Info on 147th RA Regt photos requested

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for that. Should have been more specific first time around i.e. mark II is M4(A1)-based. I found this, too, in a book on armoured vehicles, and all the circumstantial evidence indicates that this obtains, though I myself have not yet found any documentation laying out the detail i.e. factory orders, accounts in the war diaries or the regimental files. Do you know of any yourself? The author has obviously see some. Cheers.


Also,

account of 147th in Priests from EYA:


"At Thetford, we had a two week pause for rest, maintenance of vehicles, & a complete replacement of the SPs. Our first lot were American made, with complete machinery & gun sights calibrated in mils instead of degrees; the two systems did not sit well together, and entailed conversion tables. So it was with relief that we got 24 new British-made 25pdr SPs, the ones we had first trained on at Rhyll."

 

Hello Phil,

One of the books wouldn't be "One Man's War - An Essex Soldier in WWII" by any chance?

Cheers
Kevin

Kevin

Indeed it would, excellent little book, well worth reading.

Phil

 

Hi Kevin, good to see you on here. 86 Field did their initial assault training with Bishops before swapping to M7 Priest and then finally Sexton for D Day so no reason why 147 didn't do likewise.

13 Shermans were probably distributed as follows:

1 x CO
3 x Bty Comd's
6 x OP's
3 x GPO's

Derek

Hello Derek,

Yes I have only recently discovered this excellent site.

Thanks for the probable Sherman distribution. I must admit I never thought of the GPO's as I believe some regiments used "de-frocked" Sextons.

Steve,

Thanks for that additional info on the Priests. As Derek has stated that some regiments trained on Bishops then onto Priests and finally Sextons. That must have been frustrating, 25 pdrs, 105mm and back to 25 pdrs.
There is a nice article on the Sexton SP Guns by David Fletcher ( Bovington Tank Museum ? ) in issue 53 of "Wheels & Tracks".

Cheers
Kevin

 

A very late update on this thread: distribution of the 13 Sherman tanks in 147 Fd Regt RA was one for the CO and one each for the TC and the GPO in each of the six troops. They were numbered (or rather, 'lettered') as follows:

Commanding Officer – Sherman Z

A Tp TC – Sherman RA
A Tp GPO – Sherman GA
B Tp TC – Sherman RB
B Tp GPO – Sherman GB
etc.

Michel

 

Gentlemen, been fascinating to read your responses. I wanted to share this picture I just received of my Grandad in the Sexton Brentwood Sexton. I am just starting out discovering his history. I believe he was an RAOC - REME.

Disappointed the previous links don't work
Would love to see any pics of this tank and find out more information on it?
S233752 BRENTWOOD B Troop 431 Battery

I did find another Brentwood image on google.

 

thanks for the Info Kevin - i just got this pic of my Grandad

 

Very keen to chat to you about 147. The authorised new history of the EY is about 9 months from completion.




QUOTE="Sherbet, post: 365969, member: 17568"]It's perhaps better that you PM me the e-mail address, rather than have it posted on the forum. I'll also included the sherman, and anything else I have.

As to the questions these photos throw up, well, they could possibly drive me to distraction were it not for the fact that I'll be acquiring copies of the relevant war diaries in a matter of days I don't even know whether my grandfather was a WO in a gun crew, or WO in the troop OP vehicle (possibly. the sherman he's sitting on, above); he was present in the group photo labelled "troop and signals HQ" and, anecdotally my Dad (only today) speaks of chats, where he talks about "ranging for the guns", so things conspire towards the latter, but only circumstantially so. On the flip side, he was, the rank of gunner... what I want to know is this: Can you be the rank of "gunner", whilst being a member of "troop and signals HQ"? New thread is needed, perhaps.[/QUOTE]

 

Hey! I think this may not have been used for a while, I’m not sure. But I’m looking for any info on my granddad. His name was Leslie Giddings and he played an integral part in the D-Day Landing.

Leslie Giddings served with the 147th Essex yeomanary regiment RA from October 1940 until demobilisation in 1946. Although he made no secret of the fact that he did not join the army involuntarily. He quickly settled to the life and became a very good soldier. As a no 3 (gun layer) he was unsurpassed and all the members of F1, our 25 pdr, special gun had reason to be grateful for his speed and efficiency in laying the gun and firing successfull shots whilst under fire. He was able to knock out the German 88mm gun in the blockhouse at Le hamel, shortly after landing with the early arrivals on D Day in support of the 50 th (Northumbrian) division. He was a very important part for England on D Day, he helped us land.

After a short illness ( cancer) Granddad passed peacefully away on the 24 th April 1981 aged 71 - unfortunately before I even had chance to meet him & my mum was just 15 at the time. Granddad never spoke about his time in the war, it broke his heart and we only truly know this story thanks to another soldier who fought with him.

 

Hi
Thanks for sharing that. There is more about Leslie on the EY Association site here
With the help of some wonderful corrrespondents on this site I have spent a lot of time looking at the exploits of Sexton F1 on D Day and the bravery and fantasic gunnery of Sgt Bob Palmer and his crew which of course included Leslie as the No3.
Who is the 'other soldier' you mention?
It was not an 88mm by the way despite the many reports that state it was, incl Sgt Palmer's own accounts. It was a French 75 mm wheel gun with wheels removed and fitted on to a swivel mounting - no less potent for all that. The Casemate still stands and is now a historical WW2 monument commemorating what the Essex Yeomanry achieved on D Day
Ian

 

The journey of 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Self Propelled) post VE Day 8 May 45 to disbandment 28 Jan 46

8th Armoured Brigade
Kiel Brigade Area
HQ Royal Artillery 11th Armoured Division

Hope this helps
21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

Ok so that was a really enlightening link!
I presume you have listened to Sgt Palmer's IWM interview where Les is mentioned? LINK. And Bob Palmer wrote a number of articles, a good example is the interview he did for the EY's 50th Anniversary Booklet which I can get to you if you dont have it. The booklet also contains an account of the difficulties they had landing. This is a photocopy of a photo in the booklet

Have you obtained Les' service record?
Finally what information did Peter Crookston supply you?
I have been unable to track down Andy Crookston who wrote the article that forms your moniker.
Ian