I have a photograph of H Troop at Wootton Hatch, nr Dorking, Surrey 1941/42. My father served with them and I would like to find out what happened to them
Hello and welcome. Why don't you upload the picture so the RA fanatics can help you out! There are a lot of RA members here so you are in good company. Lesley
I have a photograph of H Troop at Wootton Hatch, nr Dorking, Surrey 1941/42. My father served with them and I would like to find out what happened to them Home Forces War Diaries for the 73rd A/T Regiment :- ************WO 166/1645 Nov 1940 - Dec 1941 ************WO 166/7102 Jan - Feb 1942 ************WO 166/11343 Dec 1943. Middle East :- WO 169/1522 Rgt. July - Dec 1941 ************WO 169/4724 Rgt. May - Dec 1942 ************WO 169/4697 "A" Bty. May July 1942 ************WO 169/9625 Rgt. Jan - Nov 1943 A.E.F. WO 171/924 Rgt. Jan - Dec 1944 A.E.F. WO 171/4776 Rgt. Jan - August 1945 These should tell you all you want to know.
My Father Joined 73rd Antitank in 1944, He was with E troop 196Battery. His name was Albert Wootton Regimental Number 14325589. He was a Gnr Drvr. This unit was part of 30th Corp under General Bucknell, then Brian Horrocks who led them from France through Belgium and the Netherlands. ending up in Germany for the cessation of Hostilities in 1945.
June did your Father go onto India ? My Grandfather joined the Royal Artillery in April 1944 as Gnr Drvr and posted to the 73ATK in Jan 1945. Do you know what vehicle your Father drove ? Ben
No My father stayed back in Germany guarding D.P's He was at Wilhelmshavem during that time. He drove the Morris Quad gun tractor. For a time he drove the Three tonners. I have posted his photo on this site. From 73rd Antitant Regt. My Dad went to the 8th regt.which as changed to 10th Antitank from where he was demobbed in 1947. I can't tell you anymore because he has been dead for quite some time now. But he liked to talk about his service days.
Thanks for replying, My Grandadfather's service record shows he went to India in 1947 with the Field Regiment after returning from Germany. He also probably would have been involved with the D.P camps. Before getting his service recorded all I really knew was he drove a tank and went to India so I guess it must have been the M10. I dont think my Dad was aware that his father went to Europe but knew about India, unlike your father it seems my Grandad didnt talk about the war much. Ben
yes he would have deffo been with either 198 or 234 Baty's they were M10's. Hope thats been of Help. Narrowed it down a bit. My Dad was discharged in 1947, My Dad used to tell me about the run of the mill stuff like how he got his Quad stuck in a load of mud in Holland and the thick snow in the ardennes but he also had his dark moments . He would never discuss the Horrid things he witnessed but I can remember him having night mares Or rather my Mum used to tell me about them..
(I have read your other post) in another post I upload his service record http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/46839-help-and-research-tips-for-royal-artillery-service-record/ but cannot see any mention of Baty's or troop however there is another page with unit info but doesnt seem to fit with the rest of the record. My Grandad Dudley W G Goddard joined April 1944 and discharged in 1947 he went into Europe Jan 1945. Reading the War diaries its seems India was training and excersices, the Holland / Germany section I dont really get a sense of what happened but know it contains operation Veritable and Destruction.
Ben, My Dad Joined 73rd Antitank on 23-03-1944 at Felixstowe. From the time of his enlistment in November 1942 he underwent a variety of Training programmes. this is a brief account of his whereabouts and it states states that he left 73rd Antitank in Nov 1945. He was then attached to 41st Searchlight Regt untill Nov 45. Following that 2nd L.AA and 8th Regt RA respectively. Afterwhich he was released to the Army reserve in Sept 1947. I have looked at 196 Bty's Nominal Roll and your Granddad is not mentioned. The best thing is either try and get a copy of the War Diary for the 73rd. and look there. It looks like from your Grandad service records that originally he was attched to the Royal Armourd Corps as a mechanic. So M10's were guns mounted on tank chassis. (234 & 198 Bty's) I hasten to addthat all batteries had Driver/ Mechs on their company strengths. I have taken a great interest in 73rd Antitank regt. because I didn't know which Battery My Dad had belonged to. And he couldn't remember. It wasn't untill I managed to get a copy of To North West Europe with 196 Antitank Battery that I found which troup he was with. All a bit long winded but got there in the end. regards June. P.S I'm ex RAF so I have a keen interest in Military History.
June Read your latest posting with considerable interest as I am currently researching details of the British/Canadian units based in Wilhelmshaven in the immediate post war period 2 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA and 8th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery are the same unit. By coincidence I was in Kew last week and found an entry in the Historcal Record for HQ 7 Armoured Division for January 1947 authorising the name change. They were stationed in Isle of Man Barracks so named to commemorate 2 LAA Regt's founders,, the pre war TA 15 LAA Regt RA recruited on the Island and who had been part of the Desert Rats for the majority of the World War 2 Would be very interested to know when exactly your Dad left Wilhelmshaven. A Danish Field Regiment )part of the newly arrived Den Danske Kommando) replaced 8RHA some time in Summer 1947.
How hard is it to find the Bty's nominal rolls for the others ? I have found mention of 198 and 234 (SP) with 15 (s) Div and 73 ATK less two Btys with 43 Div in the war dairy (Feb 1945) regarding Operation Veritable. There are then messages about troops from both Btys being affiliated with different Bdes. Found a Goddard mentioned on some pages not my one becasue the one mentioned is an officer. I have found ref to E troop of 196 Bty regarding Pepperpot
I would have to have a copy of my Dads Service records to be more spacific. But I believe Dad might have left Wilhelmshaven after his tour of duty with 41st Searchlight Regiment. The story goes that the searchlights themselves were used to enhance the stage in the Officers Club and my dad used to help out. His Boss was a Canadian, a female no less. I remember he said that he used to wear the Canadian battle dress which may have been bottle green. He never mentioned the Danish continjent but he did talk about D.Ps and Poles. Also he was only with the 8th Regt ( Dad was with X Bty) for two weeks before it changed roll to become 10th anti-tank Regiment . I would hazzard a guess that he came back from Wilhemshaven in Sept 1947. a month after the Danish took over. I remember him saying that they lived in the Naval Barracks in Wilhelmshaven. Also they worked on the Tirpitz Sluice. When 30th Corps was disbanded 73rd came under command of the Desert Rats. either 7th or 8th Armoured Brigade.
Ben, Just read your other Post. The Regiment were in Support of 15 Scottish Div for the Rhine crossing. over a thousand guns were in use. I found my little pamphlet on E-bay. That is a good place to to have a look. You could try Abe books. Most Regiments and batteries published an account of their actions. The British library or ask your Local Library to see if they can help. Kew might have a copy of the medal roll this will tell you which Battery your Granddad belonged to. If he never claimed his medals try the Medals office in Droitwhitch Worcestershire. Go to the veterans page for the address.
Ah so that's what the S stood for in 15 div . Thanks for the info I will get searching now (give my eyes a break from the war dairy) Regarding the medals again I dont know if he claimed them I have the forms to fill out and check and if he did have them no one in the family has said what happened to them. If I can find out the Battery that would be a great help to put together his time during the war. One more question in India he got upgraded to 2 stars, any idea what that would have been for ?
Ben,The stars indicate to me that he might have been an Officer, some joined as Ordinary Ranks but were promoted later in their Service either because they showed promise or there was a vacancy. Certainly Officers were always mentioned in the War Diary. O.R's almost never. Another idea the stars are for good conduct. But usually they are stripes.
My Father got the War Medal, the France and Germany Star and the General Service Medal. Your grandad would be entitled to all those plus the far eastern star. for India if one was issued. The information on the medal card which is lodged at Kew would be his name Rank and Number Arm of Service, Regiment and in his case Battery No. You can order the information on line if you have a readers ticket..
June Thank you your most recent posting I clearly must seek out the Spring 1947 copies of the 7 Armoured Division Historical Records when I am next in Kew. 2 LAA Regt/ 8 RHA were definitely under command Headquarters Artillery 7 Armoured Division located in nearby Jever whilst the Regiment was in Wilhelmshaven.
