7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

Discussions on all aspects of the The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Andy H
User avatar
David W
Member
Posts: 3516
Joined: 28 Mar 2004, 02:30
Location: Devon, England

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#91

Post by David W » 09 Sep 2012, 12:33

Yes of course.

Impressive, as they only left Tripoli the day before.
On 16 November 4 of these guns were sent from Tripoli to the front.

Tom from Cornwall
Member
Posts: 3211
Joined: 01 May 2006, 20:52
Location: UK

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#92

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 29 Nov 2015, 13:20

Hi,

Going through the war diary of 64th Medium Regiment for 1941 (WO169/1492) at the moment and found this reference that I thought might help your discussions:
3 July 1941 TAHAG Camp
0645 8 B.L. 6” 26 cwt Howitzers were delivered to 211 Battery by 233 Battery of 68th Med Regt R.A. Guns arrived in good condition and packed in grease. Day spent in preparing guns for action.
Regards

Tom


User avatar
David W
Member
Posts: 3516
Joined: 28 Mar 2004, 02:30
Location: Devon, England

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#93

Post by David W » 29 Nov 2015, 13:40

Thanks Tom.

That's useful.

Tom from Cornwall
Member
Posts: 3211
Joined: 01 May 2006, 20:52
Location: UK

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#94

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 02 Dec 2015, 22:18

Glad to hear it, here is another snippet from the same source:

64th Medium Regiment arrived back in MENA CAMP from Western Desert on 26 Feb 41.
28 February 1941 MENA CAMP
Maintenance of vehicles, guns and equipment and re-equipping continued throughout the day.
Orders have been received for 234th Medium Battery R.A. to hand over their 4.5”/60 pdr guns to 7th Medium Regiment R.A. and to receive eight 6” howitzers in exchange. Change over to take place 2.3.41.
All 4.5”/60 pdr guns of 211th Medium Battery have been ordered to go to ABBASSIA Ordnance Workshops, two at a time for special strengthening fitting to be applied to the trail-eyes.
Which suggests that for Western Desert campaign of Jan - Feb41, 64th Med Regt consisted of 211 and 234 Btys both equipped with 4.5"/60 pdrs and then for the Greek campaign, 64th Med Regt again consisted of 211 Med Bty's this time with 211 Bty having 4.5"/60 pdr and 234 Bty having 6" howitzers.

Does that correspond with other sources? Does anyone have any comments on that gun exchange? Howitzers for mountainous Greece?

Regards

Tom

User avatar
David W
Member
Posts: 3516
Joined: 28 Mar 2004, 02:30
Location: Devon, England

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#95

Post by David W » 03 Dec 2015, 08:19

Tom.

I thought that the 64th were 211 & 212 Bty.

And that the 68th were 233 & 234 Bty.

Am I wrong?

I also understood that 234 were armed with 4.5" Howitzers upon arrival in Nov 1940.
As for 211 Bty, I understood that it arrived in December 1940 armed with 60Pdrs.
So that at least fits with what you said above.

Tom from Cornwall
Member
Posts: 3211
Joined: 01 May 2006, 20:52
Location: UK

Re: 7th Medium Regiment RA & others!

#96

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 03 Dec 2015, 21:18

Hi David,
I thought that the 64th were 211 & 212 Bty.

And that the 68th were 233 & 234 Bty.
Yes, that's right - except for the first half of1941 when 212 Bty went off to East Africa and 64th Med Regt took over 234 Bty in January in the Western Desert and also took them on the Greek expedition. I don't know about 68 Regt and 233 Bty, sorry.

As for the guns:
2 March 1941 MENA CAMP
Maintenance and painting of unit and tactical signs on vehicles continued.
1430 Change-over, supervised by Lieut-Quartermaster G.F. May, R.A. effected of 234th Medium Battery’s 4.5”/60 pdr guns and 7th Medium Regiment’s 6” Howitzers.
Regards

Tom

Post Reply

Return to “The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth 1919-45”