13th Anti Tank Regiment R.A

I have this unit as arriving in North Africa in June 1942?

If this is correct, was it armed with 2 Pdrs or 6 pdrs at the time?

Thanks,
David.

 

Here is a quote from Ball of Fire, the divisional history of the 5th Indian Division. The 13th was the A-T Regt of the division at this time.

"Russell's battalions, the 3/10th Baluch and 4/6th Rajputana Rifles, gained the larger part of their objective, Point 64. The Brigade overran two battalions of the Italian Brescia Division, and took nearly a thousand prisoners. When, next morning, Rommel put in a counter-attack, this was dispersed by our field artillery and by the 6-pounder anti-tank guns that had just arrived. Thereafter, many derelict enemy tanks and lorries lay strewn across this quarter of the Desert."

 

David.

Thank you again.
Inadvertently you have posed more questions than you have answered however.
Let me explain....
3/10 Baluch was, to my knowledge in the 5th Brigade of the 4th Indian Division. Except for periods of June, july & August 1942 when it was indeed seconded to the 5th Division.
However, 4/6 Raj was, again to my knowledge not present in N. Africa until 1943.
I could of course be wrong on both counts!
Can you put a date on that quote?

David W

 

Thanks Owen!

 

Here are some more details on the 13th Anti-Tank Regiment to put the time into perspective.

The 13th Anti-Tank Regiment was sent to India with the 2nd Infantry Division on 15 April 1942 and arrived there on 7 June 1942. It left the division on 2 July and embarked at Bombay on 5 July 1942 for Egypt. It came under command of 5th Indian Infantry Division in Egypt from GHQ MEF on 11 August 1942. It left Egypt for Habbaniya, Iraq with the division and arrived on 12 October 1942. It left the division on 26 April 1943 and passed under command of 9th Army. It left Habbaniya for Syria on 29 April and moved to Quossair, Syria on 4 May, where it came under 7th Army Group Royal Artillery.

 

Thanks David.

Any idea if the guns were porteed at that time?

 

where was the 13th anti tank in 1941?
training area?

 

Here is what I have on 13th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA:

13th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
Station: Lille Barracks, Aldershot
Batteries: 2nd (Minden), 8th (Strange’s Company), 44th, 82nd

The regiment served as the anti-tank regiment of 2nd Infantry Division from the outbreak of war until 2 July 1942. It left the United Kingdom on 20 September 1939 and moved to France. On 27 May, it was engaged against the tanks of 3rd, 4th and 7th Panzer Divisions on the La Bassée front. It left France and Belgium on 31 May 1940 and returned to England. 2nd Battery left the regiment on 28 July 1941 and was replaced by 100th A-T Battery at Holme on Spalding Moor, Yorkshire. 44th Battery left on 23 September 1941 and rejoined on 15 October 1941. 106th Battery joined from cadre at Holme on 1 October 1941 but left almost at once on 12 October.
The regiment was sent to India with the division on 15 April 1942 and arrived there on 7 June 1942. It left the division on 2 July and embarked at Bombay on 5 July 1942 for Egypt. It came under command of 5th Indian Infantry Division in Egypt from GHQ MEF on 11 August 1942. It left Egypt for Habbaniya, Iraq with the division and arrived on 12 October 1942. It left the division on 26 April 1943 and passed under command of 9th Army. It left Habbaniya for Syria on 29 April and moved to Quossair, Syria on 4 May, where it came under 7th Army Group Royal Artillery.
On 21 July 1943 the regiment passed under command of 10th Indian Infantry Division in Palestine. It remained with the division until 20 August 1945, when it passed to 2nd Army Group RA. 82nd Battery left on 15 September 1944 and returned on 26 June 1945. On 1 March 1945 100th Battery was broken up and 314th Battery replaced it. The regiment arrived in Quassasin, Eqypt on 17 March 1944 and sailed for Italy on 23 March. It arrived at Taranto on 28 March and served with the division until 20 August 1945 in Italy, when it joined 2nd AGRA.

 

I've just received my father's WW2 service record. He was with the 13th anti tank from embarkation to India 11/4/42 and the dates identified by dryan 67 tally within a couple of days for the rest of his service. As further evidence my father dated some photographs taken during his service with 44/13 most include him Sgt Newton, and in case of interest they are
Baghdad Nov 1942, Battery football team Iraq Feb 43, Jerusalem Nov 43, Christmas Day lunch 43...Middle East, Fighill Italy 6/8/44, G troop Subbiano 16/9/44, Riva football match 6/1/46. Not sure about the accuracy of the first 2 Italian locations in the sense of spelling as I can't fully track them on a map with certainty
When he joined up he was with the 44th ATk and located at Holme from at least 11/1//42 he was at South Littleton (44th Battery photo)

 

Hi maggiepulle, I have just read your post concerning your father. I am searching for information/pictures about my grandad who also served in the 13th anti tank regiment. If the photos you have are group photos, I would very much like to see them. Are they available anywhere for public viewing?

 

New to this but my father served in the 8th battery of the 13th anti tank regiment. But by the time he was in Italy he was part of the 73rd medium regiment and was shot somewhere near Rimini as he was hospitalised there. As he was hospitalised in El Ballah 15.8.42 and Sidon 2.7.43 would seem he was still in 13th anti tank then. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you