Identify Gun and Vehicle - Poss 58th (Sussex) Field Regt RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by John58th, Mar 13, 2020.

  1. John58th

    John58th Member

    Hi, I have this photo of my dad plus others. I believe it to be with the 58th (Sussex) Field Regt RA in which he enlisted in 1938. It may well be on a training/firing range, but not sure. Can anyone identify the vehicle or the gun, as this may help confirm the regt and possible date. Thanks John58th

    Gun Group.jpg
     
  2. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    The field gun looks like a late-mark 18-pdr – many would have undergone conversion subsequently to pneumatic tyres for vehicle towing and many formed the basis of the 18/25-pdr conversion.

    Not sure about the vehicle – maybe a Morris Commercial CS8, 15 cwt, 4 x 2, rather than a gun tractor.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2020
  3. John58th

    John58th Member

    So would this probably be a pre war, ie 1939 and pre Dunkirk photo or was this type of gun still used after 1939?
     
  4. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Difficult to say. Not all the British Army's artillery was lost at Dunkirk. Some elements of the BEF evacuating later from other ports brought back some artillery and there would be some that had never left Britain and anything saved from the Fall of France would be kept around until sufficient replacements had been manufactured. Changing over to the 25 pounder didn't happen over night in any case
     
  5. John58th

    John58th Member

    OK thanks, just grasping at straws to try to fill gaps and get a timeline.
     
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The vehicle looks to be a Morris-Commercial 15cwt. with a WD serial beginning Z37...'Z' indicates the class of vehicle and the '37' prefix more-or-less the year that the contract was placed. I'm fairly sure that the truck is still in gloss bronze green so definitely pre-war.

    There is no proof but having seen quite a number of images with the same 'feel' and late-summer look, I'd say that it was a TA camp in the UK during August 1939..but a year earlier wouldn't be impossible.
     
    Guy Hudson, Tricky Dicky and Owen like this.
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    SD caps & spoked wheels give it a prewar feel.
     
  8. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    I'd say an 18-pdr Mk IV or Mk V.
     
  9. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    This one?
    2A2WYAH.jpg
     
  10. John58th

    John58th Member

    Thanks everyone for your help - 58th, as am sure you know, was a TA regt, and the pre war dates seem to fit with the timeline I am seeing emerge. Thanks
     

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