Find Out Which Regiment My Grandfather was In.

The dates in #11 are significant at least to me and even if I am in error with the thread and the identification of your Grandfather the following videos will no doubt be of interest as they were taken during the battles in Tunisia.
One is taken at Banana Ridge followed by The Tank Museum Video about Tiger 131 captured at Gueriat el Attach which directly followed the Battle of Banana Ridge. The battles took place over the Easter period between 21st April and 30th May 1943.
In the Tank Museum Video Kate Aidie goes into some detail also providing a diagram listing the tank Regiments in the locality.
Hope this is of interest.

 

Just did a re-run on #11 dates. 26.5.43 was a week after the end of hostilities which occurred on 13th May 1943
A Victory Parade was held on 20th May 1943.
Next came Operation Corkscrew on 11th June 1943, the invasion of Pantellaria.

However both 145 and 51 RTR are mentioned in the Tank Museum Video. So must have been present in these battles.



My sketch of the Medjez Area April/May 1943.

 

Tunis Victory parade see IWM Photo Collection British Army in Tunisia IWM NA 3021

 

Thank you more fantastic info. I am working my way through the 145 war diary at the moment ( I can upload it if it does not break any rules). Speaking to my grandad in the 70's he was upset at the death of his bat man Arthur, (possibly Robson) who he was shoulder to shoulder with him when it happened.

 

Gab Gab in your drawing is mentioned in the war diary.

 

My stories come from letters and diaries of Artillery men from 266 Battery 67th Field Regiment part of 1st Infantry Division.
Gab Gab was on the edge of their range of fire with 25 Pounders although they could call in fire from other Regiments with Medium guns when necessary.
The tanks were in action near Gab Gab and in particular at Peters Corner where they took heavy losses in view of the Artillery OP's.
Here is an extract where Lt Bill Beadle mentions Gab Gab.

We started shooting back as soon as the OP could see enough to observe fall of shot and we fired continuously throughout the morning .
The Jerry’s worked right up within a hundred yards of our OP with mortars and both sides went at it with hammer and tongs for hours.
Gradually the range we were firing at decreased, until we knew if it dropped another hundred yards, it would mean that the Jerry’s would be right on top of point 187
commanding the whole plain, where masses of guns were ready for a big barrage to crack open the door to Tunis. However that drop never came.
Further away in a pass called the Gab-gab the enemy tanks were split up and beaten back by our 25 pounder concentrations and by a good screen of anti-tank guns.
And so shortly after lunch, the firing suddenly slackened and we heard from the OP that the German infantry had cracked and retired in disorder.
During this affair, as in all others, information was very scarce and one could only guess what was happening. On one occasion I dashed out on a motorbike
to a spot just this side of the Gab-gab to investigate the very serious news that two Tiger Tanks had broken through and were lying hull down in hiding waiting for the next phase of the attack. However after a very gingerly approach, I discovered they were Churchill’s and returned with the glad news for the doubting Brigadier who had demanded the investigation.

Hope that this doesn't drift too far from the thread

 

Just did a bit of research on 145 Regt RAC so that I might identify any further actions that they were engaged in in Tunisia.
There doesn't seem to be much written about them
They were in 21st Army Tank Brigade part of 4th Infantry Division: You will see their Axis of Advance on my sketch

4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

This Division included two Battalions of the East Surrey Regiment. There is a book "with the East Surreys in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy by Bryn Evans which goes into some detail about their activities. Whilst they were Infantry not Armour the book portrays the battles in the campaign very effectively.
Also consider the book The Plain Cook and the Great Showman which covers the whole campaign, giving a good overview.

This link is to an American Propaganda film made in colour by John Ford and Daryl F Zanuck. It is quite long as it covers Operation Torch. Watch 0034:12 this was filmed from a British OP overlooking the Goubellatt Plain earlier in the campaign. Most of the American troops were filmed in America and added later. (note the silver pistols).

 

Thank you, not at all, it helps to understand what happened from all elements. The war diary only gives one or two lines without much detail.

 

Amazing footage

 

Found this in my grandads stuff possibly from the Newcastle Barracks (in the 50's I suppose)

 

I am a little surprised that no one has commented on your last photo. I enlarged it but lost the definition so couldn't read the writing below the badge.
Whilst it was taken in a typical Territorial Army Drill Hall or Garage It is not what I would expect of 145 RAC so what Regiment is it?
There are palm trees on the raised stage and what looks like an RAC or tank Regt badge above it.
Not unexpected of 145 RAC but they don't have much of a history from what I can find.
This unit appears to have some as there is Regimental Silver on display each side of the stage, normally donated by past officers and local organisations.
I have a fair knowledge of Artillery but not tanks so don't recognise the ones on display but I would be surprised if no one on the forum could.
A few of the senior members are Tank or AFV enthusiasts. Perhaps they have missed an opportunity here.
I think vP might be able to help.

 

I think it was well after the war and if I remember rightly my dad said it was a do or dance at the Newcastle barracks and may not have been the 145 by then.

 

Hi Stephen. I found this in my archive - Your father is named at the end as RSM. My own father Sgt 4620171 John Shilton also served with 145RAC until it was disbanded on 31/12/44. My father then transferred to 51RTR.. At one point his squadron of Churchill Crocodiles (C) was detached to the 78th Division and fought in Argenta. They later fought around the Po Di Volano at Contrapo near Ferrara where he won the MM for his part in the action. Hope this is of interest.

 

Men of 145RAC while stationed at Langholm

 

Hi Malcolm, that info is mint, my grandfather is fifth from the left on the bottom row. He loved the Churchill's. He told me in the desert the Germans would use a close miss to play dead by dropping their barrels until the tanks got close then attack. He told me after that they would pump several rounds in to be sure. Thank you for your help. Regards Steve

 

Looks like a Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess grouping.
Man seated front row 5th from right is a commissioned officer with what looks like three stars on his epaulette - Captain - and thus possibly the Adjutant?
Man seated centre front row is also wearing Service Dress (as different from the Battle Dress style worn by the majority). Harder to tell his rank/status; protocol might normally see the RSM seated there, but could well be the CO, noting the identification in the posting above.

 

My dad is in the second row from the back. And second from the right. They clearly would have known one another. Dad was a County Durham Man. I see your dad had links to Durham. Attached is a photo taken in Tunisia (Near Longstop Hill, I believe). My dad is the commander of that tank in the picture (C Sqdn, 145RAC) - The tank was was called 'Dolphin'.

 

Yes he was from Huby in Yorkshire, but lived in Durham most of his life. I would imagine they would have known eachother very well. I know his batman called Arthur was killed right next to him which he found hard. Wish I had asked him more about his experiences and his tank

 

Yes, there were a lot of men from Yorkshire in the Regiment. I've had a very quick look through the War Diaries for 145RAC and 51RTR that I purchased from the Tank Museum at Bovington and I've found three references to your grandfather. One is from 145RAC where he proved himself to be something of a boxer. The other two are from 51RTR. My guess is that he transferred to that regiment at the same time as my father ie 1/1/45.

 

I assume that 145 RTR were involved in the assault on Gueriat el Atach over Easter 1943 (see my sketch map #23).
I have a few more notes regarding this but there are only short mentions of the tanks supporting 1st Infantry Division.
I wont waste space on this thread but can post them on here if you wish. The Bou and Gab Gab also get a mention.

Below is a photo of a Tiger Tank taken by Major DCL Shepherd Battery Commander of 266 Battery near point 144 after the fighting was over.
(I am advised that this is Tiger Number 101).
He comments that there were several of them, one of which had him pinned down in a shallow slit trench used as an OP.
Photo courtesy of the Shepherd Family Collection