Raiding Support Regiment

I believe the RSR was made up of 5 Squadrons

HQ Squadron
ASquadron - armed with .50 MGs and 20mm Cannon
B Squadron - 3" Mortars
C Squadron Anti Tank Guns
D Squadron 75mm Howitzer

111 Field Battery was equipped with 25pdrs
There was also a AA Battery Attached on the Island of Vis

The unit was parachute and moutain warfare trained - para training was at Kabrit or Ramat David, Mountain Warfare at the Cedars of Lebanon (still in use by the British Army in the 1970s) They were also trained in boat handing and amphibious landings.

I intend to copy the RSR files at Kew in the next few weeks

Thanks for that, which is similar to information I have,
Although I believe that not all the RSR were parachute trained. Don't know if any of the 111th actually were, they were in Kabrit in Sept 42 and then 1 Battery went to Tripoli in the November. All three Batteries ended up in Tripoli by the end of January '43.
By March '43 they were accompanied at some point I think by Greek Sacred Squadron, and this is why I wondered if they were part of Raiding Support at that time.
I've traced their route up E Coast of Italy upto Xmas '43, and then they went down to Bari in Spring & from there across to Vis. Not sure whether all 3 batteries were together all the time, or at all.

Guess they would have been part of C Squadron 'cos the 111th had the anti tank gun, but did anyone else? and the boat training fits in because 111th were alongside Commandos & Navy in a few escapades along the Dalmation Coast in '44.
But other details of what action they saw in Croatia, Albania and Montenegro towards the end of '44 is a bit sketchy, all I have is a route and that they appear to have got out before the Partisans became less friendly toward us in the New Year.

I'm also looking for any corroboration as to what happend to David Stirling's Pilot V8 'Blitz Buggy' after he was captured in January '43. Some say that it was shot up & burnt out by Italian aircraft, but I believe it may have been salvaged and have it on authority that the car was actually used in Italy, but hard to find corroboration or other pictures? Any help, or pointers, is appreciated.

My Grandfather was Walter Jones. He served in the RSR - Raiding Support Regiment during World War 2. Before he died he finished a book from the diaries that he meticulously wrote in every day during the war. Serving across many countries in the RSR, historians at the University of Plymouth kindly decided to publish his book. This book is just a small part of his writings and focusses only on the RSR in Yugoslavia, mainly on the island of Viz, as this has been a subject that has previously had very little written on it. If anyone would like to know more or find out more about the Raiding support regiment please get in touch.
Thanks, Matt Stewart 07971069976 / matt.stewart1977@hotmail.co.uk


I don't think many people know about his book or even know it exists. Be great if people get the opportunity to read this very accurate account.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raiding-Supp...0701877&sr=1-1

The Second World War in Yugoslavia is an area neglected by historians and other commentators. This is perhaps surprising as Yugoslavia was the only country in Europe to be conquered by the Germans and then, later, to free itself solely as a result of guerilla activity. Other countries had to be liberated by Allied armies. The British played an important role in supporting the activities of Tito s guerilla army. This is the story of Walter Jones s service and the operations of the Raiding Support Regiment. A precursor to the modern SAS the Raiding Support Regiment fought alongside the commandos and Tito s partisan in Yugoslavia. Based on the Island of Vis in the Adriatic they provided heavy weapons support to British and partisan forces trying to drive the Germans out of Yugoslavia. Later they served in Albania and Italy. This is a brutally honest account of one man s service with the Regiment and a neglected period of European history. It documents the transformation of a young man into a combat veteran as he witnesses the effects of bombing, the deliberate killing of POWs and partisan savagery against those who transgress the partisan code

 

Having just read a posting about the Raiding Support Regiment I would like to give an accurate,but brief description.I should point out that my late grandfather served in the unit and I have spent 8 years or so researching them.

The unit was formed in 1943 by Raidng Forces (Middle East/CO Brig' DJT Turnbull) and was never part of 2 SS Brigade.In fact they wore the beige beret and SAS wings and not the green beret like those of 2 SS Brigade.When operating in the Adriatic they carried out joint ops with the commandos in support of the Partisans,but were never part of the same brigade as them.Until June of 1944 they came under command of Force 266 when operating in the Adriatic and after that they and 2 SS Brigade came under the theatre command of Land Forces Adriatic.The elements of the RSR that served in the mountains of Greece giving close support to the partisans and also operating on their own came under command of Force 133.

It is worth noting that the RSR was formed primarily to give support to the SAS Special Boat Squadron,SAS Greek Sacred Squadron(both part of Raiding Forces,Middle East),Balkan Guerrillas and to operate on it's own carrying out ambushes,demolitions etc.The unit was not formed to support the Commandos it was simply that both formations were deployed in the Adriatic and so operated together.There was to be fair a few ops where RSR sub-units came under temporary command of the Commandos.The unit often operated as the close fire support group to the partisans and in fact a few members of the RSR undertook basic Yugoslav language courses(this is mentioned in the unit war diary).

The unit is actually considered by the SAS to be part of their regimental family and was included in the SAS Roll of Honour which was dedicated in London last year.

I know it is sometime since you posted this, but this might be of interest.

My Grandfather was Walter Jones. He served in the RSR - Raiding Support Regiment during World War 2. Before he died he finished a book from the diaries that he meticulously wrote in every day during the war. Serving across many countries in the RSR, historians at the University of Plymouth kindly decided to publish his book. This book is just a small part of his writings and focusses only on the RSR in Yugoslavia, mainly on the island of Viz, as this has been a subject that has previously had very little written on it. If I can help with anything please get in touch
Thanks, Matt Stewart 07971069976 / matt.stewart1977@hotmail.co.uk


I don't think many people know about his book or even know it exists. Be great if people get the opportunity to read this very accurate account.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raiding-Supp...0701877&sr=1-1

The Second World War in Yugoslavia is an area neglected by historians and other commentators. This is perhaps surprising as Yugoslavia was the only country in Europe to be conquered by the Germans and then, later, to free itself solely as a result of guerilla activity. Other countries had to be liberated by Allied armies. The British played an important role in supporting the activities of Tito s guerilla army. This is the story of Walter Jones s service and the operations of the Raiding Support Regiment. A precursor to the modern SAS the Raiding Support Regiment fought alongside the commandos and Tito s partisan in Yugoslavia. Based on the Island of Vis in the Adriatic they provided heavy weapons support to British and partisan forces trying to drive the Germans out of Yugoslavia. Later they served in Albania and Italy. This is a brutally honest account of one man s service with the Regiment and a neglected period of European history. It documents the transformation of a young man into a combat veteran as he witnesses the effects of bombing, the deliberate killing of POWs and partisan savagery against those who transgress the partisan code

 

Hello to all, Iv'e just become a member the main reason being my interest in the RSR. A father of a good fiend served in the RSR, He's in his nineties and doing ok for his age. He is a sharp as a knife, his memory is excellent. David Sydney Davies born just outside Aberystwth in mid wales firstly joined the Leicester Yeomanry then volunteered for the RSR. He spent his 21st birthday at the battle of El Alamein. He got about quite a bit with the RSR he was with D squadron C Troop Q Battery. He was based on Viz for a while.Syd Has some good photos of the RSR, as i said his memory is excellent. After ww2 Syd emigrated to Perth, Western Australia with his wife. so if Syd can be of any help re RSR questions etc. please do not hesitate to contact me he would be pleased to help.
regards........Saint Jack.
earlgrey@iinet.net.au

 

Hi and welcome - any chance you can post the photo's?

 

I am seeing him next week and see what i can do, his wife keeps telling him to write some info on the back of them because he's the only one who knows when,where & what they are. what's the best way of getting them from photos to posting online?
Regards.....Saint Jack.

 

My father was in the RSR as were many South Africans and Rhodesians. I have several photographs of the men in uniform (sporting black berets) as well as para gear. Also a couple of 'The Rugby Match" where smoke bombs were used to add to the fun. I would be pleased to hear from any of the descendants of these brave men.

 

rsr

 

Does anyone know if there were any Royal Marines volunteers in the RSR?

 

Not as far as I am aware, however there would have been RM Commandos on operations alongside RSR in the Adriatic

 

I just wondered, I know about the Commando's but wondered about non commando volunteers. The SBS had many RM volunteers, mostly from the MDBDO, including one intake of 38 men. The Boom Patrol Detachment's volunteers came predominantly from non commando units including the Auxiliary 19th (labour) Battalion. But I've not been able to find out if any Marines joined the RSR, LRDG or SBS.

 

My grandad joined up as a gunner with 137 LAA & 1st Maritime R.A but I am struggling to find out what unit my grandad had served with in the Balkans from Aug 1941 - April 1942 . I found he had typed an interesting account in Balkan mountains for 8 x months with Chetniks & later meeting up with Partisans near the coast & picked up by a British submarine near Sibernik with his small team to Bari. Help would be appreciated, thank you.

 

Have you considered a copy of his service records? These tell you what units and when he served with them.

 

Drew - see this other thread - My grandad was in 137 LAA Regiment & 1st Maritime Regiment R.A

TD

 

Yes, I have his Service & Casualty Form, Enlisted 18/07/1940.
His B120 Form, Field Conduct Sheet & his NIR which signed at Woolwich 30/05/1946. I don't have his Maritime Card which may explain the gaps possibly (-358 days) ?
Thank you for your help.
David

 

My father was a captain in the RSR and I have photographs of him and others weariing black berets too.

 

Hi Patricia

Welcome

If you wish you could upload the photos to this thread or you could start a new one specifically for your father and if you want up,load the photos there

TD

 

Hi

Some of the RSR were in Greece in 44/45 and they had a lot of casualties during counter insurgency operations.

Only have a few UDF names. Pretty sure there were more.



Hope this helps

Gus

 

Hello All,

I'm new to the forum and would appreciate help in trying to confirm whether my grandfather was in RSR during WW2. His name was Glyndwr Williams and came from Porth, Rhonddha Valleys in South Wales. He joined RAFVR Air Sea Rescue in 1941 and was the Gunner on their High Speed Launches, initially in UK and then North Africa. The HSLs that he served on had Vickers MGs and were later upgraded to Oerliken.

Family believe that whilst in North Africa he became involved with irregular units. He often spoke about working with LRDG, PPA and SAS. We initially thought that he may have been a member of one of these, but both the LRDG Preservation Society and the PPA Association have confirmed that he was not an official member and is not recorded in their unit diaries. The various SAS texts that have been published over the years do not mention him either.

Piecing things together slowly, family have begun to wonder whether he was affiliated with Raiding Support Regiment, and specifically due to his expertise in using Vickers MGs, whether he was part of A Battery for a period of time. We know that if he was, then he wouldn't have been part of the RSR until the end because we know that he took part in operations that the RSR may not have been part of. For instance, we understand that both LRDG and PPA at some point used RAF HSLs for ingress and extrication during the skirmishes in the Mediterranean before Operation Husky and the advance of Land Forces up Italy. We note that he took part in the Salerno Landings and was taken POW with US troops sometime afterwards. They escaped, during which my grandfather was shot in the shoulder but continued to give covering fire, after this he ended up in a US Field Hospital - this is documented in his RAF Medical Records, but not in the Service Record. We also note that his HSL was involved in Operation Dragoon which initiated the liberation of Southern France in 1944. Finally, he was part of Monte Cassino and his close colleague, who became his best friend died there and is buried in the Commonwealth Grave there.

As you can imagine, this is providing difficult to research. I have been trying to piece the jigsaw together over the past 10-15 years. Slow, but steady progress.

Any help or pointers in the right direction to confirm whether Glyndwr was in RSR would be gratefully received. I've read the book by Walter Jones, so know that he wasn't in C Battery - his daughter and grandson have been very helpful there by looking through his notes. As such, A Battery with Vickers MGs seems a logical next step to investigate.

Regards, Richard