4th survey regiment royal artillery wwII

German 21st Armoured Division, which was part of the Axis forces in North Africa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht)

All the best

Andreas

 

Thanks to Pedrodinas we have now not only followed up our shared interest but have also made contact with a daughter of T G (Geoff aka Lofty) BOAZ .... found via a mutual interest in sheep fleece competitons!

always happy to help with queries about the regiment

Robin & Margaret

 

My Dad was Thomas North and enlisted with the 4th Survey Regiment in Gateshead on 25 Oct 1939. He ended the war as Sergeant 926244 RA and transferred to the Reserve in Jan 1947. He was always very reluctant to talk about the war so I'm trying to piece bits together. He was badly burned in an accident in the desert and spent some time in the military hospital at Oribi, South Africa. I have a group photo of No2 Battery in front of the Pyramids and of the Don observation towers at El Alamein.
If anyone has any information about his service I would be delighted to hear from you.
Mike

 

Hello Mike ... The 1947 Nominal Roll produced for the start of The Old Comrades Association includes - home address in Low Fell so he would have known the Gateshead Arms where M's father was born and lived until 1934
I see he qualified as a Surveyor and was wounded on 8 October 1941.

What date does his service record show for going overseas in 1940?

R&M

 

That is an interesting date to be wounded. Do you have the war diary for that day?

All the best

Andreas

 

Clarrie Hird's own diary has the following for 8 October 1941
"Tommy North got shrapnel wounds in leg by land mine"

Clarrie was then in Tobruk with 'R' Troop (Sound Ranging) he was Sgt and i/c MT ...


R

 

M's father Clarrie (Hird ) kept a personal diary during the war. The entries for 1940 to 1943 are pretty full up to the preparation for the Sicily campaign and give an insight into his daily life.

Here is the page covering the week when Tommy North was wounded. R

ps
Entry for Oct 2nd - Winnie was my Mum
Entry for Oct 3rd 'H Durham to hospital' Harry Durham and his brother Jimmie lived in Somerfield Road Gateshead.
Their father also Harry Durham was Chairman of the Regimental Reunion Association which organised the Welcome Home Banquet in 1946.
My grandfather, also Clarence E Hird was on the committee.

M

 

R Thanks for these pieces of the picture - amazing that my Dad should be mentioned in Clarrie's diary. I have not yet seen Tommy's war record so don't really know his movements, nor which units he belonged to.

He joined up with his two best mates, Les Thompson and Stan Thompson (not related); maybe they stayed together?

Andreas, why is that an interesting date to be wounded?

Mike

 

Hi again

I’ve been away for a while so just after a bit of info at all possible! My grandad went missing on 20th June 1942 and located 8th July. Now I’ve found a newspaper article online which states 5 British soldiers and 5 South Africa soldiers (inc a lieutenant Gibbs, no further info) escaped Tobruk and travelled over 200 miles on foot and 100 by commandeering vehicles to El Alamein....now I don’t want to jump to conclusions but they were on the run for 17 days and it runs in the timeline of his escape and reappearance! Plus the photo of the 5 soldiers including my grandfather previously posted makes me believe it more!!! Please help if anyone can!!! Thanks peter

 

Hi been away along time but I’d love to know if anyone has any further info for me regarding my last post. I’d love it uncle jack if you have contact details for Geoff Boat’s daughter I’m sure my uncle would have a lot to talk about

 

Hi been away along time but I’d love to know if anyone has any further info for me regarding my last post. I’d love it uncle jack if you have contact details for Geoff Boat’s daughter I’m sure my uncle would have a lot to talk about

 

Hello Peter. Good to hear again
I'll check on what we have

Now think that 'Lefty' is Sgt Lefty BOSS

More when I can get to take a look

Happy Christmas

Robin

 

Thankyou robin that’s great it’s been a while hope all is well and all the best to you and Margaret!

ps Yes lofty Geoff boaz

 

Yes I meant Lofty ... but now pretty sure it was Sgt BOSS not Lt Boaz

 

Not much going on that day. Always intrigues me what happened then.

All the best

Andreas

 

Here is a selection for you ... we have a photo of Clarrie repairing a truck which is tipped up on its side.

 

Thank you so much. Also got your PM and will respond there.

All the best

Andreas

 

Got out my copy of the magnum opus by Magnelli Climpson - Larkhill's Wartime Locators from our storage today
Found on page 211 in a paragraph about the return to UK in 1943 " For the 4th Survey the return brought changes in faces in the command posts". ... "RSM 'Geordie' Calder replaced by BSM 'Lofty' Boss"

Will now have a look for bit more about ROB's escape from the fall of Tobruk

Robin

 

By the way, I sent the entry for 27 October to Alan Allport, who got a good chuckle out of it.

Browned Off and Bloody-Minded: The British Soldier Goes to War 1939-1945 | Reviews in History

All the best

Andreas