102 A/T Reg The Northumberland Hussars

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by DavidW, Dec 24, 2012.

  1. Dave-Lawrence

    Dave-Lawrence New Member

    Thank you both for your advice. I have some of dads records and you are correct about Sicily. They also show he went to Raiding Support Regt. Would this be with his Regt or as a posting away from it. Info is a bit sketch about them
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Raiding Support Regiment was a unit in it's own right. I've posted a fair bit of stuff on them IIRC on here. Use the forum Search Engine to have a look. I'm not at home so I can't check but I think they were equipped with 25 pounders and had a similar Orbat to a Field Regiment.
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    *
    There is no mention of your father in the regimental history. That said, there was a Gunner W Lawrence, also 288 Bty, killed in action on 3 July 1942. Any relation?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    Is there any mention of Sgt John Robinson who was captured on Crete

    Thanks

    Alistair
     
  5. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    A Sergeant J Robinson is listed in the Regimental History as a POW, captured 2-6-1941 on Crete.
     
    AB64 likes this.
  6. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Thanks for that, at least its firmed up the date of capture for me.

    Cheers

    Alistair
     
  7. Dave-Lawrence

    Dave-Lawrence New Member

    Thanks to you both no wrong guy dad came home & died in the 80's
     
  8. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    *
    Hello Dave,

    I assumed that it wasn't your dad, rather I was asking if Gunner W Lawrence was another relative!?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  9. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Has anyone seen any other details of this incident recorded in the war diary of 102 A Tk Regt in September 1944? (Source: WO171/929):


    3 September 1944
    2230
    Approaching ANNOCULIN 599251. At cross roads 599252 the M.14, Office 3-tonner and Officers Mess 15-cwt go straight on instead of turning right. They run into enemy position which they are holding covering the bridge at DON 590277. The M.14 is hit by 88 mm and the two following vehicles riddled by small arms fire. A good deal of the Div HQ Column is halted on the road ANNOCULIN – ALLENES while the recce parties who had been called forward from the head of the coln at very short notice, try to get their vehicles dispersed. At 0030 hrs we are all in less the three trucks mentioned above. While we are wondering what could have happened Lieut. MARRIOTT met Gnr. GIDDINGS his batman who had been on the M.14 and who had escaped and found his way back.
    At 0145 hrs a party of six carriers from Cheshires was laid on to go back to cross roads at 599252 and to endeavour to get down DON road to our vehicles. A Tp of 6-prs from 107 Bty went in sp. This party was unable to get to our vehicles and took up positions in the village in order to prevent the enemy coming up from DON.


    4 September 1944
    107 Bty. Lt. V.G. WHITE (304281) killed in action while recceing positions in area DON 5927 in an endeavour to find gun positions to sp Cheshire carriers trying to get forward to our three burnt-out vehicles.
    […]
    At about 0600 hrs Lt. MARRIOTT went to cross-roads at 599252 to contact Tp of 107 Bty and Cheshire carriers. He went on a recce down the road towards DON and nearly reached our vehicles at 590269. He was unable to get right to them unobserved, however, and was forced to return.


    5 September 1944
    It is now definitely established that the following casualties occurred at DON on the night 3/4 Sep when three of our trucks took the wrong road:-
    Killed:
    327099 W/Sgt HUMBLE F. )
    557475 W/Bdr COLDWELL J. ) All buried in cemetery of village
    1077045 W/Bdr McCARTER J.L. ) of DON. France & Belgium 1/50,000
    4868774 Gnr. BOOTH D. ) Sheet 63 M.R. 590274.
    1154052 Gnr. LOCK, H. )
    324619 Pte JOHNSTON D. (ACC) )
    Wounded:
    912067 W/Sgt (AC) FIRTH G.S.
    327171 L/Bdr COX J.
    1528098 Gnr. DUNN A.H.
    1135971 Dvr/Op WAINWRIGHT J.K.

    An attack was put in on the position by 6 D.L.I. and by 1130 hrs they had cleared the village of DON.
    Sgt FIRTH who had been wounded on night 3/4 Sep had been hidden in a French house until the arrival of DLI this morning when he was produced and evacuated.
    The three vehicles and trailer were completely burnt out.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  10. I am trying to unravel the movement of my uncle Joe Webster 75th Highland heavy Royal Artillery supporting 51st Highland Division. He was injured in the eventual evacuation from Cherbourg in 1940 and could not return to his regiment. On recovery to active service he was to join the Northumberland Hussars and saw action Africa, Sicily and Italy before returning to uk (102nd anti tank Regiment) He was a driver and drove Portees, Sherman, Valentine and M10 anti tank vehicles. We have a photograph of him with the M10 in France 1944. We are struggling to collate the D Day movements, we know from a letter he was in action around Bayeux, Tilly but we are trying to pin down which armour group he was with. He also mentioned that they tried to get to Arnhem but ran out of fuel. Can you put some of the fat on the bone please regards divisions, tank TAC and movements. Or any reference to him. I am honest enough to admit to sometimes being confused with so much conflicting information on line. Any help would be appreciated. Ian
     
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  11. The lads taking a break behind the M10. Tired looking bunch, Joe Webster is nearest sat in front left
     

    Attached Files:

    Chris C likes this.
  12. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    The 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA, were divisional troops of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, which was the assault Division on Gold Beach on D-Day.

    Note that your uncle’s and his companions’ arm patches (photo) are exactly like my avatar, which is the arm patch of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The ‘TT’ designates the Tyne, the Tees and sideways, an ‘H’ for the Humber, which was the Division’s normal recruitment area.

    There is mention of Gunner J Webster being wounded in the grim action at Hottot Ridge and Hottot between the 18 & 20 June 1944, in the regimental history: 'History Of The Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949' (Joan Bright), Page 246. In Appendix I it lists his wounding date as the 19 June 1944.

    If this is your uncle, he was at this time with ‘C’ Battery.

    ‘C’ Bty was usually attached to the 231st Infantry Brigade [1st Bn Hampshire Regiment, 1 Bn Dorsteshire Regiment, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment]. This is how it began D-Day but once it had achieved its initial objectives (at around 4 pm) the Bty, less Lt. Packham’s troop, was moved from Ryes to support the 151st Infantry Brigade [6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry] in the area north of Somervieu. Lt. Packham’s troop [3rd troop] was detached and moved with the 56th Infantry Brigade [2nd Bn South Wales Borderers, 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regiment, 2nd Bn Essex Regiment] towards Bayeaux.

    At 2 am on 8 June 1944, all of ‘C’ Bty was relieved and moved to St Leger to join 8th Armoured Brigade [4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, 24th Lancers, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry] with the ultimate objective of helping to capture Tilly-sur-Suelles and Villers Bocage. They assembled in the area of Martragny.

    All of the mentioned units were part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2020
    Buteman likes this.
  13. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I have a copy of the regimental war diary, at least the daily records, for 1944 and 45. (The war diary often also has copies of battle orders, movement orders, and personnel returns, the latter sadly not usually naming anyone but officers.) I would be happy to share them if you would like.

    Cheers
     
  14. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Can anyone confirm the Medical Officers was named Dallas in 1944-5? also looking for his number
     
  15. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    The regimental history: 'History Of The Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949' (Joan Bright), Page 251, has Capt. Young Thompson, the MO, leaving and being posted to the 1st Bn Hampshire Regiment (also 50 Div) on the 26 July 1944 and being replaced by Capt. H Dallas, RAMC, who joined from the 48th Field Dressing Station. He was still a Noodle on 10 May 1945 (and likely thereafter).
     
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  16. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Thanks for that, I picked up a folder full of photos (I have shared a few on here in the past) which relate to the 102nd and there were a couple of odds and ends that gave the impression the original owner was named Dallas and was an RAMC officer with them

    Chris C can you check the War Diary officer returns and see if they give a number for him please?
     
  17. From his letter he wrote there is no mention of an injury and we know he was a driver.
    He does refer to Bayeux and Tilly. He says he was in the first wave Gold Beach. He also says, “at Villers Bocage” we got a bit of a hiding from Gerry “ I was lucky” he then goes on to refer to involvement in the Falais Gap and “swan” drive, through France, Belgium, onto Eindhoven and Nijmegen saying they within 2 1/4 miles of Arnhem but couldn’t move, literally out of fuel.Eventually they were turned around and they were heavily involved in the barrage (Goch Cleye) and the last battle of OesDen Uesden? His writing is sometimes difficult to read he refers after this passage to heavy Forrest and young brainwashed kids! Hand held rockets.
    There is a lot prior to D Day in Africa, Sicily and primsole bridge and Italy before shipping back to prepare for the 2 nd front.
    Anything to unravel this would and is appreciated. I have so much respect for my father in Burma, my grandfather who was in both wars and his son my uncle Joe.
     
  18. Chris that would be so generous. Thank you do you want my email address or is it available already?
     
  19. Thank you again in advance Ian
     
    Chris C likes this.
  20. if it helps his army no. was TA683496B
     

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