88th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by DavidW, Mar 20, 2013.

  1. bman

    bman Member

    Hi,
    Here are the Italian photos , reading from left to right the comments on the reverse are:

    1) Casoli on top of the hill and a bridge over the river Aventino March 1944
    2) This was our site at the River Sangro February 1944
    3) Moving out in the mud in the road out of the Sangro February 1944
    4) San Eusonio with Bill Baker April 1944
    5) Just fired the gun at San Eusonio (my dad at the back) April 1944
    6) 2 members of the troop with the Italian family who made us a big ?(unreadable) Casoli 1944
    7) This is the three of the charges Casoli February 1944
    8) Franky and his wife Casoli April 1944
    9) Three of our officers LT Bush Capt Blake and LT Barr (not sure of this name) Casoli April 1944

    There are more pictures of Franky and other italian family members who I presume they were billeted with. Does anyone know what the charges would be, are they pows?

    After that I just have black & white picture postcards of various towns and cities he visited.
    Once again I hope that these are of interest.
    Barbara desert photos e.jpg
     
  2. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Great photos Barbara, particularly knowing how difficult it was for troops in NA to get hold of film, and to have them developed. One small comment, that I hope is of use, I think you will find that the 'Spax' that you have quoted is in fact Sfax, this being the concentration area in Tunisia, and boarding point in NA for when the troops left for Sicily, May being after the time the Germans were overrun in Bizerte.
     
  3. bman

    bman Member

    Hi HAARA,
    Thanks for pointing it out about Sfax. The ink on the back of the photos is fading and some are difficult to read so it is a guess sometime.
    I have no idea who took the photos, as Dad never owned a camera, or how he came to have these in his possession.They end in April 1944, after that it is postcards, so maybe something happened to the camera or the camera owner
    You mention that the troops left from Sfax bound for Sicily, but Dad said they sailed from Gabes. Is that nearby?
    Barbara
     
  4. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Yes, Gabes is south of Sfax on the east coast of Tunisia, and may well have been used. Equally, troops bound for Sicily used Sousse. I've attached here a link to Imperial War Museum collection of LSTs (Landing Ship, Tanks) at Sousse.
    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205195567
     
  5. bman

    bman Member

    Hi, Thanks for the information and the link-it gives a good idea of the transportation used. Dad did say, and his war diaries confirm it, that when they landed in Sicily their guns and equipment landed elsewhere!
    " without guns and transportation,sent over from North Africa in separate ships whereabouts unknown by Q movement" that was on 31st August and on 21st Sept "new transport arrived"
    So they were a few weeks without equipment, but Dad said,and this is not in the diaries, that they were with some American troops and shared with them!
    Barbara
     
  6. Luke Lillingstone

    Luke Lillingstone New Member

    Good morning. I'm a new member and have found and joined this site because my mother has just given me a folder full of photos and other memorabilia which were my late grandfather's. He was Major Harold "Gilly" Gilbert and he served as (I think) 2i/c of 281 Battery during the War. There are hundreds of photos covering Libya, Egypt and Italy, two mentions in despatches, a silk(?) map of North Africa and various other bits and pieces. He never talked about the War to his family and I would be very interested to trace his service. I believe he was a TA officer before the war and there are various photos of TA camps in England with the others. I will sort through and upload some of the photos over the next few weeks and any help in tracing his service history would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Owen likes this.
  7. Luke Lillingstone

    Luke Lillingstone New Member

    Hmmnn.. I'm not allowed to upload pictures. Is this a restriction on new members or do I need to change my settings somewhere?
     
  8. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Would be very interested in seeing these, as I have an interest in 282/88. With regard to 'restriction', have you tried reducing the file size and trying again?
     
  9. Luke Lillingstone

    Luke Lillingstone New Member

    Seems to be working now. First pic is of my grandfather somewhere in North Africa. The second has a pencilled note on the back saying it is in a caravan with his CO - note the wings the CO is wearing. The third is him with a Brigadier McIntyre and a Lieutenant Colonel Jones in an unknown location. More to come!
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Paul Smith

    Paul Smith New Member

    Hello there. I've just signed up as i've begun researching my great grandfather who died as a prisoner of war with italians in North Africa in 1942. Can anyone here assist me with a war diary or point me in the right direction for research for the following. I,ve seen the interesting notes in this thread about the Bty's guard duty in Cairo and their posting to Aboukir. Thanks in advance for reading. His details are as follows:
    Staff Sgt edward aubrey johns
    Service Number 2213452,
    283Bty, 88 H.a.a. rgt. royal Artillery
    died age 42 between 1st feb 42 - 20th May 1942

    Im applying for his war record with the MOD. what details can I expect from this?
     
  11. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Paul

    I've got some details of 283 HAA Bty's involvement in Operation Crusader in late 1941.

    From the war diary (WO169/1568) of 12 Anti-Aircraft Brigade (which was in charge of 8th Army's AA defences) it seems that it's initial commitment was actually under command of HQ 68 HAA Regt at Landing Ground 122 (MR 519303). Later, on 11 Dec, it looks like two sections of the battery were ordered to BU AMUD (MR 435419).

    This explains the lack of detail in the war diary (WO169/1582) of 88 HAA Regt of their activities during 'Crusader' with this being limited to:

    17 November 1941
    1300
    12 A.A. Bde. Op. Instruction. No.17 received.
    Lt.Col. T. Gregory M.C., R.A. to command Rear Group A.A. and be responsible to H.Q. Eighth Army.
    Rear Group A.A. responsible for A.A. defence of V.P’s L.G.75 & 76 (area 610333), Desert R.H. (594332), No.2 Forward Base (575325) and Sidi Barrani.
    Troops available, R.H.Qs 25 and 27 L.A.A. Regt., 200, 276, 281 and 291 H.A.A. Batteries, 81, 107, 113 L.A.A. Batteries. 1 Tp. 149 L.A.A. Battery, 1 Tp. 274 L.A.A. Battery, 25, 27 and 88 Sig. Sections, 25, 27 and 88 R.A.O.C. W/Shops.
    283 Battery to move forward under command 68th Hy. A.A. Regt. and 12 A.A. Bde.

    18 November 1941
    Beginning of offensive operations by Eighth Army. 283 Battery departs 0800 hours, 88th R.A.O.C. W/Shops joins 25 L.A.A. R.H.Q. in area Hatyet Kabash. L.G. 75.

    I've got the war diary for 283 Bty, but only for Nov 41 and for 68 HAA Regt (for the whole of 1941) and the latter shows that 283 Bty moved forward with 68 HAA Regt to Gazala but seems to have been left there when 68 HAA Regt moved forward on 22 December 1941 - sorry, at that point they disappear from the records that I have.

    Looking at the range of dates at which his death is regarded as possible (i.e. 1 Feb - 20 May 42) I would assume that he was seen to be captured on 1 Feb 42 but that no further record of him could be found.

    My recommendation would be to look at the war diary for 283 Bty for 1942 to see what further information there is in there. (WO169/4858)

    There are several forum members on WW2Talk who provide war diary copying services very efficiently and at a much better rate than if you ask for a copy from the National Archives.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  12. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce


    Welcome to the forum Paul.

    This is what the service records from the MOD usually include; these are my father's records. They are worth the 30 quid. Make sure when you apply to ask for the FULL records. Click here:
    Ernest Illingworth, Army Records | WW2Talk

    Lesley
     
  13. Paul Smith

    Paul Smith New Member

    Tom and Lesley,

    Fantastic. thank you for your assistance, both of you. I'm just starting out on the journey and there is certainly a lot of stuff out there!

    Paul
     
  14. Peter Chitty

    Peter Chitty Member

    Hello all, I've just joined today as I have just started researching my grandparents ww2 movements.
    Does anyone have any references to a
    Clifford Sidney Kosh/Clifford Thomas Kennedy (deedpoll)
    Gunner 1490901 served with 282 Battery, 88th Heavy Ack Ack Artillery Regiment.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated
     
  15. Peter Chitty

    Peter Chitty Member

  16. Paul Smith

    Paul Smith New Member

    Lesley,

    Forms are in the post for the service records. It appears that he disappeared presumed lost at sea as a prisoner of war of the Italians, I have the original postcard he was given by the italians to tell his family he was a POW. It looks like he was sunk on either the Tembien or Ariosta judging by the timescales, but i think I will look at the regimental diaries if I get enough details from his war records.

    You guys especially Tom have been great on here and if I get any thing further I certainly be back to share it. especially the war diaries of the 88 from 1942.

    Thanks again

    Paul
     
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  17. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Peter.

    88 HAA Regt RA unusually supported 10 Infantry Brigade for a week in May 44 for the Fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino. 10 Infantry Brigade were part of 4 Infantry Division who were themselves part of XIII British Corps.

    XIII British Corps had the task of crossing the River Gari/Rapido below Monte Cassino and driving up the Liri Valley towards Rome. 88 HAA Regt RA, operating in the ground support role rather than anti-aircraft role, supported 10 Infantry Brigade's crossing.

    It was in the 10 Infantry Brigade sector that the Royal Engineers got the first permanent tank carrying bridge in after 24 hours of heroics. This unlocked the German position after five months of brutality and the rest is history. This is commemorated by the Royal Engineers commissioning Terence Cuneo to paint 'Crossing the Rapido' in oils. Some of the fire shown in the background would have been from the 3.7" guns of 88 HAA Regt RA.

    2019 is the 75th Anniversary of this epic event.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  18. Peter Chitty

    Peter Chitty Member

    Thank you so much for this.

    I am currently applying for his records but I have been told he "drove" Tanks.
     
  19. Peter Chitty

    Peter Chitty Member

    This one?
     

    Attached Files:

  20. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Peter.

    No that is a 25 pounder firing.

    This one. upload_2018-10-19_14-16-47.png
     
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