198842 Captain Horace PETCH, 52 LAA Regiment, RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Fagiolino, Nov 8, 2022.

  1. Fagiolino

    Fagiolino New Member

    Sorry, I'm brand new to this forum and couldn't find how to open a new post. I'm researching my father's war history and have his service records which don't provide much help. I can see that he joined the 52nd LAA on 19.3.44. The next entry is 3.2.45, From photos I know he was in Sant'Angelo D'Alife, near Caserta, in April/May '44 and at Orvieto in June. He met my (Italian) mother in Urbino on 13th October '44. I think he defended Foggia air base initially until the Luftwaffe were no longer a threat. I'm trying hard to find who he would have been attached to in order to be able to follow his movements and actions. His name was Horace Petch (Cpt). Also any recommendations on relevant reading?
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Last edited: Nov 8, 2022
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    4jonboy likes this.
  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Fagiolino.

    Get hold of Gary Tankard on this site - via Start a Conversation, and he will get you the WDs from Kew.

    I use him for WDs that I need and he is excellent.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Fagiolino.

    If you are interested in seeing where and how 52 LAA Regt RA were deployed at Cassino, I am guiding a group there on 11-14 May 23. Get me via the Start a Conversation button on my avatar.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Do you have his official service records from the MOD? If you have and post them on here folks will be able to help you interpret them.
     
  7. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Don't think they can, needs 5 posts first.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2022
    minden1759, Owen and 4jonboy like this.
  8. Fagiolino

    Fagiolino New Member

    Thank you so much all of you! Your help is much appreciated.
    I do have his war records but they say virtually nothing about 1944/45:
    Disembarked T. O. on 1.3.43 P??????? to R.A.R.T.D. (should be RATD??) to x(iv) - BNAF - 1.3.44
    Posted to 52 LAA Rgt ?? x(iv) list - N.A. - 19.3.44
    Posted to x(4)A list (RATD) – CMF - 3.2.45

    Next entry is May '45. I understand the abbreviations and the X list but not quite sure what it means in this context. Posted to 52 LAA Rgt x(iv)? Why x(iv)? The ?? means illegible - looks a bit like S.o.S.

    Owen - Yes that is him in London Gazette. Would this be his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant (2.8.41)?
    Frank, I may be interested in your trip to Cassino. I hope to be in Italy at that time. I live 6 months of the year next to the Gothic Line where there are still many remains of the defensive line in the mountains.

    I'm happy to go to Kew myself but wouldn't know where to start. Would he not have been assigned to an infantry unit to give support?
     
  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Maybe best to post copies so that members can help you to interpret them.
     
  10. Fagiolino

    Fagiolino New Member

    I attach the relevant extract from his war records
    war record.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Fagiolino.

    Get in touch on this site nearer the time if you want to join my battlefield study to Cassino on 11-14 May 23.

    A train goes direct from Bologna to Cassino. Only four hours.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  12. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Back to the Service Record (which I have yet to encounter in my research) so I rely on this 2022 thread: Guide for what to do once service record received? plus this longer one: X lists (Service Records) and others id'd searching "x list" + "ww2talk.com" .

    It might help others if you converted the scrawl text to a typed table; adding notes where you are stuck and inserting question mark(s) is not enough.

    As the war reached 1944 the British Army (and others) began to suffer from manpower issues, so AA artillery units were disbanded or re-rolled, invariably into infantry roles. Perhaps this happened to your father, as an individual or commanding a sub-unit i.e. a battery.

    Caveat our in house RA expert's website has scanty details and no indication the unit was re-rolled. Alas as you noted no indication which units they supported.

    I expect Light AA were rarely used for direct fire to support ground troops, although once the air attack threat diminished in Italy it could be. My tactical / operational knowledge of the Italian campaign is tiny.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2022

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