Does anyone know anything concerning the exploits of the 2/13th Med' Reg' during 1941/2? I understand that there were two batteries of 155mm guns.
Howitzers, not guns, 16 in total. Received from the US I presume, modernised Schneider Mle. 1917. Present in November 1941: http://rommelsriposte.com/2011/06/15/8th-army-medium-artillery-stats-12-february-1942/ Would be interesting to know when they did get those. All the best Andreas
I'm starting to suspect there was no unit as the 2/13th Medium - the only references to it are above and another similar couple of posts. The AWM has this image - http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02729.036/ Ingleburn, NSW. 1940. Unidentified members of the 21st Medium Regiment (later the 2/13th Field Regiment) training with a 6 inch Howitzer at Ingleburn camp. (Donor J. Whitelaw) (I think the 21st should read 2/1st) As per this NAA file header - Routine Orders Part 2 - 2/13 Army Field Regiment - 2/1 Medium Regiment
Andreas. Yes sorry, howitzers would be the correct designation. They were indeed the 1917 model Schneider. I don't know how they were modernised though. I too have them present at November '41, but have no idea when the unit or the guns arrived. DaveB. The designation 2/13 medium Regiment R.A.A certainly doesn't prompt Mr Google into any responses, so you may be right. I would be interested to hear what other have to say. Thank you both.
Not much love for the unit either way on google - if I'm right, then this might explain the lack of mentions in the official history of the AIF http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PR03435/ Description Collection relating to service of NX 22943 Gunner Joseph Hansor, 2/1 Medium Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, Middle East, Northern Territory and Queensland, 1939-2002. Collection includes souvenirs of Hansor's voyage to the Middle East on the "Queen Elizabeth" and return to Australia on the SS Serooskerk; personal service documents (motor vehicle driving license); original correspondence and a memoir published in issues of the journal of the 2/1 Medium Artillery Association. Summary Hansor was a member of the Artillery from 1939-1945. The unit to which he was attached, 2/1 Medium Regiment, later the 2/13 Artillery Field Regiment, was transferred to the Middle East in 1941, but did not see active service overseas, being returned to the Brisbane Line in 1942. The memoirs mention transport and disposition of artillery equipment and the service of units other than the 2/13 Field Regiment.
Possible. Wouldn't be the first time there was an 8 Army error in unit designation, I guess. The post above is from an 8 Army CRA document though, so at least they believed it existed. All the best Andreas
Modernisation was I believe just the replacement of wooden wheels with road tyres to enable them to be pulled by trucks instead of horses. All the best Andreas
Here is the history of the 2/1st Medium Regiment (aka 2/13th Field Regiment): 2/1st Medium Regiment, RAA Raised May 1940 at Cowra Camp, New South Wales Batteries It was converted to 2/13th Field Regiment in October 1940. In October 1941 in Syria, the regiment was reformed as 2/1st Medium Regiment from 2/13th Field Regiment. It was then equipped with sixteen 155-mm howitzers (US manufactured French derivation). It first fired its medium guns at a practice range in Palestine in December 1941. It left for Australia in March 1942 and arrived in May. In July 1943, the regiment reformed as 2/13th Composite AA Regiment. It again converted back to 2/1st Medium Regiment in December 1944 and formed part of 11th Infantry Division at Atherton, Queensland until that HQ left for New Britain in June 1945. It ended the war in North Queensland 2/13th Field Regiment, RAA Raised October 1940 in New South Wales Batteries 25th, 26th Field Batteries (63rd Field Battery was added in September 1941) The regiment was raised from 2/1st Medium Regiment. It arrived at Darwin on 10 April 1941 as part of 23rd Infantry Brigade and was established at Darwin by 29 April. In January 1941, it formed two special troops for service on Nauru and Ocean Islands called respectively Wren Force and Heron Force. These were sent there in early February 1941 and remained there until relieved in August by two more troops, which were evacuated in late February 1942. The regiment was replaced by 2/14th Field Regiment in July 1941 at Darwin and moved to Ingleburn, New South Wales. It arrived in the Middle East in September 1941 and was reformed as 2/1st Medium Regiment in October 1941.
Thanks David. Looks like it was in Syria or Palestine at the time of Operation Crusader, and not Egypt after all. So it probably never fired it's guns in anger in North Africa.
Hello David, Definitely no 63 Fd Bty allotted to 2/13 Army Fd Regt in September 1941. HQ AIF(ME) G1910 of 10 Sep 41 listing existing bty numbers and numbers allotted to new btys to be raised under the new organization shows 2/13 A Fd Regt under Corps (Med) and restricts its btys to 25 and 26 [NAA: MP729/7; 37/421/382, Reorganization of Field Artillery Regiments - Middle East]. 2/13 Aust A Fd Regt disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, on 30 Sep 41, moving to Hill 69, Palestine, where it was redesignated 2/1 Aust Med Regt on 1 Oct 41. It moved to Biet Jirga, Palestine on 3 Nov 41. 2/13 A Fd Regt Details (pers ex WREN and HERON Forces) were taken on strength 2/1 Med Regt on 25 Nov 41. The replacements for the two elements known as WREN and HERON Forces were specially recruited from AIF personnel at the Showgrounds, Sydney NSW, and were unrelated to 2/13 A Fd Regt. They were primarily absorbed into 19 and 20 Aust Fd Regts in March 1942. Cheers, Keith
Keith, Thanks for the additional information on the 2/13th Field Regiment (aka 2/1st Medium Regiment). David
View attachment joes record.pdf Hello everyone. I have come across WW2TALK whilst looking for records of the 2/1 medium regt. in which my grandfather Captain Joseph James Raphael Punch served and have joined your informative forum. I realise this is an old topic and would like to add the some info. that I have, it is the service record of my grandfather from 11-11-40 to 19-3-42, @ it shows the change over dates approx, as dryan67 has submitted in his reply to DavidW. Regards James.
James, Thanks for the additional piece of information. There was usually a difference between the authorized date and the actual date when it came to changes in a unit. David
