- 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery during the Second World War -
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3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was formed on the 27th August 1938 at Abassia Barracks in Cairo by the re-designation of 3rd Brigade Royal Horse Artillery. It was made up of M/P and D/J Batteries, which were reorganised to become D, J, M and P Batteries as an Anti-Tank Regiment. P Battery left the regiment on 15th March 1941 to join 6th RHA. Initially they were armed with World War One vintage 3.7 inch Howitzers, but by May 1940 these had been replaced, half the regiment was equipped with 25-pdr Field guns and half with 37mm Bofors Anti-Tank guns. In 1942 it was converted to a Field Regiment. They saw action with 7th Armoured Division in the desert campaigns of 1939 to 1943 and in North West Europe from 1944 to the end of the war mainly supporting the Infantry of 131st (Queen's) Lorried Infantry Brigade. 3rd RHA had the honour of leading the Division in the victory parade through Berlin in July 1945 and fired the 18 gun salute in honour of Winston Churchill. Today the regiment is named 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.
1st Sep 1939 On the Move
3rd Sep 1939 War Declared
12th Sep 1939 On the Move
22nd Sep 1939 On the Move
23rd Sep 1939 Training
1st Oct 1939 Training
18th Oct 1939 Reliefs
19th Oct 1939 Equipment
20th Oct 1939 Reliefs
11th Nov 1939 On the Move
6th Nov 1939 On the Move
12th Nov 1939 Posting
27th Nov 1939 Posting
1st Dec 1939 Reorganisation
9th Dec 1939 Adjutant
14th Dec 1939 Posting
19th Dec 1939 Duties
29th Dec 1939 Command
31st Dec 1939 Training
9th Jan 1940 Exercise
10th Jan 1940 Exercise
11th Jan 1940 Exercise
12th Jan 1940 Exercise
20th Jan 1940 Posting
22nd Jan 1940 Posting
25th Jan 1940 Promotions
31st Jan 1940 Posting
11th Feb 1940 Commissions
28th Feb 1940 Training
12th Mar 1940 Move
13th Mar 1940 Exercise
14th Mar 1940 Exercise
15th Mar 1940 Exercise
26th Mar 1940 Exercise
27th Mar 1940 Exercise
28th Mar 1940 Exercise
29th Mar 1940 Exercise
29th Mar 1940 Death
30th Mar 1940 Exercise
31st Mar 1940 Exercise
1st Apr 1940 Move
2nd Apr 1940 Reinforcements
12th Apr 1940 Reliefs
16th Apr 1940 Reliefs Completed
19th Apr 1940 Arrivals
30th Apr 1940 Training
15th Nov 1940 Exercise
18th Nov 1940 Visit
25th Nov 1940 Demonstration
1st Dec 1940 On the Move
7th Dec 1940 On the March
8th Dec 1940 On the March
11th Dec 1940 In Action
31st Dec 1940 On the Move
10th Apr 1941 Attacks
11th Apr 1941 In Defence
2nd Nov 1942 Move
4th Nov 1942 Advance
11th Nov 1942 Advance
12th Nov 1942 Advance
13th Nov 1942 On the Move
17th Nov 1942 On the Move
18th Nov 1942 On the Move
19th Nov 1942 On the Move
20th Nov 1942 Mines
21st Nov 1942 Mines Lifted
25th Nov 1942 Moves
26th Nov 1942 Detachment
13th Dec 1942 On the Move
18th Dec 1942 On the Move
29th Dec 1942 On the Move
31st Dec 1942 Minefield
27th Mar 1944 Training
30th Nov 1944 In Action
17th Jan 1945 Difficult Conditions
23rd January 1945 In ActionIf you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
Those known to have served with
3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
- Gunn VC MC George Ward. 2Lt (d.21st November 1941)
- Randell MM. Philip Oland Edwin. Sgt.
- Thorne Francis Anderson George. (d.17th Jun 1942)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records of 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery from other sources.
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Want to know more about 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery?
There are:507 items tagged 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.
Sgt. Philip Oland Edwin Randell MM. 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Philip Randell was captured at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh in North Africa where he had taken part in the VC winning action conducted by Second Lieutenant Gunn (and is mentioned in that citation). He was imprisoned at Campo 53 at Macerata.When the armistice with Italy was announced British prisoners were ordered not to escape. On 15th of September 1943 the Italian guards had deserted and Randell escaped through the wire with another PW. They travelled south but were recaptured near Campo Di Giorno and were imprisoned there. On 7 October they escaped again, this time by climbing into a building used by the German guards and walking out of the front gate, whistling a popular German tune. They travelled south again and made contact with British forces after crossing the Trigno river, around 300km away from Macerata. He was awarded the Military Medal for this action.
He survived the war and later joined the RAF Regiment, retiring as a Squadron Leader, having served in Kenya, Aden and Germany.
G P Randell
Francis Anderson George Thorne 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (d.17th Jun 1942)
I have just found that my Uncle Francis Thorne was killed aged 22 in El Alamein. I was wondering if anyone has any information about my him? This site is so interesting, thank you to anyone who can help me.Debbie
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