Capt William Cochran - WW2

[jungle1810]

Hello Baconwallah,
In May 1941 the Regiment were ordered over seas, they sailed in the S.S.Mendoza on the 30th of September and reached Suez on the 20th of November.The Division were concentrated at Amirya 15 miles west of Alexandria. They departed on the 19th of December 1941 for the Western Desert.The support group of 1st Armoured Division which included the Regiment were sent up to take over the protective screens.On the 18th of January 1942 the enemy were reported to have very few tanks left,attacked in strength and forced the light columns to fall back.Morale sunk when it was found that the 2 pounder anti tank gun was not a match for the German mark 3 and mark 4 tanks.
The Regiment continued to fight in the desert On the 28th of August General Horrocks arrived to take command of 13 Corps. he held "O" groups to let all ranks know of his Orbat plans.The Regiment continued to fight in the desert. In May1944, orders were received to prepare for a move to Italy.
5th Battalion in 1939 converted to 60th (R.W.F.) Anti Tank Regiment R.A.
Commanding Officers of the 5th.
Lt/Col F.H.Bortwick D.S.O. 9/6/16
Lt Col T.H.Parry D.S.O. 16/2/20.
Lt Col R.C.Lloyd D.S.O. (temporary) 1/9/20
Lt Col T.F.Ash, T.D. -----
Lt Col E.M.W.Williams D.S.O. 20/6/23
Lt Col H.M. Davies, T.D. 27/4/33.
Lt Col S.H.Burton. 27/4/38.
Lt Col H.Sheriff Roberts -/7/39
On the 15th of February 1940 the Regiment was broken up-237 battery went to 101st L.A.A. and A/T Regiment,and 238, and 240 Batteries dispersed to other Regiments. In November 1940, the A.T. Section of 101st L.A.A. became the 76th Anti tank Regiment, but it was not until January-March 1944 that the R.W.F. Association was renewed when the 76th Regiment was re-formed as the 60th (R.W.F.) anti Tank Regiment.
Lt Col R.J.H.Harding- Newman 25/11/44.
Lt Col J.E.Evans.* -------
On the 1st of January 1947, re-designated 384 (Royal Welch Fusiliers ) Anti tank Regiment.
On re-organisation of T.A.1950 re-designated 384 light Regiment R.A.
In May 1956 amalgamated wityh 361 Medium Regiment as 372 Light Regiment R.A. (T.A.)
* Was a Second Lieutenant with the original 60 S.T. Regiment in 1939.
Regards RBD aka jungle1810

[Baconwallah]

That is very complete indeed, Don, and better than what I had. Thanks!

John

[ap1]

Now I remember Dennis :-)

The Cpl Hubbard who enlists him, ends up as the RSM in Burma.

[captainadjutantrwf]

Thank you for reconnecting me to The Forum. I recently came across not only the attached, but also the fact that my Uncle, John Claude Pope (Army Number 202796), was a fusilier and probably introduced my father to his sister (my mother) in Worthing, Sussex in 1940/41. John Pope was a Lieutenant (maybe War Substantive Captain?) and as far as I can tell transferred to 12 Para, being parachuted into Normandy in June 1944 when his CO may well have been Lt Col Stockwell (?) also connected to RWF. He also relinquished his commission in 1950. Thereafter he was in N Ireland and my interest was recently reawakened when his grand-daughter in Belfast got in touch, having tracked down her father after 44 years and traced the rest of the family (and history) through him. Regrettably COVID is preventing her from meeting with her father at present.