Hi Everyone, This is my first post. I'm trying to find out any information about the regiment my grandad was in during Sept 42 until he was demobbed at the end of the war. Sadly he passed away last year, but before then he did manage to tell me a few tales about his life in the army, with a rough guide to where he went and how he ended up as part of the 8th Ind Div. Since then I've found out more info through the internet and IWM, but very little on the 52nd. I'd be interested in any help on this matter, but particularly anything to do with his training, which I believe was in Norfolk. One thing that does confuss me is that he said that the 52nd came back to the UK after Italy, but he got sent to Greece on his own (?) Anyone got an idea if or why this might have happened? If you need any more info, please ask. Many thanks in advance Carl
Mer07: Here is a brief summary of the service of the 52nd Field Regiment, RA: 52nd (Manchester) Field Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) HQ, 205th, 206th Btys: Manchester The regiment served under command of 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division from 3 September 1939 until 20 October 1941. It mobilized at Manchester on 1 September 1939 and was equipped with 18-pounders and 4.5” howitzers. The regiment then trained at Haltwhistle, where it was given five 25-pounders for a trail. It moved to Newbury on 22 January 1940 and then moved to France equipped with 18/25-pounders on 14 April. By 25 April, it was in position at Lomme near Lille. The advance party of the regiment left Lomme for Blandain in Belgium on 16 May and the regiment moved to Cappelle-en-Pévèle the next day. By the 18th, the RHQ was established at Auchy-lez-Orchies with 205th Battery at Coutiches and 206th Battery at Le Molinel. 205th Battery moved into an anti-tank position under 138th Brigade on 19 May along the R. Scarpe at St. Amand-les-Eaux. During the retreat the regiment was at Verhoek and then withdrew to La Paradis and then to Monts des Cats. 205th Battery was detached to 2nd Infantry Division. The regiment evacuated from Dunkirk on 30 May except for the detached 205th Battery, which was engaged to 2 June. On return to England, the regiment assembled at Darlington and later moved to Haydon Bridge to carry out training as infantry. At Hexham in August 1940, the regiment received ten US 75mm guns. It later moved to Bedale in Yorkshire and then to Lambourne and later Hamstead Park near Newbury. By then eight 4.5” howitzers were received. It served under 76th Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from 18 November 1941 until 23 August 1942. It formed 437th Battery at Yoxford by 29 March 1941. The regiment was then sent to the Middle East in August 1942 and located under Middle East Forces from October to December 1942. It arrived in Iraq from Egypt on 18 January 1943 and came under command of 8th Indian Infantry Division. It arrived in Syria on 6 May 1943, in Egypt on 15 September 1943 and embarked for overseas on 18 September 1943. It arrived in Italy with the division on 24 September 1943 and served with the division until embarking for the United Kingdom on 27 July 1945.
Carl, I have the unit war diaries for the 52nd Field regiment from June 1945 till September 1945. My Grandfather was attached to the regiment at this time. It's around 160 pages and is nearly 1gig, so too big to attach everything (i.e. field returns, message forms etc.) I have attached the June diary only for you to have a look at. Let me know if this interests you, I can do July, August and September. Otherwise (or in addition) I would de happy to discuss how I can get the lot to you. Cheers Colin
Carl, I have the unit war diaries for the 52nd Field regiment from June 1945 till September 1945. My Grandfather was attached to the regiment at this time. It's around 160 pages and is nearly 1gig, so too big to attach everything (i.e. field returns, message forms etc.) I have attached the June diary only for you to have a look at. Let me know if this interests you, I can do July, August and September. Otherwise (or in addition) I would de happy to discuss how I can get the lot to you. Cheers Colin Sorry to jump in on someone elses thread but I would be interested in the actual field returns. If you want to send me a PM or email me directly that is OK by me. Thanks for any field return detaisl you can help with. Cheers Kevin
Carl, I have the unit war diaries for the 52nd Field regiment from June 1945 till September 1945. My Grandfather was attached to the regiment at this time. It's around 160 pages and is nearly 1gig, so too big to attach everything (i.e. field returns, message forms etc.) I have attached the June diary only for you to have a look at. Let me know if this interests you, I can do July, August and September. Otherwise (or in addition) I would de happy to discuss how I can get the lot to you. Cheers Colin Hi Mr Bradbury, Yes, I would like a copy of the rest!!! How would you suggest this? My thoughts so far are burn to disc and I'd happily pay for that and p+p or e-mail the sheets in batches (I've been researching for about a year, so a few extra weeks won't go a miss). Let me know what you think or if you have another idea. Carl
There used to be a WW2 Memorial of 52 Field Regiment on the Drill hall wall at the Drill Hall at Ardwick green Barracks [now a clothing manufacturers] , 252 Field Regiment , it was moved a bit down the Road to Belle Vue street TA centre and was on the wall of the drill Hall .
Hi Guys Just had my grand fathers war service record, and I always thought he was RASC but as it turns out his regiment was 52 Fld RGT RA from his basic training 23/6/42 till 6/6/45 where it appears after LIAP and ELP he was posted to 58A/TK Rgt RA. I was wondering if Mr Bradbury still had the War diary as I'd be really interested in this. I also posted what I was led to believe were pics of my grandfather in the RASC but actually it was RA as it shows the name Lammie camp Naps at the base, so I be very muchly interested in gaining a copy of this war diary. any help greatly recieved.
Hi guys. Sorry to hijack a thread to bump it up but I have found out my grandad was in the 52 from 1941-1945 then moved to 53rd till he left the army. Can I get a copy of the war diaries via email or good drive etc. He was in Africa from 1943 Thanks Gary
Hi Colin, My father Percy Charles Morley (left of photo) was a gunner with the 52nd field regiment from 1943 to 1945. I would very keen to see or obtain a copy of the war diaries if you still have them. If this is possible could you contact me on stepehn@jgmorley01.karoo.co.uk. Thank you in anticipation.
Hi thanks but I’ve just noticed my spelling mistake in my email so will not have received it if you copied and paste it. Email is stephen@jgmorley01.karoo.co.uk Cheers
