4 ‘Ulster’ LAA Regiment, RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by saintconor, Jun 28, 2019.

  1. Joe Cassells

    Joe Cassells New Member

  2. Dermot Martin

    Dermot Martin New Member

    Aug 15 1940: Battle of Britain 75 years ago. It was a really tough day for members of the recently returned from Dunkirk 4th Ulster Searchlight Reg...some of them were detailed to defend Middle Wallop Airfield in Hampshire home to some of 609 RAF Spitfire squadron.. At about 1745 hrs it was attacked by German bombers inclding a JU88 which planted a bomb on hangar 5. At least 4 ground crew were killed and photos are available of the aftermath of the raid. According to eyewitness reports one Spitfire pilot Alan Freary managed to get airborne and attack and destroy the JU88. The German crew are named in the report but the British ground crew killed are not named. My father Stephen Martin (Belfast) described the experience as like being back at Dunkirk a few months earlier. He said: "I was so glad to get away from there"
     
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  3. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

    Very interesting to read these posts on the (3rd Ulster searchlight Reg. RA). My father also served in this Regiment at Dunkirk. I know that his Battery was part of the rear guard protecting the beaches and fought along the canal defences near Bray Dunes where he was taken off around 1st June. I have part of his service record and in it says that his battery was posted to the Faroe Islands as part of the artic convoy defence 1942-43. He said he loved it up there and that the people were great. He later was transferred to the Provost Corp after VE day and was at Chorley Lancs, where he met my mum who had worked in Royal Ordnance Factory Chorley (Filling Factory No. 1).
     
  4. Stuart Young

    Stuart Young Member

    Sammeh2 my grandfather was also posted to the Faroes and, like yours loved his time there and fondly remembered the people. My mum remembers him bringing home Faroese jumpers for her and her sister when he came home on leave. If you read my earlier post I am frsutrated that I can't remember my grandfather's stories about Dunkirk. He was a despatch rider, and I know that he had to appeal to be issued with the Dunkirk medal because he and his colleagues weren't evacuated from the town. Perhaps he was with your father at Bray Dunes.
     
  5. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

    Stuart, I remember my Dad saying he rode bikes in France during the evacuation maybe they were together? I have a photo somewhere of my Dad and his mates in the Faroes if I look it out i'll try and upload it maybe your Grandad is with him. I remember he told me that he brought home to Belfast material that he had made into a suit which he loved, as it was hard to get anything then because of rationing but in the Faroes no problem.
     
  6. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

    Stuart, I remember my Dad saying he rode bikes in France during the evacuation maybe they were together? I have a photo somewhere of my Dad and his mates in the Faroes if I look it out i'll try and upload it maybe your Grandad is with him. I remember he told me that he brought home to Belfast material that he had made into a suit which he loved, as it was hard to get anything then because of rationing but in the Faroes no problem.
     
  7. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

    My Dad is the one wearing the great coat middle back. I hope one of your relatives might by in the photo also, taken on the Faroes 1942-43 I believe.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

  9. sammeh2

    sammeh2 Member

    This is all I could get about my Dad, Samuel Mehaffey his service record starting with the 3rd Ulster searchlight regiment enlistment and his time at Dunkirk, I know that some of his pals were killed there one the same age as him 19 yrs old so very young only boys when you think of it makes you feel so sad to be killed so young.
     
  10. Duncan Mckenzie

    Duncan Mckenzie New Member

    My great uncle was John Turbitt, Bomberdier of the 12th battery, 3rd Searchlight Regiment. My mum would talk of her uncle being killed at Dunkirk and have managed to find record of him being buried at Dunkirk in a joint grave having being killed sometime between 30th May and 22nd June.
    Dermot - I would be very grateful for a copy of your late Fathers memoirs if that were possible.
     
  11. Sean( Bob)

    Sean( Bob) New Member

    hi all i`m new to being on here only came across this yesterday ! . Fascinating as for years i`ve been wanting to know more about my Gramp , he was Gunner Robert O`Hara or Bob as he was known . Army number 1453196 3rd Searchlight (ULSTER) Regt later the 4th LAA , I was given a few snippets as a child and i`ve got some photos one of them is when he and his brother arrived around swindon after Dunkirk and had a photograph taken plus a group photo of him and his mates taken in Brussells , He was asked to write a potted history of his service life for a local history book called Minety at war because there was a searchlight camp set up there .
     
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  12. LOWRYMC

    LOWRYMC New Member

    My father was in "F" Troop, 10th Battery, 3rd Searchlight Regiment (Ulster Div.) as per the photo attached. He is back row 4th from right (Albert Lowry from Belfast). I believe he served with Major Brand (bottom row 6th from right). He told me nothing about Dunkirk other than to say it was "carnage". He served until the end of the war. The photograph I have is of excellent quality and I am sorry my scanner does not do it justice. I hope this is of use to some of you more serious researchers.
    Scan_20210430 (7).jpg
     
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  13. Hi Dermot,
    My grandad was in the 3rd Ulster Searchlight Regiment RA at Dunkirk. I would really like to have a copy of your father's memoirs. Can I get a copy please?
    Thank you in advance.
    Bill
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  14. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Bill,

    It is not a good idea to post your email in an open forum. You should go and edit this post. If you want to contact someone, you should use a personal message.
     
  15. Thank you for the tip.
    I will do.
    Regards
    B
     
  16. Sorry sir, i'm new to these forums.
    Can you advise me how to amend the post?
    Thank you in advance.
    B
     
  17. pete mully

    pete mully Member

    Hi Bill my dad was also in the 3rd searchlight reg he went to france with the 3rd in dec 1939 he was in 10 battery he was gunner george mulholland his mate was also in ten battery his name was gunner freddie crooks, just wondred if you recieved those memoirs you asked about, could you let me know if they also mention my dad or his mate freddie crooks in them
     
  18. Nothing yet. My grandad was in 11th battery, i believe.
     
  19. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Hit the Edit button next to Report at the bottom of the posting with your email. Then you can delete the email and save the new version of the posting.
     
  20. I can only see Report/+Quote/Reply options, no Edit button unfortunately.
    Sorry for the trouble.
     

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