172 coast battery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by g0bby-1, Jan 12, 2012.

  1. g0bby-1

    g0bby-1 Junior Member

    Evening,

    I believe that there was a coastal defence battery just down the road from us at Hengistbury Head, just outside Bournemouth, during WW2. I think it was manned by 172 coastal battery, R.A.. I am trying to find out more about how big this was, how long it was there for etc. If any one could help me out, or point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Dale.
     
  2. Dids

    Dids Member

    They went to Tunisia in early 43
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Are you confusing them with 172 Fd Regt ?
     
  4. Dids

    Dids Member

    Hi Owen
    From my limited research at this point the core element of the coastal battery became the field regiment after the threat of German invasion decreased in 1942. Would this seem logical? I will dig around a little more.
     
  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    It might be worth contacting this group as their website has:
    From: UNITED KINGDOM FORTIFICATIONS CLUB DATABASE, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP

    Their website has a contact from: Contact us | The Pillbox Study Group Website.

    My recollection is that UKFC is now defunct, perhaps they will know where the data is?

    Report of the battery being action:
    From: 75 years ago - moved to Southbourne

    Although they are very likely closed, would the Visitor CEntre know, sometimes these places get intrigued by their history: The Visitor Centre

    I see one website refers to:
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    3 Defence Regiment became 172 Fd
    Regt.


    RA 1939-45 3 Defence Rgt

    British Artillery Regiments
     
  7. Dids

    Dids Member

    Hi Owen
    3rd and 5th became 172 Fd. The grey matter failing me a little during lockdown.
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen likes this.
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    What Defence Regt was 172 Coast Battery in ?
     
  9. Dids

    Dids Member

    hi Owen
    thats a road I haven't travelled, I've been dipping in and out of my grandfathers journey at present.
     
  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Very interesting comments above as some time ago I was studying 373 Bty Coastal Artillery at West Mersea. They seem to have been there before in WW1 before going to Gallipoli and turned up in West Mersea in 1940 with two 4.7 inch guns in caissons. They seem to have been closed down in 1942 appearing as a Field Regt training at Bulford, later going to Normandy. A number of men from 373 were put through OCTU and posted to other Regiments ending up in Tunisia and Italy.
    See Mersea Island Museum Images WW2. Mersea Museum A Novel Ice-Cream Parlour. Mr Dawson is to ...
    I was of the opinion that the Coastal Battery was numbered as such to confuse the enemy as part of Operation Fortitude with a large number of infantry and AA units defending the nearby airfield, it would have created a lot of signals traffic. 373 Bty was part of 10 Group Coastal Artillery commanded from Clacton. It seems from the comments above that there were more units using previous Field Regt designations. I could find no records of 373 Coastal Battery or 10 Group, being specialists you might be able to find out who they were.
     
  11. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    373 Coast Battery was part of 10 Coast Artillery Group when it was formed in Clacton, Essex in October 1940. The Group was redesignated 548 Coast Regiment in June 1941 and consisted of 330, 331, 372 & 373 Batteries. The regiment dibanded in April 1944.
    172 Coast Battery was formed in April 1941 & was part of 530 Coast Regiment. It was transferred to 554 Coast Regiment in April 1944. The regiment was disbanded in June 1945.
     
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