French Army increase 1944

This interest me. Were they counting only the soldiers in Germany and Austria or also those in the french alps and Italy ?

 

Does anyone have any details about 3rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery who were Arty support to one of the FF Brigades of 7 Armd Div, at El Alamein.
The regtl orbat consisted of 18/62 Bty and 65/75 Bty RA. Also on the orbat was 521 howitzer bty, but they would have only been attached to the regt.

This regiment has been lost in the history of Alamein like so many others, would just like to find out as much as possible about their war?

Few questions to pose:

Why would a British Artillery unit end up in a Free French brigade, along with 2 Foreign Legion Btns and a March Btn (Whatever that is)??

Did the French have no Artillery of their own? If not, why not?

ATB...Tom.
Ubique!

 

That is correct, the Free French started from scratch with raids from Tchad into Lybia (Fezzan region) draging one single canon. They later took captured Italian and German artillery but were also helped by the British (VIIIth Army) who gave them the artillery support the needed. The Free Frecnh joined up with the British fored at Tripoli. There are interestings threads where you may find more about the French First Armoured army and ther ties to the British VIIIth Army

. http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-general/30426-battle-bir-hakeim-free-french-against-rommel.html

http://www.ww2f.com/battle-europe/26989-free-french-divisions.html

http://www.ww2f.com/north-africa-mediterranean/24556-moroccan-goumiers-free-french-army.html

 

Hi Tom,

They were in support of the 1st Free French Brigade Group, which was part of the XIII Corps at 2200 hrs on 23 October 1942. Their equipment at that point consisted of sixteen 25-pounders.

Apparently, at that point they were an asset of the Eighth Army that had been placed in support of the 1st FFBG. They would have served as reinforcing artillery as the 1st FFBG had the 1st Free French Artillery Regiment, a unit equipped with sixteen 25-pounders and four 5.5-inch guns.

The battalions you mention above were the component infantry battalions of 1st FFBG.

"March" in this sense refers to a unit organized "off the cuff" with no existing military tradition, like, say, infantry of the line. It is important to note that although these units did not have a long tradition within the French Army, they still fought well as the Free French were a very motivated bunch.

The 3rd Field Regiment RA started the war on the Indian establishment in Quetta. It was sent to Iraq in 1941 and then to Egypt in May 1942. The regiment was back in Iraq on New Years Day 1943 and was then sent back to Egypt in April 1943. By this time, it had been detailed to the 8th Indian Division. The regiment arrived in Taranto in September 1943 and fought in Italy for the rest of the war. In June 1945, it was sent to the U.K. and ceased to be part of the Indian establishment.

The order of battle information above comes from Joslen's Orders of Battle, pages 565 and 570.

Cheers

BW

 

Thank you both for that information, very helpful!

Please note that this was a regular artillery regiment, not a war raised unit. Could anyone explain why this regiment was shunted from pillar to post so often?
In my recent research, their war trail makes for very interesting reading;

Sept 1939-Trimulgherry (India)...Training and Awaiting replacement regiment.
Feb 1941-Quetta (India)...Training and Re-arming with 25pdrs
Mar 1941-10th Indian Div (Iraq)..Battles of Basra and Shaiba.
May 1941-5th Indian Div (N.Africa)..Gazala.
Jul 1942-2nd S.A. Div (N.Africa).
Aug 1942-13 corps (N.Africa).
Sept 1942-7th armd Div (N.Africa).
Oct 1942-7th Armd Div (1st Free French Bde N.Africa).
Jan 1943-8th Indian Div (Iraq).
Apr 1943-8th Indian Div (N.Africa).
Sept 1943-8th Indian Div (Italy).
Nov 1943-2nd NZ Div (Italy).
Dec 1943-8th Indian Div (Italy).
May 1944-8th Indian Div (Italy)...Monte Cassino.
Jun 1945-Posted to UK...Job Done.

Trying to find specific details of their Italian campaign if possible??


ATB...Tom
Ubique!