Singapore, september 1941

[nuyt]

The Empire sends reinforcements to its possesions in the Far East.
An artillery batallion seems to have landed. One battery in the foreground is ready to march: tractors, limbers and howitzers are ready to roll. In the background howitzers wait for their tractors and limbers that still have to be disembarked.

Overvalwagens!

[nuyt]

Some light staffcars are among the vehicles parked on the quays:

[nuyt]

what type of howitzer is this?
All pics from Orient Magazine, Dutch East Indies, 1941

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Some light staffcars are among the vehicles parked on the quays:

Looks like an Austin Eight Staff Car.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
what type of howitzer is this?
All pics from Orient Magazine, Dutch East Indies, 1941

By the shortness of the barrel, I'd say it was a 4.5-inch howitzer.

Cheers

A 4.5" howitzer

[nuyt]

Thanks, Mark,

The troops are already wearing sunhats and shorts, but the vehicles still have there England camo scheme?

Regards,
Nuyt

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
The Empire sends reinforcements to its possesions in the Far East.
An artillery batallion seems to have landed. One battery in the foreground is ready to march: tractors, limbers and howitzers are ready to roll. In the background howitzers wait for their tractors and limbers that still have to be disembarked.

Overvalwagens!

Nuyt;

This could very well be the landing at Singapore of "B" and "C" Batteries, 155th (Lanarkshire) Field Regiment, R.A., who arrived at Singapore on 3rd September, 1941, joining the 11th Indian Division, and who were equipped with the 4.5-inch howitzer. The 155th Field Regiment, R.A. was lost at Singapore on 15 February, 1942.

Source: History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, The Far East Theatre 1941-46

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
The troops are already wearing sunhats and shorts, but the vehicles still have there England camo scheme?

Nuyt;

The 155th (Lanarkshire) Field Regiment, R.A., arrived in Bombay from the UK on 5th May, 1941, and on to Singapore on 3rd September, 1941 (less "A" Bty).

Cheers

[nuyt]

Hi Mark, found a website to day that says B and C batteries had between them no less than 16 howitzers, but before Singapore they were equipped with 25pdrs.

Cheers,
Nuyt

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Hi Mark, found a website to day that says B and C batteries had between them no less than 16 howitzers, but before Singapore they were equipped with 25pdrs.

Cheers,
Nuyt

Hi Nuyt;

I had forgot to mention that "B" and "C" Batteries went into Singapore with 16x 4.5" howitzers total (8x per Bty), I'll see if I can find anything on the 25pdrs, the way I read it, is that, they arrived in India (from the UK) w/4.5" howitzers, "A" Bty staying in India (w/8x 4.5" how.) to form the base of a new Field Regiment while "B" and "C" went on to Singapore.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Hi Mark, found a website to day that says B and C batteries had between them no less than 16 howitzers, but before Singapore they were equipped with 25pdrs.

Hi Nuyt;

According to the history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the 155th Field Regiment (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) were equipped with 24x 4.5" howitzers from their formation in February 1940 (conversion of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry to a Fd Regt, RA), until "C" Bty was re-equipped with 25pdrs in January 1942, while "B" Bty retained the 4.5" how.. This is the only reference I can find to any of the three original batteries ("A", "B" and "C") of the Regiment being equipped with 25pdrs.

Cheers