77 (DLOY) Medium Regiment/63 Medium Regiment

I just found this website when researching my father - John James Kavanagh - war documents I have. I have a handwritten note from a Major J.P. Lloyd (77 Med.Reg) dated 19 Jan. 1946. In the note/letter ( quite small and written in ink on a graph paper) it states that he joined the army in August 1940 and spent 3 years in a Coastal Defence Regiment (this would have been in Devon near Teignmouth as that is where he met my mother) and was posted to 63 Medium Regiment. It also stated that 'he came abroad with that Regiment shortly after D-Day and fought on the guns throughout the campaign in North West Europe'.

I also have a postcard (which I assume everyone got) signed by Field Marshal Montgomery from 21 Army Group thanking everyone for the help in the campaign. I have my father's 'Soldier's Service and Pay Book' and a booklet from the 'Second Army Thanksgiving Service on conclusion of the Campaign in North West Europe'. I can take photos of these items if you would be interested - plus I have a lot of photos he took at the time.

My father died in 1982 and these papers were passed on to me but I have only just got around to researching.

I live in Canada but was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire (as it was in 1943) now Merseyside.

Angela

 

Angela

Angela Welcome,

I have an interest in researching and recording the very early days of what was to become the British Army of the Rhine and Schleswig Holstein in particular

A possible explanation for the documents signed by Major Lloyd is that following the German Surrender in early May 1945 both Regiments were part of 8 AGRA (Army Group Royal Artillery) who were tasked with Occupation Duties in Kreis Neumunster, the rural area to the west of Kiel and south of the Kiel Canal. 63 Medium Regiment was based in Todenbuttel, a series of farming communities, some 10 miles south west of the town Rendsburg where 77 Medium Regiment was based. In Autumn 1945 63 Medium Regiment was disbanded and it could be your father was crossed posted to 77 to serve out his time in the Forces.

I would be interested to know if there is a venue for the Thanks Giving Serviceof

 

Dear Sir - Unfortunately there is no mention of the location of the Thanksgiving Service or the actual date - there is a list on the first page of 'The Path of the Army' giving the dates of various battles - I'm scanning it at the moment and will attach it to this email (hopefully)!!

 

Angela

Thank you

I believe there were a number of such services held throughout entire the 21 Army Group shortly after VE Day (perhaps the more senior contributors can confirm) to a set format. You have one of the souvenir documents produced for the occasion.

 

I have finished scanning the photos and will attempt to upload them here - a few at a time - unfortunately my Dad glued the photos in an old album and aprt from the words 'A' Sub, 'B'Sub, C 'Sub' and 'D' Sub written above 4 of the pictures I have no other information.

 

Angela

An interesting selection

Major Lloyd's statement looks very similar to a draft of an End of Service Testimonial normally included in the formal Discharge Documentation

 

I must say I was suprised that it was just written on what looks like a quarter page of a piece of graph paper - just torn off. Were you able to enlarge the photos at all - not sure if I would have been able to do that when scanning.

 

Hi Angela
Great pictures and story, my Dad served in 224 battery 63rd medium through the whole war, as your probably know it was a TA regiment and they were in wales on summer camp when war broke out and went straight to France.
He returned via Dunkirk and then back on dday +1. I do have some old pictures I’ll dig them out and attach.

 

This website provides much detail for those interested in 77th (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RA (TA)

77 (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

Medium Regiments Organisation - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

In the photographs above there is reference to a "Sub"

Look at the ra1939-45 link Medium Regiment Organisation
Each Battery is divided into two Troops of 4 Guns the troop is then divided into to 2 Sections of 2 guns.(not shown)
Each gun crew is a Sub Section Commanded by a sergeant who is No1 of the crew on the gun.

Insignia
Medium Regiments - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

5.5 inch Medium Gun - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

In a photo above there appears to be a previous gun possibly spiked at Dunkirk:
6 inch 26 cwt Howitzer - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

Only one contributor appears to be around still........................

Over to you DD to keep the flag waving.

Angela Rickett last seen Jan 13th 2013

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