HEAVY REGIMENT War Establishment III/220/2. January 1944. The reference for Independent Regiments RA Signals Section is WE III/297/1 with an effective date of 21 December 1943. The reference for the Light Aid Detachments REME is WE III/100/3. This has an effective date of 10 December 1943. This organisation applied to 32 Heavy Regiment 51 Heavy Regiment 52 Heavy Regiment 53 Heavy Regiment 56 Heavy Regiment 59 Heavy Regiment Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Major, Second in Command 4 X Major Captain, Adjutant 4 X Captain 18 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 4 X Battery Serjeant Majors 4 X battery quartermaster serjeant 4 X signalling serjeant survey serjeant duty serjeant 16 X serjeant No1 of guns 10 X lance serjeant 41 X bombardier 56 X lance bombardier 453 X gunner Total 701 Plus attached Medical Officer RAMC armourer serjeant REME 5 X officers mess cooks ACC 4 X corporal cook ACC 14 X cook ACC Tradesmen 8 X artificer RA or gun fitter 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 7 X clerk 40 X driver mechanic 38 X driver operator 4 X equipment repairer serjeant technical storeman 5 X technical storeman 17 X vehicle mechanic Note: Tradesmans ranks are not given above. There was a separate table for this. They may include 1 X staff serjeant 3 X serjeant 1 X lance serjeant 4 X bombardier 5 X lance bombardier Non Tradesmen 64 X ammunition number 25 X batman 6 X batman driver butchery dutyman 99 X driver IC 8 X gun position officers assistant 192 X gun number 20 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 15 X motorcycle orderly 12 X observation post assistants 52 X signaller 5 X sanitary dutyman 5 X storeman 5 X water dutyman Total vehicles 25 X motorcycle 9 X jeep 2 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 21 X truck 15cwt GS 1 X truck 15cwt office 5 X truck 15cwt water 32 X lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS 36 X Heavy Artillery Tractor 8 X armoured observation post Regimental Headquarters Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding Major, Second in Command Captain, Adjutant 2 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant survey serjeant duty serjeant 3 X bombardier 27 X gunner Total 57 Plus attached Medical Officer RAMC armourer serjeant REME officers mess cook ACC 2 X cook ACC Tradesmen 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 3 X clerk 2 X driver operator serjeant technical storeman technical storeman vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 5 X batman 2 X batman driver butchery dutyman 11 X driver IC 4 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 3 X motorcycle orderly sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly. Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 survey serjeant Motorcycle 5 battery surveyor 4 seater car 4 X 4 1 Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC 4 seater car 4 X 4 2 Second in Command, driver IC 5 cwt car 4 X 4 1 duty serjeant, vehicle mechanic 5 cwt car 4 X 4 2 subaltern, battery surveyor 5 cwt car 4 X 4 3 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 4 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 5 Medical officer, batman driver 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 1 quartermaster serjeant storeman technical, batman driver 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 2 2 X battery surveyors Carried survey stores 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 3 Adjutant, serjeant clerk, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carried 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 4 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carried 2 X Bren gun 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS 5 medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carried medical stores 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC 15cwt truck FFW 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 cook, 5 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 2 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 serjeant armourer REME, storeman technical, driver IC [/list] Carries MT stores and petrol Carries a bren lmg Battery X 4 Headquarters A Heavy Regiment had four batteries. In 21 Army Group two batteries were equipped with 7.2” howitzers and two were equipped with 155mm guns. All battery headquarters were identical. Personnel Major Captain 4 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant signalling serjeant 6 X bombardier 38 X gunner Plus attached officers mess cooks ACC 2 X cook ACC Tradesmen 2 X artificer RA or gun fitter clerk 2 X driver mechanic 9 X driver operator equipment repairer technical storeman Non Tradesmen 5 X batman batman driver butchery dutyman 10 X driver IC 2 X gun position officers assistant 4 X lmg numbers 3 X motorcycle orderly 3 X observation post assistants 13 X signaller sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman Organisation Motorcycle 1 orderly Motorcycle 2 orderly Motorcycle 3 orderly Motorcycle 4 signaller serjeant Motorcycle 5 Battery Serjeant Major 5cwt car 4 X 4 Subaltern (Battery Leader), batman driver 15cwt truck GS 1 6 X signaller, driver IC Carries a mechanical cable layer and cable reels. 15cwt truck GS 2 4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries a hand cable layer and cable reels. Carries 2 X bren lmg and a PIAT. 15cwt truck GS 3 4 X batman, corporal cook, driver IC For cooked food distribution. 15cwt truck GS 4 artificer or gun fitter, driver IC Carries petrol 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW 1 Subaltern Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW 2 Subaltern Assistant Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW 3 Captain, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW 4 clerk, 3 X signaller, driver IC Carries Wireless for Artillery R 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 battery quartermaster serjeant, sanitary dutyman, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. Carries a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 storeman (technical), artificer RA, equipment repairer, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries lmg and PIAT 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 4 X cooks, batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery driver mechanic, driver IC Spare vehicle Armoured Observation Post Carrier 1 Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 Armoured Observation Post Carrier 2 Subaltern, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 Note: The War Establishment lists a Light Tank as Armoured Observation Post. These were not used in NW Europe. A Carrier, Observation Post was used initially but these may have been replaced by an Observation Post Tank later. The War Establishment also notes that in Italy the second Carrier, Observation Post may be replaced by an armoured car carrying the same personnel and wireless sets. Section Personnel 2 X serjeant No1 of guns 4 X driver mechanic 2 X vehicle mechanic 8 X ammunition number 6 X driver IC 24 X gun number Section 1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Carries a Bren gun. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition and skidding gear Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition and skidding gear Section 2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Carries a Bren gun. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition and skidding gear Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition and skidding gear OR Section 1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Carries a Bren gun. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition and wedges and scotches Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition and wedges and scotches Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Section 2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Carries a Bren gun. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition and camouflage stores Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition and wedges and scotches Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Tractor 6 X 4 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition and wedges and scotches Tractor 6 X 4 or 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition The War Establishment specifies that the gun tractors and spare gun tractors should be 6 X 4 while the second tractors could be either 6 X 4 or 6 X 6.
ORGANISATION FOR MANOEUVRE. For tactical purposes the regiment formed a number of groups which could move separately. This organisation might be changed to suit circumstances but it was considered important that there should be standard drills at all levels. The Regimental Headquarters Party This contained those vehicles and personnel essential to the tactical planning of the unit. Z 4 seater car 4 X 4 Commanding Officer, subaltern, driver IC S2 15cwt truck 4 X 4 Royal Signals driver operator, operator Carries 2 X Wireless set no19. MC1 Motorcycle commanding officers orderly. S1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals Signal Officer, batman driver * Motorcycle Royal Signals Despatch rider Z2 4 seater car 4 X 4 Second in Command, operator Royal Signals, driver IC Carries Wireless set No22 MC2 Motorcycle second in commands orderly * Motorcycle Royal Signals [/list] despatch rider [/list] SUR1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Survey Officer, battery surveyor. The Adjutants Party The Adjutant was the regimental staff officer and was responsible for the Regimental Headquarters. He would select a site for the regimental command post. A1 15cwt truck 4 X 2 GS Adjutant, serjeant clerk, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carried 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. MC3 Motorcycle adjutants orderly S3 15cwt truck 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal operator, 2 X operator, driver mechanic Carried Wireless sets No 19 and No 19 HP * Motorcycle Royal Signals signal serjeant * Motorcycle Royal Signals despatch rider The Survey Party. MC4 Motorcycle survey serjeant MC5 Motorcycle battery surveyor SUR2 5 cwt car 4 X 4 2 X battery surveyor SUR3 5cwt car 4 X 4 2 X battery surveyor SUR4 15cwt truck 2 X battery surveyor Carries survey stores. The Regimental Headquarters group This was responsible for the administration of the regiment. A2 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant Major, 2 X clerks, driver IC A3 15cwt truck FFW 2 X driver operator A4 15cwt truck 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence A5 5cwt car 4 X 4 Medical Officer, batman driver A6 15cwt truck medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical stores. A7 5cwt car 4 X 4 duty serjeant, vehicle mechanic S7 15cwt truck, wireless house Royal Signals 2 X operator, driver operator Carries Wireless set No22 S4 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal linesman, 2 X linesman, driver IC Tows 10cwt trailer S5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 Signal Office Royal Signals 2 X corporal operators, 4 X operators, 2 X linesman, driver IC S6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 Royal Signals corporal electrician, instrument mechanic, operator, cook ACC, driver mechanic S8 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals 3 X lineman S9 5cwt car 4 X 4 Royal Signals despatch rider * Motorcycle Royal Signals [/list] despatch rider [/list] The B Echelon This provided supply and maintenance for regimental headquarters units. Batteries have their own B echelon vehicles and personnel but these, or a portion of them, might be placed under the command of regimental headquarters. Q1 5cwt car 4 X 4 Quartermaster, serjeant storeman, batman driver Q2 15cwt truck water Water dutyman, driver IC Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS cook, 5 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations Q5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. Q6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS serjeant armourer, storeman, driver IC [/list] Carries MT stores and petrol The establishment also lists two 20mm gun platforms but these were not used in NW Europe. LAD REME LAD1 car 4 seater 4 X 2 WO Class I armament artificer, serjeant vehicle mechanic LAD2 motorcycle storeman LAD3 3ton lorry stores storeman, fitter, driver mechanic LAD4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 electrician, welder, fitter, driver mechanic LAD5 3ton lorry 6 X 4 Breakdown fitter driver mechanic The Batteries. The four batteries were not identical since two used 155mm guns and the other two used 7.2” howitzers. The Battery Commanders party. The battery in a Heavy Regiment differed from batteries in other field artillery units since it had only four guns. X Armoured Observation Post Carrier Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 Vehicle X could be replaced by an armoured car with same crew and wireless sets. MC1 Motorcycle battery commanders orderly O Armoured Observation Post Carrier Subaltern, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator MC2 Motorcycle signaller serjeant MC3 Motorcycle command post officers assistant MC4 Motorcycle command post officers orderly The G Party. Because the battery had only four guns the command post and gun position were combined. G 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 MC5 Motorcycle gun position officers orderly M1 15cwt truck GS 6 X signaller, driver IC Carries a mechanical cable layer and cable reels. H 15cwt truck 4 X 2 FFW Assistant Gun Position Officer, gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 MC6 Motorcycle Battery Serjeant Major The Gun Group 155mm guns This group centred on the guns and their tractors. K1 15cwt truck FFW Captain, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 MC5 motorcycle captains orderly M2 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carries a hand cable layer and cable reels Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. BL 5cwt car 4 X 4 Subaltern (Battery leader), batman driver Section 1 * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Section 2 * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 155mm gun Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 40 rounds of ammunition The Ammunition Group This normally travelled with the guns and carried a first reserve of ammunition. Amn1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Carries a Bren gun. Amn2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Amn4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition The B echelon This was responsible for administration and supply in the battery. It was normally kept under the control of regimental headquarters and vehicles sent forward as required. Q1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS Battery Quartermaster Serjeant, sanitary dutyman, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. Carries a PIAT Q2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS storeman (technical), artificer RA, equipment repairer, electrician Royal Signals, driver IC Carries MT stores and charging set. Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS artificer RA, driver IC Carries petrol Q4 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X cooks, batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q5 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS corporal cook, 4 X batman, driver IC For cooked food distribution Q5 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery driver mechanic, driver IC The Gun Group 7.2” howitzer This group centred round the guns and their tractors. The guns were not sent for until everything was ready. The guns should be capable of opening fire immediately on arrival. Guns were positioned and the tractors withdrawn to the wagon lines. K1 15cwt truck FFW Captain, observation post assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 MC5 motorcycle captains orderly M2 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carries a hand cable layer and cable reels. Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. BLB 5cwt car 4 X 4 Subaltern (B battery leader), batman driver A Troop Section 1 * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition Section 2 * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 6, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 7.2” howitzer Carries 10 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 6 X 6 Heavy Artillery Gun numbers 7 - 13, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 20 rounds of ammunition The Ammunition Group This normally travelled with the guns and carried a first reserve of ammunition. Amn1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition Carries a Bren gun Amn2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, driver mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition Amn4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X ammunition number, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 26 rounds of ammunition