1st Field Regiment RA WW2 - Lance Bombardier 11430406 Walter Peacock

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by John French, Feb 22, 2020.

  1. John French

    John French Member

    I am researching Walter Peacock's war record for our village's VE Day commemoration. We know he enlisted in this regiment in 1942 and I would like to know in which campaign(s) he served.

    I saw in an earlier thread that this regiment was attached to 4th Indian Division. In civilian life he was a tractor driver, so it would seem likely that he would have been a driver.

    He survived the war but was still stationed in Greece on 27th Feb 1946 when he was killed in an motor accident. He was buried in the Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece a few kilometres south-east of Athens.

    Thank you
     
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  3. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi
    1st Field Regiment - RA 1939-45 1 Fld Rgt
    But as TD said only his service records will confirm full details, he may have been in other regiments.

    regards

    Robert
     
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  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    John.

    1 Fd Regt RA was one of three artillery units that directly supported 4 Ind Div - they went where ever the Div went and provided all the Forward Observation Officers - the people who controlled the guns whilst working alongside the infantry. 4 Ind Div was at the Second & Third Battles of Cassino in Feb-Mar 44 and at the Battle of the Gothic Line from Aug 44. In Dec 44, in response to a Communist Insurgency in Greece, the Div, along with others, were moved to Greece.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  5. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    1 Fd Regt arrived in Greece on board MV Eastern Prince & LST 36 on 11 December 1944.

    Here are extracts of Military Command Athens (MCA) RA Weekly Activity Reports.

    No.2 - 24 Dec 44

    upload_2020-2-23_12-18-14.png

    No.3 - 31 Dec 44

    upload_2020-2-23_12-19-19.png

    No 4 - 06 Jan 45

    upload_2020-2-23_12-20-16.png

    This is a best guess Order of Battle for Greece in 1946.

    Major Units

    4th Brit Inf Div Dec 44 to Feb 46 Northern Greece & Macedonia

    4th Ind Inf Div Oct 44 to Feb 46 Eastern Greece

    23rd Armoured Brigade Oct 44 to April 46 Athens

    13th Inf (179, 180 & 181 Bdes) Feb 46 to ??? Athens & Patras

    Minor Units

    British Military Mission in Greece (BMMG)

    212 Area

    202 Sub-Area

    Apparently 13th Inf Div was made up forces pinched from 4th Ind Div and 4th Brit Inf Div and 3 fresh Inf Battalions brought over from Italy.

    Strength

    Jan to Mar 46 50,000

    Apr to Jun 46 38,000

    Oct to Dec 46 20,054

    More Info on 4 Ind Inf Div at 4 Indian Infantry Division


    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2020
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  6. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

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