MEDIUM REGIMENT RA War Establishment III/10/5. January 1944. This establishment is for a regiment with two batteries of 5.5” guns. It has the following added to the basic establishment which is for a regiment with one battery of 5.5” guns and one battery of 4.5” guns. 4 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS lorries 4 X driver IC 22 X gunners as ammunition handlers This organisation applied to 3 Medium Regiment 7 Medium Regiment 9 Medium Regiment 10 Medium Regiment 11 Medium Regiment 13 Medium Regiment 15 Medium Regiment 51 Medium Regiment 53 Medium Regiment 59 Medium Regiment 61 Medium Regiment 63 Medium Regiment 64 Medium Regiment 65 Medium Regiment 67 Medium Regiment 68 Medium Regiment 69 Medium Regiment 72 Medium Regiment 77 Medium Regiment 79 Medium Regiment 84 Medium Regiment 107 Medium Regiment 121 Medium Regiment 146 Medium Regiment Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, Second in Command 2 X Major, Battery Commanders Captain, Adjutant 6 X Captain 14 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant 6 X Battery Serjeant Major 2 X battery quartermaster serjeant survey serjeant 2 X signal serjeant 16 X serjeant No1 of guns duty serjeant 8 X lance serjeant 30 X bombardier 41 X lance bombardier 322 X gunner Plus attached Medical Officer RAMC serjeant armourer REME officers mess cook ACC 2 X corporal cook 11 X cook Total 565 Tradesmen 6 X artificer RA or gun fitter 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 7 X clerk 24 X driver mechanic 28 X driver operator 2 X equipment repairer serjeant technical storeman 3 X technical storeman 10 X vehicle mechanic Note: Tradesmans ranks are not given above. There was a separate table for these. They include 1 X staff serjeant 2 X serjeant 1 X lance serjeant 3 X bombardier 3 X lance bombardier It is known that the staff serjeant was an artificer RA and the two serjeants are listed as serjeant clerk and serjeant technical storeman. There is no evidence concerning the other tradesmans ranks. Non Tradesmen 36 X ammunition number 23 X batman 4 X batman driver butchery dutyman 8 X command post officers assistants 70 X driver IC 8 X gun position officers assistant 144 X gun number 20 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 9 X motorcycle orderly 6 X observation post assistants 56 X signaller 3 X sanitary dutyman 3 X storeman 3 X water dutyman Total vehicles 19 X motorcycle 12 X jeep 2 X car 4 seater 16 X truck 15cwt GS 1 X truck 15cwt office 14 X truck 15cwt FFW 3 X truck 15cwt water 34 X 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 18 X Medium Artillery Tractor 6 X Armoured Observation post Two regiments each had a battery of 5.5” guns and a battery of 4.5” guns. These regiments had four fewer 3 ton ammunition lorries. ORGANISATION Regimental Headquarters Personnel Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer Major, Second in Command Captain, Adjutant 6 X Captain 2 X Subaltern Quartermaster Regimental Serjeant Major Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant survey serjeant signal serjeant duty serjeant 2 X bombardier 27 X gunner Plus attached Medical Officer RAMC serjeant armourer REME officers mess cook ACC 2 X cook Total 61 Tradesmen 2 X artificer RA or gun fitter 8 X battery surveyor serjeant clerk, RA clerks section 3 X clerk serjeant technical storeman technical storeman vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 5 X batman 2 X batman driver butchery dutyman 10 X driver IC 4 X lmg numbers medical officers orderly 3 X motorcycle orderly 3 X sanitary dutyman 3 X storeman 3 X water dutyman Note: No signallers are listed since Regimental Headquarters has communications provided by a Signal Section Royal Signals. Motorcycle 1 commanding officers orderly. Motorcycle 2 second in commands orderly Motorcycle 3 adjutants 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, operator Royal Signals, driver IC Carries Wireless set No22 5cwt car 4 X 4 1 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 2 2 X battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 3 Subaltern (Survey Officer), battery surveyor 5cwt car 4 X 4 4 Medical Officer, batman driver 15cwt truck GS 1 2 X battery surveyors Carries survey stores 15cwt truck GS 2 Quartermaster, batman driver 15cwt truck GS 3 Adjutant, serjeant clerk, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, driver IC Carries a lmg and PIAT 15cwt truck Office Regimental Serjeant major, 2 X clerk, duty serjeant, driver IC Carries office stores 15cwt truck Personnel medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical stores 15cwt truck water waterdutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 serjeant armourer REME, cook ACC, 3 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 2 X cook, batman, butchery dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations Carries 2 X bren guns 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, artificer RA, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 vehicle mechanic, serjeant storeman, storeman, artificer RA, driver IC Carries MT stores and petrol The establishment includes two travelling platforms for 20mm AA guns. Battery X 2 Battery Headquarters Personnel Major, Battery Commander Captain 2 X Subaltern Battery Serjeant Major battery quartermaster serjeant signal serjeant 4 X bombardier 47 X gunner corporal cook 5 X cook Total 77 Tradesmen artificer RA or gun fitter 2 X clerk 2 X driver mechanic 4 X driver operator equipment repairer technical storeman 2 X vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 10 X ammunition number 3 X batman batman driver 4 X command post officers assistants 16 X driver IC 4 X lmg numbers 3 X motorcycle orderly 6 X observation post assistants 6 X signaller sanitary dutyman storeman water dutyman Motorcycle 1 battery commanders orderly Motorcycle 2 captains orderly Motorcycle 3 command post officers orderly Motorcycle 4 signaller serjeant Motorcycle 5 command post officers assistant 5cwt car 4 X 4 1 Battery Serjeant Major, vehicle mechanic 5cwt car 4 X 4 2 batman driver Battery Commanders car 15cwt truck GS 6 X signaller, driver IC Carries a mechanical cable layer 15cwt truck FFW 1 Captain, driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 5cwt truck FFW 2 Subaltern Command Post Officer, command post officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck FFW 3 Subaltern Assistant Command Post Officer, 2 X command post officers assistant, driver IC Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck Personnel clerk, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X lmg and a PIAT 15cwt truck water waterdutyman, driver IC 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 1 driver IC Carries petrol 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 battery quartermaster serjeant, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 storeman (technical), equipment repairer, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries MT stores. 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 4 X cooks, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 5 3 X cook, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 6 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 7 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 8 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 9 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 10 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 11 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 12 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 13 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 14 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 15 3 X batman, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery (spare) driver mechanic, driver IC Armoured Observation Post Carrier Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 The establishment includes two travelling platforms for 20mm AA guns. Troop X 2 per battery Troop Headquarters Personnel Captain 2 X Subaltern Quartermaster Battery Serjeant Major (confusingly termed a troop battery serjeant major) survey serjeant signal serjeant duty serjeant 3 X bombardier 18 X gunner Total 18 Tradesmen artificer RA or gun fitter driver mechanic 3 X driver operator vehicle mechanic Non Tradesmen 3 X batman 2 X driver IC 2 X gun position officers assistants 2 X lmg numbers observation post assistant 11 X signaller Each section 2 X serjeant No1 of gun 2 X driver mechanic 2 X driver IC 2 X bombardier gun number 16 X gun number Motorcycle signaller 5cwt car 4 X 4 1 Battery Serjeant Major, artificer 15cwt truck GS 4 X signaller, 2 X batman, driver IC Carries a mechanical cable layer 15cwt truck FFW 1 Subaltern Troop Leader, gun position officers assistant, signaller, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck FFW 2 Subaltern, gun position officers assistant, 2 X signaller, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 15cwt truck Personnel 3 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 2 X lmg and a PIAT Armoured Observation Post Carrier Captain, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 Note: The War establishment contains a footnote to the effect that the Armoured Observation Post Carrier could be replaced by an armoured car in Italy. Section1 Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Section2 Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery Gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Organisation for Manoeuvre and Deployment. 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. S7 15cwt truck, wireless house Royal Signals 2 X operator, driver operator Carries Wireless set No22 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 despatch rider 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 Adjutant, serjeant clerk, duty serjeant, 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 5cwt car 4 X 4 Medical Officer, batman driver A4 15cwt truck medical officers orderly, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries medical stores. 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 Royal Signals despatch rider * Motorcycle Royal Signals despatch rider 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, batman driver Q2 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS serjeant armourer, cook, 3 X batman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X cook, batman, butchery dutyman, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries cooking sets, and rations Carries 2 X bren guns and a PIAT for local defence. Q5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, storeman, clerk, artificer RA, driver IC Carries Quartermaster stores. Q6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS vehicle mechanic, serjeant storeman, storeman, artificer RA, driver IC 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. Each of the two batteries was identical and organised as follows. The Battery Commanders party. This was intended to be the tactical headquarters for the battery. Having received his orders the Battery Commander would normally establish his observation post near to the headquarters of the battalion being supported. The Command Post Officer would then go to the gun position area and lay out the command posts and gun positions. X1 Armoured Observation Post Carrier Major, observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carries Wireless set No19 and Wireless set No38 X2 5cwt car 4 X 4 batman, driver IC MC1 Motorcycle battery commanders orderly H 15cwt truck FFW Command Post Officer, command post officers assistant, 2 X driver operator Carries Wireless set No19 M1 15cwt truck GS 6 X signaller, driver IC MC2 Motorcycle command post officers assistant MC3 Motorcycle command post officers orderly The Observation Party When the battery commander had received his orders and made his plan he would call forward the Observation Party and supervise the establishment of observation posts, and communications between them and the gun positions.. RA Armoured Observation Post Carrier Captain (A troop commander), observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic. Carried Wireless set No19 and Wireless set no38. MC4 Motorcycle signaller RB Armoured Observation Post Carrier. Captain (B troop commander), observation post assistant, driver operator, driver mechanic Carried Wireless set No19 and Wireless set no38. MC5 Motorcycle signaller The G Party. This was called up by the Command Post Officer and was responsible for reconnoitring the gun position and establishing command and communications. Gun Position Officers were responsible for the actual gun position for the troop. GA 15cwt truck FFW Gun Position Officer (A troop), subaltern, gun position officers assistant, 2 X signaller, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 JA 5cwt car 4 X 4 troop battery serjeant major, artificer RA M2 15cwt truck 4 X signaller, 2 X batman, driver IC GB 15cwt truck FFW Gun Position Officer (B troop), subaltern, gun position officers assistant, 2 X signaller, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 JB 5cwt car 4 X 4 troop battery serjeant major, artificer RA M3 15cwt truck 4 X signaller, 2 X batman, driver IC The Battery Headquarters Party This was the administrative headquarters and provided logistic support to the battery. The Battery captain commanded this party and established a track plan for vehicles in the battery area, chose the wagon line area where vehicles would be parked and then arranged local area defence Y 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern, 2 X gun position officers assistant, driver IC MC6 Motorcycle signaller serjeant K1 15cwt truck FFW Captain, 2 X driver operator Carries wireless set No19 MC7 Motorcycle captains orderly K2 15cwt truck GS clerk, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. The Gun Group This group centred on 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. A troop TLA 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern (A troop leader), gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 M4 15cwt truck GS 5 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. Section1 A Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition B Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Section2 C Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition D Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition B troop TLB 15cwt truck FFW Subaltern (B troop leader), gun position officers assistant, 2 X driver operator. Carries Wireless set No19 M4 15cwt truck GS 5 X signaller, 2 X lmg numbers, batman, vehicle mechanic, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. Section1 A Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition B Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition Section2 C Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition D Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery gun numbers 1 - 10, driver mechanic, driver IC Tows 5.5” gun Carries 40 rounds of ammunition J 5cwt car 4 X 4 Battery Serjeant Major, vehicle mechanic. The Ammunition Group This normally travelled with the guns and carried a first reserve of ammunition. Amn1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition Amn2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition Amn4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition Amn5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 50 rounds of ammunition Amn6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition plus stores Amn7 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition plus stores Amn8 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition plus stores Amn9 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition plus stores Amn10 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 X batman, driver IC Carries 30 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery (spare) driver mechanic, driver IC 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, clerk, storeman, driver IC Carries quartermaster stores. Q2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS storeman (technical), equipment repairer, electrician Royal Signals, driver IC Carries MT stores and charging set. Q3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS driver IC Carries petrol Q4 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 4 X cooks, sanitary dutyman, driver IC Carries cooking sets and rations Q5 3 ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 3 X cook, 2 X lmg numbers, driver IC Carries 2 X Bren gun and a PIAT for local defence. Q5 15cwt truck water water dutyman, driver IC NOTE: In the two regiments which had one battery equipped with 4.5” guns the 4.5” battery had fewer ammunition wagons. This was because the shells were lighter. Amn1 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Amn2 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Amn3 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Amn4 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Amn5 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition Amn6 3ton lorry 4 X 4 GS 2 X ammunition number, driver IC Carries 80 rounds of ammunition * Tractor 4 X 4 Medium Artillery (spare) driver mechanic, driver IC This applied to 7 and 64 Medium Regiments of 5 AGRA.