WW2 Service, Family Research - 153 Field Reg, 50th LAA Reg, 25th LAA Reg

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Mary W, Jan 5, 2021.

  1. Mary W

    Mary W Member

    Hi, hoping someone can help provide me with further information regarding my dad’s service in WW2. I have managed to obtain his Tracer Card (see attached) which was deciphered for me through this forum.

    I have requested a copy of his Service Record from the MoD, however understand this can take some time to come back.

    My father is 96 and due to dementia his memory of the war is very muddled and faded. He never used to talk about his time in the war until recently and now that is all he talks about.

    I am trying to find out where he would have been, more information regarding the Regiments and what his involvement was in the War. I know that he was a Signalman and I have a photo of him when he was undertaking training in Wales dated Christmas 1945 (see attached).

    I also have photos from Viersen in Germany (see attached) and that is where I found out he was part of 25th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment due to the photo which is dated August 1945. This Regiment is not mentioned on his Tracer Card.

    Unfortunately my dad is suffering from cancer and may not have much time left. I am trying to put together this information for his family; he has 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and for my mum who has been married to him for 65 years and is very keen to know more.

    I attempted to do some online research regarding the Regiments, however all very confusing. Sorry for the long post, however if anyone can help with information I would be eternally grateful.

    Thank you - Mary

    · 153rd Field Regiment RA – 17 December 1942 (Enlisted)

    · 50th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment – 29 April 1943

    · 25th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment – August 1945 (RHQ Viersen, Germany)

    · 5th Field Regiment – 31 August 1946

    · 17th Field Regiment – 1 February 1947

    · DEPOT RA – 1 March 1947

    · Unit Release – 7 May 1947

    · Discharged – 2 August 1947

    tracer card ww2.jpg Christmas 1945.jpg
    dad in 25th laa ww2 (2).jpeg
     
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  2. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum, Mary.

    The 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, were divisional troops of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division from circa 16 December 1942 to 30 November 1944, when the 50 Div was returned home as a training cadre. The 25th LAA then joined the 53rd (Welsh) Division for the duration and was then placed in suspended animation whilst still in Germany on 4 February 1946. This latter event would have meant him having to transfer to another unit.

    25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Wikipedia

    Given your father’s age and poor health, you may find a phone call to the MOD will expedite his service records. This of course will depend on them having staff on site, which is not guaranteed given the new Covid-19 lockdown.

    My own father had Alzheimer’s before he died. He could remember vividly his life up until the age of circa 12 years of age and virtually nothing thereafter. He thought one of my brothers was his own brother, Joe, who served in the RA during WWII. During one conversation he asked who I was and I said ‘his’ older brother, pointing to my brother. My father said: ‘Fred, you’re back.’ I’d not thought about what I’d said, but Joe’s only older brother was Fred, who was killed at Bray Dunes on 31 May 1940 (also RA and 50 Div). I didn’t know what to say, but thankfully dad had forgotten the conversation 30 seconds later. Dad’s condition nearly brought me to tears on many occasions, a tall, athletic looking, fit and otherwise healthy man, in that condition. But, what laughs we had too, until 30 seconds later when he’d forgotten who I was and what we’d been discussing. One of his carers was the son of a Luftwaffe pilot PoW, who’d stayed on in the UK after WWII. He liked my dad a lot and one time when I was leaving after a visit, put a film on the TV for him to watch; the film was Dunkirk. My dad was too far gone to notice the irony... Enjoy your father’s reminiscences whilst you can; some people record them and I wish I had done so with my dad when he was talking about his childhood.

    Anyway best of luck with your search.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2021
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  3. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

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  4. Mary W

    Mary W Member

    Thanks Derek, I will take a look. Mary
     
  5. Mary W

    Mary W Member

    Thank you Steve. My dad telling us he has been all over the world when he was in the war, however this changes daily and it would be nice to know where he actually has been. He told us that he never talked about it before because he was told he wasn't allowed to. My dad was always a stickler for the rules. Luckily he still recognises and knows me at the moment, however it is mainly the war the he talks about. Thank you for your reply. Mary
     

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