Hello, I have recently come across some photographs of my Grandfather during active service in WWII and am trying to find out a little more about his regiment/unit. I'm hoping one of you may be able to help! From what information I have I know that he served with A Battery, B Troop, 152 Artillery Field Regiment, RA in North Africa, Sicily/Italy and presumably ended the War in Austria (?). I know that in 1944/45 he was in Perugia, Rome and Vatican City, and from talking to him several years ago I know he served in N. Africa. I would be interested to find out a little more about the unit he was with (I assume the 152 is the same as the Ayrshire Yeomanry?), as I know nothing of its makeup or indeed where it went in any kind of detail. I have had a look on the forums but cannot find much detail about this unit, so any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated! Best wishes, Andrew.
Hi Andrew The following details are of the movements and locations of the 152 (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA (TA) April 1940 Formed April 1940 Home Forces UK June 1942 6th Armoured Division UK November 1942 6th Armoured Division North Africa March 1944 6th Armoured Division Italy May 1944 6th Armoured Division Cassino May 1945 6th Armoured Division Austria Batteries May 1944 = A,B,C I hope this helps in your research Regards Kieron
Andrew 156th Field Regt. RA were 'divisional troops', meaning that they were attached to 6th Armoured Division GHQ to be deployed wherever GHQ decided additional artillery assistance was required. More precisely, 156th Regt.RA joined 6th Armoured Div in the UK on 15 June 1942. 6th Armoured Division's divisional troops were at sea from 8.11.42 to 22.11.42 disembarking in North Africa on that day. In North Africa in 1943 they took part in the following battles: 18 January - 25 January Bou Arada 7 April - 11 April Fondouk 22 April - 26 April El Kourzia 5 May - 12 May Tunis They left North Africa on 18 March 1944 by sea, disembarking in Italy the same day. In Italy they took part in the following battles in 1944: 18 May - 30 May Liri Valley 4 July - 17 July Arezzo 17 July - 10 August Advance to Florence 25 August - 22 September Gothic line and in 1945 13 April - 21 April Argenta Gap Your grandfather could only have been in Vatican City as a visitor, on leave in Rome, since Vatican City is an independent state and was neutral in WW2. Peter
A warm welcome aboard Andrew. Is there a possibility you could share these pictures with us? It sometimes makes it a lot easier for those that know about such things to wring out extra detail. Good luck, Adam.
Welcome to the forum Andrew. Nine quid will buy you their History. See here >> Brief Historical Notes on the Ayrshire Yeomanry (Earl of Carrick's Own) 152 Field Regiment, R. A. 1939-45.: Knox, Major B. M. Brief Historical Notes on the Ayrshire Yeomanry (Earl of Carrick's Own) 152 Field Regiment, R. A. 1939-45. Knox, Major B. M. Also look for Ken Ford's book Mailed Fist. Amazon.co.uk: Mailed Fist: Ken Ford: Books
Thanks for all your information and suggestions! Adam, I will try and possibly get one or two of the pics uploaded when I get the chance. Although I don't have the originals with me just at the moment I should be able to get hold of them/scan them in the next week or so. Owen-I'll certainly chase up the regimental history, I hadn't come across it before, so I'm sure it'll be useful! If I find anything else or manage to get hold of the pics I'll post more! Regards, Andrew.
Andrew. Just found this site. My father served 1st Army, 152 Royal Artillery Regt off to Africa 08/11/42 then on in 43 to Italy. Wounded 25/5/44 at Cassino due to bombing raid. One death 25/5/44,Robert Allan Gunner 4258833,Cassino War Cemetery. This chap was more than likley in my dads troop "B". My dads details: George Willam Rouse 984091 nick name Jum or "Jumbo". Have you posted any of the photos. The records are at the National Archives Kew London. I will be reseaching them. Give me your gradfather full details, there mybe reference to him. Yours Bob Rouse
My Dad served with 152 Field Regt RA in North Africa and Italy. He was Ftroop C Batt. I have quite a few photos from his time in Italy and also some from Austria where he was based in Bruck at the Railway station. I also have some of the fire orders from his troop and a map of Cassino with pencilled in infantry positions and one of the bologna area detailing enemy positions. He kept diaries of his time abroad and I am currently going through them alongside the regimental history. His name was Edwin Smith 115313 lance bombardier .
Crizmiff. It would be good to see the map of Cassino with the infantry positions marked on it. Your father would have been at Cassino with 6 British Armoured Division who took part in the Fourth Battle in May 44. Regards FdeP
FdeP, Thanks for the reply. I'm not great with computers but I will try and download the maps. My dad re joined his battery at Caserta as he caught malaria in North Africa. I have travelled in Italy and remember seeing an Ayrshire Yeo grave near Lake Trasimeno or it may have been Lake Bolsena. It is my intention, one day to trace the regiments movements from Caserta to Bruck, where my dad wound up. I was never certain whether he was part of eight army or fifth. He never had a good word for General Mark Clark so I suppose it was fifth. Crizmiff
Bob Rouse, Please see the above from Crizmiff regarding my dad Ewin William Smith F troop C battery 152 Field reg R A. My dad went on to work in the print in Fleet St and one of his best mates was a bloke called Jumbo! Not your dad I suppose? Crizmiff
