I've tried a number of times to search for the war diaries for the two batteries that I believe were part of 70th Medium Regiment in Sicily and Italy. From the main regimental diaries I believe that a 93rd and 94th Battery existed. Can I ask a big favor to see if anyone else can find evidence of them at Kew? Failing that, what would be the chance of them existing in the Royal Artillery Museum Library and in light of its recent closure how on earth would one now find out?
No battery diaries appear to be at Kew. Have you looked in the regimental war diary? Normally they'll mention batteries in the appendices on the distribution lists, that way you can confirm those are definitely the batteries. WO 170/1010 70 Medium Regiment 1944 Jan-Dec WO 170/4805 70 Medium Regiment 1945 Jan-Nov
I can confirm that the 70th Medium Regt's two Bty's were: 93 & 94. There are no separate Bty diaries, only regimental, but these should tell you what you want to know. Unfortunately I don't have the diary for this regt, although it's on my to do list. Best Rob
Thank you both for confirming that my assumption that 93rd and 94th Battery diaries have not survived at Kew. I have the regimental diaries for June to December 43 (WO169-9595) and January to December 44 (WO170-1010) and battery locations seem quite well recorded but I wanted to build up as comprehensive picture as possible particularly how they were supporting 78th Division in October 43. My fathers unit were their main RASC support and it was noted on several occasions in both his unit diary and 70th Med Reg diaries that they were supplying ammunition direct to the the gun sites. The question remains, when perhaps will the RA Library reopen? Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum | The National Archives
In my experience The RA Museum Archive is very poor on WW11 Medium Regiments I have supplied THEM with information in the past for which they were very grateful to obtain, so I wouldn't get your hopes up to much. No idea when they will be up & running at Larkhill I'm afraid. The 70th Med Regt were commanded & part of 1AGRA whose ammo allocations was supplied by 317 Arty Coy RASC, so if it were me, I would take a look at the diaries, especially appendices, of these two formations if poss. There is no diary for 1 AGRA 1944 only (Signals). There are two for 1943: WO169/9405A WO169/9405B I haven't looked up The 317 Arty Coy.ref. Good luck with your research. Best Rob
It's probably worth pointing out that in the main Battery war diaries only exist when they are working away and normally independently from the rest of the regiment.
Rob Thank you for your reply. With the exception of my 1AA Division and some AA Brigade diaries, and one 5 Corps diary, I must admit that I have not yet ventured into higher formation diaries such as 1 AGRA. Regarding 317 Coy, I do have two diaries. July - December 43 and then for the whole of 44. What a contrast, the 6 months for 43 are covered by just 29 thinly written sheets with numerous bland comments along the lines of 'Normal work proceeds, Nothing to report' and then in January 44 with what looks like a change of commanding officer they substantially increase in detail with as many as 7 or 8 separate hourly reports in a day and with very specific details of ammunition being supplied by each of the RASC units under its command. Indeed, 1944 is covered with 142 pages. To be honest, I should be grateful that I have as many parallel sources as I do and it is fascinating reading them along side each other. If separate battery diaries ever do surface that would be a bonus but I guess I may have to accept Andys comment that it may be unlikely. It looks like my next visit to Kew will include looking at those 1 AGRA diaries! Graham
