65th anti tank regiment Norfolk Yeomanry

[wright61]

I have scoured the internet done searches in my local libraries but I am unable to find any substantial info on this regiment, can anyone help me find some?
Regards Robert

[Martin_Schenkel]

How substantial info are you looking for? Here's some basic info:

Formed in 1939 as a duplicate of 55th (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA. Assigned to 50th Northumbrian Division with 257th, 258th, 259th, and 260th Batteries, it fought with the 50th in France and Belgium. After returning to the UK, it followed the 50th Division to North Africa in Jul/Aug 41, initially garrasoning Cyprus, and later joining the western desert campaign somtime in Feb/Mar 42. The regiment served with 4th Indian Division for a time, until it was assigned to 7th Armoured Division in Sep/42, and served with the 7th Armoured for the rest of the war.

[David W]

Martin.

For some reason I have got it with 194,195 & 196 Batteries @ Oct 1941 and beyond.

I also have missed out the time in Cyprus.

HELP!!

[Martin_Schenkel]

David,

257, 258, 259, and 260 Batteries were listed as the 65th's units upon formation however, the same batteries still appear to have been a part of the regiment as late as May 42 (as far as I can tell). This is all according to the British Armies in WW2 - An Organisational History (Hughes et al) series.

[David W]

I'll go back & double check my sources, and keep you posted!

[David W]

Got it!

http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/atk/page22.html

Martin, what do you make of this?

Ta!

[Martin_Schenkel]

David,

Seems odd. I've dug up a few more sources, and although they don't list all the composing Batteries, 260th Battery is mentioned several times as having been engaged at Villiers-Bocage. This leads me to believe that the 65th's composition didn't change throughout the war, and begs the question why would it? It seems odd that it would have recieved a new slate of Batteries, without any changes in the Regiment's role or designation.

[David W]

So a typo on Derek's site then?

[Martin_Schenkel]

I don't know entirely what to make of it. After searching that website some more, it seems as though shifting Anti-Tank Batteries around wasn't quite as uncommon as I thought. The Canadians made very, very few changes to their Anti-Tank Regiments, unlike the Field and LAA Regiments. So, I was going along with that theory, plus Anti-Tank Regiments should have four Batteries, and that website only lists three for Oct/41. All I know for sure, is the Batteries at the start of the war, and that at least the 260th Battery was still in the Regiment during Normandy.

[Mark.G]

Sept 1939 65th Anti-tank Regt 4 Batteries, 257, 258, 259 & 260 were raised.

In December 1941 258 battery were in Benghazi, where my Grandfather received the MM for the action against his battery, and in 1942 they were in El Alamein where my Grandfather got the DCM, all the batteries were there although it appears they were split between 2 Divisions, an Indian and the 7th Armoured (Desert rats).

The Norfolk Yeomanry in Peace and War by Jeremy Bastin will help you with this if you can get a copy

[dor1941]

Sept 1939 65th Anti-tank Regt 4 Batteries, 257, 258, 259 & 260 were raised.

The New Zealand OH for Operation Crusader states the regiment had those same four batteries in Nov-Dec 1941, and mentions the RHQ and 257, 259 and 260 Btys joined Freyberg's advance on Tobruk (with the 4th and 6th N.Z. Bdes and the bulk of 1st Army Tank Bde). They took part in the heavy fighting in the "Kessel" of Sidi Rezegh-however the 258 Bty appears to have remained with the 4th Indian Division along the Egyptian border at that time. I believe the South African OH suggests 258 Bty was part of a "Jock column" named Goldforce (which also included 31st Field Regiment R.A. and a squadron of the Central India Horse) which engaged German columns on Dec 3rd and 4th.
So it would seem your Grandfather saw plenty of action on the Western Desert.

David R

[Urmel]

On 10 November 41 258 and 259 Batteries were with 22 Guards Brigade (CIH Operation Order No. 1), and were dispersed in four columns (Little Brother Little Sister, based on CIH, and Brother and Sister, based on 9 R.B. and 3 Coldstreams)

War Diary 4 NZ Brigade states that a battery (less one troop with 6 NZ Brigade) of 65 AT Rgt arrived on 28 November with them. But no number given.

On 1 December War Diary Central India Horse reported its organisation as two columns (little brother and little sister) and RHQ. The two columns had a Troop of 258 Battery each.

Basically it's all very messy, but there was more action than you could shake a stick at.