75th Medium Regiment RA

You are welcome

I know another relative of a veteran from the 75th Medium Regiment whose grandad used to play a glass/cup xylophone to entertain his fellow troops

I have uploaded a picture showing the route of the 75th Medium Regiment which included your grandad of course. He was part of the 8th Army.

Please confirm that the 2nd cropped picture is Private L.T. Fox.

 

Really appreciate you posting the map, this is the crop of my grandfather. J. T. Fox. It's amazing to think of all the photos taken he's on one.

 

He was originally South Lancashire Fusiliers, but his father (sergeant, x2 military medals) who was in the SLF WWI, made him transfer to the artillery. That's how the story goes. I'm not sure if he kept the same serial number for the 75th as his SLF, but I only have his SLF serial number.

 

Wow, he might have met my great granduncle perhaps.

I have been able to retrace the footsteps of the 75th Medium Regiment pretty much month by month.

I am not sure if I uploaded the attached picture here

 

My great granduncle was in a territorial regiment with the Royal Welch Fusiliers from May 1941 to November 1942 and then he was transferred to the Royal Artillery.

 

andyfox.

75 Medium Regiment RA were part of an Army Group Royal Artillery - in this case 6 AGRA.

Every Infantry Division had three integral Field Regiments RA. These three Field Regiments were at the disposal of the Divisional Commander and went wherever the Division went.

There were occasions when these Infantry Divisions needed to beef up their firepower so they went to Corps HQ and asked for more. Alternatively, Corps HQ, in drawing up their plans for the Infantry Divisions might decide to beef up the Infantrey Divisions to ensure a better chance of success.

If the former, Corps HQ, who controlled the artillery assets of the AGRA, then decided whether the Divisions' requests had merit. If they thought they did then they would allocate Field, Medium, Heavy and sometimes Super Heavy, if they had them, to the Divisions for their specific task. In effect, 75 Medium Regiment RA was rent-a-mob and they hopped around Italy according to need.

If you ever want to see what they got up to at Cassino in support of the Third and Fourth Battles, I am taking a group there 8-12 Oct 25. Get me through my website www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk for more information and my enquiries email address.

Regards

Frank

 

A tribute to the Shropshire Yeomanry on the anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino last year.

 

This is from the 75th Medium Regiment's war diary, my great granduncle fell ill and was out of action from 25th September 1943 until 1st October 1943.

 

My great-grandad was in the South Lancashire Fusiliers and then went on join the royal artillery. I don’t understand a lot or how to research about where to find any information. Can somebody help me? Joseph Porter - Liverpool

 

One page from my great granduncle's WW2 service record courtesy of the National Archives in Kew.

He was a signaller.

Here is what I know:

1. Alfred William Sami completed his army Training at the Infantry Training Centre - Saighton, in Cheshire.

2. On Completion of Infantry Training, (June 1940) he was posted to 11th RWF, which was a Home Defence (HD) Battalion. They protected Kp points and High Value sites covering Wrexham and the surrounding areas, including the border area of Shropshire. They also had troops at Broughton, which had a high-value Bomber Aircraft factory. (11 and 30 RWF are covered in RWF Regimental Records Vol 5, Part 2, June 1940-Dec 1945)

3. Sept 1940, Posted to 4th RWF, he then moves to the 30th RWF (Service) Battalion, possibly for a short period, prior to his RA transfer in 1942.

4. Between 1940-42 he completes a Signals Course at Prestatyn and a 3inch Mortar Course at Shrewsbury, with the KSLI providing the instruction, before returning to his RWF Unit. He's a well trained and qualified soldier.

4. In 1942, he is transferred to the Royal Artillery ending up with 75 Medium Regiment. Seeing active service in the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily. Entitled to the 1939-45 Star, N.Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal, Defence Medal. In 1943, whilst with 75 Medium Regiment, he attends a Signaller Refresher course, scoring 18/20. He is obviously a talented signaller, and ends up in one of the Battery HQs of 75th Regiment. They are part of the 8th Army. He probably served in Tunisia etc, before moving into Italy.

5. His Reference from the Battery Captain is excellent. It mentions he "provided excellent service in Battery Headquarters and elsewhere in action" He mentions his intelligence and cheerfulness.