53/87 Field Battery RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Uncle Jack, May 16, 2013.

  1. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Uncle Tom passed from OCTU at Alton Towers in May 1943 and was posted to 2nd Training Regiment RA at Watford.
    He was DIXON T E and had already served in the RA since before the TA camp in July 1939. (for earlier career see below)

    Among his papers is an authority to drive WD vehicles signed by "R P Edwards Capt RA, Commanding 53/87 Field Bty RA 2nd Field Regiment RA"

    This fits with Tom's deaf ear .. a result of Anzio.

    Where can I find out more details about his Battery?


    I've already tried an advanced search on WW2Talk and in TNA online catalogue.

    I assume there are war diaries which will be relevant but have not found a reference to them .. yet.


    Robin

    Tom Dixon had joined the 4th Durham Survey Regiment RA TA in 1939 and attended the Summer camp at Larkhill starting on 29 July. He was transferred to the 6th Survey Regiment and was based in/near Appledore from ? to 11 December1942 when he went to Alton Towers. One document states he was with 1st Independent S.R Battery RA.
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

  3. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Yes- Thanks .. we helped Col Whetton's nephew get the second edition out on to the web. It's a very helpful history. Seems there were many of the original TA unit put forward for commissions and this continued as the RA needed more Lt's with survey skills. The group that went to be 6th Survey seem to have spent much of the war on the s south coast.

    I've now looked at Tom Dixon's diary for 1942 and he was based at Appledore ... but not sure which unit ... but should be '1st Independent S.R Battery RA' .. but that one's hiding from me at present...
    R
     
  4. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

  5. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Yes .. again another useful website .. and this confirms the Anzio action.

    We've used this site extensively following my father in law who was in the 4th Durham from April 1939 to April 1946. We're also in contact with other families of the rgiment


    R
     
  6. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    I couldnt get the searchlight link to work on that site, maybe its just my tablet playing up?
     
  7. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Uncle Jack.

    If Tom Dixon served with 2 Fd Regt RA at Anzio then he supported 1 British Infantry Division who landed as one of the two Divisions in VI (US) Corps on 22 Jan 44.

    1 British Infantry Division had a ghastly but fascinating time in the beachhead. If you ever consider going to Anzio in order to see what happened to them, do get in touch. I run studies one or twice a year.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  8. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    He certainly suggested it was an ordeal. I've read a history of the RA in Italy and it seems it was a tough campaign. I remember that he and Aunt Margaret did take a holiday to Italy specifically to revisit some of the places he been during the war.

    Do you know which war diaries would be relevant?

    Thanks for the input
    Robin

    ps we don't travel far these days .. I used to be in Aprilia every few months in the 1970's when I worked for Massey Ferguson but had little time to explore.
     
  9. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Robin.

    Ask Drew5322 to get you the WDs for 2 Fd Regt RA for the period Jan-May 44. This was the period that they were at Anzio supporting 1 BR Inf Div.

    If you did not know, Aprilia was the 'Factory' - one of five model towns built by the Fascists in the Pontine Marshes and it played a huge part in 1 BR Inf Div's activities in the period 25 Jan-15 Feb 44 when their part in the battle was at its height. You should visit again.

    Small world. My next door neighbour in Rome in the 1980s was the European head of Massey Ferguson.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  10. Uncle Jack

    Uncle Jack Member

    Thaks
    Already working with Andy (aka Drew5322) on war diaries and he's come up with
    *****
    No Battery diaries ... so the ones to look at are
    WO 175/325 2 Regiment 1943 Jan.- June
    WO 169/9468 2 Field Regiment 1943 July- Dec.
    WO 169/18955 2 Field Regiment 1944 Jan.
    WO 169/19972 2 Field Regiment 1945 Feb.- Dec.
    WO 169/23177 2 Field Regiment 1946 Jan.- June
    WO 170/922 Field Regiments: 2 Field Regt 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 170/4725 Field Regiments: 2 Regiment 1945 Jan.
    ****


    Thought Aprilia was significant ... seem to recall Uncle Tom saying something about that .. unfortunately he died in 1975.

    I worked for Massey Europe from 1974 to 1975 as Telecomms manager when we were trying to give the Euro HQ the ability to get prompt input of information from all the previously independent national companies. Then the boss of Corporate MIS in Toronto decided I was to work for him and set up a world wide network ... took a few years and dozens of overseas trips .. but we had a world wide network in place by 1977 and were using electronic mail to run the whole system a year later .. we had over 4500 staff on email (although we did not call it such) when I left in 1980.

    Another world ... now about to go shear some sheep by hand....

    Robin
     

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