4th (Durham) Survey Regiment, RA

Uncle Jack the photos arrived and I have to say a big thank you to B Forrester, they are really unique, giving a pictorial history of Robert's travels through WW2. There's a lot and both front and back will need copying (where there's comments on the rear of the photo). I'll get on it this week.

 

Looks like a big task. Will be worth it .

Look forward to seeing some as you make progress.

BTW I found a nominal roll entry with incorrect reg number. But this led to finding that the RA Attestations in 1939 No 958869 to 958899 appear to all be 4th Survey. Have downloaded the pages and will check against the 1946 Nominal Roll - over the next few days.

 

932487 Sgt Robert Thompson Forrester - 4th (Durham) Survey Regt RA.

Many thanks to Barbara Forrester, daughter of Sgt Robert Forrester, for allowing me to upload Robert's personal WW2 photos. Barbara hopes the WW2Talk community will find them of interest. I've attempted to put them in date order (according to the writing on the rear of the photos).

Regards.
John.​

 

Many thanks to Barbara and you John

 

Re the 1940 photos.

A great insight into both the the relaxation at Durban and the reality of unloading a troopship.

The main part of the Regiment sailed from Liverpool on the Reina Del Pacifico on 17 November 1940 in Convoy WS 4B. Stopping for fuel at Freetown on 29 November they arrived at Durban on 12 December where they had shore leave during a 3 day stop. They were well received and many personal memoirs have commented on the welcome. as well as the R&R. Sailing on the 16th they arrived at Suez on 28 December 1940.

The advance party had sailed on 1 November 1940 in cConvoy WS 4A and were intended to arrive in Suez in good time to get things set up ... however they had only got to Durban on 3 December.
Clarrie Hird records in his diary that they passed through Suez on Monday 23rd and disembarked at Port Said on 24th. The advance party ended at the camp just a couple of days before the main party..... and CEH was 'Sgt IC MT' at this time and records going to Suez to collect the Regiment's transport on 7 January.

 

RE 1941 Photos - great to see these as Clarrie was alongside Y Troop for the early months

'Y' Troop Surveyors and the sound rangers of 'R' Troop went south in January taking part in the first successful battles in Eritrea. Mountainous terrain posed many difficulties for counter battery operations.

Clarrie's diary adds some details including another rough sea voyage.
Edited for status of Y Troop

 

I have gone back to the Regimental History to check ... The photos show he was in 'Y' Troop - this was the main physical survey team rather than working on the counter battery aspects.

He was fortunate to miss the Greek adventure and then in late 1941 when the regiment reorganised Y troop went to No ! Composite Battery and so wen to Syria. When No2 Composite Battery was lost in the fall of Tobruk they were rushed back to El Alamein.

My father in law became BQMS of No 1 Composite Battery at this time.

Robin (and Margaret)

 

Uncle Jack Syria is mentioned in the 1942 photos and El Alamein is mentioned in the 1943 photos.

 

Look forward to seeing them - they add so much to ours.

In 1941 Clarrie Hird was Sgt i/c MT and on the train down to Sudan he had a little adventure.

 

Lol, I like the 'beer' bribe.

 

Uncle Jack 1942 pictures added.

 

Some very interesting photos for us especially as Clarrie Hird was in Syria at the same time. We have the Regimental War Diary and Clarrie's personal diary for 1942. The journey from Beirut to Damascus was halted by snow. There was a lot of survey work preparing positions in case of a need to defend against Nazi advance from the North. But also many hours of downtime with sports and bathing trips to the coast or favored river spots. Then the sudden activity to return the whole battery (No1 Composite) to Egypt as almost all of No2 Composite Battery was captured in the fall of Tobruk on 21 June 1942. The importance is emphasised by their survey work in July and August on the El Alamein positions and CB work pinpointing the positions of enemy artillery.

 

Uncle Jack 1943 pictures added. One didn't have anything written on the rear, looks like it 'Y' Troop, Messina, Sept 43.

Cheers,
John.

 

Uncle Jack 1944 pictures added and I found a stray El Alamein picture, so have updated the 1942 PDF.

Regards.
John.

 

Thanks John will take a look later

 

A very interesting collection of photo. Dates and places match Clarrie Hird's route from the Battery war diaries. Clarrie took no photos after late 1943 - believe the Colonel clamped down cameras. Aslo Clarrie's diaries cease recording details after the fall of Tunis.
R&M

 

Welcome Home Banquet
To The
4th (Durham) Survey Regiment RA
6th September 1946
​

 

An extremely tatty, in two pieces, map....but still an interesting item.

 

Sgt Forrester's Brussels Leave Billets information booklet.

Brussels leave billets - information booklet.

 

This Banquet was organised by a group set up in August 1943. This included several we remember from years ago. The C Hird on the programme is the Grandpa Clarrie very well known in Gateshead and for years proprietor of The Brunswick Hotel - he moved to The Gateshead Arms when he married the landlady's daughter and my father-in-law was born there.

The Forrester copy has no signatures but he did sign at least one.