152 Artillery Field Regiment, RA

[Andrewib]

Hello,

I have recently come across some photographs of my Grandfather during active service in WWII and am trying to find out a little more about his regiment/unit. I'm hoping one of you may be able to help!

From what information I have I know that he served with A Battery, B Troop, 152 Artillery Field Regiment, RA in North Africa, Sicily/Italy and presumably ended the War in Austria (?). I know that in 1944/45 he was in Perugia, Rome and Vatican City, and from talking to him several years ago I know he served in N. Africa. I would be interested to find out a little more about the unit he was with (I assume the 152 is the same as the Ayrshire Yeomanry?), as I know nothing of its makeup or indeed where it went in any kind of detail.

I have had a look on the forums but cannot find much detail about this unit, so any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Best wishes,

Andrew.

[Kieron Hill]

Hi Andrew

The following details are of the movements and
locations of the 152 (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field
Regiment RA (TA)

April 1940 Formed
April 1940 Home Forces UK
June 1942 6th Armoured Division UK
November 1942 6th Armoured Division North Africa
March 1944 6th Armoured Division Italy
May 1944 6th Armoured Division Cassino
May 1945 6th Armoured Division Austria

Batteries
May 1944 = A,B,C

I hope this helps in your research

Regards
Kieron

[PeterG]

Andrew

156th Field Regt. RA were 'divisional troops', meaning that they were attached to 6th Armoured Division GHQ to be deployed wherever GHQ decided additional artillery assistance was required.

More precisely, 156th Regt.RA joined 6th Armoured Div in the UK on 15 June 1942. 6th Armoured Division's divisional troops were at sea from 8.11.42 to 22.11.42 disembarking in North Africa on that day.

In North Africa in 1943 they took part in the following battles:

18 January - 25 January Bou Arada
7 April - 11 April Fondouk
22 April - 26 April El Kourzia
5 May - 12 May Tunis

They left North Africa on 18 March 1944 by sea, disembarking in Italy the same day.

In Italy they took part in the following battles in 1944:

18 May - 30 May Liri Valley
4 July - 17 July Arezzo
17 July - 10 August Advance to Florence
25 August - 22 September Gothic line

and in 1945
13 April - 21 April Argenta Gap

Your grandfather could only have been in Vatican City as a visitor, on leave in Rome, since Vatican City is an independent state and was neutral in WW2.

Peter

[von Poop]

A warm welcome aboard Andrew.
Is there a possibility you could share these pictures with us? It sometimes makes it a lot easier for those that know about such things to wring out extra detail.

Good luck,
Adam.

[Owen]

Welcome to the forum Andrew.
Nine quid will buy you their History.

See here >> Brief Historical Notes on the Ayrshire Yeomanry (Earl of Carrick's Own) 152 Field Regiment, R. A. 1939-45.: Knox, Major B. M.

Brief Historical Notes on the Ayrshire Yeomanry (Earl of Carrick's Own) 152 Field Regiment, R. A. 1939-45.
Knox, Major B. M.



Also look for Ken Ford's book Mailed Fist.

Amazon.co.uk: Mailed Fist: Ken Ford: Books

[Andrewib]

Thanks for all your information and suggestions! Adam, I will try and possibly get one or two of the pics uploaded when I get the chance. Although I don't have the originals with me just at the moment I should be able to get hold of them/scan them in the next week or so. Owen-I'll certainly chase up the regimental history, I hadn't come across it before, so I'm sure it'll be useful!

If I find anything else or manage to get hold of the pics I'll post more!

Regards,

Andrew.