140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by othomas, May 29, 2010.

  1. othomas

    othomas Junior Member

    Hi, my great uncle died in tunisia in 1943 and not much is known about him apart from the fact he was part of the 140th field regiment. i would appreciate it if anybody could give me any details on his regiment(what they did during the war etc)

    Many thanks

    a few more details

    name-arthur barker
    royal artillery, 140th field reg.
    died-7/5/1943


    cheers
     
  2. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Hi Othomas

    140 (London) Fd Regt TA - Became 140th Medium Regt RA- Aug 1943
    Of 92 Fd Regt
    France 1940 - 1 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt)
    UK 1940-2 - S Comd (Army Fd Regt)
    Tunisia 192-43 - 5 & 9 Corps, 2 AGRA & French Div
    Salerno 9/43


    Orbat 1st Army
    5th Corps
    Royal Artillery
    23rd ,75th, 102nd ,140th 166th, 183rd Field Regiments
    4th ,5th 58th 74th Medium Regiments
    5th ,8th Survey Regiments
    87th 93rd Anti-Tank Regiment
    54th, 56th Heavy Regiments
    58th ,80th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments
    11th ,17th 45th 105th ,117th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments

    See here
    RA 1939-45 140 Fld Rgt

    A bit from DD Bty RHA history.
    19th April, 1943. On to area El Aronsaa while reconnaissance of our new action positions went on (J6307). We were to sandwich in alongside the and R.H.A. below the Bjebel Rihane, north of Bou Arada, where the 140th Field Regiment were already in action eastward towards Pont du Fahs.

    Rob
     
  3. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    140 Fld Rgt RA consisted of 366 & 367 Batteries and went to France in March 1940 landing at Le Havre on the 6th. They were equipped with 18 pdrs. It was employed as an Army Field Regiment. That is, it was not attached to a Division as most Fld Rgts but controlled at GHQ and alloted to whichever formation required extra firepower at any time.

    In May it was in action at Wannehain on the Escaut under 42 Div where it suffered several casualties and lost 3 guns of 366 Bty to shell fire.

    The regiment fought its last battle in France at Cassel grouped with 5 RHA. On 27 May they were in the surrounded hilltop village but still doing great execution. By 1800 hrs enemy tanks closed in for the kill but 5 were destroyed before the remainder forced their way into the village. Enemy infantry fought their way into the troop command posts and destroyed the radios but were driven out again by the gunners. They were finally in a position of all round defence with most of the infantry gone. The CO ordered the regiment to hold until last light and then to destroy the remaining equipment before escaping individually.

    Shortly before destroying the remaining guns, one gun was taken to engage some mortars over open sights and during this action 2 more men were killed. When darkness fell the guns were destroyed and the escape bid made. By the 30th May almost half of them had been killed or captured but somehow 14 officers and 287 men (out of some 700) made it back to England to reform the regiment.
     
  4. bross

    bross Junior Member

    140 Fld Rgt RA consisted of 366 & 367 Batteries and went to France in March 1940 landing at Le Havre on the 6th. They were equipped with 18 pdrs. It was employed as an Army Field Regiment. That is, it was not attached to a Division as most Fld Rgts but controlled at GHQ and alloted to whichever formation required extra firepower at any time.

    In May it was in action at Wannehain on the Escaut under 42 Div where it suffered several casualties and lost 3 guns of 366 Bty to shell fire.

    The regiment fought its last battle in France at Cassel grouped with 5 RHA. On 27 May they were in the surrounded hilltop village but still doing great execution. By 1800 hrs enemy tanks closed in for the kill but 5 were destroyed before the remainder forced their way into the village. Enemy infantry fought their way into the troop command posts and destroyed the radios but were driven out again by the gunners. They were finally in a position of all round defence with most of the infantry gone. The CO ordered the regiment to hold until last light and then to destroy the remaining equipment before escaping individually.

    Shortly before destroying the remaining guns, one gun was taken to engage some mortars over open sights and during this action 2 more men were killed. When darkness fell the guns were destroyed and the escape bid made. By the 30th May almost half of them had been killed or captured but somehow 14 officers and 287 men (out of some 700) made it back to England to reform the regiment.
    Hi Derek
    I was v interested to read your post.
    I am researching the history of my uncle, Arthur Ross, who died some time between 30 May & 3 June 1940 with the 140 Regiment Artillery. (He was a Bombadier)
    The monthly war diaries show that he was in Conchy/Galaometz on the 30 April, but no diaries are available for May or June.
    I just wondered how you managed to get hold of the information mentioned in your blob.
    Regards
    Barry Ross
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Barry,

    Did you get the diaries yourself from the National Archives? I only ask as my database (from the NA) says its from Marhc to May 1940-They may of course be wrong as is the case sometimes.

    Andy
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    You may be interested in this file too:

    WO 167/533 367 Field Battery Royal Artillery 1940 Mar., Apr.
     
  7. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Hi Derek
    My brother obtained them - I think from Kew Archives.
    I'll go back to them but I think it took him a few weeks to obtain them - it was over 5 years ago so they might have found some more.
    The info you mentioned sounds v. detailed?
    Barry
     
  8. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Thanks Andy - getting the hang of it.
    I'll also do a general post to request info
    Barry
     
  9. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Hi
    I'm a new member, searching info about my uncle George Ross, Bombadier (898195) who died some time between 30 May and 3 June 1940 near or at Cassel.

    Wonder if anyone has any info, especially after 30 April as I'v ground to a halt there.

    I'v viewed the war diaries for March and April.

    Thanks

    Barry Ross
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Barry,

    On doing a bit more digging CWGC states he died on the 3rd June 1940

    CWGC :: Casualty Details :poppy:

    [​IMG]

    After finding where he is buried etc., from experience I think I can say the following (This is not confirmed though). He was fighting at Cassel and was either wounded there or whilst trying to escape, at some point he was captured and taken to St. Omer where the Germans were treating wounded PoW's and he died there of his wounds.
     
  11. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Thanks Andy
    I have been to see his grave and also to Cassel.

    My family has been linked to the Royal Artillery right back to 1870 in Newcastle and I am trying to find a family link back to the Black Isle in Scotland in 1830 when they moved due to the clearances.

    I'v been to Kew to try to find if a family member was in a regiment in Scotland - with no success, but intend to go to Woolwich Library.

    Thanks again

    Barry
     
  12. Martin Felstead

    Martin Felstead Junior Member

    Hi, my great uncle died in tunisia in 1943 and not much is known about him apart from the fact he was part of the 140th field regiment. i would appreciate it if anybody could give me any details on his regiment(what they did during the war etc)

    Many thanks

    a few more details

    name-arthur barker
    royal artillery, 140th field reg.
    died-7/5/1943


    cheers

    In 1943 my father was a signaller in A Troop 367 Battery 140 Field Regiment. He served with the Regiment from Oct 1939 through to it's disbanding at the end of 1944 in Italy, seeing action in France 1940, N Africa 1943 and in Italy 1944 when the regiment had been converted to a Medium Regiment with two batteries of 4.5" guns.

    On 7th May 1943 a small signals vehicle with five men was driving along a road when it was hit by a German 88mm shell. Lt Keffler was seriously wounded and died a few days later. Gnrs Van Overfelt, Barker and Saunders were killed outright and Gunner Stronnell was wounded but survived.

    In 1993, I was contacted by Alan Saunders, the son of Glyn Saunders who was another of the casualties on that day. We met and I took him to meet my dad. Alan was looking to meet anyone who had known his father, as Alan was only two when his father died. Glyn Saunders had been a Signaller with B troop of 367 Battery, so it seemed there might be a fair chance my dad had known a fellow signaller, albeit in the other Troop. Sadly my dad did not remember Glyn Saunders but did remember the incident when he and the others had been killed.

    Martin
     
  13. wigjohn

    wigjohn Member

    Hi
    I am looking for info on 366 battery when they were in Iceland.
    they left 140 field rgt. on June 3 1941 to go to Iceland. on there return in January 1941 They joined 178 field rgt.
    After they left for Iceland there is no more info in the 140fr. diary.

    Regards
    John
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ref the war diaries I can only find 366 Searchlight, LAA and Coastal batteries.
     
  15. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Martin Felstead
    Martin
    Could I enquire if your father was with the 140th at Cassel when most of the regiment were killed or captured? I am researching my uncle's history, who was killed there.
    Barry
     
  16. op-ack

    op-ack Senior Member

  17. bross

    bross Junior Member

    Derek
    Could I enquire where you got this information?
    Was it from Gnr William Martin's report.
    Just also wondered why this is not available on line as he I belive was awarded the DSO?
    Thanks Barry
     
  18. Conn Farrell

    Conn Farrell New Member

    Hi, I am researching early months of 140th Field Regiment RA (and 367 Battery in particular) for the Regiments formation in Sept/Oct 1939 to the virtual destruction of 367 Battery at Cassel over the days of 27th/28th/29th and 30th of May 1940. I am particularly concerned to find out the names of the officers NCO's and OR's of 367 Battery who fought and died in the months from the time they left England in March 1940 and May 1940. Any information would be a help.
    Conn
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  19. Chelsea Cairns

    Chelsea Cairns New Member

    Hi, I'm looking into the time my great grandad he served in the 140 Field Regiment RA. His name is James Mcbrearty, Born in Glasgow and he died on 08/03/1943 at the age of 27. I've been unlucky in my search and found this thread and thought I could maybe get some help here.

    Many thanks
     
  20. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    This will be him, presumably ? Now buried at Medjez-el-Bab having been originally at Bou Arada.

    Casualty



    McBrearty b.JPG

    Casualty
     
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