64 (London) Medium Regiment RA (TA) was formed as a duplicate of 53 Medium Regiment with two batteries in 1939. It moved to the Middle East in 1941, serving in Egypt, Libya, Greece & Crete before returning to Egypt. It continued to serve in the Middle East & North Africa through to Tunisia before returning to the UK. Joining 5 AGRA, 64 (London) Medium Regiment RA (TA) went to France in June 1944 and served through North West Europe to Germany. The Regiment was placed in suspended animation in May 1946. 64 (London) Medium Regiment RA (TA) was disbanded in January 1947.
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.
(Title granted February 1942)
Sep 39 | London District | Islington, London, UK | |
5 Sep 39 | London District | Edgeware, London, UK | |
Jan 40 | London District | Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK (cadre taken to form 70 Medium Regiment) |
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Apr 40 | 4 Corps | Tetbury, Gloucestershire, UK | |
Jul 40 | 4 Corps | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK At the end of August Regiment placed on Aerodrome defence. RHQ Haddenham (Cambs), 211 Bty less B Troop Herringswell (Suffolk), B Troop Hardwick (Cambs), 212 Bty St Ives (Cambs) area. Regiment reassembled at High Wycombe end of September. |
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Jan 41 | British Troops Egypt | Mena, Egypt | |
Jan 41 | 13 Corps | Tobruk, Libya Less 212 Battery who remained at Mena |
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Jan 41 | 13 Corps | Gazala & Martuba, Libya | |
Feb 41 | 13 Corps | Giovanni Berta, Mechili & Soluch, Libya | |
Feb 41 | British Troops Egypt | Mena, Egypt 234 Battery from 68 Medium Regiment joined to make a 4.5 inch Regiment for Greece and 212 Battery went to 68 Medium Regiment to make a 6 inch Howitzer Regiment for Eritrea |
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Mar 41 | 1 ANZAC Corps | Piraeus & Florina, Greece Less D Troop 234 Battery at Vervia Pass |
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Apr 41 | 1 ANZAC Corps | Vevi, Servia & Thermopylae, Greece When ordered to evacuate, most of the Regiment were taken off the Marathon beaches by the AA Cruiser HMS Carlisle and landed at Suda Bay, Crete. Some were taken off by ships that went back to Alexandria. |
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May 41 | Crete 234 Battery plus A Troop 211 Battery were issued with Italian 100mm Howitzers & 72mm Guns to defend Heraklion aerodrome. The remainder of the Regiment were at Perivolia near Canea as infantry. The gun party were evacuated on the night 29/30 May while the remainder marched over the mountains to Sphakia where most were evacuated on the night 30/31 May |
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Jun 41 | British Troops Egypt | El Tahag, Egypt |
212 Battery attached to 68 Medium Regiment
Mar 41 | 4 & 5 Indian Divisions | Keren, Eritrea | |
May 41 | 4 Indian Division | Sidi Haneish, Libya | |
Jun 41 | 7 Australian Division | Damour, Syria |
64 Medium Regiment continued
Aug 41 | 1 Australian Corps | Chouiefat, Syria 234 Battery rejoined 68 Medium Regiment in July & 211 Battery rejoined 212 Battery in Syria with RHQ joining them on 1 Aug |
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Oct 41 | British Troops Egypt | El Tahag, Egypt | |
Dec 41 | 8 Army | Mersa Matruh, Egypt | |
Dec 41/Jan 42 | 2 South African Division | Bardia, Libya (211 Battery only) & Halfaya, Egypt | |
Feb 42 | 8 Army | El Tahag, Egypt 100 OR’s including most SNCO’s to 1 RHA to form Anti-Tank Battery |
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Feb 42 | 10 Corps | Syria | |
Jun 42 | 10 Corps | Mena, Sollum, Matruh & Gerawla, Egypt | |
Jun 42 | 2 New Zealand Division | El Alamein, Egypt 211 Battery reduced to 5 guns and 212 Battery 4 guns and over 250 men lost during withdrawl |
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Jul 42 | 2 New Zealand Division | Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt 211 Battery received 3 new 4.5 in guns. 212 Battery lost 2 more guns to air attack and went back to Cairo to refit |
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Aug 42 | 44 Infantry Division | Alam Halfa, Egypt 212 Battery only. Rejoined the Regiment in the New Zealand box about 5 Sep |
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Oct 42 | 30 Corps | Alamein area, Egypt | |
Nov 42 | 2 New Zealand Division | Fuka & Sidi Barrani, Egypt 211 Battery only |
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Nov/Dec 42 | 30 Corps | Mersa Brega & Marble Arch, Libya B Troop 211 Battery detached to 4 Light Armoured Brigade & rejoined Regiment in Dec |
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Jan/Feb 43 | 8 Army | Wadi ZemZem & Tripoli, Libya & Mareth line, Tunisia |
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Mar 43 | 8 Army | Tebaga Gap & Akarit, Tunisia | |
Apr 43 | 8 Army, 5 Army Group RA | Enfidaville, Tunisia | |
May 43 | 1 Army Group RA | Medjez El Bab & Cape Bon Peninsula, Tunisia | |
May/Jun 43 | 8 Army, 5 Army Group RA | Sfax & Sousse, Tunisia | |
Jul/Aug 43 | 8 Army, 5 Army Group RA | Gerbini, Randazzo & Mille St Marco, Sicily In Oct 43 the Regiment handed in all heavy equipment and embarked on 9 Nov for Algeria, re-embarking on 28 Nov for UK. Arrived Liverpool on 9 Dec 43 |
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Dec 43 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK | |
May 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Clacton, Essex, UK As 30 Corps wanted 2 Batteries of 4.5 inch guns to land in France first, 211 Battery was temporarily attached to 7 Medium Regiment and 25/26 Battery of 7th was attached to 64th. 211 Battery rejoined the Regiment on 11 June |
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Jun 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Le Hamel, Vaux sur Seulles & Bayeux, France | |
Jul 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | 211 Battery to Verrieres, 212 Battery to Bucceels | |
Jul 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Cahagnolles, France | |
Aug 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Mont Pincon, Argentan, Laigle & Vernon, France | |
Sep 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Antwerp & Escaut Canal, Belgium |
The event at Nijmegen
Having arrived at Nijmegen on the morning of 21 Sep, at 0935 hrs a strange station was heard on the Regimental radio net. It turned out to be 1 Forward Observation Unit with 1 Airborne Division in Arnhem, the division’s first contact with the outside world since dropping on the 17th. 64th along with 419 Battery of 52 Heavy Regiment provided support for the paras until their withdrawl on the night of 25/26th. This radio link was, for most of this time, 1 Airborne Division’s only link with 30 Corps. In recognition of this support 30 Corps agreed to a request from Maj Gen Urquhart that the Regiment be allowed to wear the Airborne’s Pegasus badge on the lower right sleeve.
North West Europe continued
Nov 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Brunssum, Holland | |
Dec 44 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Tilburg, Holland, Wavres, Namur & Rochesfort, Belgium | |
Jan 45 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Noisseux, Hotton, & Louvain, Belgium | |
Feb 45 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Groesbeek, Holland, Frasselt, Materborn & Pfabzdorf, Germany | |
Mar 45 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Moyland, Germany & Enschede, Holland | |
Apr 45 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Bremen & Verden, Germany | |
May 45 | 30 Corps, 5 Army Group RA | Schwinge, Germany After the cease fire the Regiment moved to Zeven and then Salzgitter in June and the guns were handed in. The Regiment took over occupation duties and in July moved to Kreis Dannenberg. The Regiment was disbanded on 1 April 46. |
Batteries
Sep 39 | 211, 212 (London) |
Feb 41 | 211, 234 (attached) |
Jun 41 | 211, 212 |
Equipment
Jun 40 | 6 in Howitzers (iron tyred) |
Aug 40 | 211 Battery 4.5 inch gun Mk1 (relined 60pdr on Carriage Mk4P) 212 Battery 6 inch Howitzers Mk1P |
Aug 41 | 211 & 212 Btys 6 inch Howitzers Mk1P |
Feb 42 | US 155mm Howitzers (1918), 2 x 4.5 inch Mk2 Guns |
May 42 | 211 Battery 4.5 inch Guns, 212 Battery 155mm Guns |
Aug 42 | 211 Battery 4.5 inch Guns, 212 Battery 5.5 inch Guns |