3rd RHA was officially reorganized on 24 December 1940 with ‘D/J’ and ‘M’ Batteries. It was reorganized as an anti-tank regiment on 25 March 1941. It joined 7th Support Group on 1 March 1941 and remained with it until 8 February 1942. It was retitled 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, R.H.A. on 20 August 1941. The regiment was located in Egypt until 17 November 1941, in Libya until 18 January 1942 and then Egypt. The regiment then returned to GHQ Troops in Egypt from 8 February to 18 July 1942. It was reorganized on 8 September 1942 as a field regiment with ‘D’, ‘J’ and ‘M’ Batteries. Here are some equipment numbers: June 1940 - 48 Bofors 37mm portee AT guns Dec 1940 - Ditto May 1941 - 36 2-pounder portee AT guns Dec 1941 - 36 2-pounder portee AT guns Oct 1942 - 24 25-pounder field guns It looks like they never fought with 6-pounders. The Royal Artillery history only covers the regiment up to December 1941.
Try to get hold of a copy of Cairo to Berlin by Joe Dey. It is the full (and very comprehensive) history of 3 RHA during WW2. Highly recommended. Phil
J Bty Diaries for March 1942 state: 18/3 Major A.P.D. Yorke, R.H.A., late of “K” Battery R.H.A. took over command of the Battery from Major D.V. Jennings M.C. R.H.A. who became Bty Capt. This marked the change over of the Regt. from Anti-Tank to 25 Pdrs, two of which had just arrived in the Battery. On the same date Lt. P.M. Bennett R.H.A. and Lt G.C. Gray R.H.A. joined the Battery.
Wow! I did not realise that the change occurred so early in 1942. I knew that they had a full compliment of 24x 25Pdrs by September of 1942, but not that they started to arrive as early as March.
Hi, does anyone following this thread have a copy of page 11 (see -11- at top of the diary, just above Summary of Events ) for March 1945. TNA Ref is 3 RHA 1945 1945 Jan.- Apr WO 171_5079. Somehow. I managed to miss taking a photo of this one page and it is preventing me transcribing the diaries for 1945.