69th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

This is the longest of long shots, but does anyone out there know of, or better still have any memories of, the 69th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery.

The Regiment arrived in North Africa in time for Montgomery's Alamein, and was unusual in that it was equipped with 4.5 inch, rather than the usual 5.5 inch, guns.

My late father served with the Regiment ( until he joined the Military Police ), and my mum would love to know if anyone out there has any memories of the Regiment.

Thanks.

 

Have you seen the war diaries at the National Archives?

Full list here:

WO 166/1932, ROYAL ARTILLERY: MEDIUM REGIMENTS: 69 Medium Regiment. (1939 Aug.- 1941 June, 1941 Aug.- Dec.)
WO 166/7242, ROYAL ARTILLERY: MEDIUM REGIMENTS: 69 Regiment. (1942 Jan.- July)
WO 167/550, 69 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery (1940 May)
WO 169/4654, 69 Med. Regt. (1942 Aug.- Dec.)
WO 169/9593, 69 Regt. (1943 Jan.- Aug.)
WO 169/9594, 69 Regt. (1943 Sept.- Dec.)
WO 169/16042, 69 Med. Regt. (1944 July, Aug.)
WO 170/1008, Medium Regiments: 69 Med. Regt (1944 Jan.- Mar.)
WO 170/1009, Medium Regiments: 69 Med. Regt (1944 Apr.- June, Sept.- Dec.)
WO 170/4804, Medium Regiments: 69 Regt. (1945 Jan.- Apr.)

Lee

 

Hi Effingham
I would try posting for Vets on the many Arty contact sites that are avalible out there, but be prepared for a long wait, time has moved on and its now usually relatives of men that served that make contact, but good luck with your quest.
They served along with my dad's Regt in 5AGRA in 1945, sure they played a football match against each other at one point.
The 4.5 & 5.5 began to be issued in Sep 41 (debateable) in UK & found their way to the desert in May 42 (debatabile), it was not as rare as you might think as 12 Medium Regts received and kept the 4.5 in the early stages of the war, usually one of the two Bty's were equipped with the 4.5.
Regards
Rob

 

Hi,
My uncle Leslie Manktelow served with the 69th Medium Regiment RA throughout the war,unfortunately he died in 1962.
I have inheritied his things, which include some items from his time in the army.I have also found some information about the regiment on the web which may help.
Please find some sites listed below:-
www.wartimememoriesproject.com
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/llandudno/pages/alfreddavies
www.greatorme.org.uk/french
I hope this is of use. The first site you are looking for a chap called
Gunner Anthony Albert Barwick 69th Medium Regiment, 242 Battery Royal Artillery .
His Son Kevin has got a great record of his Dads war service and will send you a copy if requested.
I wish you luck in your research and if I can be of any more assistance please contact me.
ericmaslin@talktalk.net

 

Hi,

My grandfather served with the 69th (denbighshire Yeomanry) Med Rgt. He was killed in Salerno in April 1944. Not sure if he was with them his entire career, but that is the Rgt he is listed with at the time of death.

 

Hi my father served with the 69th from being rescued at Dunkirk right through the desert campaigns up through Italy and then fighting at the surrender of Dunkirk in 1945. He eventually went on to the Nuremberg trials. I have some photos of him and his comrades but no names to any of them. I would be grateful to any information to any one of more specific news on these times. My fathers name was Cyril Croft Smith

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Was he serving with 69 Med Regt at Dunkirk in 1940? Feel free to post up the pictures. We like pictures

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi Andy,
yes he was serving in the 69's in 1940.I have some photos of him in the desert and one of him and his mates in Dunkirk in May 1945.Also a few of him and a group of mates standing outside the sergeants mess. How do I go about down loading photos on to the forum.
cheers Derek

 

Hi ruabon boy

In the reply box, at the bottom right hand corner there is a box 'More Reply Options' select that and then at the bottom of that page is the option to upload photos (Attach Files) etc Note:you may need to resize them as there is a limit.

TD

 

Thanks T D I hope they are O.K.
the first is in the desert 1943. 2nd outside sergeants mess place unknown, and the 3rd is the siege of Dunkirk 1945.
It would be a very lucky coincidence if any one can put a name to any of the faces. My father is the man on the right sitting on the truck.
Cheers Derek

 

Ruabon Boy

Which battery?

242 Battery of 69th RA blundered into the Wormhout Massacre on 28th May 1940

 

Hi I am not sure, on the back of the photo its got May 1945, Dunkirk. My father died in 1953 so I never had chance to speak to him about the war, but I never heard of any major disarsters from the rest of the family desaresters

 

The strange fact is that 69 Med RA ended the war by taking the surrender of the German enclave of Dunkirk in 1945 - the surrender was signed at Wormhout!

 

The 69th Med Regt RA was the only medium regt of 17AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) N.W, Europe after they arrived from Italy, from March-June 1945.
The AGRA + was known as 'Dunkirk Force' for their blockading role of the town & port in 1945.

After the cessation of hostilities they were reattached to 5AGRA at Dannenburg, Germany
Best
Rob

 

thanks lads I am grateful for any information regarding my fathers WW2 exploits, with the 69th.

 

Hi Peccavi,
I have found my fathers service record and he was as you state the in 242 battery ,so by all accounts was very lucky. This is his service sheet that shows it. Also right at the end of the war he was in the 28th heavy.

 

28th Heavy Bty.
Was one 7.2 bty of the 1st Heavy Regt RA.
in May 45 they were with the 2nd Canadian AGRA at Emden in support of the 3rd Cdn Div attack.
In June 45 they went to 3AGRA at Hamburg.
Best
Rob

 

My Grandad (Charles Albert Cashmore) served with 242 Battery, 69th (The Denbighshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery from its inception.

He served as part of the BEF and was rescued from Dunkirk (I don't have much detail on that) and then fought through North Africa and then on to Italy. He was killed on 29th October 1943 aged 25. He was killed when his vehicle struck a mine somewhere near Capua, Naples.

I have researched his war history and will happily share what I have.

All the best
Andy

 

Andy.

I am out running a battlefield study at Salerno on 8-11 Sep 17. I will be popping into Naples CWGC cemetery before flying back on 11 Sep 17 if you would like a photo of your grandfather's headstone.

Regards

Frank

 

Many thanks for your kind offer Frank.

However, my Wife and I will be visiting at the end of September........45 years after my first visit as a young lad.

I hope your tour goes well
Kindest regards
Andy