90th (City of London) Field Regiment

Found this when clearing out an old crate of my parent's stuff

 

Only just got back on the site, you probably have some pictures that Dad didn't. I know he went to one of the last reunions in London because I went up with him - didn't go in but from the noises coming out of the windows they had a rare old time - it was to be his last one and they presented him with a special plate which I've still got somewhere. I only met a few of his old comrades, I think one was an AA man?

 

Great additions to this page - thanks so much. The www is a great thing - I just regret not been able to share this with my dad... He would have been thrilled. Please keep adding!

 

I came across this image the other day on the www. It was uncredited and with no references as to where it originated. Its clearly watermarked as from the History Channel - so I presume a screen grab from a piece of film footage. As yet I have been unable to track down the remainder of the film. I believe the wrecked halftrack to be a 90th one. AoS/TAC numbers (43) are correct for time period and a 'TT' sign can be seen too. The naming 'EXCELLENT????' is in keeping with other 90th vehicles.

I met a 90th Halftrack driver at one of the reunions who told me he drove off the ramp and straight into a shell hole and his vehicle 'drowned' - the damage to this vehicle and the subsequent tides seems to suggest that it may have suffered a similar fate?

 

Selsdon war hero who invaded Normandy and won the Military Medal awarded France's highest honour

Les Healey - receives the Legion D'honneur in 2015. The story is quite of of date so I have no idea of Mr Healey's welfare. I met Les Healey at a couple of OCA Reunions and he was very entertaining with his stories. I recall one where he told me he never 'dug-in' - always favouring to sleep under the Halftrack instead. Toward the end of the war they got a 'new' officer who caught him under the Halftrack and insisted he dug in well away from the vehicle. This he did (under protest). As he settled into his slit trench a German mortar bomb exploded above him and sent a splinter of shrapnel into his backside......

He slept under the Halftrack again after that...

 

Great addition - many thanks. For the sake of comparison I have tried to clean up the image a little - it appears to have a screen dot on it as though its been 'in print' at some stage in the past. I have compared it with the two other 'Don Troop' printed images from the War History and as you can see I feel 'Dagwood' has come home! Presumably named after Dagwood Bumstead the popular cartoon character off the period. Notice too how 'Don Troop' use and italicised typeface for their names. I think the photo of Dagwood must have been taken in Normandy as you can see the stains left by the Bostick waterproofing glue on the plate etc.

Thanks for sharing.

Images of Dreadnought - is that a '2' after the name? Not sure... and Devils Delight - the OP tank. It is believed the 'D's of Devils Delight were picked out in orange or red paint. Some of those kids standing on or near Dreadnought may still be alive I guess.

 

Hi,
Attacker2,
I think the screen grab of the halftrack originated from some footage found in a pile of films in Kent some years ago.

After the Battle magazine had the story in one of the round ups they do every so often covering previous articles that they have published. You could purchase a video of the complete film at the time the article was published. Since then I have seen sections of the film used in a couple of TV documentaries.

Regards

Danny

 

Thanks Danny - I have some of the After the Battles, I will dig them out. Thanks.

 

CARRUBBA - A 'C Troop' gun crosses a Dutch canal bridge (date and location unknown) - Screen grab from a Pathe Newsreel (Allied Invasion Scenes 1944 - No 2133.05) - sadly I can't make out the vehicle census number. Sadly, the camera cuts away to some arty shots of the following vehicles wheels and tracks missing the names altogether!

CARRUBBA must be a mis-spelling of CARRUBA a village in Sicily, Oliver Perks Blog makes has this reference:

"Then we moved back to a little village called Carruba where we stayed in pleasant conditions for some weeks. The coffin maker in the village did quite a big trade in regimental wooden signs, one of which I have, a Royal Artillery sign. The Battery had a whole lot of them to use on the move to mark our directions."

Oliver Perks' Wartime Blog 9

 

Comments on the original British Pathé page (Invasion Scenes Europe) say:

"This footage is shot on two different days, by two different cameramen.
The material up until 5:32 is shot by a "Sgt Grant" on 12th October 1944.
The footage thereafter was filmed by a "Sgt J N Johnson" on 2nd October 1944. Whilst I can't pinpoint the location of that filming, a signpost at 7:18 tells us that it was only 1km from Veghel in the Netherlands."

and

"Locations in Veghel are the Bridge over 'Zuid-Willemsvaart' (Willems-Canal) and the harbour in Veghel.
Marc van den Berkmortel
Horst
The Netherlands"

Still frames 374 & 375 show the WD No. to be something like S233551 or 233951. I believe it is S233951.



Michel

 

Hello, Just catching up on all the threads (greetings Attacker 2 !)after a period of absence, great photos of 'E' Troop , the officer in the field photo charting something next to the corporal could well be my father Harry Wood.
Am posting the "end of term photo" of 'E' troop taken at Lunen Germany at the end of 1945 (already in another thread somewhere), my father is officer centre front row. I also have a photo of all the 465 battery officers taken in June 1943 if anyone is interested.

 

Seasons greetings to sons and grandsons of gunners!

IWM are finally getting round to putting some of their film stock online. Below is a link to 90th related one:

Night Barrage in Sicily:
SICILIAN CAMPAIGN APPROACHING CATANIA; NIGHT BARRAGE [Allocated Title] (AYY 510/7)

465 Battery in Normandy:
SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY IN ACTION WITH THE 50TH (NORTHUMBRIAN) DIVISION (PART 2) [Allocated Title] (A70 45-8)

A few days ago there were more available - but they seem to have disappeared from the list, temporarily I hope! There are a few listed that show the 90th in action - but as yet are not available.

 

I have just started trying to look into my grandad's time in the 357 battery of the 90th. I have the same photo as you of the HQ troop and I think my grandad is in the top row. I have some other photos of his and some postcards that he sent to my nan. If it's helpful I could try to upload them.

 

Regarding the press photograph of the 3 soldiers at the planning table. This photo was reproduced by the Bury Free Press in Suffolk on 19 January 1945 and my mother (from Suffolk) kept her copy of the paper because the Bombardier is my father, George Brent, with his GPO, Lt G H Wood, from Surrey, and on the phone is Driver Richardson from Blackpool. (All citations were from the Photo caption). The Bury paper lost their photo archives in a fire but I managed to get reproductions from the IWM. Whilst there, the archivist told me to check for movie footage since the still photographer and cameraman often worked togther. Sure enough there is a short, silent, piece of footage which shows the Sextons firing and footage of my father. The film number is A70-224-6 and A70 224-7 and gives a date on the records of 4 Jan 1945 and both have a title as follows. '25 pounder self propelled guns of 465 battery, 90 Field Rgiment RA send harassing fire across the River Maas, near Horst, The Netherlands. Does anyone have anything more on 465 battery throughout the war? I'm trying to trace through where my father was and have the regimental history book, his service record but understand that the war diaries have moved from Firepower to another location.

 

Just revisiting the photos I originally posted at the top of the thread, and I notice that my father is also wearing the TT badge just having joined the 90th from another field regiment in January 1945, so in his case it wasn't a case of historical allegiance, as I presume his previous regiment (191st) was never part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. There must have been an active practice (if not policy) for new postings to be 'badged-up' as well.

 

Transcript from the War Diary regarding the 'Crash Actions' at Mons-En-Pevele 03 Sept. 1944


Sunday 3 Sep. MONS EN PEVELE 7119.

MAP: Ref 1/50,00 Sheet 74.

357 and 465 Batteries formed part of a 231 Inf Bde column accompanying the Guards Armoured Division in a mopping up role in the rapid advance from ARRAS to BRUSSELS.
The column order of march consisted of:
Devons
Dorsets
Tp 102 A/Tank RA
CCP
Tp 138 LAA Bty RA
357 Bty
465 Bty
LAD
231 Bde B Ech.

NOTE: This order of march was adopted as being the most suitable for the mopping up operations and for ease of road movement.

Situation at Approx 1500 hrs
Head of Devons PONT A MARQ 7223
Tail of B Ech. MONTCREAUX 7016.


Information received of enemy pocket estimated 200 with SP guns in area PONT A MARQ 7223. £%& Bty were deployed in the area 715180 to support the mopping up operation of the Devons.

The column closed up and halted with the head of 465 Bty just EAST of MONS EN PEVELE. A local OP was established 200x to the NORTH.

About 1515 hrs, this OP saw a column of approx. 8 lorries and half-track vehicles full of GERMANS at 717199 moving SOUTH from PONT A MARCQ and MERINGNES 7222. They were at first thought to be prisoners as several lorry borne columns of prisoners had been seen in the previous few days. Warning was, however, sent to 357 Bty and to the Company Commander of the nearest company of the Dorsets and 465 Bty was deployed at 724187 in a semi-covered position. Unknown to us, there was another smaller motorised enemy column approaching MONS EN PEVELE from the North West, that is from the LAFFRANDE area 7020.

Both these German columns were GAF men from the flying bomb sites in the PAS DE CALAIS area end were making for ARRAS which had been in British hands for 3 days. Both had been 'flushed" from the PONT A MARQ area by the Devons who took over from the Armoured Grenadier Guards.

Two Battles developed simultaneously:
(1) 357 Bty versus the LAFFRANDE column
(2) 465 Bty versus the MERINGNES column


357 Bty v LAFFRANDE column.

The Bty was deployed as “crash action” in area 715180, zero Line 360˚ about 1500 hrs.

About 1515 hrs a warning was received from an OP that an enemy column was approaching and less than one minute later a light armoured car about 500x away and opened fire with a machine Line on the column, hitting two of our LAD vehicles and injuring 6 REME personnel who were making tea.

Capt LAWSON in X tank immediately replied with the .50 Browning followed almost at once by the Left Section of B Tp.

The armoured car exploded and the Section finished off the other two lorries with a total expenditure of 6 rounds. Battery and B Echelon personnel assisted by FFI promptly rounded up 1 Officer and 16 OR prisoners.

The GPO, Lt Brown, and members of the recce party were at the head of 465 Bty and obtained a confirmed hit on a stationary armoured half-track vehicle with a PIAT at a range of nearly 300x.

A further 15 prisoners trying to escape form 465 Bty’s battle, which was going on at the same time, were collected and all were handed over to the delighted FFI for safe custody.

Total Battery bag: 1 Light Armoured Car, 2 Lorries. 30 Live prisoners and 6 killed or wounded.
Battery casualties Nil, but 6 LAD wounded one of whom subsequently died.


465 Bty v MERIGNES Column.

Major WELLS was with CO2 in a local OP when the column was seen approaching. He immediately took C Sub Section F Tp (Sgt McSorley) and put it in action where he thought the column would enter the village. At the moment the gun arrived the leading half-track appeared dead ahed at 100x range. Sgt McSorley fired, brewed up the vehicle and killed, wounded or frightened all the occupants.

Major WELLS then put B Sub, E Tp (Sgt Hayes) into a position near the OP and three stationary vehicles were engaged over opn sights at a range of about 100 yards and brewed up one after the other.

Finally A sub-section, F Tp (Sgt Scott) knocked out an 88mm SP Gun which was also in the column.

NCOs and men of the Bty, assisted by their own B Echelon and the local FFI then rounded up 65 prisoners who were marched in batches down the village street amid the jeers of the crowd who were all out in the streets in their best Sunday clothes watching the battle with much excitement.

Total confirmed bag of 465 Bty – 1 88mm, 5 halt-tracks and 1 staff car, 65 prisoners and a further dozen dead or wounded.
Battery casualties NIL.


CONCLUSION.

The final result of the battle therefore was –
1 88mm and 8 assorted vehicles destroyed.
Approx 15 Germans Killed and 100 prisoners.

All ranks were delighted at the opportunity ae both demonstrating to 231 Inf Bde and themselves seeing the results of their open sight shooting. The infantry were most generous in their praise. The column then set off in the highest spirits for BRUSSELS – 60 miles away which they entered in triumph the following afternoon.

 

Thank you Attacker2 for posting that piece from the war diaries, ref. 465 Battery.

 

My Granddad belonged to a small Dutch Resistance Group called 'Orde Dienst-Tholen'.
At the moment we're reconstructing the outer tip of the Western Frontline from Tholen Island to Moerdijk for Oct.30 1944 to April 1945.
As 90 Fd.Rgt.,RA was part of this it might be interesting to you.

We are also making a youtube series about that.
There are 10 episodes ready.

'My project to prove Dutch Resistance Group 'Orde Dienst-Tholen' fought 5 days 7Km behind enemy lines against a Company of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6' :
On Oct.30 1944 the Orde Dienst-Tholen came under command of Canadian 4th Armoured Division and was ordered to secure the ferry at Oud-Vossemeer.
In the process they not only secured the ferry at Oud-Vossemeer but also the whole Isle of Tholen and several German POW's.
In their third fight they ambushed one third of a Company of German Parachute Regiment 6 and formed a small front behind the German Main Battle Line that formed a serious threat.
At a very unpleasant moment as FJR.6 was in the process to embark for the Walcheren Causeway, 5Km to the NW. at Beneden-Sas.
Now going around Tholen Island and close to Stavenisse coast in full view of the Observation Post (now in Resistance hands) and cross the Easter-Scheldt unseen, would become too hazardous for this precious Regiment.
Instead it was evacuated to Numandsdorp.
The remaining German Para Company at Nieuw-Vossemeer was forced to stay and make sure the Canadians wouldn't use the ferry to attack the Main Battle Line from behind in support of their attack on Steenbergen.
That German Battle Line held for 5 days and then moved to the north and gave Kampfgruppe Chill (including the rearguard III./FJR.6) just enough time to evacuate over the Maas River themselves on Nov.9 1944.
The Resistance Group Tholen then served for 4,5 months on the outer tip of the Western Front Line and was sent home in March 1945 after a brief parade never to hear from it again.
They never received any kind of recognition or awards nor any mentioning in history books.
Not even the Dutch Resistance Cross.
To my surprise and unknown to us, my Granddad opened up for a short while and told me about this during the WW2 commemoration in 1994.
When I asked him about if he received any rewards he answered in shock; "That's not why we did it".
"And no, I don't know who those German Troops were".
"If you want to find out, you'll have to do your own research".
After that he didn't want to talk about it any more.
He didn't want to remember being a forced laborer in Cologne Germany, Escapee & Wanted Man by the Germans, a Resistance Fighter and a Stormtrooper.
Finally on november 2017 footage of the Resistance Group popped up with a lot of German POWs, which proved it was not just a story.
It was wrongfully edited after the war though and nobody could make sense of it.
Showing it to my Aunt she recognized her father in the footage.
Later I managed to get hold to the rest of the footage and discovered my Grandmother is in the footage too.
Took some time to figure everything out and put all the dates in correct order.
However there is no footage of the NBS Forces after that in this sector as far as I know.
After seeing this youtube series I hope you'll agree it's quite an exceptional story.

To put everything in historical perspectives and to proof all of this , we decided to put German Parachute Regiment 6 and Kampfgruppe Chill and it's history since Normandy in the foreground.
So you can see the deployement of this unit up to the moment where they meet each other in combat.
(As 90 Fd.Rgt.,RA was also deployed in that same theatre of operations this might be interesting too.)
After that we show what happened during 4,5 month that frontline existed.
And what happend with Dutch Resistance Group and those Allied Troops involved like 90 Fd.Rgt.,RA.
However it will take 2 more episodes before the Orde Dienst-Tholen will appear.





November 9 1944 :
Some +18 German POWs are ferried over the 'Eendracht' nowadays 'Rhine-Scheldt Canal' from Tholen Island to Halsteren and handed over to XII.Manitoba Dragoons.

 

Episode #2 : 'A blocking force at Antwerp'

Episode #3 : 'Beringen in the crosshairs'

Episode #4 : 'The retaking of Geel'

Episode #5 : 'A narrow escape'

Episode #6 : 'A Prelude to Market Garden'

Episode #7 : ' West of the corridor to Arnhem' https://youtu.be/sR5-ptFuT4c

Episode #8 : 'Green Devils at Hell's Highway' https://youtu.be/dHnYiQJPc_s

Episode #9 : 'Mini-Stalingrad in Reusel' https://youtu.be/aGtIPWjo2Xs

Episode #10: 'The Paras versus the Polish' https://youtu.be/gSQMi2AKXqw

Cellphone preview footage Dutch OD-Tholen https://youtu.be/Gu6VbpMMvm8 (* note : due to the fast movements out of focus)