My grandfather, Lt Col. Colin Keppel Davidson 77 Anti-Tank Regt RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Csefi, Feb 11, 2018.

  1. Csefi

    Csefi New Member

    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.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    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
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2018
  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    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
     
    Tricky Dicky and Owen like this.
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Saw your post , Frank & so have split posts away from the original thread .
     
  5. Csefi

    Csefi New Member

    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.
     
    Giberville likes this.
  6. Csefi

    Csefi New Member

    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!
     

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