76th HAA Regt RA, (236, 237, and 349 Batteries)

Hi All,

My Grandad GNR Clifford G Meek was part of 237/76, 2 section, C troop.

Looking to build up my knowledge of his actions, I have a list of locations and a map that he marked up showing his locations from Sicily in 1943 through Italy in 1943-1945 and onwards after the end of the war.

Thanks!

 

Gunner Meek would have sailed to North Africa in convoy KMF-04

See: Arnold Hague convoy database - KMF convoys

To get an idea of conditions and the dangers the troops faced during the trip, take a look at: Sergeant ACK-ACK: Operation Torch convoys

 

You can see from the map that 76 HAA Regt RA started life in Italy supporting Eighth Army - mostly protecting supply bases and the massive airfield at Foggia before, in Apr 44 being switched to support US Fifth Army. Here, they protected supply bases all the way up the west coast and then into the Northern Apennines which is where US Fifth Army went.

Regards

Frank

 

Before Foggia they were based at Bari, where the infamous raid by the Luftwaffe caused a leak of mustard gas. This is covered in a lot of detail in the book 'Ever your own, Johnnie, Sicily and Italy, 1943-45'

 

This was my grandfather who never spoke about his time in North Africa, he went missing for 2 years

 

My Grandfather was also in 237 battery and last year I went to the National Archives to view the War Diaries for 237/76 for 1944 and 1945 (Couldn't find 1943 unfortunately). I've been doing research into other things but at some point I will go through all the copies and get the details of exactly where the battery was. Alternatively, if you send me a DM I can probably give you a Dropbox link so you can see them yourself.

 

I've found another photo of members of 237 relaxing in what I guess is Italy. The names my grandfather wrote on the back are:
Charlie Summers
Joe Walton - Tom Conner - Bill Stanley
Tommy Birch - Reg Hibbard - Percy Ashton - Syd Core

 

Dear HBStan.
This response is somewhat belated as I have not logged-on for some time. I have read with great interest you posts and seen the great photos. My father was the Bill Maule referred to in your grandfathers notes. He was in 237/76th as a BSM. I also recognise the name of Du Kamp who was with my father, so it seems that they all probably knew each other. I would be interested to know if you have managed to read any more of you grandfathers notes. Very best wishes
Andy Maule

 

Hi Andy,
Good to hear from you. Yes, I've since seen that my grandfather, Bill Stanley, mentions your father a few times. I'll dig out his memoirs and send you the stories separately. I also realised that my grandfather is in the Bizerta photo that you uploaded - back row, second from left.
Best wishes,
Oliver

 

Hi Oliver,
Thank you for the very swift response.
Well, how amazing, I am so pleased that you have recognised you grandfather, my father is in the middle front row. It is excellent to get a few more bits of information about them.
Sadly my father never kept a diary and my knowledge of his war-time experience is limited to the few notes written on the back of the photos we have. So anything you can let me know would be of immense interest.
Very best wishes
Andy

 

Hi Andy,
I've sent you a personal message with exerts of my grandfather's memoirs that mention your father, which I hope are of interest.
Oliver

 

Royal Artillery 201st Military Mission to Petawawa, Ontario; 1940-1941.
I am doing research on the 201st Military Mission to Petawawa, Ontario, Canada. This was a UK Royal Artillery mission by about 53 members of assorted UK Royal Artillery Regiments representing both Heavy and Light Anti-Aircraft Units (including 11th LAA, 76th HAA and 85th HHA regiments). They sailed from the UK on the Duchess of Richmond to Montreal in November 1940 and eventually sailed back to the UK in March 1941.
During the few months they were away the mission did gunnery demonstrations in both Canada (at Petawawa) and the USA (Fort Monroe, Virginia and the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, (Maryland). As the US was not in the war at this time the gunners dressed in civilian clothes while in the USA.
I have a numbers of photos of the mission for those interested. My father (William Maule) was in the party from the 76th HAA who made up part of the Heavy Artillery contingent, who demonstrated and fired 3.7" AA guns.
Other contingents from Light AA regiments (e.g. the 11th Light AA Regt, The 'Rough Riders') demonstrated and fired Bofors guns.
I would be interested to hear from any forum members who are aware of this mission, or anyone who would like to know more.
Andy Maule

 

My grandfather, Lieut. Alec “Sam” Hardie was in 349 Battery of the 76th HAA. I have quite a lot of photos, maps, a copy of the Daily Round plus other newspapers, his miniature medals (think my cousin has the originals) pay book, postcards and other Italian memorabilia. I’m new to all this and want to piece together his war story. My mother still alive tells me he was in the TA before the war, his paybook says he enlisted 6/12/1938. He was mustered on 01/03/1940. Was he then in 212 Battery? She tells me he trained in the Outer Hebrides (I have a map) and then went to North Africa by then in 349 Battery?. There is a photo of him in “D”Troop, F Battery, Watson Unit, Course serial 22, 133 OCT Group Shrivenham dated July 1941. His Military ID document was dated 22nd Dec 1942. I have maps of Syracuse, Sicily marked with enemy positions. He collected postcards and guides of various cities including Bougie, Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa, Caserta, Mantova, Padova, Firenze, Bari, Pompeii, Rome, Venice, Modica and San Mariona. There is well written report of him leading Special Mission to set up a forward OP crossing over Punta Bianca and having a look at the damage caused by shelling of Spezia. Definitely in 349 Battery There is also a postcard home from Venice saying is guarding POWs after the ceasefire. Much of the above tallies with what else is written in this thread but I would like to add more detail of the what 349 did in North Africa, when they came across to Sicily and then the main land and the route they took north. Is the regimental war diary the best place to find this and how do you access it? I have 2 copies of the Daily Round which cover Dec 44 to April 45.

 

Fantastic photos and stories - thanks for sharing. Funnily enough I'm off on holiday to La Spezia tomorrow so looking forward to going to some of the places my grandfather went with 237 battery. As for further researching, the best place is the National Archives, which I've done for the 237. You can search their collection online, which is a bit hit or miss. Sometimes using 'HAA' in the search can work, other times 'heavy anti aircraft'. That's just one example! You'd then need to visit the National Archives in Kew, which I'd highly recommend as seeing the original documents is incredible and you never know what you'll find. You can get them to photocopy it but it costs a fortune. The National Archives

 

Dear Richard

Thank you for posting all that great information about your grandfather.
My father was in 237 battery 76th HAA, so in similar places at the same time.

I have transcribed a diary written by Gunner Leonard Stevenson, 'E' Troop 349 battery 76th HAA, the original of which is held in the Imperial War Museum.

As it was originally hand written there are a few words I was not sure about but it should give you a really good idea of where there were during the battles in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

Best wishes

Andy

 

Hi Stan Thanks very much for the reply, I'll follow that up with the National Archives.

 

Hi Andy, wow that's brilliant. What document, thank you so much. The entry on page 40 April, 22nd 1945 corresponds with my grandfather's special mission where he brought back 3 POWs one of which was a Pole. Richard

 

I was interested to read your connection with 349 Battery. This battery was recruited in Bristol, and initially trained at Arborfield Garrison and then Weybourne Gunnery range by 205 AA Training Regt. the battery transferring to 76th HAA on completion of training, replacing 238 Battery that had been transferred elsewhere. John Kemp, who subsequently became RSM for 76th HAA Regt, and had originally enlisted in the TA in 1938 (158 Battery of 53 Brigade), was one of the NCOs responsible for its training, having been transferred from 158 to 282 Battery of 88 HAA Regt and thence to 205 HAA Training Regt. He remained with the Battery when it was transferred back to 76th HAA Regt on completion of training. Detail of the battery's subsequent activities as related by John Kemp in Britain as transcribed letters are contained in the book 'Ever Your Own, Johnnie, Britain 1938-42',(ISBN 978-1-326-59785-6) together with details of the battery's gun site positions and some reference sources. Two subsequent books about Africa, and then Italy and Sicily are also available, but are more generally concentrated on 76th HAA than 349 battery.
It would be interesting to know at what date your grandfather transferred to the battery. One National Archive diary that might be of interest is W.O.169/9944 349 HAA Bty - 1July - 31 Dec 43, detailing their time in Africa. Hope this helps!

 

My father was also in 'C' Troop, 237 Battery 76th Regt HAA, he was William Maule. I noticed the dates and places in the diary page that you posted, it relates to places in a diary written by RSM MUrley (attached). It is fairly brief but lists those places the Battery were posted to and the dates.
I have also attached a photo of my father and some gunners taken in North Africa 1943. Hopefully these are of interest.
Do you by any chance have any photos too.
Best wishes
Andy

 

Hi Andy, sorry for the delayed reply.
Please see attached for my Grandad’s photos.
Best Regards,
Paul