25th AT Regt / 13th Mobile Coast Defence / 17th & 26th Defence Regts MALTA..?

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Skip, Aug 20, 2014.

  1. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Hello All,

    Just wondering if there are any Royal Artillery experts that might be able to advise on the following service record postings. I have a Gunner who arrived on Malta in March/April 1939 with the 26th Anti-Tank Regiment on arrival in Malta. This was re-designated the 13th Mobile Coast Defence Regiment in July 1940 (in response to the first enemy air attacks?). In February 1941 it was again re-designated as the 17th Defence Regiment although my man was posted to the 26th Defence Regiment that July.

    My questions are:

    1. Can anyone give some reasoning to all the re-designations?
    2. Was the 26th Defence Regt in reality a different unit to the 17th or was this an amalgamation/name change?
    3. Am I right in thinking that his initial anti-tank role on arrival on Malta was converted to one of anti-aircraft in July 1940, and that this was the same role held by the 17th and 26th Defence Regts?

    Any help very much appreciated as WW2 RA units seem to be my Achilles Heal!

    Cheers

    Skip
     
  2. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    I could also do with knowing under which of these units (if any) the 40th Defence Battery at Tal Handak fitted into? I think probably the 13th Mobile Coastal Defence Regiment but I'd be grateful if anyone can confirm this ...

    Cheers

    Skip
     
  3. My father, Arthur Saxby, also arrived in Malta, 6/4/39 with the RA and I understand he was with 26 Regt. but that is all I know. I have a few photos of him in Malta but it is difficult to tell were the location is. He left Malta on 22/9/43 to become part of the MEF on 23/9/43.
     
  4. Lizard10

    Lizard10 Member

     
  5. Lizard10

    Lizard10 Member

    Hi there
    I've been looking into my grandfather James Edward Jones' history. We are in malta on holiday. I've just found out that he was in 17th Coast RA. We know he was in Gibraltar in 1928 but had not known of a malta connection. I can't add more to your questions but I do have some photos. One of which was in a mediteranean location so perhaps it's in malta not Gibraltar.
    Thanks for your info
    It may be a piece in my puzzle too
    Lizard
     
  6. Hi Skip and Lizard,
    I have recently obtained my dad's service records and all his dates tie in with yours so I presume that your gunner and my dad were in the same unit. I don't know about it being an anti-tank unit though as on his records it looks like 40/26 Fd Regt. Also I found this on Wikipedia;
    Artillery[edit]
    • The Island's regular Royal Artillery force component was like its Maltese counterpart performing a mainly fixed defence role, even wheeled artillery tended to occupy fixed positions to defend against a hostile landing at beaches:
      • 4th Coast Regiment, RA made up of (a HQ Battery, 6th, 10th & 23rd Coast Batteries)
      • 12th Field Regiment RA - initially equipped with 18 Pounder Field Guns, but later equipped with 25 Pounder Field Guns (the only real mobile artillery support for the infantry brigades).[17]
      • 26th Defence Regiment, RA made up of (a HQ Battery, 15th/40th & 48th/71st Defence Batteries).

    • In 1940 it was Redesignated 13th Mobile Coast Defence but so far I can't find any details regarding this unit. Then in 1941 it was redesignated again this time to 17th Defence Regt. My dad was transferred back to a Field Regt, this being the 26th again.
    • On 23 Sept 1943, the unit was struck off the strength of Malta and taken on strength of MEF (Middle East Forces)
     
  7. Ian ling

    Ian ling New Member

    Hi
    My father also arrived on Malta on 6/4/39 and left for the Middle east on 22/9/43 he was a Gunnery sergeant.
    He was initially on the 26th Regt then transferred to the 13th Mobile and then to the 17 Defence Regt
     

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