Does anyone know where I can find who the Divisional Artillery commanders were for 43rd Wessex Division, 51st Highland Division, 53rd Welsh Division and 6th Airborne at the beginning of the Ardennes? (15 Dec 44 or about) Also looking for the names of the divisional engineers and any battalion commanders during the same period.
Any tips on how to make best use of the search function? Should I be searching for individual AARs to get the best results?
You will be looking for the CRA (Commander Royal Artillery) a Brigadier, probably similar title and rank for Royal Engineers CRE. Sorry cant help Re NW Europe only know two who were in 1st Infantry Div. in Tunisia and Italy 1943-45. If you can find the CRA and CRE they could lead you to the Battalion Commanders (Lt Colonel) who they were supporting. The CRA would have the Regimental Commanders (Lt Col) and Battery Commanders ( Major) under his Command who would be Reps to the Infantry Btn HQ's as each Battery would be designated to a Battalion. Not sure if this was always the case in NW Europe as it was a Bigger War with more AGRA units (Army Group Royal Artillery) Also try: Home - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 for Specific unit details British Artillery in World War 2 RA Technical Details
A few leads, just by googling up CRA and the div: 43 Div Who was the CRA and CRE of 43rd and 50th Division - Axis History Forum 51 Div CRA J Shiel KIA 27 Apr 45 51st Highland Division Brigade Commanders | Account | 51st Highland Division Website 6 Airborne Div CRA Brig Faithfull at least from 18 Jun44 to 7 May 45 Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Teacher https://twitter.com/6thairborne/status/1258229877922283520
43 Div CRA = Gerrard William Egerton "Bill" HEATH (10669) then Kenneth Frank MacKay LEWIS (14122), but I don't know when the change occurred. That's probably somewhere in this book: 9780750907736: The Fighting Wessex Wyverns: From Normandy to Bremerhaven with the 43rd Wessex Division - AbeBooks - Delaforce, Patrick: 0750907738 GWE Heath: Page 670 | Supplement 36917, 30 January 1945 | Lond... KF Mackay Lewis: Page 4785 | Supplement 36753, 17 October 1944 | Lon... Kenneth Frank Mackay Lewis - National Portrait Gallery Larkhill's Wartime Locators
Thanks for the help! That confirmed some of what I've found and corrected my name for CRA 6th Airborne. I'm limited to a handful of books and the internet and have no library that I can get to easily so this is all gold.
I'm helping gather data for a wargame project, the hope is to have names for Battalion COs and up with a little service history section for Divisional Commanders and up.
Not being a computer gamer, I am somewhat stunned that gaming people would use real names. A Friend was startled some years ago to hear his fathers recorded voice talking about his war exploits in a library but was ok with it when he found where it was coming from. He was recently approached by a university for permission to use it in an internet project "coming soon" as it were. We look forward to its release. I wonder what what a relives reaction might be to see one of their family in a computer re-enactment of a battle. I suppose it depends how close to the real thing it is, or whether the game allows people to be killed or wounded when they were not, or god forbid watch their relative being killed or wounded time and again. It seems oddly different to a war film, which provides a controlled narrative no doubt cleared with relatives before it is shown. Perhaps I am just old fashioned in my respect for the men who fought for our freedom. Just how do these War Games work with regard to "realism". The nearest I have seen is probably Lord of the Rings or the CGI in Dunkirk.
Not trying to disrespect anyone, I think you have the wrong impression of the kind of wargame it is. Imagine Nato counters being moved about on a map and you have it. No cgi of people being slaughtered. In that regard, it's a lot more respectful than war movies as it's not a depiction of graphic violence for entertainment's sake. The entertainment value is in strategy within a historical setting. The same games are used by armed forces everywhere, they also use historical context. It's important to get the details right
Very impressive, not what I expected but not something that lights my fire or which I would want to spend my time researching for. Sadly few of the threads appear to be people needing help for family histories. I think I am out of step. Time to move on methinks.
It's a niche area in games, but probably the genre that attracts the most enthusiastic history buffs so the details are important.
