Good evening everyone I am trying to find out more information about my dad's service during WW2. I have his Service Records and the Regiment Records from the RA Museum at Woolwich. With both these things I have managed to track pretty much where my dad was throughout the war. However, I would really like more detail. Can anyone advice where and if I can get more information ie War Diaries etc. My dad's name was George Wyndham Marius Rice, service no. 897270. He was posted to 140th Field Regiment and served with them until he was rescued from Dunkirk and then on until he was posted to 19th Field in March 1941. He was with this Regiment until he was posted to 75th Field in December 1942. He was then in North Africa from April 1943 until March 1944 after 75th Field had become 75th Heavy Field. He was then in Italy until November 1945. I have seen a book titled The Grand Party mentioned elsewhere ln this forum about 366, 19th Regiment in France. I dont seem able to locate it on the internet. Any ideas where I might find a copy? One last question - was there a connection between 51st Highland Division and any of the Regiments my dad served with? Thank you for reading my post. Heather
Hello Heather and welcome to the forum. Drew 5233 already has many unit histories/diaries relating to the BEF and Dunkirk and is a frequent visitor to The National Archives to copy more. Try sending him a PM or he might see this thread and post here. Drew also offers an excellent service for finding and copying histories and diaries at very reasonable cost.
One last question - was there a connection between 51st Highland Division and any of the Regiments my dad served with? Heather Between 1938/40 the 75th (H) Field Regt (raised in Aberdeen) were divisional arty of 51st (H) Div Rob
Thanks Rob. I knew there had to be a connection somewhere as my dad had written in some notes that he was with the 51st Highlanders at some point. However, he wasnt with the 75th until 1943 was there still a connection with 51st Highlanders then? I have read online that 51st Highlanders became 75th Heavy Regiment out in North Africa. However in some reports it names 75th Field as 75th (Highland) Field Regiment. My dad was with 75th Field Regiment in North Africa which became 75th Heavy Regiment. Are these one and the same thing or am I confusing things here? Regards Heather
Hi Heather I have the WD's for all the Artillery Regiments that were in France during 1940. As you mentioned there is a history of sorts for the regiment called Grand Party I have the book but not got around to reading it yet so I can't comment on how good it is. You can find a copy below in the link: brooks - grand party - AbeBooks I'm 99% sure its the book but I would send them a email just to confirm it is before ordering it. Regarding the diaries you would need these: WO 166/1552 140 Field Regiment RA 1939 Aug.- 1940 Mar., June- 1941 Dec. WO 167/507 140 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 Mar.-May WO 166/1475 19 Field Regiment RA 1940 June- 1941 Dec. WO 166/6973 19 Regiment. RA 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/6993 ROYAL ARTILLERY: FIELD REGIMENTS: 75 Regiment. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 175/334 75 Regiment 1943 Jan., Apr.- June WO 169/9496 75 Field Regiment 1943 July- Sept. WO 169/9575 75 Regiment 1943 Oct.- Dec. WO 169/9576 504/75 Regiment 1943 Sept.- Dec. (Regiment/Battery File) WO 170/908 Heavy Regiments and Batteries: 75 Hvy. Regt 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/909 Heavy Regiments and Batteries: 504/75 Hvy. Regt 1944 Jan.- Apr. WO 170/4790 Heavy Regiments: 75 Regiment 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/7936 Heavy and Medium Regiments: 75 Hy Regt 1946 Jan., Feb. Click the Red Link below for further info in obtaining copies of the above files if you can't get to Kew yourself. Cheers Andy
Hi Drew Thank you so much for all the info. I am unable to get to Kew myself as live near Inverness. I would be interested in getting copies of these War Diaries. Is there a way of knowing how much cost would be involved before going ahead? Many thanks again. Regards Heather
Hi Heather, Unfortunately the war diaries vary greatly in thickness some contain just a few pages and at the other end of the table some can have close to 1,000 pages-its impossible to tell how many pages are in a file until its ordered and copied. What I normally suggest to people if they are interested in a large amount of diaries and don't want to risk a large bill is to order one or a few files at a time. I'm usually at Kew a couple of times a month so you never need wait ages for a file, normally a couple of weeks. Andy
Hi Andy Perhaps we could go for the 140th and 19th initially then? How do we go about arranging this? Regards Heather
Thanks Rob. I knew there had to be a connection somewhere as my dad had written in some notes that he was with the 51st Highlanders at some point. However, he wasnt with the 75th until 1943 was there still a connection with 51st Highlanders then? I have read online that 51st Highlanders became 75th Heavy Regiment out in North Africa. However in some reports it names 75th Field as 75th (Highland) Field Regiment. My dad was with 75th Field Regiment in North Africa which became 75th Heavy Regiment. Are these one and the same thing or am I confusing things here? Regards Heather Heather 75 (Highland) Field Regt RA & 75 Field Regt RA are one in the same! The "75th Field Regt RA" was converted to the 75th Heavy Regt RA in Aug 1943, so the "75th Field Regt" ceased to exsit after this date. The 75th Heavy Regt RA became part of 1st AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) and could be called on from the AGRA to support any Infantry Division (51st ?) that needed extra heavy artillery fire support over and above their own divisional artillery. Though their are Field, Medium, Heavy, Super Heavy Regts they are all classed as "Field" Hope this makes sense to you, complicated or what! Best Rob
Thanks Rob. Clearer thanks. Must admit the more you research the more confusing it gets at times! Regards Heather
