25th Battery RA 1923-24

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Uncle Target, Nov 27, 2019.

  1. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I am trying to find out who is in the photo so it would help to know a bit about this Battery.
    It is pre WW2 but at least one of them fought in WW2.
    In the same envelope are photos of both mounted RA and a Yeomanry soldier plus others which I will look out later today to post.
    The Mounted Dragoon type soldier is posted on the Warwickshire Yeomanry thread as we think that s where he served. If you read the wiki thread on there you will see why we think they ended up as Warwickshire Yeomanry. They were TA in the Warwickshire area.
    They also appear on the Vehicle Identification thread with an Aerial Motorbike and one soldier in RA uniform on a horse.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Nov 27, 2019
  2. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    Hi Uncle Target,

    Using Frederick, Joslen and Indian Army List as sources, the following is a summary of the 25th Battery, R.A., formed and served as part of the 25th Field Regiment, R.A.:

    25th Field Regiment, R.A.

    March 1900 46th Brigade-Division, R.F.A. formed with 12th, 25th and 58th Batteries.
    1903 Redesignated 46th Brigade, R.F.A.
    1st August 1913 Redesignated 35th Brigade, R.F.A.
    17th May 1916 31st (H.) Battery joined
    1st November 1922 Redesignated 25th Brigade, R.F.A.
    1st June 1924 Redesignated 25th Field Brigade, R.A.
    1924-25 Served as depot brigade at School of Artillery, Larkhill
    March 1929 Arrived in India from the United Kingdom, moved to Nowshera
    Nov 1934 – Jul 1936 Regiment at Jhansi with 12th and 31st Batteries; 25th Battery at Allahabad
    1st January 1937 Regiment at Jhansi: 12th Battery arrived at Allahabad from Jhansi; 25th Battery arrived at Jhansi from Allahabad; 31st Battery arrived at Jhansi from Nowshera
    May 1938 Redesignated 25th Field Regiment, R.A.
    3rd September 1939 Stationed in India at Jhansi with 9th Indian Infantry Brigade
    February 1940 Moved to Kirkee
    April or August 1940 About this time reorganised on a two battery basis with 12th/25th and 31st/58th Batteries, in India
    10th September 1940 Embarked for Egypt
    26th September 1940 Arrived in Egypt and came under the 4th Indian Infantry Division
    February 1941 Moved to Eritrea with the 4th Division
    1st May 1941 Returned to Egypt with the 4th Division
    6th June 1942 Moved to Tobruk with 11th Indian Infantry Brigade Group
    20th June 1942 Captured at Tobruk
    16th April 1942 Reorganised as a field regiment less one field battery
    21st September 1942 Regiment and batteries reduced to cadre after the fall of Tobruk
    14th March 1944 Reformed at Retford from personnel of 117th Field Regiment: 12th/25th, 31st and 58th Batteries reformed from personnel of 168th, 169th and 170th Batteries respectively
    10th December 1946 25th Battery “de-linked” and reformed for 21st Field Regiment, R.A.
    1st April 1947 25th Field Regiment redesignated 29th Field Regiment, R.A.

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2019
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  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    As the subject of our studies was a TA soldier not serving abroad until WW2 the photo must have been taken at Larkhill.
    We are fairly sure he was born in Redditch Worcestershire, he certainly lived there as a lad but we think moved to Studley 3 miles away in Warwickshire.
    He seems to have then paraded with the Warwickshire TA at either Alcester or Stratford upon Avon.
    This brings another photo into play which I think is the 67th Field Regt Malvern Battery on a display day.
    At some time he must have been with the 67th parading at his local TA in Redditch 267 Battery. This was less than a mile from where he lived with his parents.

    The photo on the horse with rifle and sabre is probably in Palestine where the Warwickshire Yeomanry were posted with horses in the 1st Cavalry Division.
    They mechanised in August 1941.

    photo 003 Attached is a photo taken by CD Walton a well known photographer in Malvern. He was working between 1904 and 1940 it was probably taken circa 1919 probably when Malvern became part of the 67th (South Midland) Brigade having previously been part of Kidderminster Battery forming the Brigade Ammunition Column. There does not appear to be any guns featured in the photo.
    The designation 67th stayed with them for another 28 years as the 67th Field Regiment.

    Our subject may have gone there as a young lad maybe even as an Army Cadet. There is a picture of a young man in an unidentifiable uniform (soldier 1b).
    After WW1 cadets were forbidden to wear Army insignia for several years.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I would like to thank you all for the help in solving a mystery for my relative. Being able to access so many experts in various fields, picture by picture we have put together a credible scenario behind them. The motorcycle photo gave a credible date and shows either a group of friends or army comrades having fun in the years approaching WW2.
    My initial interest was the 67th Field Regiment but as with other historical phases that I have studied they grow into a wider narrative.
    Pease convey my thanks to all those involved in the various threads.
     

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