Gunner Harold Forden WW2 service history

Thanks again. Every days a learning day. . Read an article saying they moved everyone from Woolwich in 1939 because of fear of bombing, after Dunkirk it had 15000 soldiers…. Must have been chaotic…..

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi I've gone through all of my Dads Service Record now, putting info into a chronological order, it shows the following:
With him being in 124th Field Regiment I looked on Battery Finder site, it says 287 Battery part of 124th Field Regt. May 39 to Jun 42 From 72 Brigade.
Tried to look up 72 Brigade, Wiki site says List of regiments covers from 1938 when RA adopted the term Regiment rather than Brigade. So does this mean he was part of 124th Field Regiment which was part of 72 Field Regiment part of the 50th Div. Have I got this wrong?
List of regiments of the Royal Artillery 1938–47 - Wikipedia

Also it shows the following: Would I be able to find out what ships he was on?

Disembarked Egypt
I Presume from UK? 17.07.41
Embarked Egypt 05.08.41
Disembarked Cyprus 07.08.41
Posted to X List (ii) (Sick) 15.08.41
Re-joined Unit from X List 20.08.41

Embarked Cyprus 05.11.41
Disembarked Palestine 06.11.41

Entered Iraq 01.12.41
Entered Palestine 19.01.42
Entered Syria 27.01.42
Entered Palestine 11.02.42
Entered Egypt 13.03.42
Posted X List (iii)C Missing
Now a P.O.W 20.06.42 Libya

Thanks

Paul

 

287 Field Battery was part of 72 (Northumbrian) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TA) in 1921. The Brigade became 72 Field Brigade RA(TA) in June 1924 when the RFA became RA. It re-designated as 72 Field Regiment RA(TA) in November 1938. It then re-organised with two batteries - 285 & 286. 287 & 288 Batteries went to 124 Field Regiment just forming.
124 Field Regiment RA(TA) was formed as a duplicate of 72 Field in May 1939 with 287 & 288 Batteries. It was initially formed at Cowgate under 23 Infantry Division but was moved to 50 Division in June 1940. The Regiment with 287 Battery were placed in suspended animation in January 1946.
Hope that is of some help.
Derek

 

Thanks for that, yes it helps a lot. Appreciate it. My Dad was captured on the 20-06-42 so have been trying to piece together what happened with help from people on this site. As mentioned the diary’s are missing for May and June.
Thanks for the help

Paul

 

Hi I’ve now gone through each page of my Dads army service and pieced together some sort of chronological order of events.
Does anyone have any info on what basic training involved for a Royal Artillery recruit, how long was it, what was involved etc?
I’ve looked on the forum pages but can’t find a specific one to Royal Artillery. Dad joined up in 1939 aged 20 before conscription came in.
I’m assuming he completed his attestation, had medical, went back home until told to attend basic training. On completion he would be assigned somewhere?

thanks

Paul

 

The answer re dates is in your fathers record -

1. Attested 4.1.1939 in Middlesbrough

2. 11.1.1939 Posted 2/1st Training Regiment

3. 15.4.1839 Posted 22nd Field Reg

So a week to get from Middlesbrough to his Training Regiment (possibly via RA Depot Woolwich?) then 3 months basic training before posting to his Field Regiment where no doubt further training would’ve been provided.

You’ll likely have to contact RA Museum for the Training Regiment location and recruit training syllabus.

Steve

 

Hi Steve thanks for that

cheers