64th Anti Tank Regiment

Hi

Thanks everyone, just trying to understand all the abbreviations in the service records, but getting there.
My grandfather was Alexander Welsh, bn. 27 August 1919, Cambuslang, Scotland.
He was promoted from Gunner to Lance Bombardier (P/LBDR) whilst out in Africa. He was in and out of hospitals a few times (70 GEN Hosp, 72, 92 and 2), just wondering whether this a regular thing for all serving soldiers? Before he embarked from Glasgow (9 Dec 1942), he been in hospital for a few months, then transferred to y list, just wondering if he was carrying same injury? Would love to know exactly where he was fighting, exact locations and dates.
Will keep digging.
He did not talk about any details of the war, but am sure the war had an effect on him in later life. My mum said he could become violent and drunk, however he was the kindest person to his grandchildren. I just want a better understanding of what he might had gone through.

Thanks everyone

Stewart

 

Thanks Andy,

It would be great to have a look at them in person. It would be too much to ask of you to pay a visit on my behalf, and I thankyou for the references. I'll arrange a trip soon. What would I expect to find in the war diary for example?

Stewart

 

Stewart.

The WDs are a day to day account of what the Regt was doing. It was a requirement under King's Regulation that a record be kept and this task normally fell to the Adjutant - the Commandigng Officer's personal staff officer. If the Adjutant is good, they contain a wealth of detail about locations, personalities and incidents.

78 Inf Div were on the Adriatic side of Italy until Feb 44 when they were shifted to the Cassino front. They were due to take part in the Second Battle of Monte Cassino but were caught in snow storms on the way over and arrived after that battle had ended. For the Third Battle of Monte Cassino they held ground and were not part of the attack. For the Fourth Battle, they had an exploitation role with XIII British Corps.

I am running a battlefield tour to Cassino on 8-11 Jun 17 if you would like to see what your grandfather had to endure. It is pretty grim stuff.

Regards

Frank

 

I've just found out my father was in the 64th anti tank regiment he fought in France and Belgium before getting out Dunkirk he was in the artillery then I don't know how he got to fight with 64 anti tank regt but he went through North Africa,Sicily,Italyand ended up in Austria at the end,trying to find what battery he was in,how he was wounded in Italy ,

 

Hi Mick - As far as I'm aware 64 AT Regiment didn't go to France with the BEF. They did however do Africa and Italy.

Cheers
Andy

 

Michael.

Anti-Tank Regts were part of the Royal Artillery at the time.

If you want to pin down his movements, you need to apply to the MoD in Glasgow for his Service Records. These will give his wounding date and from there it is possible to work out where he was at the time.

Regards

Frank

 

He went to France at outbreak of the war it has that in his service book

 

Sorry to bother but I thought you got war records in London,I'm not too good with computers and find it a struggle but thanks for any help you can give also I will pay if I have to I realy would love his records

 

Micheal

Link here for service records from MOD, Glasgow. This is the only place you can get them. They cost 30 pounds
Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK

The war diaries are at the National Archives at Kew in London-are these what you are thinking of?

Lesley

 

Hi Michael

I suspect he must have gone to France with another unit then. I'm at work at the mo but I'm sure I have all the 64th AT war diaries and none of them are in France. Quite a lot of soldiers, if not most, were posted to different units during the war. The only way you will find out 100% who he served with and when is by applying for a copy of his service records from the MoD. Lesley above has provided you with the link to download the forms, if you are unsure what to do ring them up and they should send you the forms in the post.

Cheers
Andy

 

I've now got my fathers war records he joined the army in 1938 with the 173rd field regt until 1942 when he joined the 64 th Anti Tank Regt until the end of the war but I can't seem to find what battery he was in

 

Hi Micheal - are you the Micheal Evans that posted above?

If so 173 Field Regiment didn't go to France in 1940 either.

Regards
Andy

 

Yes I am Drew I'm sorry I got it wrong it's the 73rd field regt 1939 then 8/8/40 posted to FM.I battery whatever that was he came back from France toed in a barge that had no engine he was posted to 64 th Anti Tank Regt in 31/12/42 until the end of the war in Austria where his last job was mine clearing,my dad was so quiet he never spoke about the war to us at all never laid a finger on any of us kids,I remember being stationed in North Africa in 1967 and when I came home and asked him if he served there he just said yes and it was a bit hot now I think he must have been on about the war not the weathersorry for rambling but I'm so proud of him I've just got his medals and plan to wear them this years rememberance Sunday I never saw him with them on

 

Hi Micheal

I am pleased you have received your father's service records and his medals too-and you should be very proud of him.
You know he served with the 78th Division (Battleaxe) and his war was very tough, North Africa, Sicily and Italy-just like my father too.
Andy (Drew) can get you the copies of the war diaries of 64th Anti-Tank Regiment. Maybe, just maybe you will be able to find out which battery he was in when you get them, sometimes men are listed in the appendices. Either way, the war diaries are very interesting and they tell you where your father's unit was day-to-day during the war.

Good luck

Lesley

 

You might be better posting a copy of his records on this thread-I don't have 73rd Field Regiment in France during 1940 either.

 

So sorry about that it's the 27fd regt in France on return he was transferred to 926 th defence battery he was stationed on the east coast at trusthorpe,Huttoft,Anderby,and thedlethorpe,that's where he met and married my mother his main base was at Bourne in Lincolnshire,he left for Africa on the 24/11/42 and arrived 6/12/42 and arrived back in England in december 1945

 

Thanks a lot for what you said all the family are shocked by what he did the same as thousands of other men who served it's up to us to make sure nobody forgets

 

I'm new here so forgive me if I'm not on the right site for this.
My father before he passed asked if anyone goes to Dunkirk to find my uncle and bring back his memory.
I'm doing my famity tree and found that he didn't actually die at Dunkirk, now I'm looking for any information regarding my uncle who was killed in action someware around
Medjez-el-bab Tunisia as this is where his mamorial is.

Name:Frederick William Griffin, born 1917, (birmingham)
gunner in 64 Queens own royal yeomanry anti tank Regt
Ser/N:5109314
Died 02 December 1942 aged 25

This is the long shot I'm trying to find out how and whereabouts he died as the family always said he died at dunked in a car crash now I find out this is not the case.also we don't have any photographs of him or the reagent at that time,
Now the really difficult ask records state he was married in either October ,November, or December 1942 to a Louisa May Truby (birmingham)as he was killed on 02 Dec 1942 it's then leaving Oct, Nov, my research shows the Tunisian campaign was underway in November this means the marrage must have been October is this even possible so close to the campaign?
Any information and or photos would be greatly appreciated

 

If he is recorded on the Medjez el Bab Memorial for 2nd December 1942 he was probably a casualty in the battel for Tebourba these links might throw a little light on this.
The Battle of Tebourba
Tebourba - Wikipedia

 

Very Interesting I shall try to dig a little deeper,
Many thanks.