1.46.
     
  2. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum Richard, good luck with your research.


    David
     
  3. Richard 21

    Richard 21 New Member

    Thank you David for your welcome.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi
    war diaries held at TNA, Kew covering 1944-46

    http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4441023


    .http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4444872



    .http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4449128
    [hr]

    IWM hold this
    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/publication/400001792
    as well as listing other refs:
    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=%2221st%20anti-tank%20regiment%22&items_per_page=10

    [hr]
    an account here on Philip Reinders' site
    http://www.royalartilleryunitsnetherlands1944-1945.com/21-anti-tank-regt.html

    as well as an excerpt from their diary
    http://www.royalartilleryunitsnetherlands1944-1945.com/y-battery.html
     
  5. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Richard,

    I thought 21 A/TK Regt comprised 2nd (Minden), 'Q' (Sanna's Post) and 'Z' Batteries. This was for Sep 44 during Op Market Garden though, so perhaps it changed?

    Regards

    Tom
     
  6. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    Richard

    Welcome

    My main interest is the British Army presence in Northern Germany in the immediate post war period but I do have a few snippets of information which may be of interest to you

    The Cuxhaven peninsular, between the Rivers Elbe and Weser, was the final objective of 30 Corps and the Guards Armoured Division in particular in early May 1945.

    According to my information 21 Anti Tank Regiment were based in the Cappel area to the south west of the town/port of Cuxhaven proper in mid May 1945 immediately after the German Surrender.

    In early Summer 1945 there were a number of moves of Formations/ major units.as the British Army spread out across the entire future British Occupation Zone replacing in some cases American Formations. The Guards Division moved south to the Rhineland south of Cologne in mid June 1945. However at the same time 21 Anti Tank Regiment left the Guards Division and came under command 7 Armoured Division of 8 British Corps and moved to the area of Schleswig Holstein north west of Hamburg on the east bank of the River Elbe and south of the Kiel Canal. Matters were further complicated by the fact that at the same time Headquarters 7 Armoured Division and selected units left for Berlin to form the basis of the first British Army Garrison in the city. 21 ATK Regiment were not involved.

    According to my sources the Regiment were subject to a number of moves in late Summer/early Autumn 1945 (I am currently uncertain exactly where they were in late Autumn 1945/New Year 1946l) I know the Regiment moved to Aurich close to the Dutch border in Spring 1946 but by then your father had returned to civilian life. These locations are
    Pinneberg 21 June 1945
    Wilstedt 29 July 1945
    Brundesbuttelkoog 29 August
     
    dbf likes this.
  7. Richard 21

    Richard 21 New Member

    Thank you all for your help in this matter so far, all very interesting and informative.
    Richard
     
  8. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

    Richard

    To add some more detail to Bluebell Minor’s post

    8 May 45 – 21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA of HQRA Guards Division
    RHQ: Schwinge south-west of Stade – to Cappel south of Cuxhaven
    21 May 45 – to Blender west of Verden
    28 May 45 – to Sandbostel south of Bremervörde
    15 Jun 45 – Temporary command to 51st (Highland) Infantry Division
    21 Jun 45 – to HQRA 7th Armoured Division Pinneburg north-west of Hamburg
    14 Jul 45 – to 22nd Armoured Brigade while HQRA 7th Armoured Division was in Berlin
    29 Jul 45 – to Wilster north-west of Itzehoe
    29 Aug 45 – to Brunsbüttel west of Itzehoe
    5 Oct 45 – returns to HQRA 7th Armoured Division
    15 Jul 46 – to Aurich with Q (Sanna’s Post) Battery in Onsabrück

    Have conflicting information regarding batteries
    2 (Minden) Battery – Q (Sanna’s Post) Battery – Y Battery – Z Battery

    Then later
    P Battery – Q (Sanna’s Post) Battery – X Battery – Z Battery

    9 Oct 46 – redesignated 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (Anti-Tank)
    F Battery – V Battery – W Battery

    1 May 47 – redesignated 10th Anti-Tank Regiment RA
    Q (Sanna’s Post) Battery – Y Battery – Z/F Battery
    by Oct 47 – 2 (Minden) Battery reformed
     
    dbf likes this.
  9. David Buckman

    David Buckman New Member

    My Grandad W/Sgt 821496 Frederick William Ward, served in 21st anti tank regt RA. I served Myself, as a Jnr Ldr RA 1988, then Maritime BlueJob RCT1990, then TA 63 Sig Sqn 2003. I love military history, and we have got My grandads service records etc. I found this group, and noticed the posts about the Regt. My grandad passed away in 1982, but if anyone remembers him, it would be great to here from you.
    Many thanks
    David: Posted 15/10/2016
     
    Drew5233 likes this.

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