121 field/medium regiment

I have a copy of "121 Field/Medium regiment, Royal Artillery 1939 - 1946 by Sergeant R. W. Morris.

If anyone has any interest in this regiment, please let me know and I can do a lookup.

Also if anyone has any other info on this regiment between April 1939 and May 1941 please let me know, thanks.

 

Hi, in the course of genealogical research, I've discovered a first cousin four times removed who died while serving with the unit in Normandy. He was 918062 Gunner Alfred Ernest Charles Brewer, died 6 August 1944 aged 24. Any information much appreciated, although I know there probably won't be much. Unfortunately I don't know how long he was with the regiment, which is frustrating - considering ordering his 1940 marriage certificate to see if that sheds any light.

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Hi Carole, had a quick look in the official history, but there's no mention of casualties on that day. I have a number of look ups to do, - two on 121 Regiment, so will post more later. At the time 121 were in support of 43 Division near Mont Pincon.

 

Just remembered I have this in my albums. 5th from top, left column. Its from the official history and isn't a complete list by any means.


http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=384&pictureid=3336

 

Thanks for that - obviously I don't know what the content is like, so is it more likely to be them not mentioning every casualty, or could he have been wounded a day or two or more previously and died of his wounds in a field hospital etc?

 

, or could he have been wounded a day or two or more previously and died of his wounds in a field hospital etc?


Yes it could be he was wounded quite a while before and subsequently died, war diaries and official histories don't often mention other ranks, unfortunately. BTW, the history is only 120 pages, and covers frm 1939-46, so not much detail.

 

Yeah, I didn't expect much. Quick question - what date did they arrive in Normandy, I assume it was a few days before the Artillery got ashore, and not all units went straight away?

 

The ships they were in anchored offshore on the 11th, they landed on the 12th, the two batteries went into action separately on the 13th and the regiment as a whole started their arranged fire-plan on the 14th.
I'm just scanning in the pages for 1939 - 40 for another forum member and then I'll scan the pages for june-aug '44. for you, check back in a couple of days. BTW do you have Gunner Alfred Ernest Charles Brewer's service history?

 

Unfortunately not - he was a first cousin of my great-great-grandfather, and I just discovered him a couple of days ago while doing genealogical research. I'm planning to order his 1940 marriage certificate in the hope he might already have been in the army and it might shed some light on whether he was with 121 all along or if he was with another unit first... his entry on the Army Roll of Honour does say that he was with the Artillery since enlistment, though.

Thank you for your help, much appreciated

 

Here is the 121 Med Regt (5AGRA) Target sheet
for 6th Aug 44
might be of some interest, the 5AGRA Diaries do not list any casualties for the 121 on this day
Best
Rob

 

Better late than never, (got sidetracked) more to come. 121 Filed Regiment RA, 6 June 1944 to circa August 1944, from official history.





View attachment 84415

 

Reme - Many thanks for that - talking of getting sidetracked, I drifted away and into other interests and have only just come back to my world war/genealogy stuff, sorry for not thanking you earlier.

Rob - the image is no longer available, could you upload it again?

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Hi Carole
121 Medium (5AGRA) Target list
for 6th Aug,
looks like they were engaging 5 targets for 43rd Div, 1 in the morning & 4 in the evening.
I see my dad's regt 10 Medium were a bit busy on that day as well!
Best
Rob

 

Am I correct that the 121st was at Alamein? I recall it as a Yorkshire unit, partly equipped with the Bishop SP. The regiment operated in support of 9th Australian Division and 23rd Armoured Brigade.

 

Many thanks, Rob

 

121 was formed at Leeds in April 1939, yes they were at Alamein and had Bishops from July 1942.

 

How many men did a unit like this have?

 

How many men did a unit like this have?

Approx 600+ in a regt
Rob

 

Rob - Many thanks. Am used to infantry battalions of 1000, so wasn't sure!

 

Sorry to be asking more questions, I'm realising how little I really know, detail wise... I may know more than the average person my age (23) but it's really nothing compared to most of you...

Where were 121 in Italy, and when exactly did they arrive and leave? I was trying to tally up 121's casualties in October 1943 with what was going on and was struggling.

Is there a good book on the Artillery in WW2 in general? It's not an arm of the military that I've really looked at before.