4 ‘Ulster’ LAA Regiment, RA

Thanks for the reply bill my dad and freddie got seperated from their own battery so were both reported as missing in action i think this may of happened with some other batterys of the 3 rd reg guys ,there is a IWM photo of my dad and freddie on board a boat which was being evacated from le harve / cherburg the photo was taken on 13 june 1940

 

I was able to amend the post now.
Thank you for your help.
B

 

Thanks for the reply bill my dad and freddie got seperated from their own 10 th battery so were both reported as missing in action i found both of them listed as casualties / missing in action in army casualties records they were listed as missing around the 24 of may ? this may of also of happened with some other guys from other battery's belonging to the 3 rd ulster reg. As far as i know around that date the 10th battery were positioned at Carvin, the 11th battery were positioned at Richarderie and 12th Battery was in the Dunkirk area.There is a IWM photo of my dad and freddie on board a boat which was being evacuated from le harve / cherburg the photo was taken on 13 june 1940 After my dad got back he was sent to middle wallop a fighter airfield duing the battle of britain ,the airfield was badly bombed duing the battle of britain whilst he was there,my dad made / carved a signet ring out of a piece of perspex windscreen from a crashed german bomber that was shot down over the airfield i think somewere i may still have it .

 

This is a photo of an 11 battery football team during the Phoney War in France in 1939. My grandfather, Charlie Stewart, is second on the left in the front row beside the kneeling gunner in uniform. I have been told that the soldier sitting in front is Belgian rather than French. As I have posted before, there is a mystery with my grandfather as he and some companions from 11 bty were apparently cut off from Dunkirk and were evacuated from another part of the coast. They had to appeal in later years for the issue of the Dunkirk medal, but unfortunately I don't have any paperwork. Aftter the war my grandfather remained close freinds with Major 'Daddy' Dunne and became President of the Royal Artillery Old Comrades Association NI.

 

Great photo stuart my dad was also a gunner in 10 battery as far as i know at the time of dunkirk 11 battery were holding positions at Richarderie, its possable your grandfather,eventuall evacation may of been similer to my dads evacution my dad and his mate another gunner both from 10 battery my dads mates surname was crooks, just like your grandfather my dad and freddie his mate were also cut of from there own 10 battery 3rd ulster searchlight reg troops in late may ,the pair of them eventually ended up in le harve were they were both roped in to fight as part of the towns rear guard this rear guard was called arkforce,Arkforce were ordered to stand and fight no retreat last man last round luckly this order was resinded at the last minute and on the night of the 12 /13 of june my dad and his mate were evacuted from le harve to st nazaire, but not before the boat they were on picked up other evacucees from cherburge its possible that any of those ports may of been were your grandfather was evacuted from.The imperial war museam has a photo showing my dad with his mate freddie and some of rest of arkforce on board the boat which evacuated them from le harve, the iwm photo though was taken when the boat picked up some other troops at cherburge it possble your grandfather could of been on that boat or in the photo if he was.

 

Dermot, I would love to read your fathers memoirs. My great grandfather James Murray was a Gnr in the 3rd Ulster Searchlight Regiment RA. I located his war records from the Australian War Memorial office and travelled back to the UK to take my grandmother (his daughter) to Les Moeres Cemetery to visit his grave. Until that time, no one in his family knew where he was buried or had visited his grave. Very emotional day for my beloved Nan. Myself and my son (now a Gnr in the Australian Army) would love more history on the unit. Thank you in advance - goldfinchjustine@gmail.com #LestWeForget

 

it may not be safe to post your email address on a open forum website .i also have been trying to find out the history of the 3rd ulster reg for whist it was in France during 1939 1940 my dad was also a gunner in 3rd ulster reg he was in 10 battery, but so far other than 10 battery being positioned at Carvin France in 1940 and my dad being reported as missing in action on the 24 th of may 1940 i have not been able to find out much history at all .the only bit of history of 3rd reg i have is a photo of what i believe was the dance band for the 3rd ulster reg my dad is in the photo as he played in the dance band