Hi, I am searching for a 3rd relative of mine with the use of this forum. I have had very good results to date and hope that I can have some more success this time. I am looking for information about Edward Rose, Army Number 1156456. He was with 20/21 Battery 5th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. His letters we still have are sketchy but note that he was enlisted in Reading, Berks on 15th June 1942 and trained at Devises. He later writes that he is in Tunis on 16th May 1943 (saying that Tunis was taken on the 20th). Another letter has him in Italy on 2nd November. I am planning a trip to Kew mid November and would love to have some pointers before I go. Any help however small or vague will be most welcome. I have listed the War Diaries for the 5th Regiment but all help at the moment is more than appreciated Thank you in advance.
Pegasus2075, my grandfather Albert Edward Williams was also with 20/21 Battery 5th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. Did you get to Kew? Is there anything that you found out that you are able to share? I have attached a photo that may be of interest. My grandad is the one with the cross above his head.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for sharing the photo. Any clues as to where that might be? The 5th Medium Regt RA landed at Salerno in September 1943 in support of Operation "Avalanche". Do you know the dates when your grandfather was serving with the Regiment? I think I've got some of their war diary for 1943. Regards Tom
I know that he was in North Africa and Italy, particularly the battle for Monte Cassino. The landscape of the photo looks more Italian than African. In his letters he talks about a rest camp at Salerno and the NAAFI in a royal palace near Rome. He states that the Salerno rest camp is practically on the same spot as where they landed. I’m not sure the dates he was serving, but in photos he seems to have aged a lot.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for the information and photos. Yes, he does look a bit battle worn in the second. I’ll dig out that war diary and post up the relevant section for the landings at Salerno. regards Tom
Thanks Tom, I don’t know if you are aware, former sports commentator Bill McLaren, who was known as the voice of rugby, was an officer in 20/21 battery. He includes a chapter in his autobiography about his experiences, having joined them at Solerno.
Here are the details in the 5th Medium Regiment R.A. war diary for the period just before Salerno: WO169/9583 – 5th Medium Regiment, R.A. (Jul – Dec 1943) July 1943 C.O. Lieut. Col. H.G. Wainwright, D.S.O., R.A. Aine Abessa 5th Medium Regiment, R.A. under command 2 A.G.R.A. 1 July 1943 AINE ABESSA Visited by B.R.A., A.F.H.Q., Brigadier E.M. Harrison, MC, R.A. 6 July 1943 AINE ABESSA Visit by Brigadier R. Staveley, C.C.R.A. 5 Corps. 20 July 1943 AINE ABESSA Visit by Lt. Gen. Sir Charles W. Allfrey, Commander, 5 Corps, accompanied by Brigadier R. Staveley, C.C.R.A. 5 Corps. 26 July 1943 AINE ABESSA Unit ordered to mobilise. August 1943 C.O. Lieut. Col. H.G. Wainwright, D.S.O., R.A. 1 August 1943 SETIF 5 Medium Regt. R.A. under command 2 A.G.R.A. Movement Order No. 1 attached. 4/5 August 1943 SETIF Unit under command 46 Div. Movement Order No. II attached. 7 August 1943 SETIF Unit moved to DJIDJELLI area. 8 – 11 August 1943 DJIDJELLI Combined operations exercises on L.S.Ts. 12 – 14 August 1943 DJIDJELLI Unit moved to BIZERTA area staging at JEMAPPES and ROUMES SOUK. 18 August 1943 BIZERTA 2100 Lieut. J.A.L. Gorringe R.A. wounded by A.A. splinter. Evacuated. 31 August 1943 BIZERTA 5 Med. Regt. R.A. inspected by Major General J.L.I. Hawkesworth C.B. C.B.E. D.S.O. Comd. 46 Div. More to follow. Regards Tom
Thanks Tom, I’ve just been taking a Google Earth tour of North Africa based on the details from the war diary. I knew he was in Africa, but had no idea where.
Andrew. 5 Med Regt RA were part of an Army Group Royal Artillery. This was a gathering of Field, Medium and Heavy Artillery Regiments that were lent out by Eighth Army to the Infantry and Armoured Divisions for specific operations. Their task was to beef up the firepower of that Division because each just had three Field Regiments in them. They could also be lent out to Brigades. For example, in Feb 44, 2 Cdo Bde were lent to 46 Inf Div but came with no Artillery Regiment of their own so they were allocated 23 Fd Regt RA from the AGRA for the duration of the attachment. Regards Frank
Thanks for that Frank. In Bill McLaren’s autobiography, describing the battle for Monte Cassino, he says, “Our 5th Medium Regiment supported the famous 2nd New Zealand Division, led by the legendary Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg.” That makes more sense after reading your post.
Andrew, you’ve probably noticed anyway but if not, this is just to say that Pegasus2075 hasn’t been on here for just over three years. However, you could try sending a private message. You never know.
If you click on the member’s name you should see their profile box come up. There you will see “start a conversation”. Click on that and away you go. With any luck an email notification of your message will be sent to Pegasus and just maybe they’ll respond. Good luck mate!
Andrew. That would be right. 2 NZ Div only had three Field Regiments - one for each of its three Brigades. For the Second and Third Battles of Cassino in Feb & Mar 44, 2 NZ Div needed a lot more artillery fire support so, amongst others, 5 Med Regt RA was allocated to them. Regards Frank
Andrew, Disappointingly there is not much detail in the 5 Med Regt war diary for September 1943. There may be more in the battery war diaries but, frustratingly they aren't at Kew. Maybe held by the Royal Artillery Museum I suspect, if they still exist. Further suggesting that your group photo was taken in Italy is an instruction in the war diary in a movement order for the move on 7 August 1943 that dress was to be: "K.D. shorts – Bush Shirts worn inside. Caps F.S. Web Equipment and braces will be worn." The C.O. was obviously trying to instil a sense of returning to the war after what must have been a quiet period after the end of the campaign in Tunisia and ordered: "A high standard of alertness will be maintained during the journey at halts. The Holiday Camp atmosphere must now be eradicated. This move will be treated as an operation of war." And then back to the war: September 1943 C.O. Lieut. Col. H.G. Wainwright, D.S.O., R.A. 1 September 1943 BIZERTA Under command 46 Div. (15/17 u/c 128 I.B. 20/21 u/c 138 I.B.). 5 September 1943 BIZERTA 15/17 and 20/21 Btys sailed from BIZERTA. 9 September 1943 SALERNO A.M. 15/17 and 20/21 Btys landed area SALERNO. 12 September 1943 SALERNO R.H.Q. sailed from BIZERTA. 14 September 1943 SALERNO 2100 R.H.Q. landed RED BEACH, SALERNO area. Regards Tom
And if you want to follow one of his journeys in North Africa more closely, here is a Route Card for the road convoy to Bizerta starting on 12 Aug 43: Regards Tom
Andrew, Although the war diary for September 1943 is very sparse, there is this grim reminder of the realities of war that your grandfather would have witnessed: 19 September 1943 SALERNO 20/21 Bty position was shelled intermittently. 4 ORs killed, 12 ORs wounded. Regards Tom
