Hi This Regiment sailed for India in June 1942 and arrived in Bombay in October 1942 according to Farndale. It was then part of 32 Indian Armoured Division at Poona. In late 1944 it retrained as a Parachute Field Regiment and was part of 44 Indian Airborne Division in January 1945. In late 1945 it was put into suspended animation. Did it ever serve at the front or did it spend it's whole war in India? Any detail on what it was involved in during this period much appreciated.
I have the war diaries (or extracts) for 1943, 1944 and 1945. This regiment spent the entire war in India
Many thanks Bingomighty. Apologies for the delay - missed your reply. Can you recall what they were doing and where?
Hi, He hasn’t signed in to the forum since he made his one and only post in October. You might be better off sending him a PM. Steve
123 (West Riding) Field Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 If this is the same 123 FR they began their war in the UK then went to India in 1942 123 Parachute Field Regiment RA | ParaData ROYAL ARTILLERY: FIELD REGIMENTS: 123 Field Regiment. | The National Archives https://www.britishmilitaryhistory..../10/44-Indian-Airborne-Division-1944-46-1.pdf 44th Airborne Division (India) - Wikipedia
I dont log in very often. This Regiment spent a lot of time training in the new para role. It did not, so far as I can see, engage in any front line activity. I was interested because my late father was an officer with the Regiment during this time 1944/45. If you woud like, I can send you copies of the complete War Diaries or you can tell me what you are looking for and I will review them. There is quite a lot.
I study North Africa and Italy. Although I had two uncles in India and Burma. Many others will also be interested if you have time to post interesting excerpts. Not sure exactly who has a website about the campaign, possibly more than one. You might get a few takers who would make good use of the complete diaries.
I have some photos of my dad and his pals at 283 Battery. Any chance of seeing those diaries it would be interesting to see if I recognise any names from them.
Hi, My father was a gunner in 488 battery, 123rd Regiment Field Artillery. His tracer card says he was enlisted on 4th Dec 1941 into 21st Me H RA Training, transferring to 123rd Field Regiment RA on 29/4/42 -> overseas on 15/6/42 -> X list(2) India 8/11/42 -> 123 F Regt 25/11/42 -> X list(2) India 14/6/44 -> 123 F Regt 21/6/44 -> Depot RA 25/11/45 -> "Selected, Personnel Centre 5/1/46" and finally "class B release 2/5/46". I have one photo of 488 Brigade 123rd Field Regiment RA probably taken in UK, and a couple of photo's with some names on, sent back to my mother during 1942-46, all photo's telegrams were censored and the few photo's we have were whilst on leave somewhere. I don't think he/or 123rd Field Regt. saw much/any front line service whilst in India, Dad said they were kept back to train others. As a time served bricky he was discharged in May 1946 to help with re-construction. I would be very grateful if anyone on here could give me an idea of whereabouts in India/Burma he and the 123rd Field Regiment may have travelled. I think he travelled to Mandalay, he built and named our house after it. In the regimental photo my father is third row, third from right. The names on the 2nd photos photo are Back, Left to right: Les Fielding, Bdr H. Letts, Bert Vogwell, Sid Bernett, Front L-R: Tom Lewis, G Robson, RATA India. The third Photo has my father Bert Vogwell 1st, The comment on the photo has the comment R.Sottee Dagwood, T.Lewis
I would be interested in looking at whatever you have on 123 Fd Regt RA during 1945. My grandfather joined the unit upon his arrival in India (Jun 1945)
The regiment was placed into suspended animation in September 1946, when it was in India. From Posts 8 & 12 in: Which British units were left in India before and at the time of Partition? Post 31 explains 'suspended animation'. Alas I do not know when the personnel actually left India - only the posted documents refer to them. By time of independence it was only infantry formations that were left in India.
Happy New Year everyone! Looking for any useful info on the following please; RA Depot at Cromer and 56 Medium Regt RA at Cromer during 1943-44 3 Mountain Regt RA at Cromer and possibly subsequently in India during 1944-45 123 Field Regt RA and 16 Field Regt RA in India during 1946-1947 my grandfather’s records suggest that he joined 3 Mountain Regt RA (Cromer) in Aug 1944 and subsequently proceeded to India during Jun 1945, assumed to have remained with 3 Mntn Regt. Posted to 123 Fd Regt RA in Dec 1945 and subsequently to 16 Field Regt RA in Sep 1946 (assumed as a result of 123 Fd Regt going into suspended animation). Returned to the UK in Mar 1947
The idea of 3 Mountain Regiment being based in Cromer is amusing....could you get anywhere less mountainous in the UK?!
