51 Medium Regiment RA. Minturno

Discussion in 'Italy' started by andalucia, Jul 23, 2005.

  1. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Can anyone tell me anything about this regiment? My grandfather joined up with them in late1943 , previous to that he was stationed in Malta as a Gunner with RA 12th field regt,222nd AA. He sadly died in action on 25 Jan 1944 and is buried at Minturno War Cemetery. I hopeto try and find where he would have landed in Italy (he left Malta 29 oct 1943) and where he would have fought along the way to Minturno.

    Thank You

    Anthony Hogan
     
  2. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    The unit was part of X corps Eighth army. Chances are he would have landed at naples and then moved north to his unit.



    Welcome to the boards and i am sure there is someone here who can give you more detailed info!
     
  3. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Thank you Morse :D

    That information is great and im glad i found this site

    Anthony
     
  4. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    Originally posted by andalucia@Jul 24 2005, 08:15 AM
    Thank you Morse :D

    That information is great and im glad i found this site

    Anthony
    [post=36809]Quoted post[/post]

    If you get a copy of Vol 4 of Spike Milligans war memoirs then you can get more info.

    Also:

    Stoke-on-Trent 1938
    France 1940 - 3 Corps Troops
    UK 1940-2 - Western Comd
    N Africa 1942-3 - 8 Army Troops
    N Africa 1943 - 5 AGRA
    Sicily 1943 - 5 AGRA
    Italy 1943 - 1 AGRA
    Italy 1944 - Army Troops att 56 (London) Inf Div & 1 Cdn AGRA
    Mid East 1944 - 3 Corps
     
  5. No.9

    No.9 Senior Member

    There's an out of print book (which I haven't read). that may have some info; "THE ROYAL ARTILLERY COMMEMORATION BOOK 1939-1945", however, it may only give a thumbnail at best and could cost around £100.

    Suggest you visit and register with the Public Records Office (National Archives) at Kew and pull folder:

    WO 170/1002 : Medium Regiments: 51 Med. Regt : 1944 Jan.- June

    To visit and read is free and they will do you photo copies for a small fee.

    You should be able to discover the role of the 51st at the time of his death and who they were supporting. With luck there will be a book or books covering the action, albeit from the infantry aspect, so you should be able to get an overall picture of what was happening at the time and what the 51st were doing.

    If you intend to visit the cemetery/area, practically, fly into Naples and hire a self-drive car. The cemetery is straight forward to find by the road-side on the SS7 close to the north bank of the Garigliano River next to an old Roman amphitheatre. Though there is no town or hamlet there, there is a hotel between the amphitheatre and the cemetery. i.e. On the SS7 heading south to north, direction Scauri, you cross the road bridge over the Garigliano (better to use the old local road bridge), then on the left is the amphitheatre, then the hotel, then the entrance to the cemetery - small car park for 6 or so cars. You're a fair distance from the town of Minturno and unless you have something specific to visit there, I wouldn't put it on a tour list.

    No.9
     
  6. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Thanks for the info No 9 :D

    I do not drive so i am hoping to find out about trains that go near to the cemetery and can i get one from Naples. 1st August...my grandfather would have been 93 today.
     
  7. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    No 9
    thank you so much for the maps you sent..they are a great help and give me a better insight into where my grandfather was. very good of you..thank you...Anthony
     
  8. No.9

    No.9 Senior Member

    Glad to help when able. Good luck with your search.

    No.9
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Tony hasn't been able to visit the site for awhile.
    I had a PM from him via Great War Forum.
    have been in contact with a guy who was a Captain in my grandads Regiment in Italy. He is 90 years old and has given me some amazing info about my grandad. its all updated on my site.



    Have read here.
    >>> | Never Forget Them.


    Gnr Hogan was killed in action 64 years ago on the 25th of this month.
     
  10. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Tony hasn't been able to visit the site for awhile.
    I had a PM from him via Great War Forum.


    Have read here.
    >>> | Never Forget Them.


    Gnr Hogan was killed in action 64 years ago on the 25th of this month.


    Thanks Owen

    I have put a piece about, and a link to the site in the General section
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Went to visit Tony's Grandad last week.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Hi Owen

    That is very thoughtful of you and the guys to take the time to visit my Grandad. Thank you so much. Im touched.

    I went in Febuary so i never saw the flowers at the foot of his stone, great to see them on the picture, its good to know he is being looked after.

    Thank you guys

    Tony
     
  13. pegasuscases

    pegasuscases Junior Member

    Can anyone tell me anything about this regiment? My grandfather joined up with them in late1943 , previous to that he was stationed in Malta as a Gunner with RA 12th field regt,222nd AA. He sadly died in action on 25 Jan 1944 and is buried at Minturno War Cemetery. I hopeto try and find where he would have landed in Italy (he left Malta 29 oct 1943) and where he would have fought along the way to Minturno.

    Thank You

    Anthony Hogan
    Hi there Anthony - I have a small booklet which was handed out to the Regiment after the war. This booklet gives a resume of the 51st Regt's progress through the war along with the Role of Honour (those who died) and the Awards and decorations. In the Role of Honour there's a Gnr. B. Hogan on the list.
    Because my Grandpa was the Colonel in charge from 1942 when they were mobilised to go abroad, via Cape Town and round to Suez etc etc., I have the War Diary, and other stuff that relates to the whole thing.
    I have a set of scans of this booklet in JPeg format which I'd be happy to send to anyone who wants it. Fascinating stuff. Best wishes.
     
  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    pegasuscases.

    I would very much like to see the War Diary for 51 Med Regt RA's time at Minturno.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  15. pegasuscases

    pegasuscases Junior Member

    Hi there FdeP - I'm going to have a look through it and scan in the relevant stuff. Will get back to you and maybe email some to you Best wishes pegasuscases
     
  16. pegasuscases

    pegasuscases Junior Member

    Actually, I've only managed to uncover a pair of diaries from 12th April '43 to 13th May '42, entitled the Battle of the Enfidaville Line so far, so the Minturno stuff might not be so easy to find. Will keep looking.

    Regards
    pegasuscases
     
  17. pegasuscases

    pegasuscases Junior Member

    Hi again - have found the rest of the War Diary and could do with knowing when the regiment was at Minturno approximately.
    Regards
    pegasuscases
     
  18. ropey

    ropey Member

    I'd imagine Jan '44 when the crossings occurred through - possibly - to May when the front moved?
     
  19. balthasar44

    balthasar44 New Member

     
  20. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    oops, wrong thread
     

Share This Page