Information on 242 Battery, 61st Anti Tank regiment

My Grandpa, Lt James Robert Cuthbertson served in 'G' Troop, 242 Battery in 61st Anti tank regiment from 1940-1946 and I am looking for any information anyone may have on the unit please

 

Here is a brief summary for the 61st Anti-Tank Regiment. The 242nd Battery formed a part of this regiment:

61st Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
HQ, 241st-244th Btys: Rothesay

The regiment served under 9th (Scottish) Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from the outbreak of war until 6 August 1940. It then transferred to the reforming 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on 7 August and remained with it for the rest of the war. 244th Battery left on 22 September and 296th Battery joined on 15 December 1941. On 17 February 1942, it added the title (West Highland). 296th Battery left on 10 May 1943 and was replaced by 193rd Battery.
The regiment was located in the United Kingdom until 16 June 1942 and at sea until 11 August 1942. It then arrived in Egypt and served there until 21 November 1942, when it crossed into Libya. From there it crossed into Tunisia on 17 February 1943 and served there until 8 July 1943. It embarked by sea on that date and landed on 10 July 1943 in Sicily. It remained in Sicily until 7 November 1943, when it moved by sea to the United Kingdom. It arrived there on 26 November 1943 and embarked for France on 2 June 1944. It landed in France on 7 June 1944 and then served in Northwest Europe.

 

Thanks for your help

 

War Diaries at Kew:

WO 166/1633 61 Anti-Tank Regiment. 1939 Sept.-1941 Dec.
WO 166/7091 61 Regiment. 1942 Jan.- May
WO 167/591 61 Anti-Tank Battery Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.-1940 Feb.
WO 169/4721 61 Anti-Tank Regiment 1942 Sept.- Dec.
WO 169/9619 61 Regiment 1943 Jan.- Dec.
WO 169/9620 61 Regiment A. Detachment 1943 June
WO 171/918 61 Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.
WO 171/4771 61 Regiment 1945 Jan.- Dec.
WO 171/9027 61 Regiment 1946 Jan.- Mar.

There are no 242 battery diaries available.

 

http://www.royalartilleryunitsnetherlands1944-1945.com/61-anti-tank-regt.html

 

My Dad and uncle Fred both served with the 61st Ant-Tank RA

My dD is centre and uncle Fred to the left. Unknown friend to the right

I anyone know them?

 

I know I'm seven years too late for this thread, but felt like posting this for the forum-goers. My transcript of Lt James Robert Cuthberton's MC citation:

At approximately 16:00 on the 15th of February, Lieutenant Cuthbertson was supporting the 5/7 Battalion Gordon Highlanders in the area MR 797445. He was informed that enemy AFVs had been seen in the locality and as the area was under heavy shell fire it was considered that the enemy were preparing to attack our positions.

Lt. Cuthbertson immediately proceeded to carry out an extensive reconnaissance on foot, all the time exposed to enemy fire. When he discovered the position of a German S.P. gun he returned to his troop and led a gun forward to a position from which it could engage the enemy. He remained with his S.P. gun in an exposed position directing its fire until the enemy gun was put out of action and he was satisfied that no other guns were in the vicinity. By stalking the enemy guns and using his S.P. gun as a tank hunter he no doubt deterred the enemy from launching a counter attack on that position.

His coolness and disregard for his personal safety while carrying out a self-imposed but extremely unpleasant operation showed courage of a very high standard which was reflected in the men he led during this action.

 

Hi,
Can you tell me if 241btry was with 242? My grandfather was a Sgt with the 61st 241 btry. Any info you could give me on 241 would be appreciated.

Thanks
Ed Pattinson

 

What about 241? Anything on 241 my grandfather was a Sgt with 241 he was injured by mortar shell in North Africa but landed somewhere on Normandy on either 7th or 8th of June 1944 then not sure where they went. Any info?

Ed

 

241st Anti-Tank Battery, RA remained with the 61st Anti-Tank Regiment for the entire war. The summary for the regiment applies to the service of this battery as well. For more detail, you need to obtain the war diaries for the 61st Anti-Tank Regiment at Kew listed above.

 

Thank you, looks like I will have to take a holiday down to kew and see what info I can dig up there

 

Ed, I sent you a message with links to download the war diary pages for 1944 and 1945. Were you able to get them?

 

Yes I got them Chris, can't thank you enough

 

Don't suppose you know which port the 61st departed from on their route to Egypt?

 

Statistically, the Egypt convoy is likely to have boarded at Liverpool or on the Clyde. This site is the golden goose for research. Arnold Hague Convoy Database.
It can be a little counter intuitive to use so be patient and read the instructions on the tin carefully. One tip. Convoys apparently departing from the Clyde, were conglomerations of vessels loading elsewhere, so the ship you might be interested in could have loaded in Liverpool etc. and sailed independently to Glasgow to form up into a convoy. If you are lucky the website might tell you what was loaded but the troopships usually were prewar liners, which are easily identified.

 

Robert Lee Sergeant 781140 from Coatbridge Lanarkshire (I think 241 Battery) was I believe with 61 Anti Tank Regt throughout waruntil he was kia 20 june 1944. Robert married my relative Emily Blencowe at Southend in April 1942 (she was very pregnant) and so they had met in Southend some 9 months before I suspect . How does this fit into the training of 61 Anti Tank Regt as most information says training at Rothesay Scotland?
Photo posted with baby daugther Maureen Lee born April 1942 as evidence of this.

 

According to my grandfathers military records 241 are in Aldershot in early 42 or at least he is. My Grandfather is posted to the 61st 241 late 39 at malmesbury. 40 and 41 they are training in morayshire north east Scotland which is where I'm from. I will see if I can find a picture of this record and send it to you. It is likely that your relative sailed with the 51st HD in June 42 to Egypt port tawfiq. Give me your email address and I will send it to you. By January 44 he is in Amersham training for landings in Normandy June 44

 

Sorry about the hand writing but this was common for the period. As you can see 241 should be in Aldershot around start of 1942. Prior to this they are at loch na Bo lhanbryde Scotland and Cullen. They leave for Egypt around the 15th of June. I know 241 would sometimes attend training at foulness which is very close to Southend on sea. I won't be able to confirm that until I obtain the diaries of the 61st 39-43 which I hope to obtain in September at Kew national archives. It might be a good idea to obtain his military records. You can send away for them that's what I did.

 

Edward, Thanks for info. The 1944 War diary sent to me by Chris C indicates that the 61st Anti Tank based in Amersham Bucks were training at Foulness just off Southend . It seems the RA had a gun training facility there from 1939. Given this I now think that Robert Lee while primarily based in Scotland and as you indicate also Aldershot for periods, was to meet Emily in Southend area (a dance?) on one of his training sessions at Foulness. Daughter born in April Quarter 1942 so likely this was about 1941 mid year . Thank you for your offer my email is rogerdotblinkoatgmaildotcom (written like this to stop bots getting it.)

 

Likewise Chris thanks!