I want to write an article about the British LOMMEL artillery range that extended from Belgium to the north into the south of the Netherlands. The range was activated January 1945 and ended in November 1945. Some Dutch farmers were evacuated, because the target areas of this temporarily range were near their farms. Till today a lot of UXO’s are found in that area during plowing, etc. I am special looking for a map with the perimeter of the range. The Nord de Guerre grid for the entrance was vK2798. Greetings - Antoon
I wish I had some information to provide. I know that a lot of anti-tank gunners did practice firing there, but that's all.
Below is a Military Map (from McMaster’s University)…….I’ll take the grid reference you presented in your post 2798 and located it on the map. This would give you the approx grid square the Range was probably placed A link to the map below, if you want to see it or download a copy, the one below is “medium Rez”, you can also download it in “high Rez” Maeseyck
British National Archives have records of No 1 Artillery Range Detachment 1 Artillery Range Det. | The National Archives
Antoon Post VE Day information for Lommel-B 1 Artillery Range Detachment + 1 Calibration Troop Royal Artillery 18 Jul 45 – Marck-F east of Calais-F 27 Nov 45 – 1st Corps District – Delbrück north-west of Paderborn to 5 Apr 46 13 Sep 45 – Royal Artillery Training Establishment from United Kingdom 22 Nov 45 – 1st Corps District as British Army of the Rhine Artillery Training Establishment A number of minor units were also in Lommel details on request Hope this helps 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Thank you all for the info. The War Diary from No. 1 Artillery Detachment (Jan-Oct 1945), mention a lot of units that used the range, but the list is far from complete. The smallest gun was the Staghound with 37 mm, the largest the 240 mm howitzer. Greetings - Antoon
Hi Antoon, I remember reading : 33 FIELD REGT ROYAL ARTILLERY 6 JUNE 1944 TO 5 MAY 1945 Copy No 60.pdf p 46 -47
Hi Antoon, Was wondering if you finished your article about the Lommel range? If so, any change you are willing to share it?
