Hi all, I am wondering whether the 126th, 127th, and 128th Field Regiments in 51st Division (post-1940) had usual pairings with particular brigades within the division. That is, did each field regiment typically support a particular brigade, when not called on to do a divisional shoot? I read about such pairings in another division in 1945 though I can't remember which. Essentially what I'm wondering is if, knowing a particular infantry brigade is in action, which field regiment probably would have given them support fire if only one regiment's fire was called for. Looking at my copy of J B Salmond's history of the division, it appears that in 1943: 154th Brigade received support from 126th Field Regiment 152nd received support from the 128th But that said, those may simply have been incidental. PS not sure whether this should have gone in the RA forum or Higher Formations for a general 51st Division subject.
Chris In the apparent and probably temporary absence of the professional ex-RA members I will stick my neck out and attempt to answer your query I have taken a look at 51st Div online with little success regarding the Divisional Artillery. My studies have covered the 1st Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy. It was my understanding that all Infantry Divisions were made up with three Infantry Brigades of three Battalions. Each Brigade having an allotted Artillery Regiment. Each Regiment consists of three Batteries one of each is assigned to a Battalion. The Battery Commander spending much of his time with the Battalion Commander in his Command Post. Each Battery was divided into two troops the Commander of which was designated as Forward Observation Officer. All officers in the Regiment were trained as FOO to enable 24 hour cover if needed. This came about following the reforms by Major-General Hetman Jack Parham, CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MiD, Royal Artillery. (See thread on this forum). In January 1940 he took command of 10 Field Regiment in France, under his command this regiment trained to fight as a regiment (and unlike most) properly practised its communications. During the campaign that followed his regiment engaged in what is almost certainly the first successful multi-battery engagement of an opportunity target, a German tank unit refuelling in a wood. Back in UK he found that the notion of ‘company groups’, each with an artillery troop, was gaining popularity. He knew this was doctrinally wrong and understood the importance of concentrating artillery fire and the possibilities for rapid concentrations on large targets. As CRA 38th Infantry Division he developed the gunnery procedures for concentrating massed fire under the control of one observer. This culminated in a demonstration to senior officers at Larkhill in early 1942. These procedures became official later that year. He was also a leading proponent for the introduction of Air Observation Posts despite the entrenched opposition of the RAF. In August 1942 he became BRA 1st Army preparing for service in North Africa, unlike 8th Army, 1st Army was fully trained in the new artillery procedures. As BRA he also insisted that the first of the new Air OP squadrons accompanied the Army. He saw his innovations of concentrated fire and Air OPs put into practice. When the North African Campaign ended he became BRA of 2nd Army and remained in that position until the end of the war in Europe. (Excerpt from BRITISH ARTILLERY FIRE CONTROL) Also See: British Artillery Organisations 1939-45 However, 51st Highland Division were 8th Army which was able to fight a mechanised war with little restriction over wide swathes of open desert. They seem not to have fully implemented these changes in N Africa. The North West European war was fought in a similar vein with Army and Corps rather than Divisional organisation.
Hi Uncle Target, I apologize for not being specific in that I was wondering about 1945 when 51st Div was in 2nd Army, and not earlier. If it is true that each brigade was allotted an artillery regiment, then I think I can at least make a guess about which artillery regiment a particular brigade would have had, based on what I found in the div history, and have a better than completely random chance of being right
If RA knowledgeable's don't turn up I will try to make time to scan through "Gunners in Normandy" which I recently bought on Kindle. It might answer your query. NW Europe is only in my mind from films that I have watched and read books about many years ago. I have purchased a number of books recently and jump from one to another. "Looking for Trouble by General Sir Peter de la Billiere, as I hope to find out more about a past colleague. Paddy Mayne arrived yesterday and is pleading for attention. Most importantly our Granddaughter is coming on Saturday, so we have to make preparations.
Having engaged in a bit of speed reading (distracted by some very interesting little stories) it is quite apparent that the NW Europe campaign employed the same Royal Artillery Doctrines as other theatres. From Gunners in Normandy: On 13th June, 152nd Brigade ............with 128th Field Regiment in direct support, began Operation Smock So yes, each Infantry Brigade within a Division had its own designated Artillery Regiment in direct support, but it was on call to support others as directed. When an observer called for fire, he simply asked for Gun Fire from his Battery guns or concentrations which were coded as Mike (Regiment), Uncle (Division), Victor (Corps), William (Army) and Yoke (Army Group). A Division could bring down fire from its three Regiments with 72 guns. There were also independent Artillery units called AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) who would supplement the Divisional fire with Field, Medium, or Heavy guns.
