57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA)

57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) was converted from 5th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment with four batteries in November 1938. The Regiment fought with the BEF in 1940. it moved to the Middle East in July 1942 and to Italy in September 1943.  The Regiment was put in suspended animation in December 1946. In January 1947, 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) was re-constituted as 381 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA).

Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.

A map is provided of the units journey through France/Belgium in 1940. Link at the bottom of the page.

3 Sep 39 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division Wimbledon, London, UK
Sep 39 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Epsom race course, Surrey, UK
Oct 39 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Chard, Somerset, UK
Apr 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division Bailleul, France
May 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Kaster, Belgium
May 40 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Anzegem, Belgium
May 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Sailly-sur-Lys, France
May 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Steentje, France
May 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Godewaersvelde, France
May 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Dunkirk, France
Jun 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division Headington, Oxford, UK
Jun 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Port Meadow, Oxford, UK
Jul 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Askern, Yorkshire, UK
Nov 40 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Mayfield, Sussex, UK
Feb 41 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Tonbridge, Kent, UK
May 41 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Canterbury, Kent, UK
Feb 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Rochester, Kent, UK
Apr 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Wimbledon, London, UK
31 May 42   Sailed for Egypt on USAT J.W. McAndrew Gourock, Clyde, UK
21 Jul 42   Disembarked Port Tewfik, Egypt
Jul 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 44 Infantry Division Khatatba, Egypt
Aug 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division Alam el Halfa, Egypt
Oct 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division El Alamein, Egypt
Nov 42 44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 44 Infantry Division – 225 & 226 Batteries only Tobruk, Libya
Nov 42 30 corps 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 30 Corps El Adem, Libya
Dec 42 30 corps 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 30 Corps Gardet el Chaiba, Libya
Jan 43 8 Army 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 8 Army Buerat, Libya
Jan 43 8 Army 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 8 Army Tripoli, Libya
Feb 43 8 Army 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 8 Army Medenine, Tunisia
Mar 43 8 Army 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 8 Army Mareth, Tunisia
Apr 43 8 Army 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 8 Army Enfidaville, Tunisia
May 43 10 Corps 42 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 10 Corps Sidi Bou Ali, Tunisia
Jun 43 10 Corps 42 57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) 10 Corps Tripoli, Libya
Oct 43 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Salerno, Italy
Oct 43 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Castellamare, Italy
Oct 43 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Trentola, Italy
Nov 43 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Roccamonfina, Italy
Dec 43 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Tranzi, Italy
Jan 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps – 227 Bty mortars, remainder porterage duties Albanova, Italy
Feb 44   168 Infantry Brigade – 192 Battery only Anzio, Italy
May 44 8 Army 8 Army Cassino, Italy
May 44 8 Army 8 Army Villa Literno, Italy
Jun 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Badiola, Italy
Jul 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Cortona, Italy
Aug 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Monsoglio, Italy
Oct 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Badia Prataglia, Italy
Oct 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Arezzo, Italy
Dec 44 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Tolentino, Italy
Mar 45 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Faenza, Italy
Apr 45 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Imola, Italy
May 45 10 Corps 42 10 Corps Cattolica, Italy

 

Batteries

3 Sep 39 225, 226, 227, 228
Sep 41 225, 226, 227 (RHQ & 228 Battery to form 82 ATk Regt)
Oct 41 225, 226, 227, 300
May 43 192, 225, 226, 227
Mar 45 192, 225, 226, 316

 

Equipment

Mar 40 48 x 2 pdr Guns, Morris Tractors
Jun 40 227 & 228 Batteries 2 pdr Guns, 225 Battery 10 x Hotchkiss 6 pdr guns on extemporised carriages, 15 cwt GS Tractors (226 Battery – Training Battery)
Nov 40 226, 227 (also responsible for 1 x 4 inch Gun in concrete emplacement, Rye Harbour) & 228 Batteries 2 pdr Guns, 225 Battery 7 x static & mobile 4 inch Guns
May 41 225 Battery 12 x static 6 pdr Guns (1916 vintage), remainder 2 pdr Guns porteed
May 41 6 pdrs swapped for 12 x US 75 mm Guns
Apr 42 Each Battery 3 x Troops 2 pdr Guns, 1 x Troop 6 pdr Guns (modern)
Oct 42 48 x 6 pdr Guns, 16 x 2 pdr Guns
Dec 42 64 x 6 pdr Guns Portee
Mar 43 226 Battery 17 pdr Pheasants
Jul 43 4 x 17 pdr Pheasants per Battery, remainder 6 pdr Guns
Jan 44 227 Battery 6 x 4.2 inch Mortars
May 44 225 & 226 Batteries 12 x 3 inch SP M10 each
Jun 44 White Scout Car OP’s replaced by Stuart Light Tanks
Dec 44 9 x M10 17pdr received
Mar 45 226 & 192 Batteries 1 Troop each M10 17 pdr, 1 Troop 17 pdr towed, 1 Troop 6 pdr
316 Battery 1 Troop M10 3 inch, 1 Troop 17 pdr towed, 1 Troop 6 pdr
225 Battery 3 Troops M10 3 inch

 

The Royal Artillery 1939-45