MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF MILITARY MODELLING MAGAZINE:
The Editor
'Despatch'
Military Modelling
PO Box 6017
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 2FA
Dear Sir;
A comment regarding the model of the Sexton SPG with deep water wading trunk (by Jay Laverty), which appeared in Mil Mod Vol. 34 No. 7 (a picture of which is also on the front cover). The craftmanship of the modeller, I have no problem with, the problem lies in the historical context of the model's setting itself. Mr. Laverty makes reference to the Sexton SPGs being used by the Canadian's on D-Day. This is historical wrong, the Field Regiments, R.C.A. (12th, 13th & 14th) of the 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery, along with the attached 19th Army Field Regiment, R.C.A., were all equipped with the 'M7 Priest 105mm How.' equipment on the 6th June, 1944 and continued using this equipment until late July/early August, 1944, when in the case of the 12th, 13th and 14th Field Regiments, R.C.A., they converted back to the towed 25pdr equipment and the 19th Army Field Regiment, R.C.A., converted to the Sexton SPG (August 1944).
A note concerning the markings of Mr. Laverty's model, the Formation Sign of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division is correct, but the Arm of Service marking he used (63 on a green background) is that of the Junior Infantry Battalion of the Infantry Brigade of an Armoured Division (1944). The Arm of Service marking for Field Regiments, R.C.A. was Red over Blue with the applicable Serial in White, which for the Canadian Field Regiments involved on D-Day would have been 42, 43 and 44 for the 12th, 13th and 14th Field Regiments, R.C.A., respectively and 45, with a white Bar below the AoS itself, for the 19th Army Field Regiment, R.C.A. In the case of the 19th Army Field Regiment, R.C.A., the Formation Sign used, would have been that of First Canadian Army, since they were Army Troops, First Canadian Army, attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
In regards to the Battery Quarter used, the one shown on the model, is that for the 1st Battery (the red square upper right), but the 'C2' Tac is for the second gun in "C" Troop, which would mean that the Battery Quarter for the 2nd Battery (the red square bottom right) should have been used. There being six Troops in a Field Regiment, two Troops per Battery: "A" & "B" Troops - 1st Battery; "C" & "D" Troops - 2nd Battery and "E" & "F" Troops - 3rd Battery.
Near the end of the article that accompanied Mr. Laverty's model, there is a comment, that more or less states, that the British came up with the idea to remove the 105mm Howitzers themselves from the 'M7 Priest 105mm How. SPGs' and using them has APCs for Operation GOODWOOD (July, 1944). This is also historical wrong. The idea of taking the 105mm Howitzers out of the 'M7 Priest 105mm How. SPGs' and converting them to APCs (M7 Priest Kangaroo) was a Canadian idea (Lt.-Gen. Guy Simonds, Corps Commander, Second Canadian Corps), which came about when planning Operation TOTALIZE (August, 1944). The first use of the 'M7 Priest Kangaroo' occurred in August, 1944, when Second Canadian Corps launched Operation TOTALIZE, to carry forward the assaulting Infantry of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division and 154th (Highland) Infantry Brigade, 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. Each of the two assaulting Divisions had 36x M7 Priest Kangaroos each.
These are just some points that I felt should be brought forward, from a historical context. I've had a subscription to Military Modelling Magazine since 1972 and this is the first time I've felt it was neccessary to write to the Editor concerning an article published in the magazine.
Thank You.
Mark W. Tonner
Retired; Canadian Army
THE REPLY FROM THE EDITOR: NOTE, NOTICE WHO ELSE WROTE CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE.
Quote:
Dear Mark,
Thanks for your comments on the Sexton article in Issue 7.
I will endeavour to use your letter in Despatch in the next available issue. Ed Storey who is still serving in the Canadian army wrote in the same vein.
Best wishes
Ken Jones
Editor
Military Modelling magazine
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