75th Medium Regiment RA

An uncle of mine served in the KSLI which became the 75th Medium Regiment RA having joined initially as a territorial in the lead up to WWII. I have a picture of him on a rooftop with the dome of St Peter's in Rome on clear sunny day obviously at the end of the war. Whenever, I read the standard texts on the North African campaign and the slog up Italy I can find no mention of his unit, even though I was told he was at Cassino. Can anyone help with orders of battle etc which would give me even a rough idea where he served. The KSLI website is of very little help.

regards

cambrian

 

I am sorry that I can only reply in a negative way. My copy of the official "History of the Second World War" Vol 5 " The Mediterranean and Middle East" gives the order of battle for the Italian Campaign and although numerous Royal Artillery Medium Regts appear, the 75th is not shown. I am researching the Sicily/Italy campaigns and will follow your posting with interest.

Colin.

 

Originally posted by colin
My copy of the official "History of the Second World War" Vol 5 " The Mediterranean and Middle East" gives the order of battle for the Italian Campaign and although numerous Royal Artillery Medium Regts appear, the 75th is not shown. I am researching the Sicily/Italy campaigns and will follow your posting with interest.


Hi Colin and Cambrian,

I have a recollection - vague I must confess - having read that the 75th was an Anti-aircraft Regiment deployed at Naples, if so it would probably not be shown in an order of battle. Cambrian, have you tried the Royal Artillery website?

This topic is being moved to 'The War in Italy'

Gerry

 

Try this excellent site for anything on the RA in WW2:

http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html

For this unit see:

http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/field/page75.html

It shows it becoming a Heavy Regiment in North Africa in 1943 and then becoming part of 8 AGRA in NW Europe; so perhaps your man swapped units at some point?

 

Hello Cambrian,

By coincidence - or perhaps great minds? - Paul and I had the same idea to dig into the RA site. Having a vague memory of an ack-ack unit in Naples, searching for anti-aircraft units comes up with this:
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page69.html
which fits in with your uncle being in Rome.

Another reference quotes the 75th as being a Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment until being disbanded in 1955.

Regards, Gerry

 

Hello Cambrian,

After my negative reply I decided I'd gone as far as I could until I saw Gerry's answer. I thought I'd have one more go, so last night I got all my reference books out and started again.

Glad I did for now I have a positive answer.

In GWL Nicholson's "The Canadians in Italy" (Cloutier - Ottawa. 1956) there are two references to 75th Medium Regt RA:

Page 203, in co-ordination with the Canadian assault across the Strait of Messina on September 3rd 1943 the 75th was one of four medium regts given the fire support task. So 75th Med Regt RA was in Sicily. (also in page note).

Page 284, on 24th November 1943 the 75th was one of nine artillery regts involved in the battle of the Sangro. (also in page note).
Did they go on to Rome for R&R then? There are no more references to the 75th in Italy.

Nicholson's book I bought from a bookseller in Daytona Beach, Florida. The only copy I know of in the UK is in Southampton University Library.

Colin.

 

Frederick's Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978 shows the following:

75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regt RA (TA); converted as Shropshire Yeo Regt RA (TA) on 15 Feb 1940; at Shavingham as 75th ... with A & B Btys, late HQ & A Sqns; btys redesignated P 7 Q on 11 Mar 1942 and than as 101 & 102 Med Btys on 1 Jan 43; regt & btys in suspended animation on 15 Mar 1946; reconstituted as The Shropshire Yeomanry, RAC (TA) on 1 Jan 1947.

Faugh A Ballagh!

 

Thank you for this information, they appear to have been part of x corps and XIII corps of 8th army. This will help with my research for sure.

CAMBRIAN

 

Just to add to the confusion, there is a 75th AT Regiment RA shown in the OOB of 11th Armoured Div in NW Europe in Max Hastings' "Overlord".

 

Originally posted by colinhotham@Oct 24 2004, 05:44 AM

Nicholson's book I bought from a bookseller in Daytona Beach, Florida. The only copy I know of in the UK is in Southampton University Library.

Colin.
[post=28908]Quoted post[/post]
Well, now you know of three, because I have one myself. I got all three on E-Bay some years ago.

 

I also have a copy, which I bought from a Canadian book dealer a couple of years ago; it cost more in postage than for the book itself!

The difficult ones to find in their original editions are the British Official Histories for WW2; especially for Italy. Buy them if you ever see them, as they are so rare - although not reprinted by Naval & Military Press (in softback, which is a shame).

 

Originally posted by Paul Reed@Nov 17 2004, 01:10 PM
I also have a copy, which I bought from a Canadian book dealer a couple of years ago; it cost more in postage than for the book itself!

The difficult ones to find in their original editions are the British Official Histories for WW2; especially for Italy. Buy them if you ever see them, as they are so rare - although not reprinted by Naval & Military Press (in softback, which is a shame).
[post=29521]Quoted post[/post]
Can you give me more information about these reprints of the British WW2 Official History?

 

You will find them at the Naval & Military Press website at:

http://www.naval-military-press.com/

 

Have just joined. Researching the 75th as my father was in it. Thanks for info.

smoky4

 

Hi smoky4 + welcome.
From another Medium Regt RA man!
Good luck with your research, if I can help let me know.
Regards
Rob.

 

War Diary References for 75 Medium Regt at the NA in Kew if they are not already known.


UK

WO166/1938 - AUG 1939 TO DEC 1941
WO166/7247 - JAN TO DEC 1942
WO166/11386 - FEB 1943

MIDDLE EAST

WO169/9597 - MAR TO DEC 1943

ITALY

WO170/1013 - JAN TO MAY 1944
WO170/1014 - JUN TO AUG 1944
WO170/1015 - SEP TO DEC 1944
WO170/4808 - JAN TO MAY 1945
WO170/4809 - JUN TO DEC 1945
WO170/7944 - JAN TO MAR 1946

Cheers - Robert

 

To: Rob Dickens & ramacal,
Many thanks for welcome & info. Much appreciated

 

Smoky
A bit on the Regt, but I expect you already know much of this from your research.
Rob.

75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, R.A.
On September 1, 1939, the Shropshire Yeomanry was a Horsed Cavalry Regiment, but in 1940, the Regiment lost its horses and converted to artillery. "A" Squadron and H.Q. Squadron formed 101 and 102 Batteries of the 75th Medium Regiment, R.A. [5] On December 20, 1942 the Regiment, equipped with 4.5" howitzers, left Liverpool for Durban and Suez, arriving on April 14, 1943. [5] 101 Battery was re-equipped with 5.5 howitzers, whilst 102 kept its 4.5's. [5] After intensive training, 101 battery moved through the desert to Tripoli, then went to Syracuse in Sicily and saw its first action. 102 Battery arrived in Sicily from Egypt on August 7. [5] The Regiment served through the Italian campaign, sometimes in support of the 5th Army, sometimes with the 8th Army, and saw action in many notable battles. These included the third battle of Monte Cassino, operations against the Gustav Line and the breakthrough, operations against the Hitler Line, actions at Arezzo and the occupation of Florence. [5] The Regiment went on to serve in the Apennines against the Gothic Line and on to the final offensives of the 8th Army in Spring 1945. [5] The end of the war found the 75th Medium Regiment in defensive positions facing Tito's Yugoslav army in Venezia Giulia.

 

75 Medium Regt RA

75 (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45
*Needs updating,.contacting DB

One troop of 75 Medium Regt was in action in the Battle for Monte Ceco (Cece) in support of the 1st Division infantry.
The guns were deployed in the Senio Valley in the village of Badia di Susinana due to Crest Clearance and range problems experienced by the Divisions 25 Pounder Field Regiments in assaults on Monte Ceco (Cece).

Badia di Susinana
On October 1st the 67th Recce party reached Palazzuolo sul Senio
quickly moving on to Badia di Susinana, the guns followed them on the 3rd October.
The 67th Field Regt were moved up to provide support.
There was insufficient room for the other Divisional Field Regiments until Engineers could repair roads and Bridges.
75 Medium arrived on 13th October 1944.


British 1st Div in the Apennines
(Italian Publication)


The gun position Oct 2019
Courtesy Hartridge Family

1st Infantry Division August 1944 - Jan 1945

The 2nd Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

3rd Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment
2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry

66th Infantry Brigade
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots
1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment
11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers



During this period 1st Div came under British XIII Corps on the right flank of the American 5th Army.
1st Div were familiar with the American 5th Army having been under them at Anzio.
This is why they disappeared from many British History books until recently.
XIII Corps (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

 

Cambrian 19 years ago:
"An uncle of mine served in the KSLI which became the 75th Medium Regiment RA having joined initially as a territorial in the lead up to WWII.
I have a picture of him on a rooftop with the dome of St Peter's in Rome on clear sunny day obviously at the end of the war.
Whenever, I read the standard texts on the North African campaign and the slog up Italy I can find no mention of his unit, even though I was told he was at Cassino.
Can anyone help with orders of battle etc which would give me even a rough idea where he served".

75 Medium grew from the Shropshire Yeomanry.
As part of the 1st Infantry Division 1st Btn. KSLI never fought at Casino They were at Anzio.
The photo of his uncle in Rome would have been after Anzio, when they paused in Rome during retraining with replacements for the advance up Italy in June 1944.

1st Division went to Florence then advanced up Arrow Route to the Gothic Line.
They were supported by 75th Medium for a few weeks at Badia di Susinana before moving to Monte Grande.

In January 1945 1st Division went to Palestine to recuperate and train replacements ready to return to Italy
but the war ended before they were scheduled to return.

The Regular Regiments stayed in Palestine while the Territorial Units and soldiers signed up for the duration of the war, came home.