RA to Lanc Fus

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by zahonado, Sep 29, 2010.

  1. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    I understand that my father was originally in the RA but moved with others to the Lancashire Fusiliers in Assam and Burma for Operation Thursday. I don't understand whether he would then become a Lanc Fus or remain an RA. Maybe I´ve been looking in the wrong place. On the LF website I have found a letter from him, but not in his writing (letter of condolence) After the war he was in barracks in Lingfield having served with an IFBU. Does this ring any bells? for any RA members families. Name was RM Cooper -LT, then Captain, then Major I think. Any info gratefully received.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  3. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Zahonada

    Your name doesn't ring any bells with me so Welcome Aboard !

    You say:
    I understand that my father was originally in the RA but moved with others to the Lancashire Fusiliers in Assam and Burma for Operation Thursday. I don't understand whether he would then become a Lanc Fus or remain an RA.


    Lots of RA units were disbanded in the latter part of the war (mine certainly was) and once your father had moved to his new unit he would certainly have become a Lancashire Fusilier unless he was simply on attachment in a temporary role.

    I am sure others will be along shortly to offer their help.

    Ron
     
  4. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Thanks CL1 but I was looking for more personal mentions etc. The army records are very "dry" somehow. I really was wondeing why people were transferred to other regiments. There is mention in my fathers war diary of being looked down on when they first arrived at camp as gunners.
     
  5. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    PS which regiments were in residence in Lingfield in early 1946?
     
  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Zahonado

    I really was wondeing why people were transferred to other regiments.


    If he was transferred as a single officer you may never know the answer.

    If however his original unit was disbanded (as mine was) then the most common reason was that it no longer was considered necessary in the general order of things or other units were considered of more importance.

    Taking my own unit as an example, in late 1944 the Luftwaffe were no longer considered a major threat to the Allied Forces in Italy but the RAC, by contrast, was considered a priority in the role of defeating the German forces in Italy.

    In addition the RAC had suffered heavy losses and re-inforcements were badly needed.

    That's why my mob got the chop :(

    Ron
     
  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    If you could post what his role was in the RA LAA/HAA etc and when he was transferred the RA experts might be able to put a bit more on it for you.
     
  8. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Thanks CL1 but I was looking for more personal mentions etc. The army records are very "dry" somehow. I really was wondeing why people were transferred to other regiments. There is mention in my fathers war diary of being looked down on when they first arrived at camp as gunners.

    Dry though the service records may be, myself and many others have found these have been an important starting point, leading to other avenues of enquiry.

    As Ron Goldstein quoted, his unit was broken up and my Father's unit reduced in size and men put into Infantry or other units due to a shortage of men. This seems to have happened to AA Units in the main. Once the war was over, the men the became occupying forces policing the local population until their units were finally disbanded and the men demobbed.
     
  9. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    He seems to have been on attachment (with others) and there is mention of being in charge of VIckers(guns?) but as a Lt in charge of a platoon. How big is a platoon normally? After the action in Burma he went to Rangoon, but then was in an Indian Field broadcasting unit during the last few months of the war until his return to Britain in Nov 1945. He was then stationed at Lingfield Barracks until demobbed in 1946.The trouble is, there are so many avenues of enquiry, it´ll take years to look at it all! Any info of a more personal nature very welcome.
     
  10. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    How big is a platoon normally?

    MG platoon usually had 4 MG but don't know exactly how many men.
     
  11. zahonado

    zahonado Well-Known Member

    Anyone know anything about 69th RA in India1942/3 ?- he seems to have been with them until Nov 1943. then transferred briefly to an Indian Army new regiment-Madrasi-but only briefly before joining the Lanc fusiliers and Operation Thursday
     

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