61 Anti Tank Regt 1944/45

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by ex-boy, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    My father was REME and posted to 61 A/T Regt in Dec 1944. Having done some research it appears that the Regt received SP 17 Pdrs in late 44, so would have had a bigger LAD, hence my father's posting.

    Looking for info on 61 A/T throws up some questions as there are a few anomalies. One website gives the Batteries as 241, 242, 243 and 244, but the following entries mention all but 244 and quote 193 Battery instead, (Which ties up with the war diary). Can anyone explain why 193 instead of 244?

    I am also trying to find what troops were with which Battery and apart from 242 having E, F & G, there is no full breakdown. 241 Bty has C tp and 193 appears to have D & H (a bit odd I thought).

    Does anyone have the info to fill in the gaps and also to show which troops had the 6 Pdrs and which the 17 Pdrs and when the SPs were issued?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Best regards to all,

    Steve Gray.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    61st Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
    HQ, 241st-244th Btys: Rothesay

    The regiment served under 9th (Scottish) Infantry Division in the United Kingdom from the outbreak of war until 6 August 1940. It then transferred to the reforming 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on 7 August and remained with it for the rest of the war. 244th Battery left on 22 September and 296th Battery joined on 15 December 1941. On 17 February 1942, it added the title (West Highland). 296th Battery left on 10 May 1943 and was replaced by 193rd Battery.
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I have the war diary for 61 AT from Oct 44 to May 1945 and the Batteries were 193, 241, 242 and 243.

    In the January 1945 war diary they had 16 x Self Propelled 17 Pounders, 16 x towed 17 Pounders and 16 x 6 Pounders. Who had what I can't tell from the diariy.

    Each battery would have had 3 Troops. There would have been:-

    A, B & C troop in a battery
    D, E, & F troop in a battery
    G, H & I troop in a battery
    J, K & L troop in a battery

    Regiments did not necessarily have Batteries in numerical sequence. (For example, 102 A/Tk Regt had 99, 107, 288 & 289 Batteries under command).
     
  4. ex-boy

    ex-boy Member

    Thank you for the extra info, particularly about troop allocations. Not knowing a lot about the RA I assumed the battery numbers stayed with a regiment, so that is illuminating. Also interesting to hear about the different troops which were part of 61 regt during the war.

    Regards as ever,

    Steve.
     
  5. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Thank you for the extra info, particularly about troop allocations. Not knowing a lot about the RA I assumed the battery numbers stayed with a regiment, so that is illuminating. Also interesting to hear about the different troops which were part of 61 regt during the war.

    Regards as ever,

    Steve.

    This link has what looks like a transcription of the war diary 61 Anti Tank Regt

    As you can see the following troops were converted to SP guns

    C/ 241 15 Dec 44
    E/242 19 Dec 44
    D & H /193 10 Mar 45

    In Winter 1944 batteries of Infantry divisions were being restructured to an establishment of one troop of 4 x 6 pdr, one troop of 3 x Towed 17 pdr and one troop of 3 x SP 17 pdr. (Source RA War establishments and minutes of RA Conference HQ 21 Army group 27 Sep 1944)

    This does not match the Jan 1945 return, but it is a unit in transition, though if the diary extracts are accurate it does show three gun SP troops.

    My guess is that "193 Battery" was formed from two existing troops, possibly a decision to have four batteries of three troops rather than three of four. Thus if 241 and 242 shed their junior troops of "D" and "H" to as new Battery "193" then no one needs to change their troop letter or seniority.
     
  6. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The four batteries nos. 241, 242, 243 and 193 in Jan 45 had 16 X SP's Archer, 16 X 17-pounder, 16 X 6-pounder; each battery according to the War Diary of Jan 45 had a Troop of SP's.

    DSC03386a.jpg
     
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  7. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

  8. badleg100

    badleg100 Member

    Hello I have a relation his name Roland Spencer,he served in the 61st anti-tank regiment,but was killed in action 14th August 1944. He was a gunner,I am looking for more information about him and his unit.
     
  9. paulbaker32

    paulbaker32 Junior Member

    Mr Frank Sims 61st Anti-Tank RA

    I met Mr Sims at D-Day celebrations in Portsmouth 2014

    Mr Sims is 95 years old and an amazing hero.

    I would to find anyone else alive from the 61st Anti-Tank RA 51st Higland Division
     
  10. paulbaker32

    paulbaker32 Junior Member

    My Dad, Thomas William Baker and my Uncle Fred both served with the 51st Highland a Division, 61st Anti-Tank RA.

    My dad centre of photo and uncle Fred to the left.

    I would love to find out any details about who the guy to the right is?

    Photo taken in 1946 Enschede Holland
     

    Attached Files:

  11. paulbaker32

    paulbaker32 Junior Member

    My Dad and uncle Fred both served with the 61st Ant-Tank RA

    My Dad is centre and uncle Fred to the left. Unknown friend to the right

    I anyone know them?

    image.jpg
     
  12. badleg100

    badleg100 Member

    Hello I am looking for answers about my great uncle Roland Spencer who served with 61st anti tank regiment, but died on 14/8/1944. I don't know any more info on him
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    This is the units war diary for 1944. It's unlikely he'll be mentioned by name on the day of his death but it's most likely the best option to identify what the unit was doing and where on the date of his death. Drop me a PM if you'd like a copy of it or click the red link below for more info on war diaries.

    WO 171/918 61 Anti-Tank Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  14. badleg100

    badleg100 Member

    llo thanks for that if you can send me a copy that will be great. Thanks jeff
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Jeff

    I don't have a copy of the file but I'm happy to do my usual 400 mile round trip for you and copy it at my 10p per page rate :)

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  16. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    Hi Steve,
    My grandfather was a Sgt in 241. I have some little info about his time in North Africa. And I know he was at Normandy on the 7/8th of June not sure which beach he landed but confident he pushed on to Caen. After that he was in Germany but not sure how he got there or where exactly.
     
  17. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    Hi,
    Hope you are well. Thank you for the extra info. My grandfather was sgt William Pattinson in 241. Do you know there locations through the war? I know they were in Egypt and then France around 7/8th of June 44. However I don't know which beach he landed on or their locations can you help? He was not on the sail from Sfax to Sicily on the 8th July 43 because he was in hospital somewhere in North Africa learning to walk again. I have his records but they are not very discriptive.

    Ed Pattinson
     
  18. Edward Pattinson

    Edward Pattinson Active Member

    This is great it mentions 241 at menil. Where is menil? I have no idea.
     
  19. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Apr 26, 2022
  20. oxlade

    oxlade Member

    Sergeant Robert Lee 781140 61st Anti Tank Regt Royal Artillery burial Ranville France died on 20 June 1944. Can't find any action for this day but this entry on 13 June but also don't have the war diary. Could this be where he was fatally wounded ? "The 51st Highland Division attacked the 21st Panzer Division but its defence was determined, and on 13 June the offensive east of Caen was called off." Does anybody have any suggestions for the last possible action for Robert? Photo attached of Robert lee (right) with a pal probably from the 61st
     

    Attached Files:

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