54th Heavy & Super Heavy Regiment - Report

Hello all.
Attached to this post is my completed report on both the 54th Heavy and 54th Super Heavy Regiments, both of whom my Grandfather served with during WW2. This report has taken me many months to complete and I had to pull myself away from adding more information and waiting for more war dairies, draw a line in the sand for now and call this my Version 01.

I am really proud of the work I have done in this report, as it is my first venture into proper writing and research. I am also proud of this because its about time some of the ‘heavies’ got their stories told!

I would really appreciate you all reading this and letting me know what you think and if anyone knows of anyone who had family members in the 54th Heavy/Super Heavy Regiments, please get them to contact me – this also applies to any other heavy/super heavy regiments as well, as this report is hopefully the first of many.

I want to thank everyone on this website who helped me write this report, whether it be through war diaries or general information. The stories of these regiments should be told and I am very happy, after many months and long nights, that you all finally can read about them.

Many thanks,

Tom.

 

Well done, Tom!

This is absolutely superb work mate, and very nicely presented, illustrated and referenced. You've got the makings of a published book here. Best of luck with the ongoing research.

Martin

 

Thank you very much Martin. Hope you find something new about the heavies in this report.

Tom.

 

Fantastic bit of work, even just glancing at it. Congratulations!

All the best

Andreas

 

I'm reading this in chunks during my early morning 'coffee break' (...break from what? I'm retired!).
As Andreas said, its a great piece of work, you have a talent for writing.

The friendly fire incident you describe is the stuff of nightmares, and the pilots concerned must have suffered mental anguish for the rest of their lives. If there is an upside, it was that this was a rehearsal for a subsequent demo for Churchill.
Do you know whether the Churchill demo went ahead 3 days later, or was it cancelled?

 

Tony.

This is extremely good. The detail is terrific.

There are a few minor errors which you might want to correct.

Get me through my website www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will point them out to you.

Regards

Frank

 

According to Page 2 of this source (https://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Imber/Imber - Friendly Fire Incident 1942.pdf), the planned shoot went ahead with no incident. For some reason, I didn't look after the event, or else I probably would have referenced something to this effect in my report.

 

Hi Frank,
Thanks for your kind words. I have just reached out to you on your website contact link.

 

Tom,
Good to see this in the public domain. It is far to good a piece of work to remain hidden. This is a very poorly documented section of the RA and you have gone a long way to filling the gap. Well done.
As many of you will already know, Tom is co-admin with me on the ra39-45 website and his report will be accessible through the site very soon.

Derek

 

Let me know when it is, and I will circulate it through my accounts.

All the best

Andreas

 

Thanks Andreas, will do. Hopefully by the end of this coming week (if life doesn't get in the way).

 

Tom,

Just finished reading your report. Well done and informative - even down to the RSM reaching Sgt rank. I have posted a link to the report on two threads for the 54th Heavy's time @ Setif (French Algeria) and with the Canadians @ Ortona, Italy. I have only read in depth a few 8th Army artillery regiments war diaries, for one battle, and a couple of operations mounted in NW Europe.

 

Thanks David,
I am very glad to hear positive feedback on my report and I am glad you enjoyed it.

 

Thank you, Tom,. This is excellent! I will pass this to Dr Rodney Attwood, who is writing the North Africa and Italy volume of the history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery

 

Without getting carried away this is a huge compliment?!
Really glad you enjoyed reading the report, if you are going to pass this on please contact me and I can send you the latest version (V2), with comments and feedback from various users added in.

Many thanks,
Tom.

 

Very good work.

 

I have sent a link to Rodney Atwood.

 

Tom, your report asks where was 'Hindenburg Corner' in Tunisia - well it was on the Beja to Thibar road at the junction with the Souk el Khemis turnoff - GPS 36.6357, 9.1336 (I'd be grateful, too, for a copy of your V2) Thanks.

 

Tom's report (ver 2) is now available on our website. You can find it in a new section "Other Stuff" on the main menu.

Derek