3 Royal Horse Artillery

In May 1938 3 Brigade Royal Horse Artillery was re-organised as 3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery with two batteries. It took on an anti-tank role and the two batteries split to provide four batteries. In 1942 it converted to the field role with three batteries.

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.

Sep 39   RA Group Middle East Egypt
D/J Bty and 1 troop of M/P Battery attached
7 Infantry Division, remainder of M/P
attached 7 Armoured Division
F Battery 4 RHA (18/25 pdr) attached
Sep 39     Operating as an Anti-Tank Regiment
Oct 40     P & J Batteries to 4 Indian Division
Jan 41 British Troops Egypt British Troops Egypt N Africa
Mar 41 7 Armoured Division 3 Royal Horse Artillery 7 Support Group N Africa
May 41   Tobruk Garrison (less D Battery) Tobruk, Libya
Mar 42   Converting to Field Regiment Abassia, Egypt
Jun 42 8 Armoured Brigade 3 Royal Horse Artillery 8 Armoured Brigade Group Khataba, Egypt
Jul 42 8 Armoured Brigade 8 Armoured Brigade Group Ruewisat, Egypt
Sep 42 4 Armoured Brigade 4 Armoured Brigade Alam Halfa, Egypt
Oct 42 8 Army 8 Army Alamein, Egypt
Apr 43 7 Armd Division 3 Royal Horse Artillery 7 Armoured Division N Africa
Sep 43 7 Armd Division 7 Armoured Division Salerno, Italy
Jan 44 7 Armd Division 7 Armoured Division Fakenham, Norfolk, UK
7 Jun 44 7 Armd Division 7 Armoured Division Normandy, France
Aug 44 4 Armoured Brigade Attached 4 Armoured Brigade NW Europe

Batteries

May 38 D/J, M/P
Sep 39 D, J, M, P
Mar 41 D, J, M
May 42 D, J, M, C (76 Anti-Tank Regiment)

In May 1942 Troops were distributed as follows:
D Battery, A & B Troops
J Battery, C & D Troops
M Battery, E (Madras) & F (Java) Troops
C A/Tk Battery, DD Troop with M Battery
EE Troop with J Battery
FF Troop with D Battery

Equipment

Sep 39 2 pdr & 37 mm Bofors Anti-Tank Guns porteed
Dec 40 J & P Batteries exchange Bofors for 2 pdrs porteed
Mar 42 24 x 25 pdr Mk 2 & Quads
May 42 24 x 25 pdr Mk 2 & Quads, 2 pdr Porteed
May 42 Stuart Observation Post Tanks (on loan)
Jun 42 24 x 25 pdr Mk 2 & Quads, 12 x 6 pdr Porteed
Jan 44 25 pdr Mk 2, Morris Quads
Jan 45 25 pdr Mk 2, Morris Quads, Sherman Observation Post Tanks

 

War diaries 1939, ’40(less Jun/Jul), ’41(less Dec),’42,  ’43, January ’44 & June – Dec ’44 less Oct, ’45 at desertrats.org.uk

War diaries D Battery August 1939 to May 1945 at desertrats.org.uk (some months missing)

War diaries J Battery 39-45 at desertrats.org.uk (1943 missing & other months)

War diaries M Battery Aug 39-Mar 40 & Dec 44-Mar 45 at desertrats.org.uk

War diaries P Battery Aug 39-Mar 40 at desertrats.org.uk

 

The Royal Artillery 1939-45