Hi there - I have a deceased ancestor - Harold Randles, who was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery from November 1940 until he was discharged in July 1941. Rumour has it that he was a gunner on the anti aircraft guns in Essex (Braintree?) and was hit by shrapnel in the leg, causing his discharge from the army. Can anybody advise how I would go about finding more details of his career in the RA and specifically how the injury occurred?
Hello and welcome to the forum. I suspect if he was injured by shrapnel it may be recorded in his units war diary. To identify what unit he was with you would probably be best to apply for his service records from the MoD. Click the link below: Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website Cheers Andy
Duneane Hello and welcome He has an RA number and was probably in an HAA (Heavy Anti-Aircraft) Bty. Unless you know the Regt or Bty, can't help i'am afraid, the only way to go is as Drew says apply for his service records, which can take up to a year to come through. Best Rob
Hi there - I have some more details from a Furlough signed by a Major in the RAMC and it states: 170/61st HAA Regiment R.A. I'm not sure whether this would be his actual regiment or the regiment of the Major that gave him the sick leave? There is also the mention of Ayletts, Rainham on the same document. Does that make things clearer....or worse?!
Duneane From the info, he was in; 61st (Middlesex) Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) Regt RA, 170 Battery. RA 1939-45 61 HAA Rgt Rob
Sorry I'm new to this, but do you know if they would have a war diary? Are the diaries by Battery or Regiment and where are they held?
Sorry I'm new to this, but do you know if they would have a war diary? Are the diaries by Battery or Regiment and where are they held? Duneane I did look for the Regt or Bty war-diaries at the National Archives, Kew, Surrey,but there are none Pre 1942 which is what your looking for. Most RA diaries are mainly by Regt. The 61st HAA were under command 37AA Brigade (6AA Div) at the time and there are two diaries at Kew for the 37AA Bde; wo166/2269 Aug39-Mar41 wo166/2270 Apr-Dec41 Detecting your browser settings An enquiry to Firepower, The RA Museum at Woolwich might also be worth a try. Contact Firepower Museum Best Rob
Thanks very much for the help Rob, I've emailed the Firepower Museum.. The link to the diaries at the National Archives shows: Access conditions Closed For 29 years - does that mean I can't view them? I also found this, which looks like the one I need? Or am I way off the mark? Detecting your browser settings Piece reference WO 166/2351 ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS: 61 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA). Scope and content ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS: 61 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA). Covering dates 1939 Aug.- 1941 May, July
My late father was in the 170 61st Middx. He and a group of young Devonians were transferred from the Devon Yeomanry. The Ayletts Farm reference relates to gunsites located there as part of the defence of Hornchurch Aerodrome during the Battle of Britain. Dad let a Mr Peter Watt have a couple of photos of his time at Ayletts for his book Hitler v Havering ISBN 0-9524-0320-X which was published in 1994. Mr Watt's interest in the farm was that his grandfather had farmed it. After Hornchurch Dad was posted to King George V dock to experience the Blitz. Following the Blitz the 170 were meant to go to Singapore but got as far as Bombay when Rachid Ali started a rebellion in Iraq and they were diverted there. From there they went around the "Fertile Crescent" to Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Sicily & Italy.
