5 RHA were using 25 Pdrs. They were notably at Cassel and Hondeghem on the 27th May. I don't recall any RHA at Wormhout on the 28th. The only RA units I'm aware of at Wormhout are the 53rd Yeomanry, 69th Med Regt and 24th Filed Regiment. I think the later two were tarvelling through and got caught up in the fighting/Shelling and bombardments from aircraft and suffered casualties as a result. Here's 5 RHA's diary for 28th May:
Going through the diary I found this report. I think a small part 5 RHA were there and tasked to hold Wormhout before The Worcs arrived who handed over Wormhout to the Warwicks:
25 Pdrs? K Bty 5 RHA had 18 Pdrs at Hondeghem. Was it different guns for different batteries or were they all 18 Pdrs? Just seen the interesting little prologue to Wormhoudt. I'm guessing WL is wagon line?
Sorry - I'm on auto pilot as I'm trying/wanting to run some scans and Andrea is moaning, plus I wanted to post the above docs. I always think RHA = 25 pdrs for some reason. The Regt did have 18 pdrs - 24 to be precise according to Philson not 25 pdrs. Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
I have to admit I wasn't sure what the rest of the regiment had. At least there were no 18/25 Pdrs to really confuse matters!
Just seen the interesting little prologue to Wormhoudt. I'm guessing WL is wagon line? I would say thats a fair bet. The description of the location fits the one used by 2 Warwicks as Bn HQ. They had a MT park at the rear where there was plenty of trees to use as cover for their vehicles.
Brilliant info - glad I asked. Returning to the 9 pd gun, did any such weapon exist? Something just does not add up here. 2nd Warks would not have mistaken an artillery piece for an AT 2pdr but they might have got the description of the gun wrong - maybe an 18 pd gun? Strange that Rommeleare does not mention French troops at Wormhout on 26th May.
Never heard of a 9 Pdr. Incidently just to add to a bit on the Wormhout front - Prior to 5 RHA going to Wormhout there was a RAMC Casualty Clearing Station there. Not sure what one or dates yet.
Re Guns in Field Regts BEF. 67th Field Regt were with 1st Inf Div. in the BEF having been transferred from 48th Div. 266 Malvern Bty Had 4.5 inch howitzers and 265 Worcester Bty had 18 Pounders according to Tom Averill 266 Bty and Peter Raban 265 Bty in their stories of the withdrawal to Dunkirk. The howitzers seemed to cover the 18 Pdrs while they advanced or withdrew as they had longer range. 266 fought to their last rounds at Bray Dunes and 265 held the canal in Dunkirk. The regt left on HMS Worcester minus 265 Bty who left on HMS Esk. When they reorganised at Fakenham they were issued with new 25 Pdrs. ready for the campaign in North Africa.
East Riding Yeomanry at Cassel – 140th (5th London) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Has... "East Riding Yeomanry at Cassel East Riding Yeomanry- War Diary The East Riding Yeomanry (E.R.Y.) joined the B.E.F. in April 1940 having crossed the English Channel via Southampton to Le Havre; the same harbours and route taken by the 140th Field Regiment the previous month. The E.R.Y. had advanced into Belgium with the main thrust of the British advance into Belgium on 10th May 1940 and withdrawn via Tournai and Lille to join the 145th Brigade ‘Somerforce‘ at Cassel, arriving there on 26th May 1940." Etc...
