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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Renfrewshire => Topic started by: Robdev019 on Sunday 03 January 21 08:23 GMT (UK)
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All, I am wondering if anyone has any info on this military unit from Port Glasgow/Greenock area. They are Royal Artillery and my uncle is in this unit John Wilson Devine. I don't have much info on him with exception to what is on this RA Atestation that I came across from 1941. I have a picture on the unit and its entitles B Troop B.E.F 1940 but its to large to upload.
Thanks Rob
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His service record will still be with the MOD.
See: https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records
There is a fee of £30, and you'll need a death certificate.
Please note: these records are NOT available anywhere else
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It looks like his enlistment in the army was cancelled on the authority of the Ministry of Labour.
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Fort Matilda mebbes? :D
Skoosh.
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this is the picture that I was referring to. I wonder if the building in the background resembles some place local. My uncle is on the second row from the back 9th in from the left.
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My grandad is the one behind the sign, the Sgt Major.
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I also have this picture
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The unit hall was across from Greenock Cemetary which was then turned into the Sports Centre, I don't know if the building still exists as I havent been to Greenock for many years, I am a veteran also.
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Climber, are you able to provide any information about the gunner sub-unit that the OP was asking about, namely B troop. Do you know what battery it was part of?
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Hello Andy, I'm afraid I don't have any info on it, my grandad was the Sgt major behind the plaque in the picture, all I know it was a greenock battery, gunners, their hall was across from the main gates at greenock cemetery, I remember being taken down to it, the hall ended up being a sports centre, but that's all I know as I left greenock at 16 to join the army and never went back to greenock to live,
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According to Wikipedia "171st Heavy Bty [was] at 2 King Street, Port Glasgow". 171 Bty was part of Clyde Heavy Brigade*, RA during the interwar years. Again, according to Wikipedia "The regiment mobilised in the Lowland Area of Scottish Command on the outbreak of war in September 1939 with the single 171 Battery (manning 4 × 6-inch guns) under command until 407 Coast Bty joined on 31 December 1940. The coastal artillery regiments began to be reorganised from September 1940, with the Clyde regiment becoming 538th (Clyde) Coast Regiment in January 1941 with A, B, C (all formed from 171 Bty) and 407 Coast Btys. The Clyde defences consisted of:
4 × 6-inch guns
2 × 4.7-inch guns
1 × 12-pounder gun
Mid-War
On 1 April 1941 A and B Btys were renumbered 152 and 153 Coast Btys, and C Bty was split to form 154 and 155 Coast Btys, giving 538th Coast Regt the following organisation, which it retained into 1944."
However the unit in the photograph formed part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) which went to France and the Low Countries in 1940, whereas according to the Wikipedia account, the Clyde Heavy Regiment RA was responsible for coastal defence around the Clyde and Lanarkshire region, so remained in the UK. Furthermore, Climber says that the drill hall was "across from Greenock Cemetery". 2 King Street is nowhere near Greenock Cemetery
*At this time, a Royal Artillery Brigade was commanded by a Lt Col and was the equivalent of a regiment or battalion in size.
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If member Robdev who started this thread is still monitoring it can he or she confirm if his uncle John Wilson Devine he was asking about is the same person as the 32/3 year old John Wilson Devine who was working as a bus fueller in Port Glasgow when he was accidentally killed on 23 Nov 1955 when a bus reversed over him. If so, he would presumably have been about 18 in 1940.
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Mabey it was king st, I don't know ,I was about 5 or 6 at the time but I do remember coming out of a hall across from the cemetery with my grandad, king st is where the old telephone exchange is, dont remember any other buildings there apart from houses and the town.
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:)
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:)my grandad ,the colour/staff Sgt and his brother
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My grandad is the one behind the sign, the Sgt Major.
Is there any names on back of photo