Stanley Marshall service no 1514920 158th Field Reg RA

Please, please can anyone help me, I'm trying to find further information on my Dads war history. I have his service record.

He was posted to the 158th Field regiment 20/4/1941 posted i think to B battery on the 14/10/1942 he posted to P battery. (I've learned that the 158th was part of the 23rd Indian division ), he was on leave with malaria then posted, still with 158th field regiment on the 1/2/1943 to No 3 AATC i think its Rangoon ?
On the 29/3/1943 posted to 8th Indian field regiment ( i think 1 battery) Peshawar ?

I've been trying to obtain the war diary for the 158th field Reg but can't even gain access to National Archives website to try and order it. I also tried to find someone who would be able to search further for me at National Archives but they wanted a serious amount of money! It's not enough just having his service history i really want to understand where he was can anyone help me with the war diary?
Thank you in advance.

 

Welcome Elaine, you have started on the correct path by getting hold of his serice records.
There are forum members who will copy war diaries at a very reasonable cost; my suggestion would be to post copies, also create and post a timeline of units/dates so that the relevant diaries can be traced.
Search results: 158 field regiment | The National Archives

 

I think 3 AATC is 3 Indian Anti-Aircraft Training Centre. I'm not sure where that was located but it was definitely not in Rangoon in 1943.
It would seem odd if, following his LAA training, he was posted back to a British field regiment. Are you sure it is not 8 Indian LAA Regiment rather than 8 Field Regt?

Perhaps you could post a scan of the actual documents on here; that usually makes things clearer.

 

158 Field Regiment RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

Follow the link you will see the background together with places and dates where they went.
Below these are the Battery Designations for each year.
At the bottom are the weapons used.

Derek Barton has done a very good job with his website and updates it when anyone spots an error.
I can't comment regarding 3 AATC.

Possible:
LAA Light Artillery Airborne (actually Jungle Artillery with 105 pack howitzers towed by Jeeps, also used by airborne forces).
All Arms Training Centre / Course
Airborne Artillery Training Centre
As per #3 Could you post your document for us to view, we might see a clue there.
If you lack a scanner, a Smart Phone photo might do.

 

There a small number of threads here on the 158th Field, id'd by using an online search, not the very simple search facility the forum has. I used "158th Field" + "ww2talk.com" first, that found four threads and more when just "158 Field".

Spotted Skoyen an active member here has an interest in them too.

 

Research on 158th Field Regiment has been covered on an earlier thread see below:
Previous WW2t thread: 973823 Frank KIRTON, 158 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
As you will see in the thread a number of members specialise in the Burma Campaign.

ra1939-45 lists places the 158FR was posted Ranchi was where the Chindits had a camp.
Manipur Road is near Kohima and the Kabaw Valley (known as Death Valley due to the diseases caught there) was in Burma.
(My uncle fought with the 1st Northants in the Kabaw Valley and on the Silchar Track) part of the Battle of Imphal.

23rd Indian Infantry Division - Wikipedia
(See Order of Battle Divisional Units).

 

Thank you all so much for the great advice,
i will scan and post my Dads service history and time line later today.

 

Look forward to viewing the records, as will many others. You should hopefully find out more when they are transcribed.

I just found another previous thread in which I began my study of the Burma Campaign in search of my Uncle.
Some of the members are incredibly knowledgeable.

Last night I had a quick read through The Silchar Track, the 23rd Div is mentioned but not the name of the Artillery in support during the 1st Norhant's attack on the Japanese in the Kabaw Valley (not unusual).
To most infantry, Gunners are just Gunners but not always.

James Holland visits Shenam Saddle, Shangshak, Imphal and Kohima.

From ra1939-45: 158 FR were in 37 Indian Infantry Brigade who were attached to 17th Indian Infantry Division for two months April May 1944 during the battle of Imphal. The 17th Indian withdrew from Burma up the Tidim Road to Imphal, which I believe places them in the area of the Shenam Saddle during the battle. 23 Indian Div were initially in reserve north of Imphal.
See James Holland Video and maps in the thread in the above link.

 

Uncle Target
thank you

 

My dads time line:

Enlisted into Royal Artillery 30.09.1939

Posted to 51st Anti-tank training Regiment Gunner 01.11.1939

Posted to 14th Medium Regiment RA (Beds & Herts) 20.03.1940

Posted 54th Anti-Aircraft AA 06.04.1940

Posted to 54th Antitank Regiment Gunner 14.04.1940

Posted to 216 BTY 25.05.1940

Posted to Royal Artillery Depot Gunner 19.12.1940

Posted RHO 57th Field Regiment B BTY 05.03.1940

Posted To 158th Field Regiment 20.04.1941

Posted to 158th Field Regiment P BTY Gunner/Fitter 29.04.1940 India

Granted Leave with (MRRA)Malaria From 28/11/1942 to 11/12/1942

Posted to No 3 AATC (Anti-Aircraft Training Co 1/02/1943 Rangoon ?

Posted to 8th Indian Field Regiment 1 BTY 29.03.1943 Peshawar

Posted to 1st Ind Med Regt X List 20.01.1945

(V) R.A Pending reputation to UK/ relinquishes P/L/Sge to W/BDR

Embarkation booked S.S 60-Q for UK Bombay 04.02.1945

Posted to 14Th Medium Regt 31.05.1945

Posted Home 31.05.1945

Posted to RA JJJ ?Home 02.09.1945

Embark UK for BAOR 01.09.1945

TOS X iv List 45 RHU NWE 04.09.1945

From Draft RAJJJ

25 Fd , TOS from 45 RHLL XIV 15.09.1945

Promoted Va/Sgt 01.06.1946

SOS this unit Posted to x (vIII) en route UK for Class B Red 10.01.1946

EMB NWE for UK and SOS x (Vlila) List and BAOR on class A release 14.01.1946

 

Thanks I will take a look at the postings but it might take time, in which others might hopefully take a look too.
"Many hands make light work".

First Comment, Rangoon Fell to the Japanese in March 1942 and was not retaken until 1945.

Edit:
Army Forms Posted
No mention of embarkation from UK or disembarkation India is there a form B103 that has not been posted.
or have I missed one.

After arriving in India he seems to have had Malaria which may have reduced his medical classification
and affected his future postings.

Whilst his rank was Gunner it seems that he was posted as a Fitter probably in workshops in more temperate climates.
It seems he was posted to the British Indian Army from South East Asia Command but no mention of it on the records.
Perhaps he was posted to India for the British Indian Army, a colonial posting.

There in not the sort of detail I would expect regarding X Listings or Command etc.
Which again makes me think he was Indian Army.

Research notes:
3 AATC was not in Rangoon
In December 1942, 3 AATC had moved to Mehgaon near Jabalpur. (Wikipedia)
Central India

History | District Administration Jabalpur, Government of Madhya Pradesh | India.
(See Army Headquarters and Gun Carriage Factory in above link)

His other postings seem to be in Peshawar North West India.
Both a long way from 158 Field Regiment in Burma or Imphal.

I would appreciate a second opinion from someone who specialises in Indian Army Postings.

 

An Indian website (with a virus warning) states:

From: www.airdefence.in

 

Thank you Uncle Target, In answer to your question there are no other forms with his records that list any embarkation or disembarkation .

 

Apologies, I've found three other documents.

 

Thank you, just a glance answers many questions but I will check through and return with as much detail as I can.
His profile led me to believe that he was a REME Fitter ( Sheet 3 that you posted above) attached to the Royal Artillery. Every RA Regiment had what were known as LAD (Local Aid Detachment) workshops. They repaired damaged guns and equipment also having Recovery Vehicles for heavy lifting/winching when the Gun Tractors became stuck.
(In my short time training with a T.A. Field Regt in the 1960's I became very much aware of the LAD and their capabilities).
His postings make more sense now.

Sheet 3 shows him as a REME Fitter but being attached to RA was Termed as a Gunner as they were integrated into the Regiment.
He was listed as Fitter (Class 111 ).

The Service record is somewhat unusual as it doe not show what I would expect to see on a B103 in that there are no
SOS (Struck off Strength) or TOS (Taken on Strength) notes /dates nor any X Listings for postings, Courses or Sickness.
Even though they mention that he had Malaria. Normally listed X(ii).

His posting to a town where there was a Gun Carriage Factory is a possible clue that he might have been modifying/ upgrading guns at some stage. Maybe instructing Indian Army personnel at others.

He is the first person that I have come across where a skilled worker was given a job in the Army similar to his job in Civvy Street.

 

Yes, it seems quite odd; 158 Field Regiment to 3 Indian Anti-Aircraft Training Centre (at Mehgaon, not Rangoon) then to 8 Indian Field Regiment (not 1 Bty, but I Arty = Indian Artillery), although the dates of transfer are confusiing. Why send a field gunner to an AA training centre, only to quickly transfer him back to a field regiment?
If the above information is correct about training Madrassis, perhaps he went there for 'class' familarization before being posted to the field regiment. Were 8 Ind Fd Regt a Madrassi unit? Just an idea.

 

My thoughts sway towards him being sent to the Indian Army to upgrade guns. Whilst 3 AAC were antiaircraft there may have been a need for skilled fitters to train the Indian Troops as fitters. I personally don't see him being in a front line Regiment but rear echelon repairing, rebuilding or even assembling new guns such as the 25 pdr.
I have little experience of the Indian Army but am aware that they made much use of the Mountain Gun which was in desperate need of replacement. The Jeep towed 105mm Pack Howitzer was introduced for Airborne and Jungle Warfare. Were they assembled and tested in India?
With his civilian industrial experience, he might have been of more value to the war effort in manufacture or assembly than than behind the gun lines.
He wasn't assigned on paper to 158 for very long, maybe he was sent with them to arrive and acclimatise then sent to workshops inland to train Indian Troops.
I get this feeling because one of my uncles, a signaller, after Imphal, was sent to Poona to train as an instructor, then sent to the NW India to train Indian troops on radio's in preparation for the invasion of Malaya and Japan. The A Bomb put paid to that idea.



Anyone recognise any of these Codes?

 

No real need for 105mm Howitzers since the Indian Mountain Regiments were equipped with the lovely 3.7" Howitzer (and some mortars).
It should be noted that 8 Indian Field Regiment and 1 Ind Medium Regt didn't see any action, and he wouldn't have seen much with 158 Fd Regt either - they don't seem to have had any battle casualties until 03/43. Maybe he was regraded.
I've just noticed that all of the Indian casualties of both 8 Ind Fd Regt and 1 Ind Med Regt were Madrassi; that may give some credence to my theory expressed above.

 

What mystifies me is how did he get paid?
The standard Service Record in particular the B103 series of documents list a soldiers availability for duty. Embarkation, Disembarkation Waiting in a camp for posting (Xi), Time off sick (Xii) and where, whether in the field or hospital, Convalescence, time as a Pow or Disciplinary X(iii) Waiting in a Holding Unit X(iv). Training courses X(v) . All had to be accounted for.
Who, or where were these documents that we are looking at generated ?
My only thought errs towards the Indian Army. At that time a colonial Force basically on Home Service.

 

Sorry Elaine, this is possibly going over your head but some members will probably have the answers and respond, providing us with more than we have at the moment.