Father in 89th Regiment Royal Artillery

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Zack100565, Dec 21, 2012.

  1. Zack100565

    Zack100565 Junior Member

    Hi, I've been trying to find out what my father got up to during the war. What I know is when he joined he was part of the 89th Regiment Royal Artillery AA Battery. He went to North Africa. He did get a mention in dispatches for cutting loose a burning ammunition ship that was on one of the only jetties on the Nile yet I can't find any info on this in the London Gazette.

    The reason for me finding this thread is a letter has come to light which was written to my Uncle, in the letter my Dad gets a mention and he was in the wireless wing, R.A.C School R.A.C.T.D and he was on a driver ops course, the letter dated 25th Feb 1945.

    Any help on this would be greatly appreciated or pointers in the direction would also be great. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  3. Zack100565

    Zack100565 Junior Member

    Hi Clive, thanks for that, my main problem with trying to get his service records is I don't know his service number.
    His name is Peter Newton and he joined with his best friend who was Douglas Rigden they both lived in Whitstable, Kent at the time of joining.
    Thanks
    Simon
     
  4. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hi Clive, thanks for that, my main problem with trying to get his service records is I don't know his service number.
    His name is Peter Newton and he joined with his best friend who was Douglas Rigden they both lived in Whitstable, Kent at the time of joining.
    Thanks
    Simon

    Don't worry if you don't have his service number-just put his full date of birth on the form and they should find the records from that. The MOD found my dads records just from his date of birth.

    Lesley
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Moved posts to new thread as cant see connection to 44 recce thread where it originally was.
     
  6. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Zack even more of a mix up as your first sentence claims he was in the Artillery then

    somehow he was in the Royal Armoured Corps Training Depot as Driver /Operator - now we all know that the Nile is alongside North Africa but the British Army classed this theatre as the Middle East Force (MEF)- whereas from Tunisia to the West - also in North Africa was classed as British North Africa Force (BNAF)
    the service records are badly needed here...Transfers from AA to RAC were not unknown later in the war as this happened to Ron Goldstein
    Cheers
     
  7. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Zack

    In late 1944 the army started to disband units that it no longer felt were vital for the war effort.

    As the Luftwaffe were no longer a major threat in Italy, the LAA units became prime candidates for the chop and this included my own unit, the 49th LAA Rgt, RA.

    RACTD stands for Royal Armoured Corps Training Depot and I and others did a re-training course at one of these at Rieti in Central Italy.
    Ron Goldstein's Army Album: Transformation from Gunner to Trooper

    Ron
     
  8. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Hi Zack,

    If your Dad served in 89 LAA Regt, he would have left it to go to North Africa, as they were part of Home Forces UK until they went to North West Europe in June 1944.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  9. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Zack
    I think your looking for this Regt, as they both enlisted in Kent
    & served in N Africa:
    89th (Kent) HAA Regt RA

    RA 1939-45 89 HAA Rgt
    Best
    Rob D
     
  10. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Hi Zack - where did you get the info on his unit, posting to North Africa and the MiD for saving a burning ship??

    If you have photos or his service record / pay book it will help mightily if you could scan what you have and add it to this thread.

    If what you already know came from family memories you might want to see if any older family members have further facts.

    Finding the MiD in the LG will be difficult without his service number, do you have his full name (does he have a middle name)??

    Any info you can provide upfront will make it simpler to uncover further facts.


    cheers and good luck







    Dave
     

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