6th Indian Field Regiment

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by DanielR, Jul 7, 2012.

  1. DanielR

    DanielR Junior Member

    Could anybody help me here? My Grandfather's unit from 1943 onwards was the 6th Indian Field Regiment. The only published information that I have been able to find is that they were on Java in 1945. From memory I know that they were in India, Burma, Malaya and back to India.

    Before 1943 my Grandfather was with 10th Field Regiment RA.

    Cheers!
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'm struggling to find the Indian regt's war diaries but I've found the 10 Field Regt's for the period your father was with them.

    WO 167/471 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.-1940 Jan., May, June

    WO 166/1470 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 July- Sept., Nov.- 1941 June, Aug.- Dec.

    WO 166/6969 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1942 Jan.- Apr.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  3. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Andy, it's possible that if 6th Field Regiment IA didn't took part in any combat action (as I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere), and was places only in India during the war that it's war diaries couldn't be find by searching on TNA website.
     
  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is all I have on the 6th Field Regiment, Indian Artillery:


    6th Indian Field Regiment, IA
    Raised
    15 June 1942 at Quetta
    Batteries
    14th, 15th, Scindia, Hyderabad Field Batteries - 1942-43
    14th, 15th, 25th Field Batteries - 1944-47

    The regiment served in India during the war.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Not sure Sol - Might be worth checking for battery diaries.
     
  6. DanielR

    DanielR Junior Member

    Thanks for the help. I'm also looking for info on his pre-war postings. I have some photos of mules transporting dismantled guns in the NW Frontier region. In 1934 he was posted to 21 Lt Bty, re-mustered as 121 Fd Bty which then became 121/32 Fd Rgt. I think it came under Eastern Command.
     
  7. DanielR

    DanielR Junior Member

    I'm struggling to find the Indian regt's war diaries but I've found the 10 Field Regt's for the period your father was with them.

    WO 167/471 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.-1940 Jan., May, June

    WO 166/1470 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 July- Sept., Nov.- 1941 June, Aug.- Dec.

    WO 166/6969 10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1942 Jan.- Apr.

    Cheers
    Andy

    Would you know if anything exists for 30/46 battery in France 1940?
     
  8. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    A Captain Nigel Buxton has published on-line a series of articles on his wartime service (October 1941 to April 1947) and he refers to joining an Indian artillery regiment at Poona (India’s second largest encampment), which had no guns and had served in India through the war. They were “under orders” without knowing where that would be. The regiment formed part of Force 401, that left India for Iraq in September 1946. See: Search Results for “poona” – Buxton's blog

    In Chris Kempton's book 'Loyalty and Honour (Vol. 2)' has a list of Force 401's composition; it shows the 6th Indian Field regiment, Royal Indian Artillery. Hence this post!

    Yes I know DanielR, the thread's author has not been aboard since 2018.

    I am currently researching Force 401.
     
  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Digging away I found a British officer who served in the 6 Indian Field Regiment was Peter Merrick Knatchbull-Hugessen. He died in 2008, a funeral speech about him referred to a book he wrote:
    From: https://www.papplewick.org.uk/assets/newsletter-2009.pdf?phpMyAdmin=25fd7024cb1c0a99a248787afcb56758

    Alas this book does immediately appear to have been published publicly, so I shall dig further one day.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2020
  10. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    From WO 33 series files - India command Order of Battle, below are the command assignments of the 6th Indian Field Regiment 1943-1946:

    6th Indian Field Regiment
    23/08/1943 unbrigaded - forming; G.H.Q. Reserve
    28/01/1944 Baluchistan District; unbrigaded; Frontier Defence; North Western Army
    01/04/1944 Baluchistan District; unbrigaded; Frontier Defence; North Western Army
    08/05/1944 Nowshera Brigade (less one bty); Peshawar District; Frontier Defence; North Western Army
    Baluchistan District (one bty); unbrigaded; Frontier Defence; North Western Army
    12/01/1945 Nowshera Brigade; Peshawar District; Frontier Defence; North Western Army
    08/09/1945 44th Indian Airborne Division; G.H.Q. Reserve
    07/11/1945 8th Indian Infantry Division; G.H.Q. Reserve


    Steve
     
  11. DanielR

    DanielR Junior Member

    Many thanks Steve
     
  12. Maureene

    Maureene Well-Known Member

    Some copies of Meanderings. A Collection of Short Stories are available abehbooks
    Meanderings Collection Short Stories by Knatchbull Hugessen Peter - AbeBooks

    Cheers
    Maureen
     
  13. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Maureen,

    Noted, I did locate a copy of the book kept at the author's old preparatory school and went there to read it in July. There was almost nothing about his time with the 6th Indian Field Regiment. He was twice hospitalized and due to this he returned to the UK, from memory in late 1944. It was an interesting book, but don't waste your £ or $ on buying it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2023
  14. Vella vakeel

    Vella vakeel New Member

    Can you please give the reference material for the below ORBAT. Will be grateful

     
  15. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    These are War Office documents that are available at the at the National Archives in the UK. You can browse through them here but they are not downloadable and must be photographed at the Archives.

    War Office: Reports, Memoranda and Papers (O and A Series) | The National Archives
     
  16. Vella vakeel

    Vella vakeel New Member

    Can you please give the reference material for the source of the btys which formed 6th Indian Field regiment

     
  17. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I started a conversation with you with the sources. Check your inbox.
     

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