I would like to know information about this unit during the year 1942. In particular since April 1942 till the end of the campaign in morth africa. As far as I know they were the only ones to use the Deacon SP AT in action. But before that they were at Gazala (?). Many thanks Eduard
The 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment never served in North Africa. Here is a summary of its service: 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) HQ, 249th-252nd Btys: Oxford The regiment was formed from the two Oxfordshire batteries (211th (Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars Yeomanry) Battery at Oxford and 212th (Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars Yeomany) Battery at Easington, Banbury) of 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment with HQ at Oxford. It served under 61st Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from 3 September 1939 until 2 July 1940. It then joined 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division in Northern Ireland in July 1940 and was located at Lisburn. Although part of the division, the regiment was detached to serve under Northern Ireland Command until it formally left the division on 31 October 1940. It then again served under NI Command until 12 April 1941, when it was formally constituted as part of the division. This was only for a short period of time since it left again on 20 June 1941 and came under command of 61st Infantry Division again on 21 June 1941. It remained with 61st Division until 22 August 1944. 251st Battery left on 22 September 1941 and was replaced by 301st Battery formed at Portrush, County Antrim on 1 October 1941. It added the title (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) on 17 February 1942, although the title (Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars) was used within the regiment. 301st Battery left on 28 July 1942. A new 251st Battery was formed at Ackergill, near Wick, Caithness on 25 June 1943 from the disbanding 307th Battery. The regiment was then sent to Northwest Europe to replace 91st Anti-Tank Regiment in VIII Corps Troops for the rest of the campaign. 251st and 252nd Batteries exchanged personnel with 144th and 146th Batteries of 91st Anti-Tank Regiment and was retitled 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (T.A.) on 6 December 1944.
My Father Frederick White SGT 4910940 was in the 251 Battery 63rd Anti Tank Regiment R A and was transferred across to the 91st Anti Tank Regiment R A on 10th December 1944 I think this change around was a political move as Sir Winston Churchill was the Honoury C in C of the 63rd Anti Tank Regiment R A
Would anyone have details about the 91st Anti Tank Regiment RA from the change over in December 1944 with the 63rd Anti Tank Regiment R A . January to May is a blank for me.Where were they based during this time,did they continue into Germany or were they put on reserve.? Kind regards Eric White
The simple story is that the 91st was amalgamated with the 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment on December 6th, 1944 (actually December 10th). The 91st actually did not officially go into suspended animation until January 31st, 1945. On December 10th an exchange of personnel took place so that the 250th and 252nd Batteries of the new 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment were actually the 144th and 146th Batteries of the 91st. Actually within 2nd Army, they were still known as 144th (A & SH) and 146th (A & SH) Batteries. The actual story is much more complex down to naming M-10s with troop letters. The change-over is covered in some detail within two chapters of the regimental history of the 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders: Flower, Desmond. History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. 5th Battalion, 91st Anti-Tank Regiment, 1939-45. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd., 1950.
The simple story is that the 91st was amalgamated with the 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment on December 6th, 1944 (actually December 10th). The 91st actually did not officially go into suspended animation until January 31st, 1945. On December 10th an exchange of personnel took place so that the 250th and 252nd Batteries of the new 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment were actually the 144th and 146th Batteries of the 91st. Actually within 2nd Army, they were still known as 144th (A & SH) and 146th (A & SH) Batteries. The actual story is much more complex down to naming M-10s with troop letters. The change-over is covered in some detail within two chapters of the regimental history of the 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders: Flower, Desmond. History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. 5th Battalion, 91st Anti-Tank Regiment, 1939-45. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd., 1950. 91st Anti – Tank Regiment 144 Battery A Troop Aberdeen, Angus, Argyll, Ayr B Troop Barra, Benbecula, Bute, Borreray C Troop Cairngorm, Coulbeg, Cramalt, Cruachen 146 Battery G Troop Glenafric, Glencoe, Glendaruel, Glengarry II, Glesca H Troop Hamilton, Hawick, Huntley I Troop Inverary, Inverness, Invergordon, Invergarry As far as I am aware all the above were M10 17 pdrs and not necessarily in correct troop order, although I also have the following used by I Troop which may have been M10 3” guns:- Loch Libo, Loch Maddy, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness I would be interesting to know if they retained the vehicle names with the swap of personnel. Cheers Kevin
Thank you for the information Kevin. I am still trying to find out about my Father Frederick White SGT 4910940 who went the other way from the 251 Battery into the 91st Anti Tank Regiment during this changeover.His records do not show a Battery number,just that he was one of the SGT's to be posted over.He had been in the 63rd Medium Regiment R A from 1939 then posted to the 63rd Anti Tank Regiment 249 Battery in 1943 as SGT then posted to the 251 Battery Until December 1944 Regards Eric
Taken from WO 171/4773 Hi Eric, this might be helpful Place: Mierloo 1215 - Telephone message from RA Corps to say one 17-pr towed tp would be required to move with Corps tomorrow for local protection in their new location which will be somewhere near the R.RHINE. Rest of the 17-pr Bty will join them the following day. 249 Bty has been detailed for this task. 12th March 1945 Place: Mierloo 'A' Tp 249 Bty left for ISSUM 0927 and came under comd HQ Sqn 9 Corps Main. 1915 - CCRA rang up to say an SP Bty Commander was to report forthwith to RA 8 Corps. Major Flower, 146 Bty, left for ISSUM 2030 hours. 13th March 1945 Place: Mierloo Remainder of 249 Bty left for ISSUM 0927 but remain under Regtl control. 1215 - Warning Order received that 146 Bty would move at first light tomorrow. 14th March 1945 Place: Mierloo 0630 - 146 Bty left to go under comd 52 (L) Div. Bty HQ est 126325. 15th March 1945 Place: Mierloo 1115 - Telephone message from RA Corps to say 144 Bty would be required to move up tomorrow. 16th March 1945 Place: Mierloo 144 Bty left and est HQ at VOSSUM M.R. 988194 and passed to under comd 6 Gds Tk Bde. We were told to recce MAASBREE 8207 as probable place for RHQ and 251 Bty to move to. This was done today.
Hi Drench26, Thanks for posting the photo. It is great to find confirming photos with full vehicle names. Cheers Kevin
Hey Dylan Wondering where you got the info re the 63rd quoted here. It looks like it came from a book. My grandfather served in the 63rd and I would love to research it more. He was also in the 85th AT if you have any info on that. Cheers Andrew
Does anyone have the war diaries of the 61st Highland anti tank regiment in North Africa 42-43? Batteries 241,242,243,193. My grandfather was in 241 but injured at wadi akrit. I have 44-45 but I really need 42-43. Kind regards Edward Pattinson
Hi Edward, I suggest you start a new thread as people might just see an update to the title of the thread (which talks about 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment) and not see that you are asking about the 61st. Cheers, Chris PS have you looked at this website? Two personal accounts of the 61st Anti-Tank Reg. at Wadi Akarit | Account | 51st Highland Division Website
Yes bud I seen that it's good because my grandfather was actually injured at wadi akrit with shrapnel through his legs. That's why he doesn't have the Italian star but he was back in the landings d day+1. I'm also going down to see the plaque at Rothsey. I'm in the process of booking a reading day at Kew to try and source the diaries for 42-43. Can't thank you enough Chris for the 44-45 diaries you gave me. This helped my research alot
Yes bud I seen that it's good because my grandfather was actually injured at wadi akrit with shrapnel through his legs. That's why he doesn't have the Italian star but he was back in the landings d day+1. I'm also going down to see the plaque at Rothsey. I'm in the process of booking a reading day at Kew to try and source the diaries for 42-43. Can't thank you enough Chris for the 44-45 diaries you gave me. This helped my research alot
Yes bud I seen that it's good because my grandfather was actually injured at wadi akrit with shrapnel through his legs. That's why he doesn't have the Italian star but he was back in the landings d day+1. I'm also going down to see the plaque at Rothsey. I'm in the process of booking a reading day at Kew to try and source the diaries for 42-43. Can't thank you enough Chris for the 44-45 diaries you gave me. This helped my research alot
