Royal Artillery in World War 2

The Royal Artillery in World War 2 expanded not only in size but in scope also. The Regiment, which in 1939 was still coming to terms with mechanisation and its relatively new branches of Anti-tank and Anti-aircraft, found itself, over the next six years, taking on even more roles.
In the air, Gunners found themselves flying spotter planes, parachuting and landing by glider. At sea they manned the guns of armed merchantmen. On the ground they manned their guns, fought as infantry, built roads and landing strips and much more besides.
By the end of the war there were nearly 700,000 serving in the Regiment – about two-fifths of the British Army and about equal with the whole of the Royal Navy.
The purpose of this site is to record as much of this service of the Royal Artillery in World War 2 as possible. The site is far from complete and I doubt if it ever will be. However, I hope it will be a continually growing resource for historians, model makers and any one with an interest in the Royal Artillery.

For a list of References and a Glossary of terms used on the site, scroll down.

Reference

The following are the main references sources used for this site.

  • Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978 Vols 1 & 2
    JBM Frederick, 1984 : Microform Academic Publishers, Wakefield
    ISBN 2 Vol set – 1 85117 009 X
  • Orders of Battle Second World War 1939-1945
    Lt Col HF Joslen : Naval & Military Press (reprint)
    ISBN 9781843424741
  • Regiments of the British Army 1939-1945 (Artillery)
    Malcolm A Bellis, 1995 : Military Press International
    ISBN 0 85420 110 6
  • History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery – The Years of Defeat 1939-41
    Gen Sir Martin Farndale KCB, 1996 : Brassey’s, London
    ISBN 1 85753 080 2
  • History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery – The Far East Theatre 1941-46
    Gen Sir Martin Farndale KCB, 2002 : Brassey’s, London
    ISBN 1 85753 331 3
  • History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery – Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914-55
    Brig NW Routledge OBE TD, 1994 : Brassey’s, London
    ISBN 1 857753 099 3
  • Honour Titles of the Royal Artillery
    Maj Gen BP Hughes,1988 : BP Hughes
    ISBN 10: 1870114108, ISBN 13: 9781870114103
  • The Dress of the Royal Artillery
    D Alastair Campbell, 1971 : Arms & Armour Press, London
    ISBN 85368491 X
  • The History of the Dress of the Royal Regiment of Artillery
    Captain RJ MacDonald, 1985 : Crecy Books, Bristol (reprint)
    ISBN 0 947554 05 X
  • The Territorial Artillery 1908-1988
    Norman EH Litchfield, 1992 : The Sherwood Press (Nottingham)
    ISBN 0 9508205 2 0
  • The Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-45
  • British Military Markings 1939-45
    Peter Hodges & Michael D Taylor, 1994 : Cannon Publications, Retford
    ISBN 1 899695 00 1
  • Vehicle Markings of the B.E.F from the GHQ diary of 11 April 1940
    Andrew Foulkes, 2011
  • Gunners at Larkhill – A History of the Royal School of Artillery
    NDG James, 1983 : Gresham Books Ltd.
    ISBN-10: 0946095078, ISBN-13: 978-0946095070
  • AA Command – Britain’s Anti-Aircraft Defences of the Second World War
    Colin Dobinson, 2001 : Methuen Publishing
    ISBN 0 413 76540 7
  • Operation Diver – Guns, V1 Flying Bombs & Landscapes of Defence 1944-45
    Colin Dobinson, 2019 : Historic England, Swindon
    ISBN 978 1 84802 475 5
  • History of Coast Artillery in the British Army
    Col KW Maurice-Jones DSO, 1959 : Royal Artillery Institution, London
  • Army Radar
    David Wilcox, 2014: Reveille Press, Brighton
    ISBN 978 1 908336 84 2
  • Extended Defence of Britain overlay on Google Earth
  • Various discussions on WW2Talk

Regimental Histories

RHA

  • Chaplain at War – 11 Honourable Artillery Company RHA
    Revd K Oliver, 1986 : Angel Press, Chicester
    ISBN 0 947785 12 4
  • Prepare to Move – With the 6th Armoured Division in Africa & Italy – 12 Honourable Artillery Company RHA
    Frank Beckett, 1994 : Frank & Eileen Beckett Publishers
    ISBN 0 9520897 0 X Hardback ; ISBN 0 9520897 1 8 Paperback
  • To The Last Round – South Notts Hussars 1939-42 (107 RHA)
    Peter Hart, 1996 : Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley
    ISBN 0 85052 514 4

Field

  • Ubique – 2nd Field Regiment RA
    AM Cheetham, 1987 : Freshfield Books, Formby
    ISBN 0 9512853 0 0
  • Gunfire Target – 6 years with the RA (11 Field Regiment)
    Edward A Oates, 1996 : The Book Guild, Lewes
    ISBN 1 85776 066 2
  • Sheldrake – Memories of a 2nd World War Gunner (24, 132 & 133 Regiments)
    Maj Richard Hughes, 2016 : Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley
    ISBN 9781473868601
  • 31st Field Regiment RA – A Record
    Owen N Roberts, 1994 : Old Comrades Association 31st Field Regiment RA
    ISBN 0 9523547 0 5
  • Fifty-First Field – The story of the 51st Field Regiment RA (Westmoreland & Cumberland Yeomanry), in the Second World War
    Thomas Thompson, 2020 : Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life
    ISBN 978 0 9566387 4 8
  • The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments RA – Part 1 Field Regiments – 86, 135 & 191 Field Regiments
    JD Sainsbury, 1999 : Hart Books, Welwyn
    ISBN 0 948527 05 6
  • Lancashire Gunners at War – 88th Field Regiment 1939-45
    Stephen Bull, 1999 : Carnegie Publishing, Lamcaster
    ISBN 1 85936 068 8
  • Yeoman Service – A Short History of the Kent Yeomanry 1939-1945  (97th Field Regiment)
    Lt-Col Franklin Lushington : Naval & Military Press
    ISBN 978 1 78331 073 9
  • The Surrey & Sussex Yeomanry in the Second World War – 98 & 144 Field Regiments
    Lt-Col TB Davis, 1980 : Ditchling Press, Hassocks
    ISBN 0 9500584 3 2
  • Snowdrops for a Soldier – The story of Charlie Robinson, 111 Field Regiment
    Karen J Yates, 2016 : Matador
    ISBN 978 1785890 000
  • The Ups & Downs of a Gunner – My Life Story – 112 Field Regiment
    Albert Figg, 2017 : Amazon
    ISBN 13: 978 1544090962 ; ISBN 10: 1544090996X
  • Field of Fire – Diary of a Gunner Officer (127 Field Regiment)
    Jack Swaab, 2005 : Sutton Publishing, Stroud
    ISBN 0 7509 4275 4
  • Gunner Jack Dunkirk to Burma – The untold story of 130 Assault Field Regiment RA
    Martin McLean, 2022 : Kindle Books
    ISBN 9798404924367
  • The Rose & The Arrow – A Life Story of 136th (1st West Lancashire) Field Regiment RA 1939-46
    GW Robertson : 136 Field Regiment RA Old Comrades Association
  • 153rd Leicestershire Yeomanry Field Regiment RA TA 1939-1945
    Naval & Military Press, Uckfield
    ISBN 978 1 78331 155 2

Medium

  • The History of the 7th Medium Regiment RA – (now 32nd Medium Regiment RA) During World War II 1939-1945
    7th Medium Regiment Historical Committee, 1951 : Loxley Brothers Ltd, Sheffield
  • A Well Known Excellence – The author’s travels with 64 Medium Regiment
    Denis Falvey, 2002 : Brassey’s, London
    ISBN 1 85753 312 7

Anti-Tank

  • Mars & Venus – 210 Battery, 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 1937-43
    Jack Creed, 2000 : Brewin Books, Studley
    ISBN 1 85858 160 5
  • Ours Was Not The Glory – 93rd Anti-Tank Regiment RA – 8th Army Italy 1943-45
    Peter Johnstone, 1993
  • Shabash-149 – The war story of 149th Regiment RA 1939-45
    EW Capleton, 1963 : C Tinling & Co, Liverpool

Heavy Anti-Aircraft

  • 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA
    Patrick Walker, 2011 : The Choir Press, Gloucester
    ISBN978 0 9562190 4 6
  • Wall of Steel – The History of 9th (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (SR)
    Richard Doherty, 1988 : North West Books, Limavady
    ISBN 0 907528 13 9
  • Ever Your Own, Johnnie – Britain 1938-42 – Edited letters of RSM John Kemp (53 & 88 HAA Regiments)
    Nick Kemp, 2016 : Nickkempbooks@yahoo.co.uk
    ISBN 978 1 326 59785 6
  • Ever Your Own, Johnnie – North Africa  1942-43 – Edited letters of RSM John Kemp (76 HAA Regiment)
    Nick Kemp, 2016 : Nickkempbooks@yahoo.co.uk
    ISBN 978 1 326 59890 7
  • Ever Your Own, Johnnie – Sicily & Italy 1943-45 – Edited letters of RSM John Kemp (76 HAA Regiment)
    Nick Kemp, 2016 : Nickkempbooks@yahoo.co.uk
    ISBN 978 1 326 59892 1
  • The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments RA – Part 2 79 HAA Regiment & Searchlight Battery
    JD Sainsbury, 2003 : Hart Books, Welwyn
    ISBN 0 948527 06 4

Light Anti-Aircraft

  • Ack-Ack – A History of 15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA)
    Curwen Clague, 1981 :  Old Comrades Association 15th LAA Regiment
  • The Sparrows – 79 Battery, 21 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
    Tony Paley, 1992 : The Self Publishing Association, Worcestershire
    ISBN 1 85421 145 5
  • True Loyals – History of 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA 1940-46
    Tom McCarthy, 2010 : Countyvise Ltd., Birkenhead
    ISBN 978 1 906823 38 2

Searchlight

  • Flames of Calais – A Soldiers Battle 1940 (Author in 2 Searchlight Regiment RA)
    Airey Neave, 1972 : Pen & Sword Military, Yorkshire
    ISBN 978 1 52674 851 5

Light & Air Landing

  • The Gunners at Arnhem
    Peter Wilkinson, 1999 : Spurwing Publishing, Northampton
    ISBN 0 9535754 0 3

Survey/Locating

  • Larkhill’s Wartime Locators – a history of the Survey Regiments
    Massimo Mangilli-Climpson, 2007 : Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley
    ISBN 9781781594445

Air OP

  • From Auster to Apache – The history of 656 Squadron RAF/RCAF 1942-2012
    Guy Warner, 2013 : Pen & Sword Aviation, Barnsley
    ISBN 978 1 78159 -098 0 ; EPUB ISBN 978 1 47382 246 7

Glossary & Abbreviations

The Glossary & Abbreviations definitions that are given here, apply to the contents of this site only. They may have different meanings outside of this scope or in a different time frame.

2 i/cSecond in Command
A/As in A/Sgt – Acting rank. Can be paid but holder can be returned to previous rank by CO
AAAnti-Aircraft
ACCArmy Catering Corps
AckAssistant
AdjAdjutant – Administrative officer at Regimental Headquarters
ACPOAssistant Command Post Officer – See CPO
AGPOAssistant Gun Position Officer – See GPO
ATkAnti-Tank
BCBattery Commander – Major in charge of the battery
BdrBombardier – RA equivalant of a corporal
BKBattery Captain – Battery second in command
BLBreech loading – gun that uses bagged charges
BSMBattery Sergeant Major – Warrant Officer Class 2
BTEBritish Troops Egypt
BQMSBattery Quartermaster Sergeant – Staff Sgt, responsible for battery
stores & equipment
BtyBattery – the standard unit of the RA. A Major’s command
CMFCentral Mediterranean Forces
COCommanding Officer – Lieutenant Colonel in charge of a regiment
CODCoast Observer Detachment
CPOCommand Post Officer – Selected gun positions for each Troop & had overall control
Dvr/OpDriver/wireless operator
EAAEast African Artillery
FFWFitted for wireless – Indicates that the vehicle has the equipment to
mount a wireless set
FOOForward Observation Officer – Captain or Major controlling the fire of the guns, Usually mobile with the supported infantry or tanks
GnrGunner – RA equivalent of a private
GORGun Operations Room (AA)
GPOGun Position Officer – Controlled the Troop position
GSGeneral Service
HAAHeavy Anti-Aircraft
HKSRAHong Kong & Singapore RA – recruited in India, mostly Punjabis
HKVDCHong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps – Locally recruited Europeans and Chinese
HowHowitzer- fires in the upper register i.e. above 45 degrees elevation
HQHead Quarters
LAALight Anti-Aircraft
LAA/ATkLight Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank – A unit with two batteries of each type
L/BdrLance Bombardier – RA equivalent of a lance corporal
LMGLight Machine Gun (Bren)
(M)“Mixed” in a Heavy Anti-Aircraft unit. Unit has ATS women fully integrated.
OPObservation Post – static position from which to observe & control the fire of the guns
OPAObservation Post Assistant
OPOObservation Post Officer – FOO in static position
PIATProjector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (Spring loaded anti-tank projectile launcher)
QFQuick Firing – gun using a metal cartridge case for the charge
QMQuartermaster – responsible for regimental stores & equipment
RARoyal Artillery
REMERoyal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
RFARoyal Field Artillery
RGARoyal Garrison Artillery
RHARoyal Horse Artillery
RMARoyal Malta Artillery
RMARoyal Marine Artillery
RQMSRegimental Quartermaster Sergeant – assists QM, WO2
R SigsRoyal Corps of Signals
RSMRegimental Sergeant Major – WO1
(SR)Supplementary Reserve – N Ireland’s Territorial Army
TATerritorial Army
TCTroop Commander – Usually a Captain employed as an FOO
TFTerritorial Force – predecessor of the Territorial Army
Truck 5 cwt 4×4Jeep
TSMTroop Sergeant Major also known as a Troop BSM
U/As in U/Sgt – Unpaid rank usually for a probationary period.
Veh MechVehicle Mechanic
Warrant OfficerRanks above Staff Sergeant and below commissioned officer. Known as
Sergeant Majors they hold their rank by Royal Warrant
WAAWest African Artillery
WOPWireless Operator
WO1Warrant Officer Class 1 – RSM and equivalent. See Insignia section
WO2Warrant Officer Class 2 – BSM and equivalent. See Insignia section
WO3Warrant Officer Class 3 – TSM. See Insignia section
W/As in W/Sgt – War rank, holder can be asked to revert to pre-war rank at the end of hostilities.
The Royal Artillery 1939-45