8th Field regiment RCA war diary

[CMandville]

Dear all

Can any one tell me where i would find the war diarys for the 8th Field regiment RCA, as i am looking for the first fully equipen battery with qf 25 pdr's. i have been told it is the 8th Field regiment RCA.

Regards
Cliff Mandville
www.thegarrison.org.uk

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by CMandville

Can any one tell me where i would find the war diarys for the 8th Field regiment RCA

Cliff;

Since your in the UK:

1.) File references for the 8th Field Regiment war diaries held by The National Archives (Kew) (Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom):

WO 179/1187 - Serial 214 - 8th Army Field Regiment, RCA - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1942
WO 179/1929 - Serial 214 - 8th Army Field Regiment, RCA - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1943
WO 179/3048 - Serial 214 - 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), RCA - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1944
WO 179/4451 - Serial 214 - 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), RCA - war diaries for Jan to Nov 1945

also, the Canadian references:

2.) File references for the 8th Field Regiment war diaries held by Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada):

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14449, Reel T-16144-16145
Serial: 214, Access code: 90
File Title: 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), Royal Canadian Artillery
Outside Dates: 1940/01-1941/07 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14450, Reel T-16145-16146
Serial: 214, Access code: 90
File Title: 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), Royal Canadian Artillery
Outside Dates: 1941/08-1943/04 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14451, Reel T-16146-16147
Serial: 214, Access code: 90
File Title: 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), Royal Canadian Artillery
Outside Dates: 1943/05-1945/05 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14452, Reel T-16148
Serial: 214, Access code: 90
File Title: 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled), Royal Canadian Artillery
Outside Dates: 1945/06-1945/11 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Cheers

[CMandville]

Hi Mark

Thank you for a very complete response to my request for help. After I posted my original request I discovers that the 8 th are reported to have been the first to revive 25 pounders mk2. But gave them to 1RCHA in June 1940. Would you know there references? As you know I live in the Uk and Kew is only 30 miles from me. If you would like copies if anything they hold do let me know.

Your knowlage of the archives is amazing

Chimo!

Cliff Mandville jr
Grand son of Cliff (Buster) Mandville M41344 2Bn RCE

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by CMandville

Would you know there references?

Hi Cliff;

Kew references for the war diaries of the 1st Field Regiment, RCHA Dec 39 to Jul 45:

WO 179/42 - Serial 5 - Headquarters, 1st Field Regiment, RCA - war diaries for Dec 1939 to Dec 1940
WO 179/205 - Serial 5 - Headquarters, 1st Field Regiment, RCHA - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1941
WO 179/1179 - Serial 5 - 1st Field Regiment, RCHA - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1942
WO 179/1923 - Serial 5 - 1st Field Regiment, RCHA - war diaries for Jan to Nov 1943
WO 179/3042 - Serial 5 - 1st Field Regiment, RCHA - war diaries for Jan to Mar and May to Dec 1944
WO 179/4445 - Serial 5 - 1st Field Regiment, RCHA - war diaries for Jan to Jul 1945

Cheers

[CMandville]

Hello Mark

Thank you again, it would have taken me hours to find the correct series. I will be up at Kew net weekend to look through the information.

We are reassembling a Canadian made 25 pdr turning it back in to an early Mk 2 we have several examples of the QF 25 and like to display them with a feel for who where when and how.


Regards
Cliff

[CMandville]

Hello Mark

I got to Kew and read all of the diarys. Took a while , turns out the 8 th did not pass on all there 25s to the 1 rcha. Your help I finding the real facts has been invaluable. I do hesitate but not for long before asking if you know of a copy of the 1rcha wwii published regimental history?
And any photoessays of them in Brest France .

I am also looking for the archive ref for 2nd battalion RCE. And also the royal Canadian Irish fusiliers. The last only served in Jamaica so there may be no British archives.

Regards
Cliff

[Mark W. Tonner]

Cliff;

Originally Posted by CMandville

I do hesitate but not for long before asking if you know of a copy of the 1rcha wwii published regimental history?

RCHA - Right of the Line: An Anecdotal History of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from 1871, Maj. G.D. Mitchell, 1987, RCHA History Committee; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
ISBN 0-9690881-1-6

I am also looking for the archive ref for 2nd battalion RCE

Kew references for the war diaries of the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, RCE, which was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, RCE, effective 2 Nov 40

WO 179/94 - Serial 206 - 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Aug to Dec 1940
WO 179/259 - Serial 206 - 2nd Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1941
WO 179/1260 - Serial 206 - 2nd Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1942
WO 179/2015 - Serial 206 - 2nd Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1943
WO 179/3100 - Serial 206 - 2nd Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Jan to Dec 1944
WO 179/4589 - Serial 206 - 2nd Battalion, RCE - war diaries for Jan to Aug 1945

And also the royal Canadian Irish fusiliers. The last only served in Jamaica so there may be no British archives.

no copies are held by Kew, but here are the file references for the 1st Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment) war diaries held by Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada):

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 15079 - war diaries for Aug 39 to Mar 40
Serial: 402, Access code: 90
File Title: 1st Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment)
Outside Dates: 1939/08-1940/03 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 15080 - war diaries for Apr 40 to Jul 42
Serial: 402, Access code: 90
File Title: 1st Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment)
Outside Dates: 1940/04-1942/07 Finding Aid number: 24-60

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 15081 - war diaries for Aug 42 to Nov 44
Serial: 402, Access code: 90
File Title: 1st Battalion, Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver Regiment)
Outside Dates: 1942/08-1944/11 Finding Aid number: 24-60

And any photoessays of them in Brest France

this is the only one I know of (after disembarking, waiting to move up to the front):



Source: RCHA-RIGHT OF THE LINE, An Anecdotal History of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery From 1871, by Major G.D. Mitchell, MC, CD (RCA, Retired)

Cheers