Raiding Support Regiment

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by s dawkins, Sep 16, 2004.

  1. s dawkins

    s dawkins Junior Member

    Having just read a posting about the Raiding Support Regiment I would like to give an accurate,but brief description.I should point out that my late grandfather served in the unit and I have spent 8 years or so researching them.

    The unit was formed in 1943 by Raidng Forces (Middle East/CO Brig' DJT Turnbull) and was never part of 2 SS Brigade.In fact they wore the beige beret and SAS wings and not the green beret like those of 2 SS Brigade.When operating in the Adriatic they carried out joint ops with the commandos in support of the Partisans,but were never part of the same brigade as them.Until June of 1944 they came under command of Force 266 when operating in the Adriatic and after that they and 2 SS Brigade came under the theatre command of Land Forces Adriatic.The elements of the RSR that served in the mountains of Greece giving close support to the partisans and also operating on their own came under command of Force 133.

    It is worth noting that the RSR was formed primarily to give support to the SAS Special Boat Squadron,SAS Greek Sacred Squadron(both part of Raiding Forces,Middle East),Balkan Guerrillas and to operate on it's own carrying out ambushes,demolitions etc.The unit was not formed to support the Commandos it was simply that both formations were deployed in the Adriatic and so operated together.There was to be fair a few ops where RSR sub-units came under temporary command of the Commandos.The unit often operated as the close fire support group to the partisans and in fact a few members of the RSR undertook basic Yugoslav language courses(this is mentioned in the unit war diary).

    The unit is actually considered by the SAS to be part of their regimental family and was included in the SAS Roll of Honour which was dedicated in London last year.
     
  2. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  3. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    2 SS Brigade
    ???
    Our side or theirs???
     
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  5. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    It seems that the RSR were considered part of SOE's F133 as their medal cards appear in the SOE HS12 Card Index - this is an 'orphan' cardex where medal cards were stored for people without SOE P/Fs
     
  6. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Very interesting information.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  7. gollmarc

    gollmarc Junior Member

    Would HS12 include citations/recommendations or would it just confirm that a medal was awarded?

    Thanks,
    Marco
     
  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Marco are you looking for information about a particular individual and their award?
     
  9. gollmarc

    gollmarc Junior Member

    Hi dbf

    Yes I am trying to put together a list of the South Africans (and Rhodesians) involved in the unit, as well as their citations. Unfortunately most of them don't seem to be available on the National Archives website.

    For example - Jack Gage's MC.

    Thanks,
    Marco
     
  10. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    Hi Marc - the files in WO contain some citations the Card Index just describes the award recommended and by whom and the effective date in some cases. It also contains details of POWs some South African who worked with SOE - the supporting letter refered to on the cards is not available - I have now finished formatting the cards and am 'tweaking' and Excel spreadsheet that I have put the data onto. There will be a CD available soon with the cards and the Spreadsheet in about 7-10 days depending on time constraints.

    Steven
     
  11. gollmarc

    gollmarc Junior Member

    Thanks Steven, thats sounds very interesting.

    So as far as recommendations/citations go, if it doesn't show up on the NA online search, then it isn't available? There's no where else it might be hiding?

    Thanks,
    Marco
     
  12. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  13. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    Marc the citations are a bit hit and miss in some cases they are in the WO, Air or HS files or in other cases it is just a name on a list of awards.
    The SOE card index has no citations so it is necessary to cross check with other files. Where a member of SOE has a personal file the citation may be there sometimes.

    With RSR it is a case of knowing who is on the unit's nominal roll as people are listed by parent regiment i.e. RA, UDF, etc
     
  14. gollmarc

    gollmarc Junior Member

    Ah, thanks Steven
     
  15. anonemouse

    anonemouse Junior Member

    Hi Marc - the files in WO contain some citations the Card Index just describes the award recommended and by whom and the effective date in some cases. It also contains details of POWs some South African who worked with SOE - the supporting letter refered to on the cards is not available - I have now finished formatting the cards and am 'tweaking' and Excel spreadsheet that I have put the data onto. There will be a CD available soon with the cards and the Spreadsheet in about 7-10 days depending on time constraints.

    Steven

    Hi Steve,
    How does one go about getting a copy of the CD?

    I'm new to these forums so please bear with me if I ask what appears to be the obvious. I'm also looking for any information, or pointers in the right direction, on the formation of RSR; as in total strength, actual numbers and original units of those who were in RSR ? If any one can help.
    I have some ideas but am looking for corroboration.

    Special interest in which Gunners served & where. I understand there were 25pdrs and howitzers, but not sure if all & only 25pdrs were on Vis/Croatia/Albania/Montenegro & only all howitzers were in Greece.

    Know of towns 'visited' in Yugoslavia, but not of any specific actions.

    Have a feeling all 25's were from one regiment comprising 24 guns which at that time could have been split into 3 batteries of 8 guns each & at least 1 of those batteries could have been part of Raiding Force in N Africa?

    Was 'Raiding Force' actually separate and permenant outfit, of 'part' regiments temporarily seconded but as permanent support to Special Forces hit & run skirmishes, as opposed to a collective name for any regiment who gave supplies etc to any passing LRDG, SAS etc on an ad hoc basis?

    Any other info as to how RSR was born as RSR, and the make up and split, i.e. were they all stationed on Vis or was that just a part that came under Force 133 as opposed to Force 266.

    I believe as at April 1944 there were some 1000 Brits + 2000 or so Partisans on the island when there was a gymkhana, horse riding, and inter regimental football tournament & they even opened their own 'pub' in the July?

    Many Thanks in advance for any help.
     
  16. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    I believe the RSR was made up of 5 Squadrons

    HQ Squadron
    ASquadron - armed with .50 MGs and 20mm Cannon
    B Squadron - 3" Mortars
    C Squadron Anti Tank Guns
    D Squadron 75mm Howitzer

    111 Field Battery was equipped with 25pdrs
    There was also a AA Battery Attached on the Island of Vis

    The unit was parachute and moutain warfare trained - para training was at Kabrit or Ramat David, Mountain Warfare at the Cedars of Lebanon (still in use by the British Army in the 1970s) They were also trained in boat handing and amphibious landings.

    I intend to copy the RSR files at Kew in the next few weeks
     
  17. anonemouse

    anonemouse Junior Member

    I believe the RSR was made up of 5 Squadrons

    HQ Squadron
    ASquadron - armed with .50 MGs and 20mm Cannon
    B Squadron - 3" Mortars
    C Squadron Anti Tank Guns
    D Squadron 75mm Howitzer

    111 Field Battery was equipped with 25pdrs
    There was also a AA Battery Attached on the Island of Vis

    The unit was parachute and moutain warfare trained - para training was at Kabrit or Ramat David, Mountain Warfare at the Cedars of Lebanon (still in use by the British Army in the 1970s) They were also trained in boat handing and amphibious landings.

    I intend to copy the RSR files at Kew in the next few weeks


    Thanks for that, which is similar to information I have,
    Although I believe that not all the RSR were parachute trained. Don't know if any of the 111th actually were, they were in Kabrit in Sept 42 and then 1 Battery went to Tripoli in the November. All three Batteries ended up in Tripoli by the end of January '43.
    By March '43 they were accompanied at some point I think by Greek Sacred Squadron, and this is why I wondered if they were part of Raiding Support at that time.
    I've traced their route up E Coast of Italy upto Xmas '43, and then they went down to Bari in Spring & from there across to Vis. Not sure whether all 3 batteries were together all the time, or at all.

    Guess they would have been part of C Squadron 'cos the 111th had the anti tank gun, but did anyone else? and the boat training fits in because 111th were alongside Commandos & Navy in a few escapades along the Dalmation Coast in '44.
    But other details of what action they saw in Croatia, Albania and Montenegro towards the end of '44 is a bit sketchy, all I have is a route and that they appear to have got out before the Partisans became less friendly toward us in the New Year.

    I'm also looking for any corroboration as to what happend to David Stirling's Pilot V8 'Blitz Buggy' after he was captured in January '43. Some say that it was shot up & burnt out by Italian aircraft, but I believe it may have been salvaged and have it on authority that the car was actually used in Italy, but hard to find corroboration or other pictures? Any help, or pointers, is appreciated.
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    We had this email in the Admin email account.
    should be a useful book for those with an interest in this subject.

    This might be of interest to your members: Walter Jones’s service and the operations of the Raiding Support Regiment have just been published by the University of Plymouth: Raiding Support Regiment (Paperback) | Plymouth University
    Many Thanks


    http://estore.plymouth.ac.uk/includes/ImageServerup.asp?images=D4F6-B12F-B9C1-BCBB-1824.JPG
     
  19. walter jones

    walter jones Junior Member

    My Grandfather was Walter Jones. He served in the RSR - Raiding Support Regiment during World War 2. Before he died he finished a book from the diaries that he meticulously wrote in every day during the war. Serving across many countries in the RSR, historians at the University of Plymouth kindly decided to publish his book. This book is just a small part of his writings and focusses only on the RSR in Yugoslavia, mainly on the island of Viz, as this has been a subject that has previously had very little written on it. If anyone would like to know more or find out more about the Raiding support regiment please get in touch.
    Thanks, Matt Stewart 07971069976 / matt.stewart1977@hotmail.co.uk


    I don't think many people know about his book or even know it exists. Be great if people get the opportunity to read this very accurate account.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raiding-Support-Regiment-Special-Soldier/dp/1841022861/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360701877&sr=1-1

    The Second World War in Yugoslavia is an area neglected by historians and other commentators. This is perhaps surprising as Yugoslavia was the only country in Europe to be conquered by the Germans and then, later, to free itself solely as a result of guerilla activity. Other countries had to be liberated by Allied armies. The British played an important role in supporting the activities of Tito s guerilla army. This is the story of Walter Jones s service and the operations of the Raiding Support Regiment. A precursor to the modern SAS the Raiding Support Regiment fought alongside the commandos and Tito s partisan in Yugoslavia. Based on the Island of Vis in the Adriatic they provided heavy weapons support to British and partisan forces trying to drive the Germans out of Yugoslavia. Later they served in Albania and Italy. This is a brutally honest account of one man s service with the Regiment and a neglected period of European history. It documents the transformation of a young man into a combat veteran as he witnesses the effects of bombing, the deliberate killing of POWs and partisan savagery against those who transgress the partisan code
     
  20. walter jones

    walter jones Junior Member

    My Grandfather was Walter Jones. He served in the RSR - Raiding Support Regiment during World War 2. Before he died he finished a book from the diaries that he meticulously wrote in every day during the war. Serving across many countries in the RSR, historians at the University of Plymouth kindly decided to publish his book. This book is just a small part of his writings and focusses only on the RSR in Yugoslavia, mainly on the island of Viz, as this has been a subject that has previously had very little written on it. If anyone would like to know more or find out more about the Raiding support regiment please get in touch.
    Thanks, Matt Stewart 07971069976 / matt.stewart1977@hotmail.co.uk


    I don't think many people know about his book or even know it exists. Be great if people get the opportunity to read this very accurate account.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raiding-Support-Regiment-Special-Soldier/dp/1841022861/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360701877&sr=1-1

    The Second World War in Yugoslavia is an area neglected by historians and other commentators. This is perhaps surprising as Yugoslavia was the only country in Europe to be conquered by the Germans and then, later, to free itself solely as a result of guerilla activity. Other countries had to be liberated by Allied armies. The British played an important role in supporting the activities of Tito s guerilla army. This is the story of Walter Jones s service and the operations of the Raiding Support Regiment. A precursor to the modern SAS the Raiding Support Regiment fought alongside the commandos and Tito s partisan in Yugoslavia. Based on the Island of Vis in the Adriatic they provided heavy weapons support to British and partisan forces trying to drive the Germans out of Yugoslavia. Later they served in Albania and Italy. This is a brutally honest account of one man s service with the Regiment and a neglected period of European history. It documents the transformation of a young man into a combat veteran as he witnesses the effects of bombing, the deliberate killing of POWs and partisan savagery against those who transgress the partisan code
     

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