Gunner Harold Forden WW2 service history

Thanks again. Every days a learning day. . Read an article saying they moved everyone from Woolwich in 1939 because of fear of bombing, after Dunkirk it had 15000 soldiers…. Must have been chaotic…..

Cheers

Paul

 

Hi I've gone through all of my Dads Service Record now, putting info into a chronological order, it shows the following:
With him being in 124th Field Regiment I looked on Battery Finder site, it says 287 Battery part of 124th Field Regt. May 39 to Jun 42 From 72 Brigade.
Tried to look up 72 Brigade, Wiki site says List of regiments covers from 1938 when RA adopted the term Regiment rather than Brigade. So does this mean he was part of 124th Field Regiment which was part of 72 Field Regiment part of the 50th Div. Have I got this wrong?
List of regiments of the Royal Artillery 1938–47 - Wikipedia

Also it shows the following: Would I be able to find out what ships he was on?

Disembarked Egypt
I Presume from UK? 17.07.41
Embarked Egypt 05.08.41
Disembarked Cyprus 07.08.41
Posted to X List (ii) (Sick) 15.08.41
Re-joined Unit from X List 20.08.41

Embarked Cyprus 05.11.41
Disembarked Palestine 06.11.41

Entered Iraq 01.12.41
Entered Palestine 19.01.42
Entered Syria 27.01.42
Entered Palestine 11.02.42
Entered Egypt 13.03.42
Posted X List (iii)C Missing
Now a P.O.W 20.06.42 Libya

Thanks

Paul

 

287 Field Battery was part of 72 (Northumbrian) Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TA) in 1921. The Brigade became 72 Field Brigade RA(TA) in June 1924 when the RFA became RA. It re-designated as 72 Field Regiment RA(TA) in November 1938. It then re-organised with two batteries - 285 & 286. 287 & 288 Batteries went to 124 Field Regiment just forming.
124 Field Regiment RA(TA) was formed as a duplicate of 72 Field in May 1939 with 287 & 288 Batteries. It was initially formed at Cowgate under 23 Infantry Division but was moved to 50 Division in June 1940. The Regiment with 287 Battery were placed in suspended animation in January 1946.
Hope that is of some help.
Derek

 

Thanks for that, yes it helps a lot. Appreciate it. My Dad was captured on the 20-06-42 so have been trying to piece together what happened with help from people on this site. As mentioned the diary’s are missing for May and June.
Thanks for the help

Paul

 

Hi I’ve now gone through each page of my Dads army service and pieced together some sort of chronological order of events.
Does anyone have any info on what basic training involved for a Royal Artillery recruit, how long was it, what was involved etc?
I’ve looked on the forum pages but can’t find a specific one to Royal Artillery. Dad joined up in 1939 aged 20 before conscription came in.
I’m assuming he completed his attestation, had medical, went back home until told to attend basic training. On completion he would be assigned somewhere?

thanks

Paul

 

The answer re dates is in your fathers record -

1. Attested 4.1.1939 in Middlesbrough

2. 11.1.1939 Posted 2/1st Training Regiment

3. 15.4.1839 Posted 22nd Field Reg

So a week to get from Middlesbrough to his Training Regiment (possibly via RA Depot Woolwich?) then 3 months basic training before posting to his Field Regiment where no doubt further training would’ve been provided.

You’ll likely have to contact RA Museum for the Training Regiment location and recruit training syllabus.

Steve

 

Hi Steve thanks for that

cheers

 

Does anyone have a list or map showing all of the “boxes” at the battle of Gazala? and a description of what a box was? I’ve looked on line but no luck.
Would anyone have any photos of “King’s Cross area around Tobruk 1942. I’ve started to compile my Dads army service into some sort of Chronological order and now want to add some detail. Trying to get a description of what it was like in a box. Thanks in advance

 

Paul,

There are many threads when you search for Gazala, this thread might help explain: "Box" tactics

On a quick scan I could not spot a map. Is there an 'After The Battle' magazine issue about them?

In a very old thread some maps appeared, alas no longer there. There is a pointer though to a possible source:

 

Thanks David, I’ve found a map which shows 287 battery just below King’s Cross junction on the 20th of June, the day my dad was reported missing. The war diaries are missing for 124th field regiment and 287 battery for May and June. I’ve made contact with someone in South Africa who is going to look in the SANDF records. Also trying to get copies of a couple of books, Crisis in the Desert Agar Hamilton, Turner and War in the Desert by Noel Orpen but current search shows copies are expensive at the moment. I was trying to find an online copy so I could extract the capture of Tobruk but no luck so far. Thanks again for help.

 

Looks like he was on a ship of the convoy WS 8B - see Winston Specials by Archie Munro Page 151 "The convoy sailed from the Clyde anchorage at 2130 on 22 May 1941". P148 lists "to embark divisional troops and two remaining brigades of 50 Northumbrian Division" among others "72,72 and 124 Field Regiments RA."

The convoy officially dispersed at Aden around 3rd July. "All six ships left Aden between 4 and 6 July and proceeded ... independently to Suez, where Georgic and Duchess of Richmond were the first to arrive on 8 July."

I realise the dates do not tie up in detail but this is not unusual.


Further research may identify which ship PF was on.

Hope this helps

Regards

Robin

 

Hi Robin, thanks for the info. I will look out for the book. All info is welcome as it expands my knowledge

 

Another question: after the siege of Tobruk in 1941 why did the Allied high command then make the decision that it was no longer strategically important enough to hold, they reduced the minefields and moved equipment and men away. Then Churchill says hold at all costs even though it was now in a weaker state. Would he have been part of the decision process that said reduce its capabilities? I’ve read that the allies were aware of Rommels 1941 plan to attack Tobruk which he copied in June 1942. Just trying to understand why the allies no longer thought it was important to hold. I thought it was because it was a deep sea port which made it so important and would prevent Rommel from bringing in men and equipment. Unless I’ve read this all wrong.

 

You might be better spinning this query off into its own topic in the North Africa sub forum.

Forum members with an interest in the “bigger picture” strategic issues and the North Africa campaign in particular may not come across it here.

Forum member Andreas has an interest in North Africa and may have a view on the issue.

Steve

EDIT TO ADD

As a starting point you might want to get a copy of this trilogy of books -

Kindle

 

Thanks Steve, how do I do that? Not been on the site long so not sure how to set up. Cheers

 

Copy the text in your post above.

Clink on this link to the NA sub forum front page -

North Africa & the Med

Towards top right is a link “post new thread”.

Click on that and the dialogue box opens. Post your thread title in the title line and paste your copied text into the dialogue box and post the topic (as you have posted your replies on this thread).

Steve

 

Thanks Steve

 

Yeah I would have missed this.

All the best

Andreas

 

Post #93 created 2.4.2022 spun off to a new topic here -

Fall of Tobruk

 

Does anyone have any information on conditions for a regular soldier during the desert campaign. I’m trying to find details to explain what it would have been like for my Dad so I can share with my family. The heat, cold, sand flies, lack of water etc. I can’t find a specific description on line. Any help appreciated.