D Battery 12th Regt. Honourable Artillery Coy. R.H.A.

Hi

I'm looking into my uncle's army life, he was a member of D Battery 12th Regt HAC RHA and was killed in a battery O.P. Tank after crossing Amazon Bridge at Cassino Italy may 1944.

Can anyone tell me what type of tank 12th Regt would have used as an OP?
What kind of gear would it have had on board?
How may crew and what jobs did they do?

Many thanks

 

Hi Alan,

This file at the Nationa Archives may help:

File Ref: WO 170/918. Title: R.H.A. and H.A.C.: 12 H.A.C. Regt Date:1944 Jan.- Dec.

Andy

 

Alan -
Difficult to say as 26th Armoured bde had Shermans and usually they were standard throughout the 6th Armoured Division - the Recce unit Derbyshires also had Shermans - so it's most likely that all OP's were of the same- Standard Sherman was a five man crew type - with Commander - Operator - Gunner - Driver and Co-Driver - but for OP work they probably had an earlier four man unit dispensing with the gunner - and most of the 75mm ammo - to make room for an extra 19 wireless set to keep in touch with their own unit and their supporting Tanks..
The war diaries will probaly outline the various vehicles used- even Jeeps !
Cheers

 

Bit out of my comfort zone here but did the HAC have Sexton's?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_(artillery)

 

Between Africa and Italy they re-equipped with US M7 Priests - Sherman-based SPs with 105mm guns. The OP tanks were Shermans - not clear if they were proper Sherman AOP or standard gun tanks.

 

'The Honourable Artillery Company 1527-1987' by Goold Walker talks about the run up to Cassino in May 44:

After the German surrender in N Africa, 12th HAC were apparently based at Robertville, near Philippeville (now called Bone), and that they were issued with 'the American SP 105mm gun or "Priest" which 11th HAC had deployed so successfully in the desert.' It states the 12th moved to Italy in March 44 and were concentrated near Alife.

Interestingly it also states that 'the losses suffered by 12th HAC in Africa from bombing by the German Air Force differed little from that inflicted on them by the US Air Force in Italy.'But the 12th entered the campaign with great advantages. Successful experiences in North africa had produced fine teamwork and mutual confidence in all ranks; the SP gun was extremely satisfactory, and the possession of Sherman OP tanks was an enormous gain.'

Hope this helps. All the best,

Skip

 

Here's the relevant extract from the HAC's WW2 history Regimental Fire:

Bridge and surrounding country had been ringed and covered with a suffocating screen of canister smoke. It denied the German observation , but into the cloud they poured almost continuous fire, alternated with attacks by dive bombers. When, after a day of continuous fighting, the infantry had achieved their objectives, 12 Regiment moved forward in the dust and turmoil of the battle to their second gun position nearer the river.
Through the pall of smoke D Battery's O.P.s, with the leading squadron of the Lothians, were already across the river: Captain Massey--the first member of the Regiment to cross--Major Douglas Hughes and Captain Williams.
...
Fog, thickened no doubt by the smoke screen which still hung around the bridgehead, had reduced visibility to ten yards. Moving blindly through close country such as this, a tank might at any moment become the victim of a bold ambush.
Thus Captain Massey's was knocked out by a German who, emerging suddenly from cover, placed a couple of "sticky bombs" on the turret. Gunner A. F. Stansfield was killed, and Massey himself wounded with the remainder of the crew.

 

This file may also be of interest:

WO 204/12502 12 HAC Regt RHA: description of operations in Italy 1945 Apr-May

 

Some great info guys
and thanks idler Gunner A.F. Stansfield mentioned in your quote was my Uncle

A long shot but does anybody know anything about Captain Massey also Mentioned in the quote.

 

Skip
Most of the town names in North Africa have been changed into the Arabic language since the French left Algeria e.g - Bone is now known as Anaba- Phillipville- further west of Bone is known as something else - my point being that Bone existed as did Phillipville - Bougie - Constantine for long centuries past as individual towns so Phillipville was never known as Bone - most of 6th Armoured - 4th Infantry- 46th Div- 78th Div - and others spent time on the whole coast line from Phillipville to Bone and beyond, before heading for Italy.

the 21st Tank Bde spent much time at Pentheveire - 20 miles south of Bone - Gerry Chesters' 25th tank bde spent much time at Ain Mokra- 15 miles west of Bone
Cheers

 

Is this him?

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

 

And while we are on the subject of awards within 12 Honourable Artillery Company here's another 22 listed online at the National Archives. If your interested in any don't pay for them-There's a way of getting them for free

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results=*

 

Idler -

this is most odd as there was another thread running under the Title - "Amazon Bridge" by the same IP - can't find it anywhere but he also quoted that Engineers article - and was refuted by a "Ron ..." whose Father recalled -and with whom he visited the scene many times afterwards so knows well the area - that it was a Tank of the 17/21st Lancers who had assisted the engineers in pushing the Amazon into position and was first across- which is my understanding of the same event- and was known all throughout 6th Armoured...very odd. Some revision going on perhaps ....
Cheers

 

Hi Drew

How do I get this info Captain Massey and 12th Regt awards?

 

Hi Alan. If you read through the link below you find the explanation on how to get them for free. Its quite easy once you get the hang of it-It just takes a bit of time.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/14038-national-archives-kew%3B-recommendations-medals.html

 

... that it was a Tank of the 17/21st Lancers who had assisted the engineers in pushing the Amazon into position and was first across ...

Tom,

I don't think the D Bty OPs were claiming to be the first tanks across, just that they were the first of their regiment to cross. Mailed Fist confirms that 17/21 L were the first tanks across, having launched the bridge as you say.

This is the Amazon thread.

 

Idler - thanks finding the other thread -and for the clarification although Ron Gilleard who accompanied his father many times to see the scene of the bridge as he helped build it - and also Alan's extract of the account differ in that it reads as if the 17/21st "were cooped up in the rear all afternoon" - so I shall stick to the "Mailed Fist's account"
Cheers

 

Tom,

Cheers for clearing up the Algerian names - I should have remembered that having been out that way myself. Phillipville is now known as Bejaia. If you were there in the war I doubt it will have changed much! It's still full of mosquitos.

All the best,

Skip

 

Drew

The link worked fine. But it's not the same Captain Massey
Thanks for trying

 

Did the O.P. guys see much of the other men in the battery or did they spend most of the time with the tank crews they supported.

What was life like for an O.P.

thanks