Hi, new to the forum. Is this the same as the 77th Anti Tank (RA) which fought in the battle of Sidi Nsir in Tunisia, Feb-Mar 1943? My grandfather, Lt Col. Colin Keppel Davidson, was KIA there on 2/3/43 and I’m looking for more information about him.
a good start for you is to obtain his service records https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records Col Leslie Davidson 1850 memorial in Roehampton Lt Col C K Davidson | Imperial War Museums Lieutenant ColonelDAVIDSON, COLIN KEPPEL Service Number 108023 Died 02/03/1943 Aged 47 77 Anti-Tank Regt. Royal Artillery C I E, O B E Son of Colonel Leslie Davidson, C.B., Royal Artillery, and of Lady Theodora Davidson (nee Keppel); husband of Lady Rachel Davidson (ee Fitzalan Howard), of Crosshurst, Arundel, Sussex. Clerk of the House of Lords from 1919. INSCRIPTION ETERNAL REST GRANT TO HIM, O LORD; AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON HIM Casualty
Careful. No, 77 Field Regiment RA fired 25 pounder artillery in the indirect role - they loved their shells, whereas 77 Anti-tank Regiment RA fired 17 pounders in the direct role and normally at tanks or soft skinned vehicles. Frank
Interesting, thanks. I guess I’m just looking for info on his WW2 career up to and including Sidi Nsir where he lost his life.
Ok the plot thickens. So I’ve found the concentration report form from his reburial at Beja and it has “58th A//T” scribbled next to his name. His was the only 77A/T casualty listed in the entire Tunisia campaign (there are x16 from 58th A/T) so I suspect that he was moved to command the 58th until his death, but for whatever reason his original unit remained on his headstone. So I guess: 1) does anyone know of other cases where an incorrect or former unit was listed for a fallen soldier 2) does anyone have any information relating to 58th AT in Tunisia Feb/Mar ‘43? I think they were at Hunt’s Gap, the dates certainly work. Thanks in advance!