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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: CatOne on Monday 28 November 05 18:29 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Does anyone know where I can obtain a copy of the war diaries, or any other information, for the above regiment? (my great uncle Reginald Thomas Hall was KIA'd in Italy serving with them in WW2, info obtained from CWGC site)
Thanks,
Catherine :)
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Hi Catherine, some links and other info here.
http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/033DWR.htm
Also this http://www.dwr.org.uk/dwr.php?id=71&pa=52 Which has this on it.
The 8th Battalion was reformed in July 1940 and in the following year was converted to 145 Regiment RAC and as such served in North Africa and Italy.
And also this, doesn't say much though.
http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/RAC.htm
Kev. ;D
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Thanks Kev, will check these out :)
Regards,
Catherine
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WWII War Diaries are in the National Archive.
Steve
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Don't know if this is useful, but I ordered my grandfather's War Diaries through documents online. Once you know the Catalogue reference, you can have the documents copied by them. It costs 10£ just to get the estimate in the first place (but this can include up to 5 or so different references). If you order indeed, the 10£ are deducted.
Tanja :)
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Thanks Steve n Tanja.
Approx. what sort of cost would you say it would be for the war diary docs? Over £50? I've just sent off for his army records at £30, plus a couple of certificates I needed, might have to wait till after Christmas at this rate! :(
Thanks again
Catherine :)
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It's based on the number of pages, and I don't remember the price of each page, so I can't really tell. I paid around 55£ (including postage to France) for the war diaries of 4 companies that I was interested in. Some were just 2 A3 pages, others were a few dozen. The whole thing was quite heavy though!
Having said that, the war diaries I actually have are not what I would call fascinating either. They tell the movements of the company and what they are generally occupied at day by day. Hadn't I been interested in the Commanding Officer, who is actually about the only person mentioned by name, I would have been sorry for spending 50£.
Tanja :)
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Hhhhmmm dont know whether to get them then.....was hoping there might have been some mention of my g uncle in them. He made the newspapers here as something of a local hero. Apparently the one who stands up in the tank directing (dont know the proper name!) was killed and my uncle volunteered to take the tank through a heavily guarded area (September 1944, in Italy). Anyway he was killed by a sniper and is buried near Rimini.
His fiance, Margaret, stayed lifelong friends with his parents (my great grandparents) even calling them mum and dad.
I think I'll see what his army papers say before sending for the war diaries.
Thanks again
Catherine :)
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Hi Cat.
My father was a Sgt with 145RAC, and I've been researching his military history. Back in 2007, my brother and I visited the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. While there, I took photos of all the gravestones of the men from the Royal Armoured Corps. I've checked them and your uncle's is among them. Your uncle was L/Cpl 7948545 R T Hall, He was killed on 18/9/44 aged 24 years. On 18/9/44, the regiment attacked San Martino and a number of men were killed. From what I've learned, my father was very fortunate to survive that day. Some of my fater's 'mates' are buried there (Ronnie Quin being one of them). Ronnie was killed the same day as your uncle, and I'm therefore pretty certain that my father would have known your uncle too.
I have a copy of the 145RAC War Diary - I got it via the Tank Museum at Bovington. I've had a quick look, but can't find any reference to your uncle.
I've only just come across this topic (some years late)and have joined up today simply to tell you what I know. I hope you see it and that it is of help. If I find anything more, I'll add it.
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Nice one...
And welcome to RC!
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Hi (again) Cat
Try and get hold of a book called 'The Gothic Line' by Douglas Orgill. I got mine off e-bay.
Once you've got it, turn to page 184. There you will find a refeence to (Luietenant) Eddie Xavier and L/CPL Hull. I'm pretty sure that L/Cpl is a mis-print and should be L/Cpl Hall (Your uncle).
Eddie Xavier was also killed on 18/9/44.
Mal
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Hi :)
Thanks for your posts Mal, very interesting! I'll see if I can find a copy of the book you mention, my dad would be very pleased to see it too, his mum, my grandma, always told stories to him of her brother Reg.
Best Wishes
Cat :)
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Book now ordered! :)
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Catherine
Pm sent.
Pete.
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Thanks Pete, I've done as you advised.
Regards
Cat :)
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I am researching the Battle of the Gothic Line and particularly the shared ordeal of the 21st Tank Brigade and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. I intend to write a substantial article on this eventually. As part of my research I managed to contact a few veterans of the 145th RAC in 2002, and they kindly shared some of their experiences. They also sent me a copy of the C Sqn Battle Diary for the period August-Sept 1944, and a copy of the 21st Tank Brigade's Operations in Italy August 1944 to May 1945. I am looking for the Regimental war diary for Aug-Sept 1944 (a scan or legible photos of the relevant sections would be perfectly fine) for the 145th RAC and would happily trade a scan of the C Sqn Battle Diary in reply. It is about 12 pages and covers 25th of August to the 23rd of September 1944, so Gothic Line plus San Fortunato. Regards
Merlin Robinson, Canada
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Lance-Corporal Hall and Lt Xavier died on Sept 18 1944 during the attack on San Martino, their Sherman (Xavierwas commanding No 3 Troop) was knocked out supporting pinned down infantry of the Loyal Edmonton Regt who were advancing through a cemetery (map ref 863934), and Lt Xavier advanced about 2-300 yds ahead of the infantry to enable them to advance, but due to the terrain it was impossible to give his tank good supporting fire. His tank was hit by AP shot, which killed Lt Xavier. Lance Corporal Hall, the tank's gunner, dismounted to lead the tank to cover on foot, and was killed by a sniper's bullet. The tank's loader-operator managed to guide the tank back. Their bodies were recovered on Sept 20th 1944 by the Regimental Adjutant. P.12-13 145th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps C Squadron Battle Diary Thursday August 24th 1944-Saturday 23rd of September 1944.
Author unknown (likely compiled by one of the C Sqn officers) but copy supplied to me by Lt Rowan Hamilton, formerly of 145 RAC in 2002.
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I can supply the copy of the 145RAC War Diary for Aug-Set 1944 that Merlin001 needs, and would be delighted to receive a coy of the 'C' Sdn Battle Diary in exchange. Can you let me have an e-mail address somehow (? Personal Message).
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email me at:
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I can scan and send it tomorrow if you email me. I would be very happy to see the 145 RAC Diaries. Do you have anything for 12th RTR?
Regards
Merlin
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has anyone got the Battle Report for the Gothic Line for 145 RAC or any of the maps that would have shown the 1st Canadian Corps sector during this period?
regards
merlin
(apologies for posting the email earlier)
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Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this site so not too sure what I'm doing yet. I've just read a post in which Ronnie Quin is referred to. Ronnie or Ronald to his Mother and Father and Ron to his siblings was one of 11 children, my Mother being one of them.
I would love to hear from anyone who knows anything about him as I am building my Family Tree.
Many thanks in anticipation.
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Hi Carolyn - Welcome to Rootschat ;D
Here is the post you are referring to to save people searching. It is quite an old post though so there may be a delay in anyone replying. In the meantime why not take a look around Rootschat there are always lots of interesting discussions going on ;D
Milly
Hi Cat.
My father was a Sgt with 145RAC, and I've been researching his military history. Back in 2007, my brother and I visited the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. While there, I took photos of all the gravestones of the men from the Royal Armoured Corps. I've checked them and your uncle's is among them. Your uncle was L/Cpl 7948545 R T Hall, He was killed on 18/9/44 aged 24 years. On 18/9/44, the regiment attacked San Martino and a number of men were killed. From what I've learned, my father was very fortunate to survive that day. Some of my fater's 'mates' are buried there (Ronnie Quin being one of them). Ronnie was killed the same day as your uncle, and I'm therefore pretty certain that my father would have known your uncle too.
I have a copy of the 145RAC War Diary - I got it via the Tank Museum at Bovington. I've had a quick look, but can't find any reference to your uncle.
I've only just come across this topic (some years late)and have joined up today simply to tell you what I know. I hope you see it and that it is of help. If I find anything more, I'll add it.
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Have you tried http://www.nmarchive.com/
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Have you tried http://www.nmarchive.com/
I just looked at their prices. £10 to view a Coldstream Guards war diary from WW1 when you can download it directly from the source at the National Archives for £3.30
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Hi Carolyn. It's been some time since I visited this site, and am surprised and delighted to see your post. It was my post that you are referring to. Ronnie was a friend/colleague of my Dad's (Sgt 4620171 John Shilton (aka 'Jack'). I have a photograph of the pair of them with two other Sgts (Eric Pain and Sgt Millhouse). I also have some anecdotal info regarding him. If my own research is correct, Ronnie came from York, he was born in 1911, his mother and father being Ada and Harry. Perhaps you can confirm.
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Hi Carolyn. It's been some time since I visited this site, and am surprised and delighted to see your post. It was my post that you are referring to. Ronnie was a friend/colleague of my Dad's (Sgt 4620171 John Shilton (aka 'Jack'). I have a photograph of the pair of them with two other Sgts (Eric Pain and Sgt Millhouse). I also have some anecdotal info regarding him. If my own research is correct, Ronnie came from York, he was born in 1911, his mother and father being Ada and Harry. Perhaps you can confirm.
Hi, Very long shot as this thread is I guess very old and Carolyn(my wife)cannot remember the date she posted. Everything you mentioned about Ronnie is correct, at the moment I am researching him for a couple of family members. I have a fair bit of info and a lot of links to get more, to hear the anecdotes would be wonderfull and if at all possible a copy of the photo would be awesome, any expense you might incur i would be happy to pay.
Fingers crossed you see this.
Warm Regards
Paul