|
BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2 |
|
|
|
Updated 14 June 2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIELD ARTILLERY FORMATIONS AND REGIMENTS OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2
The following tables list all AGRAs, and all types of field artillery and anti-tank regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery, and the Air OP squadrons. The tables show the theatres they were in, major actions in those theatres and the formations that commanded them. They also show some of the lower level attachments of units, but do not generally include units that appear to have been 'in support.
After the tables there are details about sources and abbreviations. Actions that resulted in a honour title being granted to a battery are shown as follows: Meiktila. When regiments changed their role, eg from field to medium, then they appear in the relevant table after the change. After each regimental table there is a summary about battery numbering.
ARMY GROUPS ROYAL ARTILLERY (AGRA)
|
Formation |
Origin |
Where - When - With |
|
F 9/42 Glasgow |
Tunisia 1943 - 1 Army & 5 Corps Troops |
|
|
F 9/42 Darlington |
Tunisia 1943 - 1 Army & 9 Corps Troops |
|
|
F 3/43 Tonbridge |
UK 1943-4 |
|
|
F 3/43 Perth |
UK 1943-4 |
|
|
F 3/43 N Africa |
N Africa 1943 - 8 Army |
|
|
F 3/43 Cairo |
Egypt 1943 |
|
|
|
Middle East 1943 - 9 Army |
|
|
Fm HQRA 54 Inf Div 5/43 |
UK 1943 - GHQ Reserve |
|
|
Fm HQRA 79 Armd Div Yorkshire 5/43 |
UK 1943 - GHQ Reserve |
|
|
F 6/43 Cairo |
N Africa 1943-4 |
|
|
11 AGRA |
|
India 1944 |
|
15 AGRA |
|
Middle East 1944 |
|
F India |
India 1945 |
|
|
|
NW Europe 1944-5 - 21 Army Group |
|
|
Fm HQRA 59 Inf Div France 8/44 |
NW Europe 1944-5 - 21 Army Group |
|
|
60 AGRA |
Fm 9 HAA Bde India 1945 |
|
|
61 AGRA |
F India |
Anti-aircraft, 12 Army |
|
F UK 7/44 |
NW Europe 1944-5 - 21 Army Group |
ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY (FIELD) REGIMENTS
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 RHA |
Reg |
Reformed 6/40 |
Aldershot 1938 |
|
|
2 RHA |
Reg |
SP regt /44 |
Newport 1938 |
|
|
Reg |
N Africa 1941-3 - 7 Armd
Div & 4 Armd Bde Gp |
|
||
|
4 RHA |
Reg |
F 6/39 Cairo |
N Africa 1940 - W Desert Force |
|
|
5 RHA |
Reg |
F 11/39 |
France 1940 - 3 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
|
|
6 RHA |
|
F 11/40 |
UK 1940-4 - 9 Armd Div |
|
|
11 HAC RHA |
TA |
SP regt 9/42 |
London 1938 |
235 Regt HAC RHA |
|
12 HAC RHA |
TA |
SP regt |
UK 1940-2 - 2 & 6 Armd Divs |
G Loc Bty HAC |
|
13 HAC RHA |
TA |
F 11/40 |
UK 1941-4 - 11 Armd Div |
Disb 47 |
|
14 RHA |
WF |
Fm 414 Fd Bty RHA India 9/42 |
Mid East 1943 - 7 Armd Bde Gp & 10 Armd Div |
Disb 4/46 |
|
TA |
Fm 104 Fd Regt 1939 |
UK 1939 - 1 Cav Div |
304 Fd Regt |
|
|
|
Fm 106 Fd Regt 1939 |
UK 1939 - 1 Cav Div |
To 106 ATk/LAA RHA 8/40 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 107 Fd Regt 1939 |
Nottingham 1938 - Army Regt |
To Med Bty 8/42, 107 Med Regt 3/44 |
|
|
TA |
Of 104 Fd Regt |
|
To 147 Fd Regt 6/40 |
|
|
TA |
Of 106 Fd Regt |
|
To 149 Fd Regt 6/40 |
|
|
TA |
Of 107 Fd Regt |
|
To 150 Fd Regt 6/40 |
Regular RHA batteries were individually lettered, HAC batteries used A - C within their regiments and other TA RHA batteries were numbered in the 300 - 400 series. When 4 × 6 gun RHA brigades became 2 × 8 gun RHA regiments in 1938, regular batteries were amalgamated in pairs in their regiment and given the joint 'number'. Eg 1 RHA had batteries 'A/E' and 'B/O'. With the change in 1941 to 3 × 8 gun regiments one of these 'double numbers' was de-coupled and assigned to the third battery. Eventually new 'regular' RHA regiments resulted in new double letter batteries when the single letters ran out, eg 'DD'.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
Reg |
|
Nowshera, India 1939 |
59 Fd Regt |
|
|
2 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Bordon 1938 - Army Regt |
41 Fd Regt |
|
3 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Trimulgherry, India 1939-41 |
44 SL Regt |
|
4 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Hydrabad, India 1939 |
26 Fd Regt |
|
Reg |
Reformed UK 6/43 |
Rawalpindi & Nowshera, India 1939-41 |
Lost 2/42, |
|
|
6 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
India 1938-43 |
67 Trg Regt |
|
7 Fd Regt |
Reg |
SP regt 5/44 |
Bulford 1938 - 3 Div |
17 Trg Regt |
|
8 Fd Regt |
Reg |
Jungle Fd Regt 3/43 |
Lucknow, India 1939-40 |
Disb 11/46 |
|
9 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Larkhill 1938 - Army Regt |
23 Fd Regt |
|
10 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Deepcut 1938 - 2 Div |
40 Fd Regt |
|
11 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Meerut, India 1939-41 |
81 Fd Regt |
|
Reg |
|
Dunbar 1938 |
To 17 Med Regt 1/44 (N Africa) |
|
|
15 Fd Regt |
Reg |
SP regt 9/44 |
Lahore & Rawalpindi, India 1939-41 |
7 RHA then 12 ATk Regt |
|
16 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Ewshott 1938 - 1 Div |
42 Fd Regt |
|
17 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Woolwich 1938 - 4 Div |
19 Fd Regt |
|
18 Fd Regt |
Reg |
SP regt /44 |
Deepcut 1938 - 2 Div |
68 Fd Regt |
|
19 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Bordon 1938 - 1 Div |
48 Fd Regt |
|
22 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Shorncliffe 1938 - 4 Div |
31 Trg Regt |
|
23 Fd Regt |
Reg |
Reformed 6/40 |
Exeter 1938 - 3 Div |
Lost St
Valery 6/40 |
|
24 Fd Regt |
Reg |
SP regt 7/43 |
Aldershot 1938 - 1 Div |
49 ATk Regt |
|
Reg |
Reformed 3/44 from 177 Fd Regt |
Jhansi & Kirkee, India 1939-40 |
29 Fd Regt |
|
|
27 Fd Regt |
Reg |
Jungle Fd Regt 1/43 |
Colchester 1938 - 4 Div |
25 Fd Regt |
|
28 Fd Regt |
Reg |
Jungle Fd Regt 6/43 |
Mhow, India 1939-40 |
14 Fd Regt |
|
30 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Norwich 1938 - Army Regt |
38 Trg Regt |
|
31 Fd Regt |
Reg |
|
Egypt 1939 - 7 Inf Div |
34 LAA Regt |
|
Reg |
Fm 32 Hy Regt 5/45 |
Brighton 1938 - Army Regt |
To 32 Hy Regt 9/43, 45 Fd Regt |
|
|
33 Fd Regt |
Reg |
SP regt 5/44 |
Bulford 1938 - Army Regt |
24 LAA Regt |
|
51 (Westmorland & Cumberland Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Carlisle 1938 - 42 Div |
To 51 Colm 10/43, |
|
52 Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Manchester 1938 - 42 Div |
252 Fd Regt |
|
53 Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Bolton 1938 - 42 Div |
253 Fd Regt |
|
55 (Wessex) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Taunton 1938 - 43 Div |
255 Med Regt |
|
57 (Home Counties) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Brighton 1938 - 44 Div |
257 Fd Regt |
|
TA |
|
Eastbourne 1938 - 44 Div |
To 84 Med Regt 12/43 |
|
|
60 (North Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Nottingham 1938 - 49 Div |
To 60 & 88 Colms 10/43, |
|
TA |
|
Stoke-on-Trent 1938 - 55 Div |
To 61 S Hy Regt 12/44 |
|
|
64 (7th London) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Fulham 1938 - London Div |
264 Fd Regt |
|
65 (8th London) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Lee Green 1938 - Army Regt |
265 Fd Regt |
|
67 (South Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Worcester 1938 - 48 Div |
267 Fd Regt |
|
68 (South Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Birmingham 1938 - 48 Div |
268 Fd Regt |
|
69 (West Riding) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Leeds 1938 - 49 Div |
269 Fd Regt |
|
70 (West Riding) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Bradford 1938 - 49 Div |
270 Fd Regt |
|
71 (West Riding) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Sheffield 1938 - 49 Div |
271 Fd Regt |
|
72 (Northumbrian) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Newcastle-on-Tyne 1938 - 50 Div |
272 Fd Regt |
|
74 (Northumbrian) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
South Shields 1938 - 50 Div |
274 Fd Regt |
|
TA |
|
Aberdeen 1938 51 Div |
To 75 Hy Regt 10/43 |
|
|
76 (Highland) Fd Regt |
TA |
SP regt 9/44 |
Dundee 1938 - 51 Div |
276 Fd Regt |
|
77 (Highland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Greenock 1938 - 51 Div |
277 Fd Regt |
|
TA |
|
Edinburgh 1938 - 52 Div |
To 178 Med Regt 4/44 |
|
|
79 (Lowland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Ayr 1938 - 52 Div |
279 Fd Regt |
|
80 (Lowland) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Glasgow 1938 - 52 Div |
280 Med Regt |
|
81 (Welsh) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Port Talbot 1938 - 53 Div |
281 Fd Regt |
|
83 (Welsh) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Newport 1938 - 53 Div |
283 Fd Regt |
|
TA |
|
Stratford E.15 1938 - 54 Div |
To 85 Mtn Regt 9/43 |
|
|
86 (Herts Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Hertford 1938 - 54 Div |
286 Fd Regt |
|
87 (1st West Lancs) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Liverpool 1938 - 55 Div |
287 Med Regt |
|
88 (2nd West Lancs) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Preston 1938 - 55 Div |
Lost 2/42, |
|
90 (City of London) Fd Regt |
TA |
SP regt 5/44 |
Bloomsbury 1938 - London Div |
290 Fd Regt |
|
91 (4th London) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Lewisham 1938 - London Div |
291 AB Fd Regt |
|
92 (5th London) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Kennington 1938 - Army Regt |
292 AB ATk Regt |
|
94 (QO Dorset Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Dorchester 1938 - 43 Div |
294 Fd Regt |
|
96 (R Devon Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Exeter 1938 - 43 Div |
296 Fd Regt |
|
97 (Kent Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Maidstone 1938 - Army Regt |
297 LAA Regt |
|
98 (Surrey & Sussex Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Clapham Park 1938 - Army Regt |
298 Fd Regt |
|
99 (R Bucks Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
|
Aylesbury 1938 - Army Regt |
299 Fd Regt |
|
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Haverford West 1938 - Army Regt |
To 102 Med Regt 10/43 |
|
|
TA |
|
Chelmsford 1938 - Army Regt |
To 104 RHA 1938 |
|
|
TA |
|
Bedford 1938 - Army Regt |
To 52 Hy Regt 11/39 |
|
|
TA |
|
Liverpool 1938 - Army Regt |
To 106 RHA 1938 |
|
|
TA |
|
Nottingham 1938 - Army Regt |
To 107 RHA 1938 |
|
|
109 Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 51 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 66 Inf Div |
309 Coast Regt |
|
110 Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 52 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 66 Inf Div |
310 LAA Regt |
|
111 Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 53 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 66 Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
112 (Wessex) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 55 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-44 - 43 (Wessex) Inf Div |
312 Med Regt |
|
113 Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 57 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 12 (Eastern) Inf Div |
313 HAA Regt |
|
114 (Sussex) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 58 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 12 (Eastern), 2 (47) (London) Inf Divs |
Disb 47 |
|
115 (N Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 60 Fd Regt |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
315 Med Regt |
|
116 (N Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 61 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-44 - 59 (Staffordshire) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
117 (London) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 64 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-45 - 2 (47) (London) (Res) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
118 (London) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 65 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-41 - 12 & 18 Inf Divs |
Lost 2/42, Disb 47 |
|
119 (S Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 67 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-45 - 61 Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
120 (S Midland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 68 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-44 - 61 Inf Div |
320 HAA Regt |
|
TA |
Of 69 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 -46 Inf Div & 10 Corps Troops |
To 121 Med Regt 1/44 |
|
|
122 (W Riding) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 70 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-41 - 46 Inf Div & War Office Reserve (Army Fd Regt) |
Lost 2/42, Disb 47 |
|
TA |
Of 71 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-2 - 46 Inf Div & N Comd (Army Fd Regt) |
To 123 Para Fd Regt 1/45 |
|
|
124 (Northumbrian) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 72 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 23 (Northumbrian) Inf Div |
324 HAA Regt |
|
TA |
Of 74 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 23 (Northumbrian) Inf Div |
To 125 ATk Regt 7/40 |
|
|
126 (Highland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 75 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 9 (Highland) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
127 (Highland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 76 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 9 (Highland) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
128 (Highland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 77 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-40 - 9 (Highland) Inf Div |
328 Med Regt |
|
TA |
Of 78 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 15 (Scottish) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
|
130 (Lowland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 79 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 15 (Scottish) Inf Div |
330 Med Regt |
|
131 (Lowland) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 80 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-44 - 15 (Scottish) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
132 (Welsh) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 81 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 38 (Welsh) & 78 Inf Divs |
Disb 47 |
|
133 (Welsh) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 83 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-44 - 53 (Welsh) Inf Div |
Disb 47 |
|
TA |
Of 85 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 54 (E Anglian) Inf Div |
To 134 Med Regt 10/44 |
|
|
135 (Herts Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 86 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-41 - 18 Inf Div |
Lost 2/42, Disb 47 |
|
136 (W Lancs) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 87 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 55 (W Lancashire) Inf Div |
336 Med Regt |
|
137 (W Lancs) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 88 Fd Regt |
UK 1940 - S Comd (School of Arty Army Fd Regt) |
Lost 2/42, |
|
138 (London) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 90 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-2 - 2 (47) (London) & 78 Inf Divs |
Disb 47 |
|
139 (London) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 91 Fd Regt |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
Disb 47 |
|
TA |
Of 92 Fd Regt |
France 1940 - 1 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
To 140 Med Regt 9/43 |
|
|
141 (QO Dorset Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 94 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 43 (Wessex) Inf Div |
341 Med Regt |
|
142 (R Devon Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 96 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-41 - 45 Inf Div |
342 Fd Regt |
|
143 (Kent) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 97 Fd Regt |
UK 1940 |
Disb 47 |
|
144 (Surrey & Sussex Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 98 Fd Regt |
UK 1940 |
344 LAA/SL Regt |
|
145 (Berks Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 99 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-45 - 61 Inf Div |
345 Med Regt |
|
TA |
Of 102 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-42 - 38 (Welsh) Inf Div |
To 146 Med Regt 11/43 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 147 Fd Regt RHA 6/40 |
UK 1940 - 11 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
Disb 47 |
|
|
148 (Beds Yeo) Fd Regt |
TA |
Of 105 Fd Regt |
UK 1939-41 - 18 Inf Div |
Lost 2/42, Disb 47 |
|
TA |
Fm 149 Fd Regt RHA 6/40 |
UK 1940-2 - War Office Reserve (Army Fd Regt) |
To 149 ATk Regt 7/42 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 150 Fd Regt RHA 6/40 |
UK 1940-2 - N Ireland Comd (Army Fd Regt &
148 Ind Bde Gp) |
350 Hy Regt |
|
|
151 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Ayrshire Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Scottish Comd (Army Fd Regt) &
46 Inf Div |
RAC |
|
152 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Ayrshire Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Scottish Comd (Army Fd Regt) &
6 Armd Div |
RAC |
|
153 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Leics Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940 - Scottish Comd & 1 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
RAC |
|
154 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Leics Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - 4 Corps Troops (Army Fd Regt) |
RAC |
|
155 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Lanarks Yeo 2/40 |
India 1941 - 9 Indian Inf Div |
Lost 2/42, RAC |
|
156 Fd Regt |
TA |
Fm Lanarks Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 |
RAC |
|
157 Fd Regt |
WF |
F India 12/40 |
Iraq, Persia 1941-2 - 10 Indian Div |
Lost 8/42, Disb 8/42 |
|
158 Fd Regt |
WF |
F India 12/40, |
India 1941-4 |
Disb 47 |
|
WF |
F India 4/41 |
Iraq, Persia
1941-4 - 6 Indian Div |
To 159 Para Lt Regt 1/45 |
|
|
160 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm A Bty 155 Fd Regt India 7/41 |
India 1941-3 - 14 & 26 Indian Divs |
91 Fd Regt |
|
161 Fd Regt |
WF |
F Quetta 9/41 |
|
Disbanded 3/42, absorbed by 160 Fd Regt |
|
WF |
F India 5/42 |
Ceylon 1942-3 - 21 East African Bde Gp (34 Indian Inf Div) |
To 303 (East African) Fd Regt 5/43 |
|
|
163 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 6/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 8/43 |
|
164 Fd Regt |
WF |
F Iraq 5/42 X Fd Regt |
Egypt 1942 - 25 Indian Inf Bde, 10 Indian Div |
Disb 8/42 |
|
165 Fd Regt |
WF |
F Persia 5/42 Y Fd Regt |
Mid East & N Africa 1942-3 - 8 Ind Div, 26
Indian Inf Bde Gp & 231 Inf Bde Gp |
Disb 12/44 |
|
|
Newfoundland |
|
|
|
|
167 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 3/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 76 (Res) Inf Div |
Disb 2/43 |
|
WF |
|
UK 1942-3 - 54 Inf Div |
To 168 Med Regt 12/43 |
|
|
169 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/41 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 2/43 |
|
170 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/41 |
UK 1942-4 - 54 & 55 Inf Divs |
Disb 3/44 |
|
WF |
Fm 2 Def Regt 1/42, Fm 171 Hy Regt 5/45 |
UK 1942-4 - 45 Inf Div |
To 171 Hy Regt 2/45, Disb 1/46 |
|
|
172 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 3 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942 - 46 Inf Div |
Disb 11/45 |
|
173 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 7 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942-5 - 48, 76 & 47 (Res) Inf Divs |
Disb 1/45 |
|
174 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 8 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 55 Inf Div |
Disb 3/45 |
|
175 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 10 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942-5 - 77 (Res) & 45 Inf Divs |
Disb 4/46 |
|
176 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 11 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942-5 - 77 (Res) & 45 Inf Divs |
Disb 3/46 |
|
WF |
Fm 14 Def Regt 1/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 33 Ind Inf Bde Gp |
Disb 3/44 to 25 Fd Regt |
|
|
WF |
F 1/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 49 Inf Div & WO Control |
Disb 3/46 |
|
|
179 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 11 Worcs 3/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 43 (Wessex) Inf Div |
Disb 3/46 |
|
180 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 8 N Staffs 3/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 48 Inf (Res) Div |
Disb 8/44 |
|
181 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 6 KOSLI 3/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 15 (Scottish) Inf Div |
Disb 6/46 |
|
182 Fd Regt |
WF |
Fm 12 Warwicks 2/42 |
UK 1943-4 - 38 (Res) Inf Div |
Disb 12/44 |
|
WF |
Fm 10 S Staffs 3/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 38 (Res) Inf Div |
To 61 Hy Regt 11/43 |
|
|
WF |
Fm 12 Kings 3/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
To 55 Hy Regt 3/43 |
|
|
185 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 49 Inf Div |
Disb 1/45 |
|
186 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 52 (Lowland) Inf Div |
Disb 11/45 |
|
187 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943 - 47 Inf Div |
Disb 6/43 |
|
188 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 38 Inf Div |
Disb 1/44 |
|
189 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
|
Disb 1/43 |
|
190 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943-4 - 38 & 15 Inf Divs |
Disb 10/45 |
|
191 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943 - 42 Armd Div |
Disb 1/45 |
|
192 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943 - 55 Inf Div |
Disb 3/44 |
|
193 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943 - 38 Inf Div |
Disb 1/44 |
|
194 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1943 - Scottish Comd |
Disb 1/44 |
|
195 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 1/43 |
UK 1943-5 - 80 & 38 (Res) Inf Divs |
Disb 1/46 |
|
199 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 7/43 |
UK 1943 - 80 (Res) Inf Div |
Disb 11/43 |
|
200 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 12/44 |
Italy 1945 - Jewish Inf Bde |
Disb 5/46 |
|
202 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 5/45 |
UK |
Disb 10/45 |
|
203 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 5/45 |
UK |
Disb 10/45 |
|
205 Fd Regt |
WF |
F 5/45 |
UK |
Disb 10/45 |
|
WF |
Fm 88 Med Regt 4/45 |
India 1945 - 23 Indian Div |
72 Fd Regt |
Regular field batteries were individually numbered between 1 and 121, and regiments did not have consecutive battery numbers. TA batteries had numbers in the series 201 - 430 and in 1938 almost all regiments had consecutively numbered batteries. War formed batteries used unused TA numbers (from regiments converted to anti-tank) then new numbers from 431 onwards. When 4 × 6 gun field brigades became 2 × 12 gun field regiments in 1938, regular batteries were amalgamated in pairs in their regiment and given the joint 'number', eg '14/66'. With the change in 1941 to 3 × 8 gun regiments one of these 'double numbers' was uncoupled and assigned to the third battery. The change from 4 × 6 to 2 × 12 gun batteries overlapped the doubling of the TA so the new regiments used two of the battery numbers, sometimes consecutive, from their 'parent'. New numbers were assigned to TA and WF units for their third batteries when these were created in 1941, using numbers from the 400 series reaching into the 600s. However, three regular field regiments (8, 15 & 21) had lettered batteries and a few TA and WF regiments (apart from HAC) initially had lettered batteries, these were changed to numbers in the 500 series, including one of the regular regiments.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Portsmouth 1938 |
51 Coast Regt |
|
2 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Longmoor 1938 |
39 Med Regt |
|
3 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Larkhill 1938 |
15 Med Regt |
|
4 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Brockhurst 1938 |
58 Med Regt |
|
5 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Shoeburyness 1938 |
Disb 9/46 |
|
6 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
Delhi, India 1939-40 |
18 Med Regt |
|
7 Med Regt |
Reg |
|
India 1938 |
32 Med Regt |
|
8 Med Regt |
WF |
F India 10/41 |
India 1942-3 |
Disb 2/46 |
|
9 Med Regt |
WF |
Fm 8 Buffs 12/42 |
UK 1943-4 |
Disb 10/45 |
|
10 Med Regt |
WF |
Fm 16 R Fus 12/42 |
UK 1943-4 |
Disb 4/46 |
|
11 Med Regt |
WF |
Fm 9 Essex 12/42 |
UK 1943-4 |
Disb 1/46 |
|
12 Med Regt |
WF |
|
UK 1942-5 - Scottish Comd |
Disb 3/46 |
|
13 Med Regt |
WF |
F 1/43 |
UK 1943-4 - South East Comd |
|
|
14 Med Regt |
WF |
Fm 8 Beds & Herts 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 - Northern Ireland Comd |
Disb 4/46 |
|
15 Med Regt |
TA |
F 1/43 |
UK 1943-4 |
Disb 1/45 |
|
16 Med Regt |
TA |
F 1/43 |
UK 1943-4 |
Disb 3/44 |
|
Reg |
Fm 12 Fd Regt 2/44 |
N Africa 1944 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 5/46 |
|
|
18 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm 18 Def Regt 11/43 |
N Africa 1944 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 3/45 |
|
Reg |
Fm 26 Def Regt (originally 26 ATk Regt) & 19 Med Bty 1/44 |
Mid East - 1944 - 9 Army & 3 Corps |
|
|
|
51 (Midland) Med Regt |
TA |
|
Stoke-on-Trent 1938 |
351 Med Regt |
|
53 (London) Med Regt |
TA |
|
Barnsbury 1938 |
353 HAA Regt |
|
56 (Highland) Med Regt |
TA |
|
Aberdeen 1938 |
356 Med Regt |
|
TA |
|
Leith 1938 |
To 51 Hy Regt 9/39 |
|
|
58 (Suffolk) Med Regt |
TA |
|
Ipswich 1938 |
358 Med Regt |
|
59 (4th West Lancs) Med Regt |
TA |
|
Liverpool 1938 |
359 Med Regt |
|
61 (Carnavon & Denbigh Yeo) Med Regt |
TA |
To RA 1938 |
Colwyn Bay 1938 |
361 Med Regt |
|
62 (Scottish) Med Regt |
TA |
Fm 504 Coast Regt |
Broughty Ferry 1938 |
362 Med Regt |
|
63 (Midland) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 51 Med Regt |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 47 |
|
64 (London) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 53 Med Regt |
N Africa 1940-1 - W Desert Force (13 Corps
Troops) |
Disb 47 |
|
65 (Highland) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 56 Med Regt |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 47 |
|
66 (Lowland) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 57 Med Regt |
UK 1940-2 - 5 Corps Troops |
Disb 47 |
|
67 (Suffolk) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 58 Med Regt |
UK 1940 - 4 Corps Troops |
Lost 9/42 |
|
68 (W Lancs) Med Regt |
TA |
Of 59 Med Regt |
Crete 1941 (1 bty) |
Lost 9/42 |
|
69 (Carnavon & Denbigh Yeo) Med Regt |
TA |
To RA 1939 |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 47 |
|
70 Med Regt |
WF |
F 1/40 |
UK 1940-3 - 2 Corps Troops |
Disb 12/45 |
|
71 Med Regt |
WF |
F 1/40 |
UK 1940 - Scottish Comd |
Disb 2/45 |
|
72 Med Regt |
WF |
F 1/40 |
UK 1940-4 - 11 Corps Troops, 3 AGRA |
Disb 2/46 |
|
WF |
F 4/40 |
UK 1940-1 - 3 Corps Troops |
To 95 ATk Regt 11/41, Disb 9/45 |
|
|
74 Med Regt |
WF |
F 1/40 |
UK 1940-2 - 12 Corps Troops |
Disb 12/45 |
|
75 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm Shrop Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - 3 Corps Troops |
RAC |
|
76 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm Shrop Yeo 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Western Comd |
RAC |
|
77 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm DLOY 2/40 |
UK 1940-4 - Northern Ireland Comd |
RAC |
|
78 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm DLOY 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Western Comd |
RAC |
|
79 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm Scottish Horse 2/40 |
UK 1940-4 - Scottish Comd, 4 AGRA |
RAC |
|
80 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm Scottish Horse 2/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Northern Comd |
RAC |
|
TA |
Fm 58 Fd Regt 12/43 |
NW Europe 1944-5 - 5 AGRA |
258 HAA Regt |
|
|
85 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm 53 (City of London) HAA Regt India 8/44 |
India 1944-5 |
453 HAA Regt |
|
86 Med Regt |
TA |
Fm 56 (Cornwall) HAA Regt India 8/44 |
India 1944-5 |
456 HAA Regt |
|
87 Med Regt |
WF |
Fm 63 & 70 HAA Regts India 8/44 |
Burma 1945 - 4 Corps |
Disb 47 |
|
WF |
F India 11/44 |
India 1944-5 |
To 208 Fd Regt 4/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 102 Fd Regt 9/43 |
Anzio 1/44 - 5 Inf Div |
302 Fd Regt |
|
|
TA |
Fm 107 RHA 3/44 |
NW Europe 1944-5 - 9 AGRA |
|
|
|
111 Med Regt |
|
|
Italy 1943-4 - Army Troops |
|
|
TA |
Fm 121 Fd Regt 1/44 |
NW Europe 1944-5 - 5 AGRA |
321 HAA Regt |
|
|
TA |
Fm 134 Jungle Fd Regt 10/44 |
Burma 1945 - Army Troops att 33 Indian Corps |
Disb 47 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 140 Fd Regt 9/43 |
Disb 47 |
||
|
TA |
Fm 146 Fd Regt 11/43 |
Italy 1944
- 10 Corps Troops |
Disb 47 |
|
|
WF |
Fm 168 Fd Regt 12/43 |
UK 1943-5 |
To 168 Lt Regt 6/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 78 Fd Regt 5/44 |
278 Fd Regt |
Regular medium batteries were individually numbered between 1 and 28, regiments did not have a consecutive series of battery numbers. TA batteries had numbers between 160 and 244, and almost all regiments had consecutively numbered batteries. War formed batteries, including those converted from yeomanry, used numbers from 246 onwards. When 4 × 6 gun medium brigades became 2 × 8 gun medium regiments in 1938, regular batteries were amalgamated in pairs in their regiment and given the joint 'number', eg '5/22'. The change from 4 × 6 to 2 × 8 gun batteries overlapped the doubling of the TA so the new regiments used two of the battery numbers from their 'parent'.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 Hy Regt |
Reg |
Reformed 12/42 |
Plymouth 1938 |
Disb 6/40 |
|
Reg |
Fm 32 Fd Regt 9/43 |
Mid East 1943-4 - Army Troops |
To 32 Fd Regt 5/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 57 Med Regt 9/39 |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops |
357 Med Regt |
|
|
TA |
To RA 1939 |
France 1940 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 7/40 |
|
|
53 Hy Regt |
WF |
F 12/39 |
UK 1940-4 |
Disb 4/46 |
|
WF |
F 12/39 |
UK 1940-2 - Southern Comd |
To 54 Super Hy Regt 2/45 |
|
|
WF |
Fm 184 Fd Regt 3/43 |
UK 1943-4 - Northern Ireland Comd |
Disb 9/46 |
|
|
56 Hy Regt |
WF |
F 1/40 |
UK 1940-2 |
Disb 3/46 |
|
|
Newfoundland |
|
|
|
|
58 Hy Regt |
WF |
F 4/40 |
UK 1940-2 - Northern Comd |
RHQ disb 3/43 |
|
|
Newfoundland |
|
|
|
|
60 Hy Regt |
WF |
F 7/43 |
UK 1943 - 76 (Res) Inf Div |
Disb 10/43 |
|
WF |
Fm 183 Fd Regt 11/44 |
Italy 1944-5 - Army Troops att 10 AGRA |
Disb 11/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 75 Fd Regt 9/43 |
Italy 1944-5 - Army Troops att 6 AGRA |
275 Fd Regt |
|
|
WF |
Fm 171 Fd Regt 2/45 |
UK 1945 - 47 (Res) Inf Div |
To 171 Fd Regt 5/45 |
The original regular heavy batteries were individually numbered between 1 and 28, the WF batteries were numbered in regimental order from 18. Generally the converted batteries retained their previous number. 57 and 59 Hy Regts were Newfoundland and detailed on the Colonial page. In the early years of the war some coast artillery regiments, with guns in fixed emplacements, were called 'Heavy Regiments', eg 3 Hy Regt in Gibraltar and 4 Hy Regt in Malta.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 Super Hy Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940-1 - Eastern Comd |
Disb 12/41 |
|
2 Super Hy Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940 - Eastern Comd |
Disb 2/45 |
|
3 Super Hy Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940 - Eastern Comd |
Disb 9/45 |
|
WF |
Fm 54 Hy Regt 2/45 |
Italy 1945 - 15 Army Gp Troops |
Disb 9/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 61 Fd Regt 12/44 |
NW Europe 1945 - SHArtyG |
261 Obs Regt |
Original batteries were number 1 - 16, converted batteries retained their previous number.
PACK, MOUNTAIN, LIGHT AND AIRBORNE REGIMENTS RA
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 Pack Regt |
WF |
F 12/40 |
UK 1939-42 |
Disb 11/45 |
|
1 Airlanding Lt Regt |
WF |
Fm 458 Indep Lt Bty & 1 Airldg Lt Bty 2/43 |
UK 1943 - 1 Abn Div |
Disb 11/45 |
|
2 Mtn Regt |
WF |
F 3/41 |
|
Disb 6/41 |
|
3 Mtn Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 52 (Lowland) Inf Div & War Office Control |
Amal with 123 Para Fd Regt 12/45 |
|
Reg |
Fm 5 Fd Regt 6/45 |
UK 1945 - 55 Inf Div |
43 SL Regt |
|
|
7 Mtn Regt |
WF |
F 10/43 |
N Africa 1944 - GHQ Troops |
Disb 11/45 |
|
WF |
Fm 53 ATk Regt 11/43 |
UK 1943-4 - 6 Abn Div |
To 300 ATk Regt |
|
|
TA |
Fm 85 Fd Regt 9/43 |
Italy 1943-5 - Army Troops |
SA 9/45 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 123 Fd Regt 1/45 |
India 1945 - 44 Indian Abn Div & 16 AGRA |
323 LAA Regt |
|
|
WF |
Fm 159 Fd Regt 1/45 |
India 1945 - 44 Indian Abn Div |
87 Abn Fd Regt disb 5/48 |
|
|
WF |
Fm 168 Med Regt 6/45 |
UK 1945 - 61 Inf Div |
Disb 2/46 |
|
|
Raiding Support Regiment |
WF |
|
Mediterranean Theatre 1944-5 |
|
Pack, mountain and light batteries used field battery numbers in the 400 series.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
1 Svy Regt |
Reg |
|
Larkhill 1938 |
94 Obs Regt |
|
2 Svy Regt |
Reg |
|
France 1940 - 2 Corps Troops |
52 Obs Regt |
|
3 Svy Regt |
TA |
|
Bristol 1938 |
376 Obs Regt |
|
4 Svy Regt |
TA |
|
Gateshead 1938 |
377 Obs Regt |
|
5 Svy Regt |
TA |
Of 3 Svy Regt |
UK 1940-2 - 5 Corps Troops |
Disb 1947 |
|
6 Svy Regt |
TA |
Of 4 Svy Regt |
N Africa, Eritrea, Greece, Iraq 1940-3 - GHQ Troops (6 Svy Tp) |
To 1 Svy Regt |
|
7 Svy Regt |
WF |
F 1/41 |
UK 1941-4 |
Disb 11/45 |
|
8 Svy Regt |
WF |
F 2/41 |
UK 1941-3 |
Disb 12/45 |
|
9 Svy Regt |
WF |
F 3/41 |
UK 1941-4 - 1 Corps Troops |
Disb 1/46 |
|
10 Svy Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 - South East Comd |
Disb 8/45 |
|
11 Svy Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 |
UK 1942-4 |
Disb 8/45 |
Initially batteries were numbered from 1 by type matching their regiment, eg 3 Svy Regt has 3 Survey, 3 Flash Spotting and 3 Sound Ranging batteries. When some regiments first changed to composite batteries some were numbered 1 Composite and so on, but others used A and B with regiment's number as suffix. When the composite battery organisation became fully official in 1944 batteries were re-numbered in regimental order (2 batteries per regiment) as survey batteries from 41 although some retained the An, Bn arrangement.
In late 1944 Divisional Counter Mortar batteries (13) started being formed for infantry divisions in all theatres. In addition Army Radar batteries were also formed, the first was numbered 100.
Five calibration troops were also formed and usually operated closely with a Survey Regiment.
Corps Counter Battery staffs took the number of the corps they were assigned to.
|
Regiment |
Type |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Disposal |
|
Reg |
|
Egypt 1938 |
To 3 RHA [field] 9/42 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 106 RHA 8/40 |
N Africa 1940-1 - W Desert Force, 13 Corps, 7 Armd Div |
To LAA 3/41, disb 7/41 |
|
|
1 Airldg ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm airldg atk btys 2/45 |
UK, Norway 1945 - 1 Abn Div |
|
|
2 Airldg ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm airldg atk btys 2/45 |
UK, Germany 1945 - 6 Abn Div |
|
|
13 ATk Regt |
Reg |
Fm 13 Fd Bde 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 2 Inf Div |
|
|
14 ATk Regt |
Reg |
Fm 14 Fd Bde 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 4 Inf Div |
|
|
20 ATk Regt |
Reg |
Fm 20 Fd Bde 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 3 Inf Div |
|
|
21 ATk Regt |
Reg |
Fm 21 Fd Bde 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 1 Inf Div |
|
|
23 Para LAA/ATk Regt |
|
Fm 23 LAA Regt 2/45 |
India 1945 - 44 Indian Abn Div |
|
|
24 LAA/ATk |
|
Fm 24 LAA & 82 ATk Regts 11/42 |
India 1942-3 - 39 Indian Div |
|
|
Reg |
Fm 26 Fd Bde 1938 |
Malta 1939-41 (as Mobile Coast / Def Regt) |
26 Med Regt 10/43 |
|
|
33 LAA/ATk |
TA |
Fm 33 LAA & 69 ATk Regts 8/43 |
India 1943-4 - 19 Indian Div |
|
|
51 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 54 (W Highland) Army Fd Bde 1938 |
France 1940 - 51 Inf Div |
Lost St Valery 6/40 |
|
52 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm [56 (Devon) Army Fd Bde 1938?] |
France 1939-40 - 5 Inf Div |
To 263 ATk Regt |
|
TA |
Fm 100 (Worcs & Ox Yeo) Fd Regt 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 48 (S Midland) Inf Div |
To 53 Airlanding Lt Regt 11/43 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 101 (QO Glasgow Yeo) Fd Regt 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 52 (Lowland) Inf Div |
To RAC QORGY 4/47 |
|
|
55 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 108 (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeo) Fd Regt 1938 |
UK 1939-2 - 54 Inf Div |
To 308 ATk Regt |
|
TA |
Fm 55 LAA & 56 ATk Regts 8/43 |
India 1943 - 20 Indian Div |
To 111 ATk Regt 9/44 |
|
|
56 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 4 KORR 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 42 (E Lancs) Inf Div |
Disb 12/45 India |
|
57 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 5 E Surrey 1938 |
France 1939-40 - 44 (Home Counties) Inf Div |
To 381 ATk Regt |
|
58 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 4 DWR 1938 |
UK 1939-40 - 49 Inf Div |
To 382 ATk Regt |
|
59 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 6 Hamps (Duke of Connaught's) 1938 |
UK 1939-44 - 43 Inf Div |
To 383 ATk Regt |
|
TA |
Fm 5 RWF 1938 |
UK 1939-42 |
Btys to 101 LAA/ATk /40 |
|
|
61 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 51 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-40 - 9 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
62 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 52 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-43 - 47 (London) Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
63 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 53 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-41 - 61 Inf Div |
To 387 ATk Regt |
|
64 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 54 ATk Regt 1938 |
UK 1939-42 - 15 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
65 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 55 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939 - 18 Inf Div |
To 389 ATk Regt |
|
66 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 56 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-40 - 59 Inf Div |
To 390 ATk Regt |
|
67 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 57 ATk Regt 1939 |
1939-40 - 12 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
68 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 58 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-40 - 46 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
TA |
Of 59 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-42 - 45 Inf Div |
Disb 10/44 India |
|
|
70 ATk Regt |
TA |
Of 60 ATk Regt 1939 |
UK 1939-45 - 38 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
71 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/40 |
UK 1940-4 - 53 Inf Div |
Disb 10/45 |
|
72 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940-2 - 6 Armd Div |
Disb 12/45 |
|
73 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940-2 - 8 Armd Div |
Disb 11/45 |
|
74 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1940-3 - 9 Armd Div |
Disb 12/43 |
|
75 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 11/40 |
UK 1941-4 - 11 Armd Div |
Disb 1/46 |
|
|
Fm 101 LAA/ATk Regt 11/40 |
UK 1940-1 - 1 Armd Div |
Merged with 60 ATk Regt 6/44 |
|
|
77 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 6/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 3/43 |
|
78 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 7/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 47 (London) Inf Div |
Disb 12/43 |
|
79 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 10/41 India |
India 1941-2 |
Disb 3/46 |
|
80 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 7/41 |
Malaya 1941-2 - 9 & 11 Indian Divs |
Lost 2/42 |
|
81 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/41 |
UK 1941-3 - 1 Inf Div |
Disb 4/45 |
|
82 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/41 |
India 1942 - 23 Indian Div |
Disb 6/45 India |
|
83 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/41 |
Iraq, Egypt 1941-4 - 8 Indian Div |
Disb 12/44 |
|
84 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/41 |
UK 1941-2 |
Disb 7/44 |
|
85 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 9/41 |
Singapore 1942 - 11 Indian Div |
Lost 2/42 |
|
86 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 5 Devons 11/41 |
UK 1941-4 |
To Inf 1947 |
|
87 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 7 Devons 11/41 |
UK 1941-2 - 77 Inf Div |
To 396 LAA |
|
88 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 2/9 Manch 11/41 |
UK 1941-3 - 49 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
89 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 2 Liverpool Scottish 11/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 47 (London) Inf Div |
To 655 LAA/SL |
|
90 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 9 KORR 12/41 |
UK 1942 - 54 Inf Div |
Disb 12/43 |
|
91 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 5 A&SH 11/41 |
UK 1941-4 |
Disb 1947 |
|
92 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 4 Gordons 11/41 |
UK 1942 - 54 Inf Div |
To Inf 1947 |
|
93 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 6 A&SH 11/41 |
UK 1941-2 - 48 Inf Div |
To 402 ATk Regt |
|
94 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 22 RF 2/42 |
UK 1942-3 - 76 Inf Div |
Disb 12/44 |
|
|
Fm 73 Med Regt 10/41 |
N Africa 1942 - 8 Army Troops |
To 73 Med Regt 4/44 |
|
|
96 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 7/42 |
UK 1942-5 - 48 Inf Div |
Disb 1/46 |
|
97 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 7/42 |
UK 1942-4 - 15 Inf Div |
Disb 1/45 |
|
98 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 19 RF 11/42 |
UK 1942-4 |
Disb 1/44 |
|
99 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 7 KOSLI 11/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 11/43 |
|
100 ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm 8 Gordons 11/41 |
UK 1942 - 76 Inf Div |
Disb 1947 |
|
|
Fm 11 LAA & 60 ATk Regts 1940 |
UK 1940 - 1 Armd Div |
To 76 ATk Regt 11/40 |
|
|
101 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 8 Lincoln 12/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 8/43 |
|
102 LAA/ATk Regt |
TA |
Fm Northumberland Hussars 2/40 |
UK 1940-1 - 2 Armd Div |
To RAC 1947 |
|
103 ATk Regt |
WF |
Fm 14 S Staffs 12/42 |
UK 1942-3 |
Disb 8/43 |
|
105 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 12/42 Egypt |
Sicily, Italy 1943-5 - 13 Corps Troops |
Disb 4/45 |
|
106 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 6/43 Middle East |
Mid East 1943-4 - Troops Egypt |
Disb 3/44 |
|
107 ATk Regt |
WF |
F 6/43 Middle East |
Mid East 1943-4 - Troops Egypt & 9 Army |
Disb 3/44 |
|
TA |
Fm 55 ATk Regt 9/44 |
Burma 1944-5 - 20 Indian Div |
Disb 7/45 India |
|
|
122 LAA/ATk |
TA |
Fm 122 LAA & 100 ATk Regts 11/43 |
Burma 1944 - 33 Corps Troops |
To 588 HAA |
|
TA |
Fm 125 Fd Regt 7/40 |
UK 1940-1 - 18 Inf Div |
Lost 2/42 |
|
|
TA |
Fm 149 Fd Regt 1941 |
N Africa 1941-2 - 70 Inf Div |
To 349 LAA Regt |
Regular batteries retained their numbers when they converted to anti-tank. TA batteries were sequentially numbered within regiments starting with 201 ATk Bty in 51 ATk Regt. These numbers appear to have continued into war formed units and regiments converted from infantry and yeomanry, although a few regiments had batteries numbered A - D. However, disbandments, reducing to three batteries and then increasing to four resulted in a certain amount of randomisation of battery numbers within regiments.
AIR OBSERVATION POST SQUADRONS RAF
|
Squadron |
Origin/Change |
Where - When - With |
Comments |
|
651 AOP Sqn |
F 8/41 Old Sarum |
Tunisia 1943 |
|
|
652 AOP Sqn |
F 5/42 Old Sarum |
D-Day 6/44 |
Fm B Flt 651 Sqn |
|
653 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 |
|
|
654 AOP Sqn |
|
N Africa 1943 |
|
|
655 AOP Sqn |
|
Italy 1/44 Anzio |
|
|
656 AOP Sqn |
F 12/42 Bury St Edmunds |
Burma 1943-5 - 14 Army |
|
|
657 AOP Sqn |
|
Italy 1944-5 - 13 Corps & 1 (Canadian) Corps |
|
|
658 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 |
|
|
659 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 |
|
|
660 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 - 2 (Canadian) Corps |
|
|
661 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 |
661 AOP Sqn RAuxAF 1947 |
|
662 AOP Sqn |
|
NW Europe 1944-5 - 30 Corps |
662 AOP Sqn RAuxAF 1947 |
The information in these tables is compiled from the following sources:
The information in these is not always consistent and even seemingly authoritative sources contain errors and omissions. Some of these have typographical origins because it is very easy for a regiment's number to be incorrectly transcribed or the type of regiment to be confused and very difficult to spot such errors. This is not helped by changes in official nomenclature during WW2. For example RHA regiments went from being 'n RHA' to 'n Fd Regt RHA', which makes them easy to confuse with 'n Fd Regt RA'. Regimental conversions from field to medium or heavy are another source of confusion.
To add to the difficulty artillery Orders of Battle in the theatre volumes of Official Histories (and some such histories are very poor with respect to ORBAT) are notably incomplete, particularly above division level. Furthermore, Joslen places all non-divisional artillery at army or higher level and completely omits AGRAs and corps troops.
Finally few historians (or even participants at the time) seem to have much idea about the corps or higher level artillery supporting an operation. An additional source of difficulty is that sometimes the unit code number on a regiment's vehicle 'tac sign' was mistaken by US soldiers as the actual regiment number, this has caused confusion in some US histories' references to British units.
The Royal Marines formed various batteries, including field and anti-tank, for the RM Division. At some stages these included a few RA officers and soldiers. One battery with 3.7-inch How went to Norway in 1940. When the RM Division was finally disbanded in 1943 many of the men from these units formed the nucleus of the Armd Assault Regts RM equipped with Centaur tanks armed with 95-mm How. These units fought for some weeks in Normandy before being disbanded.
Calibration troops were numbered 1 (21 Army Group), 2 (Italy), 3 (India), 4 and 5 (both in UK).
Forward Observation Units (FOU) were assigned to airborne formations to provide additional observers and links to any non-airborne artillery that might be in range, in early 1945 they started being enhanced with a counter mortar capability. In late 1944 numbers 1 and 2 FOU were in 21 Army Group and 3 FOU in Italy.
Combined Operations Bombardment Units provided naval gunfire observation parties ashore and liaison parties afloat. At the end of 1944 they were numbers 1 (in UK), 2 (Mediterranean), 3 (21 Army Group), 4 (UK) and 5 (India).
Also in early 1945 three rocket batteries were formed, equipped with the 'land-mattress' multiple rocket launchers.
Many training regiments were formed in UK in 1939-40, most had been disbanded by late 1943 on completion of the army's expansion, thereafter the need was reduced to training reinforcements. There were 12 field training regiments (numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16) five medium and heavy training regiments (numbered 21-25) one mountain training regiment (numbered 2) and two 2 survey training regiments (numbered 40 and 41). In addition there were six signal training regiments (numbered 34-39). Towards the end of the war a SP training regiment (numbered 51) was formed as was a driver training regiment (numbered 227). Finally there were two field and one medium reserve regiments.
Official RA policy was that regiments that were 'lost' were reduced to a small cadre of 1 officer and 4 gunners drawn from the base depot in theatre and subsequently reformed. This did not occur with those regiments lost in Malaya, although the single regular regiment lost was reformed later in the war.
ABBREVIATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
A Regiment's Type was either Regular (Reg), Territorial Army (TA) or War Formed (WF).
The TA doubled in early 1939, with each existing regiment 'spawning' another, the originating TA regiment of these are shown as 'Of' in the Origin/Change column. This column also shows the formation (F) date of WF regiment and the conversion (Fm) of infantry, cavalry and other types of artillery regiments. The column also shows some changes in designation within a regiment's basic role.
The Where - When - With column provides reasonably comprehensive details for each regiment, of course fully comprehensive would require details of every change in subordination. Generally the information indicates the HQ commanding the regiment, with attachment (att) indicating sub-allocation, this detail is incomplete, particularly for regiments. The term 'Mid East' is used to indicate 9 Army and the Eastern Mediterranean area including British Troops Egypt.
The 'Disposal' column shows either the date of conversion to another role, disbandment or the regiment's number after the 1947 re-numbering of regiments.
The annotation ‡ indicates that the regiment and its parent division spent a period of a few months rest, re-equipping and re-training in the Mid East during the Italian Campaign.
You'll have noted that there are gaps in the sequence of regimental numbers, particularly for the original regular and TA regiments. There are two reasons for this, first regular and TA regiments had separate batches of numbers and secondly some field regiments were converted to Anti Tank before the outbreak of war. The regular anti-tank regiments retained their number in their new role but TA regiments were renumbered. As the war progressed regiments that changed role generally retained their previous number.
Lastly there were a few independent batteries, notably light batteries in several theatres.
Finally, 4 Fd Regt is noteworthy. Stationed in India with four batteries (4, 7, 14 & 66) it moved to Egypt with 4 Indian Div in the weeks after the outbreak of war, where it reorganised from four batteries to two (4/14 & 7/66), one with 8 x 18-pdr, the other with 8 x 4.5-in How. The following year in moved to Sudan, joined 5 Indian Div and the defeat of Italian forces in Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia. Returning to Egypt in 1941 it joined 6 Inf Div and went to Syria to defeat the Vichy French forces. It then rejoined 5 Indian Div in Cyprus. In early 1942 the regiment returned to Egypt, re-equipped with 25-pdr and reorganised into a three battery (4, 7, 14/66) regiment. It spent the rest of the year in the Western Desert including at El Alamein as part of 7 Armd Div, although in August heavy losses had reduced the regiment to two batteries (7 & 14/66). In early 1943 the regiment rejoined 5 Indian Div in Palestine, gained a new third battery (522) and moved to India. In late 1943 it deployed to the Arakan in Burma, then to the Assam/Burma border, by mid 1945 it was in Meiktila and the pursuit to Rangoon. The regiment was one of those rare units that fought Italians, Germans, Vichy French and Japanese. 60 Fd Regt was the only other RA unit that may have had this distinction, becoming 60 & 88 Columns of the Special Force (Chindits) as well as serving in Tobruk. It may be noted that in the 1947 reorganisation of artillery 4 Bty became 14 (Coles Kop), 7 Bty became 16 (Sandham's Coy), and 14/66 became 17 (Corunna), 4 Regt became 26 Regt.
Copyright © 2002 - 2014 Nigel F Evans. All Rights Reserved.