Hello everyone, my uncle gunner Reginald Arthur Coleman 905606 from Blackpool was killed when a stuka struck a direct hit on his QF 3.7 gun emplacement from what we can gather was just to the north of Suda bay. At the time my mum, his sister was told on a visit to suda in the early 60's that there were five wooden crosses marking the remains of some boys from an AA gun that were of course unrecognisable remains on the hillside. After a long search she and my dad found them and laid flowers on them all. On a return visit many years later they had been moved to the war cemetery and buried as unknown but with no records from where and amongst so many others she didn't even know which now official graves were the five she found in the 60's, With no known grave and only his name on the memorial in Athens and the cenotaph in Blackpool she never found anything else out (if the crosses were the correct graves or is he still lost. After she died I took up the search but didn't get any further as of course in the chaos of the time even the date of death could only be recorded as the general one of 2nd June 1941 and nothing from the regimental official records helps, also my daughter visted Crete last September to search the local town hall records just in case somthing new turned up but alas nothing. Im 65 now and unfortunately have cancer so im trying to give it my last shot to at least find the actual general area his place of death rather than old word of mouth. I believe that such a thing as war diaries may exist of the actual units actions and whereabouts written by officers who were there. Can anyone help? Kind Regards Nigel.
This is the diary you want. There are a few earlier ones as well. WO 169/1598 151 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery 1941 Mar-Jun
151 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery are also mention in the 52Light A.A. Regt Diaries. I believe they were under the command of 52LAA Regt on Crete.
Hi- I'm interested in finding out information on RA 151 heavy AA battery in Crete. I can't do any searches at Kew at the moment because of Covid. You mentioned that the 151 are mentioned in 52 light AA regt diaries. Do you know the catalogue number? How would I find out if someone already has a copy of these? Thanks
Hi Andy When you say there are a few earlier ones as well. Would you tell me what number they are and if someone already has a copy please. Thanks
Hi Nigel Did you manage to get a copy of diary WO 169/1598 151 Heavy AA battery 1941 Mar-Jun? I can't order a copy at the moment because of Covid. I wondered if you do have a copy if you would be willing to share it with me? I would be willing to pay the usual costs. Thanks My Dad was in this regiment too and was a gunner on 3.7 inch AA guns. He was captured on Crete transported to Stalag 18a and then onto GW199 Hohentauern Austria.
Hi to all, My Grandfather also died on Crete on the 2nd June 1941 and I have just started to research his possible place of death. He was 2nd Lieutenant Stanley John Bryde Clements of the Royal Artillery service no. 132545. Any pointers would be greatly received and if anyone knows for a picture of Face 2 of the Athens memorial that would also be fantastic. Regards Terence
