what RA Regiments were in the Alabaster Force in 1941?

Hi
Could anybody tell me what RA Regiments were in the Alabaster Force in 1941?

Thanks

Keith

 

These maybe a bit early for you so not sure if they'll help if you get no joy on here mate

WO 212/345 Iceland: Alabaster Orders of Battle and Organisation Tables 1940 Aug.

WO 33/2382 Reports, Alabaster Force Memoranda and Papers (O and A Series) 1940

WO 212/346 Iceland: Alabaster: with amendment 1-2 1940 Oct.-1941 Jan.

Cheers
Andy

 

Thanks Andy

all the best

 

Keith
As the force consisted of the 49th(WR) Division, Polar Bears in 1941
one would assume they took their Div Arty with them.

69th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
143rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery
185th Field Regiment Royal Artillery



55th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery 89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery

The 101st RM Bde had 3 Arty btys with them in 1940

Best
Rob

 

Thanks Rob,

All the best

Keith

 

Here is some more information on Alabaster Force that may be helpful:


Iceland 1940-42
Alabaster Force


Forces Sturges - Left United Kingdom on 6 May 1940 and landed in Iceland 10 May 1940.
2nd Battalion, Royal Marines - Left on 19 May 1940
Royal Navy Party (Crews and two 3.7” naval guns)
‘Y’ Battery, Royal Marines (4” coast guns)
1st Anti-MTB Battery, Royal Marines (four pom-poms)

Fortress Unit I, RM - Arrived in Iceland on 12 July 1940. Left end of October 1940.
Took over artillery of Force Sturges
HQ, Landing, Ship Unloading, Gun Mounting, Boat and Transport & Workshop Companies

‘Z’ Brigade - Created 28 September 1940 on Iceland. Disbanded on 1 December 1940.
The Royal Regiment of Canada - Arrived on 16 June 1940. Left 3 October 1940.
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal - Arrived on 9 July 1940. Left 3 October 1940.
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa M-G - Arrived 9 July 1940. Left April 1941.

Anti-Aircraft Units of Alabaster Force - Returned to United Kingdom by July 1942.
HQ 12th Heavy AA Regiment, RA - Created 23 February 1941 and arrived in March 1941.
4th Heavy AA Battery, RA - Arrived 1 August 1940.
52nd Light AA Battery, RA - Arrived March 1941. October 1941 to 85th Light AA Regt.
249th Heavy AA Battery, RA - Arrived later in March 1941.
203rd Heavy AA Battery, RA - Arrived in July 1941.
18th Heavy AA Battery, RA - Arrived in July 1941.
HQ 85th Light AA Regiment, RA - Arrived October 1941.
77th Light AA Battery, RA - Arrived October 1941.
52nd Light AA Battery, RA - Joined on regiment’s arrival.

Coast Defence Forces of Alabaster Force
25th Coast Artillery Group - Raised 3 February 1941 in Iceland. Retitled 564th Coast Regiment on 1 June 1941. Disbanded in United Kingdom on 25 September 1942.
174th, 175th, 382nd Batteries - Came under command on 25 March 1941. 174th and 175th Batteries left on 8 September 1942.
536th Coast Regiment, RA - Arrived ??? Disbanded 22 May 1942.
566th (Devon) Coast Regiment, R.A. (T.A.): 159th, 160th, 161st Batteries.

Note: The expansion of coast defence forces is given below by gun and location.
Hrutafjord - Two 4” naval guns - 1941
Hafnaafjord - Two 4.7” naval guns - Later August 1940
Reykjavik - Two 6” naval guns - Early August 1940
Hyalfjord - Two 12-pounders - Late August 1940
Saurbuer - Two 6” naval guns - September 1940
Reydarfjord - Two 4” naval guns - 1941
Seydisfjord - Two 4” naval guns - 1941
Gyjafjord - Two 4” naval guns - November 1940 (Two more in 1941)

Alabaster Force - Formed by HQ 147th Infantry Brigade on 8 May 1940. When HQ 49th Infantry Division arrived in Iceland on 27 June 1940 it became HQ Albaster Force. 49th Infantry Divisional HQ reformed in United Kingdom on 23 April 1942.

1st/9th M-G Battalion, The Manchester Regiment - Arrived 27 September 1941 and returned in November 1941
2nd M-G Battalion, Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment - Arrived in October 1941 and returned on 11 April 1942.
Company, 14th (Overseas Defence) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers - Arrived in September 1940. Retitled No. 1 Independent Company, Royal Fusiliers on 31 December 1941 and disbanded on 8 October 1942.
12th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment - Arrived on 8 June 1941. Returned to the United Kingdom on 25 September 1941

69th Field Regiment, RA - Arrived on 23 June 1940 and returned in August 1942.
143rd Field Regiment, RA - Arrived in October 1940 and returned in April 1942.
366th Field Battery, RA - To Iceland on 4 April 1941.
294th Field Company, RE - Arrived on 23 June 1940 and returned in April 1942.
Four General Construction Companies, RE - Arrived in June 1940. Left by August 1942.
(including 659th General Construction Company, RE and
686th, 687th, 688th Artizan Works Companies, RE)
Three Road Construction Companies, RE - Arrived in June 1940. Left by August 1942.

147th Infantry Brigade - Left United Kingdom on 14 May 1940 and arrived in Iceland on 17 May 1940. It left Iceland on 18 April 1942 and arrived in United Kingdom on 26 April 1942.

1st/5th Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment
1st/6th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
1st/7th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
147th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company - Until 1 August 1941

146th Infantry Brigade - Left United Kingdom on 23 June 1940 and arrived in Iceland on 27 June 1940. It left on 20 August 1942 and returned to the United Kingdom on 25 August 1942.

4th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment - Remained in Iceland after brigade left and returned to the United Kingdom rejoining the brigade on 9 September 1942.
The Hallamshire Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
1st/4th Battalion, The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

70th Infantry Brigade - Left United Kingdom on 20 October 1940 and arrived in Iceland on 25 October 1940. Left on 19 December 1941 and returned to the United Kingdom on 22 December 1941.

10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry - Embarked on 11 September 1940 as advanced battalion of the brigade. It rejoined the brigade on its arrival. The battalion remained in Iceland when the brigade left and sailed in early 1942, rejoining the brigade on 9 January 1942.
11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
1st Battalion, The Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch)

1st United States Marine Corps Expeditionary Brigade - Arrived 7 July 1941 to start to take over from Alabaster Force. By July 1942, United States forces took over completely. The Marines were eventually replaced by US Army troops, including an entire AA regiment and a medium tank company by the start of August 1941.

 

Hi dryan67,

Thanks for this, much appreciated.

Keith

 

My father in law was in Alabaster Force, from April 41 to January 42. He was in 'B' troup 366 field battery.
The photograph shows him with other members of 'B' troup around a 25pounder field gun.

Regards
John

 

185 Fd and 55 ATk were not part of 49 Div arty at that time. Not sure about 89 LAA.

 

Thanks for the information on here. I knew my Grandfather, Gnr 945947 Wright, of 366 Battery went to Iceland on 3rd June 1941 according to records I have obtained.
I still have the USMC Cap badge he swapped for a RA one.
This has given me a whole new area to start reviewing
kind regards