Arnhem-1st Airborne Medium Regt RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Rob Dickers, Feb 12, 2010.

  1. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    :huh:
    I have had to copy and paste this post from word, as twice it would not upload on the new thread window and was lost. Ger---! So apologies if the text looks strange.
    Like many RA people I had never heard of such a Regt, that is until I read Dennis Falvey’s book ‘A Well-Known Excellence’ the History of the 64th Medium Regt RA XXX Corps. In the chapter on Market-Garden he tells of the wireless contact with Urquhart and the CRA Lt.Col Loder-Symonds at Arnhem during the battle. Urquhart asked, as they were the only outside Regt with guns in range with their 4.5’s and 5.5’s , to fire on the German positions in Arnhem. The Regt at first were reluctant to do so for fear of hitting our own troops because of the close fighting and the fact that they would be firing blind. The Regt however agreed to open fire with Urquhart and Symonds acting as FOO’s and directing fire. The first ranging rounds were hitting very accurately so firing continued with great damage being done to the enemy.
    After the battle, Urquhart visited the Regt and addressed the men. He told them that without the Regts support ‘We would almost surely have been wiped out’ They were now to be called the 1st Airborne Medium Regt RA and all men were given a ‘Pegasus’ patch to be attached to uniforms. Because they wore Arty and XXX Corps patches there was not much room, particularly with NCO’s Stripes to attach the patch, so it was decided that it would be worn on the bottom of the left sleeve and this they did.
    They proudly displayed the new badge, but after a while the inevitable happened, orders were received from top brass that the patches were to be removed and they were to revert to being called the 64th Med Regt RA. and so ended the 1st Airborne Medium Regt RA.
    Rob
     
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  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Transcript of letter to CO 64 Med Regt RA (afraid I can't remember where I got it from):

    On behalf of the 1st Airborne Division I wish to thank you, your Regiment and 19 Heavy Battery for the support given to us during the last week. It is quite obvious now the part the regiment played in the battle of Arnhem was a deciding factor in the survival of the Division for the nine days it spent north of the River Rhine.
    At the time your Regiment came into action in support of us things were looking fairly black, and your fire made all the difference. It was not only the devastating and very accurate effect produced by your fire during the last six days of our battle that had such a heartening effect on all ranks of the division, but also the way in which all our calls were so promptly answered.
    The commanders of 30 Corps and the Airborne Corps have agreed to our request that we maybe allowed to present your Regiment with our Airborne sign, the Pegasus, to be worn on the lower half of the right sleeve. We shall regard it as a great privilege if you will undertake to wear this as a lasting remembrance of our liaison during the battle of Arnhem.
    I hope I shall have the opportunity of seeing your Regiment in the future and thanking them personally for their efforts.
    R E Urquhart
    Major-General
    Commander 1st Airborne Division
     
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  3. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    The Regt History also dispells the myth of a Heavy Regt firing on Arnhem as well. There were no Heavy Regts with XXX Corps or in the area at the time. The 1st Bty to fire 211Bty had 4.5inch guns firing 60lbs shells, the 2nd Bty 212Bty with 5.5inch guns took a little longer to come into action and was firing the heavier 82lbs-100lbs shells, this was the cause of the Heavy Bty myth at the time.
    Rob
     
  4. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    But of course these shells were far heavier than anything the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment could supply from their 75mm pack howitzers......
     
  5. badjez

    badjez Junior Member

    I realise this is an old thread but I found it whilst searching for a copy of Urquhart's letter. The Pegasus flash was awarded to both 64 Medium Regt, and 419 Heavy Battery, 52 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) RA. The latter regiment continued to wear the flash, through various amalgamations, until quite recently.

    Stephen.
     
  6. mapshooter

    mapshooter Senior Member

    My understanding is that the first wireless contact from Arnhem was made to a Hy Bty (155mm).

    Assuming an AGRA or regt assigned to XXX Corps then 52 Hy Regt looks the best bet, with 53 a possible.
     
  7. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    419 Heavy Bty from 52 Heavy were attached to and placed under command of 64 Medium Regt on 10th September 1944.

    From the 18th-26th Sept from Gun positions at Nijemgen they fired on Targets at Arnhem in support of 1 Airborne Division , at one point they were directed by the CRA 1 Airborne himself on Targets 200 yards from his HQ , the guns were firing at a range of 18,000 yards.
     
  8. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Message from BRA 2 Army

    I have heard from several sources that 63 Medium Regiment greatly distinguished themselves in the giving of support of 1 Airborne Division during their very hectic weak at ARNHEM. I gather that 1 Airborne are most tremendously grateful to you all. I also know that when I was up at 30 Corps on 22nd September yours was the only wireless in contact and how much this meant just then. I would to add my congratulations on the very fine show you must all have put up. Jolly good luck to you all.

    Arnhem-1st Airborne Medium Regt RA

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