73rd Anti Tank Regiment R.A (T.A)

[David W]

Thanks.

[Tom from Cornwall]

I found a little more for this unit for December 1941:

December 1941
Altogether the Regt had Officers: 3 killed, 2 wounded, 1 missing. O.Rs: 13 killed, 27 wounded, 4 missing.
“B” Bty was with the 4 Ind. Div. throughout, first with 11 Bde and later with 5 Bde. “D” Bty was with the 22 Gds Bde and remains with them. “A” Bty and RHQ were first with 22 Gds bde and later with 5 Bde in 4 Ind Div.
Unfortunately all A/Tk Regts had heavy casualties and the Regt was unluckily used to bolster up 65 (N.Y.) A/Tk Regt & 149 A/Tk Regt. R.A. which virtually absorbed the remainder of B Bty. After the campaign has been completed the Regt will probably reform as a 3 Bty Regt only...The fighting mostly took the form of column work, as is normal in the desert, but at Gubi and Pt. 204 defensive positions were taken up of a more orthodox character. The gun, kept on its portee proved too tempting a target for enemy artillery, while the use of portees as light tanks, which the infantry were inclined to believe they were, was even more disastrous. The Gun, dug in, was the only satisfactory solution both for destroying tanks and preventing casualties.
“C” Bty remained with the Siwa Group and we have no news of their activities.

The source is WO169/1522 - WD of 73 Anti-Tank Regiment for 1941.

If I come across a date for what seems likely to be the winding up of one of the batteries I will post it here.

Regards

Tom

[Tom from Cornwall]

Last few days of December contain useful strength details I thought might be of interest:

Code: Select all

21 December 1941	GIOVANNI BERTA
Bde moved to GIOVANNI BERTA a pleasant village in very delightful hilly country. Regt (less 2 Btys) ordered to hand over all equipment to 149 A/Tk Regt and reform to consist of RHQ and One Bty of 10 x 18 Pdrs to guard 13 Corps HQ.

22 December 1941
Consolidation of 4 Ind Div around Giovanni Berta. Columns pushed out to the West for considerable distances. No real resistance reported this side of Benghasi [sic]. Regt (less 2 Btys) consolidated near X rds 9835.

24 December 1941
74 men and Lt. M.O. Oakley loaned to 65 A/Tk Regt R.A. (Norfolk Yeomanry) and 7 Portees and 6 x 2 pdrs. 11 Portees and guns, 4 x 8 cwts, 11 x 15 cwts, 2 x 30 cwts, handed over to 149 A/Tk Regt R.A.

26 December 1941
Regt now composed of RHA, “A” Bty 135 men, 10 x 18 Pdrs, 3 x 2 pdrs (one of which is almost beyond our aid). “C” Bty and “D” Bty detached and about 40 spare men whom we hope to retain to form a new bty.

Regards

Tom

[David W]

Thanks Tom.

[Dubman]

you still lookin for 73rd anti tank?
I've been finding about them from 1944 to 1945, have war dairies etc
any use