This is (like the 116th Reg) abbreviated, rewritten and with a bit more wider reading - from "Red Dragon" the official RWF history published in 1960. I believe the photo may be incorrect since I've read that they were definately armed with Achillies tank destroyers at this time and hope the War Diary and associated documents will assist. Without further ado... 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (Royal Welch Fusiliers) The 71st ATR Royal Artillery (Royal Welch Fusiliers) was part of the 5th Bn RWF. It started the war off as 70th ATR in Flintshire before two batteries (which represented the Hawarden and Buckley districts) were split to start off the 71st ATR. It was attached to 53rd Welsh Division in November 1940, joining the Division in Ireland, in April 1942 it rotated to Rochester and then followed the Divisions movements down to Suffolk where they continued to engage in intense training exercises Before Normandy the Regiment comprised of: CO: Lieutenant-Colonel Castelli 2IC: Major DC Keating 278 Battery - Major Bowen Jones 279 Battery - Major Pitt Ridge 283 Battery - Major IC Griffith 336 Battery - Major S. Gibbs The first battery which was deployed in anger in Normandy was 279 Battery - under Major Pitt Ridge, who were thrown west of Caen. During this action, Lieutenant Bradford was the 71st first officer who was killed in action. Due to the nature of their work, they suffered heavy casualties fighting with the Division in some of the toughest engagements from St Mansien to 112 and from there to Cheux. Their casualties managed to exceed the other artillery units in 53rd Divisions casualties during this period. After the break out from Normandy, the 71st ATR attained battle honours wherever the 53rd Division went - locations described under the History of the 53rd Division section. Notably 336 Battery was often attached to the 59th Recee Regiment for mobile actions. During September 278 Battery was given leave in Antwerp before the Regiment readied itself for the actions during Operation Veritable. The Regiment fought to secure the corridor along the Escaut and Wilhelmina Canals and to assist in the reenforcement of the airborne units. Lt-Col Castelli was captured at the airport near Eindhoven and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Norman-Walter. A Loyd Carrier towing a 6 Pounder anti-tank gun of 71st ATR outside s'Hertogenbosch. (IWM) Over its life the Regiment's armament altered substantially - starting on 2 pounders they moved to 6 mounders and then to the heavy, very effective 17 pounders which had to be towed. They were then reequiped by Achillies - 17 pounder anti-tank guns mounted on Valentine tanks chassis. Annoyingly they had not been fully mechanised before Normandy. After the break out into Germany, they liberated Lt-Col Castelli from a PoW camp near Brunswick. Shortly afterwards Castelli was informed he would recieve the DSO for his actions in Normandy. Norman-Walker left just after VE Day to command the 'Anti-Tank Wing' at the School of Artillery at Larkhill and command passed to Lieutenant-Colonel J Thompson. The Regiment moved to moving the thousands of German PoWs, and became responsible for the town of Krefeld and opened new venues for troops in the area; Officers' Club, NCO's Club, 'Joe's Dive' - for the other ranks, boxing tournaments and horse gymkhanas. The Regiment was disbanded in October 1945, Thompson was demobbed in September and succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel DC Keating - who had been 2IC since April 1943. The CO recieved unexpected and oustanding praise and tributes from the Regimental Commanders who recieved the men from the former 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (RWF)
71 Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery War Formed Anti-Tank Battalion From To Notes 31-Oct-1939 11-Apr-1941 53 (Welsh) Infantry Division British 12-Apr-1941 20-Jun-1941 61 (South Midland) Infantry Division British 20-Jun-1941 31-Aug-1945 53 (Welsh) Infantry Division British From To Notes 03-Sep-1939 21-Jun-1944 United Kingdom 21-Jun-1944 27-Jun-1944 At Sea 27-Jun-1944 31-Aug-1945 North West Europe
Hi, Is there a way i can find which Battalions where where and when, i am not sure which battalion my grand father was part of, i guess i would have to get hold of his service record to find out? Cheers
These are the war diary references for 71 A/Tk at the National Archives, Kew Homes Forces UK WO166/1643 - Sep 40 - Dec 41 WO166/7100 - Jan - Dec 42 WO166/11342 - Jan - Dec 43 NW Europe WO171/923 - Jan to Dec 44 WO171/4775 - Jan to Oct 1945
Heh, just posted in your Welcome thread! 71 ATR managed to accomplish some pretty impressive feats, they were always up the front regardless of whether they were really needed (the Infantry Brigades loved having the reassurance of an AT detachment in Normandy just in case the Germans tried anything... and made them dearly pay on many occasions.) The 71 ATR was officially the 5th Battalion of the RWF, but your Grandfather would have been part of one of the aforementioned batteries. I've got a lot of information prior to this regarding training et al, so will tag it on here over the next few days. Most of their casualties were caused by artillery due to their close proximity to the infantry, by the end of the war they mostly were armed with Achillies 17 pounder tank destroyers - I wish to confirm the exact percentage of this with the War Diaries. Ducati, if you have any questions ask here, via PM or find me at War and Peace next weekend I'll be with Autumn 44 and try and give you a printed copy of my stuff on 71st ATR.
This is (like the 116th Reg) abbreviated, rewritten and with a bit more wider reading - from "Red Dragon" the official RWF history published in 1960. I believe the photo may be incorrect since I've read that they were definately armed with Achillies tank destroyers at this time and hope the War Diary and associated documents will assist. Without further ado... 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (Royal Welch Fusiliers) The 71st ATR Royal Artillery (Royal Welch Fusiliers) was part of the 5th Bn RWF. It started the war off as 70th ATR in Flintshire before two batteries (which represented the Hawarden and Buckley districts) were split to start off the 71st ATR. It was attached to 53rd Welsh Division in November 1940, joining the Division in Ireland, in April 1942 it rotated to Rochester and then followed the Divisions movements down to Suffolk where they continued to engage in intense training exercises Before Normandy the Regiment comprised of: CO: Lieutenant-Colonel Castelli 2IC: Major DC Keating 278 Battery - Major Bowen Jones 279 Battery - Major Pitt Ridge 283 Battery - Major IC Griffith 336 Battery - Major S. Gibbs The first battery which was deployed in anger in Normandy was 279 Battery - under Major Pitt Ridge, who were thrown west of Caen. During this action, Lieutenant Bradford was the 71st first officer who was killed in action. Due to the nature of their work, they suffered heavy casualties fighting with the Division in some of the toughest engagements from St Mansien to 112 and from there to Cheux. Their casualties managed to exceed the other artillery units in 53rd Divisions casualties during this period. After the break out from Normandy, the 71st ATR attained battle honours wherever the 53rd Division went - locations described under the History of the 53rd Division section. Notably 336 Battery was often attached to the 59th Recee Regiment for mobile actions. During September 278 Battery was given leave in Antwerp before the Regiment readied itself for the actions during Operation Veritable. The Regiment fought to secure the corridor along the Escaut and Wilhelmina Canals and to assist in the reenforcement of the airborne units. Lt-Col Castelli was captured at the airport near Eindhoven and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Norman-Walter. A Loyd Carrier towing a 6 Pounder anti-tank gun of 71st ATR outside s'Hertogenbosch. (IWM) Over its life the Regiment's armament altered substantially - starting on 2 pounders they moved to 6 mounders and then to the heavy, very effective 17 pounders which had to be towed. They were then reequiped by Achillies - 17 pounder anti-tank guns mounted on Valentine tanks chassis. Annoyingly they had not been fully mechanised before Normandy. After the break out into Germany, they liberated Lt-Col Castelli from a PoW camp near Brunswick. Shortly afterwards Castelli was informed he would recieve the DSO for his actions in Normandy. Norman-Walker left just after VE Day to command the 'Anti-Tank Wing' at the School of Artillery at Larkhill and command passed to Lieutenant-Colonel J Thompson. The Regiment moved to moving the thousands of German PoWs, and became responsible for the town of Krefeld and opened new venues for troops in the area; Officers' Club, NCO's Club, 'Joe's Dive' - for the other ranks, boxing tournaments and horse gymkhanas. The Regiment was disbanded in October 1945, Thompson was demobbed in September and succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel DC Keating - who had been 2IC since April 1943. The CO recieved unexpected and oustanding praise and tributes from the Regimental Commanders who recieved the men from the former 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (RWF) Hello Swiper, greetings from "Down Under". I am assisting a friend in gathering info about her uncle, Robert Key. (Ref. the thread Robert Key 4269371 - 71 Anti-Tank Artillery Regt. French Memorial help needed.) She wants to make a scrapbook about him to give to her father for Christmas. I am delighted therefore, to have found this site and all the info you have posted about his regiment. In the interest of being accurate, I am wondering if you have been able to ascertain whether the anti-tank gun in the photo is incorrect as you suspected?
Hello Jonny, I have just read 'History Of The Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949' (Bright) and interestingly it refers to the 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA. It appears that a 107th Bty was created from the 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA, in the Autumn 1941 and moved overseas almost immediately. The 107th Bty joined the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, at Almaza camp - becoming 'B' Bty - on 23 September 1942. It was a replacement for Fifty Div losses at Gazala and subsequently, and arrived in time for the 2nd Battle of El Alemain. Do you have any information on the exact origins of this Bty? Best, Steve.
