85th Anti Tank Regiment RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Ravrick, Apr 25, 2012.

  1. andrewe

    andrewe Member

    Charley hello
    I know this post is three years old, but wondered if you still had that RHQ photo mentioned?
    Myself and three others are doing research into the men of the 85th and are interested in the provenance of the image. It would greatly help with our research.
    Do you recall the seller's information? And was there any other info with the photo apart from what you posted - who the original owner was, etc. Was it Denis Nash?

    Would be happy to chat in a PM

    With very best wishes

    Andrew
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I'm afraid I can't remember a single thing about it other than the fact that it was eBay and the image was unsold at the time.

    It looked like a rarity, so I pinched it for here.

    I wish I could tell you more, but searching online turns up no trace of it.
     
  3. andrewe

    andrewe Member

    No problem Charley - worth an ask. Did someone buy it?
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    When I last saw it, it was unsold, but that was a long time ago.

    I spend a lot of time combing the Internet for R.A. photos in the hope of turning up something from my grandfather's regiment.
     
  5. andrewe

    andrewe Member

    I see - thanks so much for the replies. If you do find the link to it please do pass along! With best wishes
     
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  6. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Sorry it's gone. I passed the info to a friend and he bought it. See #63.

    Tim
     
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  7. andrewe

    andrewe Member

    Ah, Thanks. I had forgotten that and now realize I know who bought it (!). I will ask them about it. Thank you
     
  8. bzaoral

    bzaoral Member

    Upon further review, William John Blencowe is in the 251st Battery photo, back row (row 6), 8th from left - not the 85th RHQ photo.

    3. 251 85th Antitank Battery RA, Clacton on Sea, 8 Nov 1941_numbered.jpg 251st Battery Row 6 No 8 Blencowe img20200719_10362632.jpg

    WW2Talk member ‘andrewe’, the ‘E’ in the ELTZ group that is researching the 85th, posted an article on RFHG (Research FEPOW History Group) titled ‘MY GRANDFATHER’S LIST’ My Grandfather’s List.

    The placement of Blencowe on the 251st photo comes from that list.
     
  9. bzaoral

    bzaoral Member

    William Garton Faulkner (Junior) b November 19, 1897 did indeed Attest in Deepcut, Kent on March 4, 1913 at the age of 15-years and 3-months. Service No. 71649. He re-enlisted on September 19, 1924 - Service No. 1033539.
     
  10. Phil B

    Phil B Junior Member

    Hi Bruno, thanks for all the information you have provided so far about my cousin Gunner Robert Bird, 1114619 of the 85th AT and thanks in advance to Andrew E.
    You have made me think more about where and how he died. We know he died on the 15th February 1942 and it's reported he died from his wounds but we also know before he died he was taken to hospital. My thoughts are was he taken to Alexandra Hospital in Singapore and was he murdered in the Alexandra Hospital Massacre? Does anyone know of a list of casualties in this horror or where to find it?
    Phil
     
  11. Phil B

    Phil B Junior Member

    GBM-POW-GALLIP-101597498-00021 .jpg To anyone who’s interested… I now know my cousin Robert Bird was not murdered in the Alexandra Hospital massacre. I contacted Jonathan Moffatt of the Malayan Volunteers Group Malayan Volunteers Group and he kindly sent me a copy of the handwritten Malayan Campaign deaths register drawn up in Changi POW camp in 1942, see attached. The entry for Robert Bird is shown fourth line from the bottom. He died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital and not Alexandra Hospital. He was initially buried in a slit trench close to the Reception office of the hospital and later relocated to Kranji CWGC Cemetery.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2021
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  12. Trooper Peter

    Trooper Peter Member

    Walther thanks for the leads in your post. From the book "Lost Souls of the River Kwai: Experiences of a British Soldier on the Railway of Death" by Bill Read it appears that the 251st Battery, 85th Anti-Tank Regiment was deployed into Johore w.e.f. 15 January 1942. However, there was no reference made to the 270th Battery, in the pages of the "Lost Souls of the River Kwai" during the time when the 251st Battery saw some brief action against the Japanese, very likely the Japanese 5th Infantry Division, in Johore. The general idea that I have obtained so far is that the Batteries of the 85th Anti-Tank Regiment deployed to Johore was placed directly under the 11th Indian Infantry Division, whose HQ was in Renggam (w.e.f 13 January 1942) whilst the artillery elements of this Division was deployed in Kluang, Johor.

    I have also searched for the deployment of the 251st and 270th Batteries, 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, from the pages of Major-General S. Woodburn Kirby, "The War against Japan. Volume 1. The Loss of Singapore", Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1957, but strangely there was no mention of this Anti-Tank Regiment during the Battle of Johore from 15 January to 31 January 1942!
     
  13. Libby Yeoman

    Libby Yeoman New Member

    Hi Ben, I came across your post as I am looking for information on my grandfather Michael Yeoman who was in the 85th Anti Tank regiment but unsure of his battery as his records just say 'C Bty, RA'. But I have a photo of Michael with some other men and one of them is noted on the back to be Graham Sauvage (bottom right), I wonder if it is your grandfather? I thought maybe they might be in the same battery but Michaels Liberation Questionnaire is quite different to his. R.A. 1941.jpg R.A. 1941 (2).jpg
     
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  14. andrewe

    andrewe Member

    Libby - hi I just saw this. Your grandfather was in 45 Battery of 85th Anti Tank. He was with 45 Battery while with 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, before that Battery was posted in Sept 1941 to join the newly formed 85th. All of the other men listed on the back of the photo were also in 45 Battery, and went to the 85th together. I suspect that photo was taken before the move. Some of them have quite interesting stories, and it is great to see a photo of them. Happy to chat and provide what info I have if you sent me a private message.
     
  15. Libby Yeoman

    Libby Yeoman New Member

    Hi Andrew, Thank you so much! I had my suspicions he might have been in the 45th but great to have it confirmed. Yes I would be very grateful for any other information you might have, unfortunately after some hunting I still cannot get my head around how to send a private message on here so if you could pm me that would be great!
     
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    You can't PM until you make 5 posts.
     
  17. Jonas Foreman

    Jonas Foreman New Member

    Hi Bzaoral
    I believe my grandfather was the Major of 251 Battery - Major John Patrick Turrill. I'm actually living in Singapore at the moment, quite close to where they were posted at the Chinese Cemetery / Mount Pleasant road. It would be fantastic to fin out more about their movements and time here. Any info (maps, testimonies etc) you can share, would be great.

    Many thanks!
     
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  18. bzaoral

    bzaoral Member

    I cropped your grandfather Major John Patrick Turrill from the 251st Battery of the 85th Anti-Tank Regiment photo taken October 1941 in Clacton-on-Sea. R1 13 251st Batt- 85th AT Reg Oct 1941 Clacton - Turrill.jpg

    My ELTZ research group colleague Andrew Easterbrook (member 'andrewe' on WW2talk) located and transcribed an 8-page letter witten by Major Turrill in 1967 that descibes the history of the 251st Battery, 63rd/85th Anti-Tank Regiment. I'll defer to Andrew to share it with you.
     
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  19. Jonas Foreman

    Jonas Foreman New Member

    Stirling work - thank you Bruno, this is indeed my Grandfather! It would be great to read his letter.

    As I'm in Singapore I'm going to head down to the national archives to see what I can find.
     

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