58 Medium Regt Royal Artillery

I WAS POSTED TO MENDEN IN 1958. I WAS IN R.H.Q.BATTERY.ITS A SAD FACT THAT I HAVE FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE ANY OTHERS WHO SERVED IN THIS REGIMENT,AND IT HASNT BEEN FOR THE WANT OF TRYING.SADLY THE 58TH WERE DISBANDED IN 1959 AND WERE REPLACED IN MENDEN BY 50 MISSILE REGT.

Hi Googie,
Can you send me an email please and then we can put you on the map?
Phil.

webmaster@baor-locations.com

I WAS IN HQ BATTERY AND WORKED IN THE MT OFFICE UNTIL I WAS TRANSFERED TO THE MI ROOM TO BE THE DOCTORS DRIVER HE WAS CAPT R.D DAVIES TOM MURRAY.

TOM MURRAY wrote:

I WAS IN HQ BATTERY AND WORKED IN THE MT OFFICE UNTIL I WAS TRANSFERED TO THE MI ROOM TO BE THE DOCTORS DRIVER HE WAS CAPT R.D DAVIES TOM MURRAY.

Tom,

Any chance you can put any dates and/or locations to your time with 58 Med Regt?

Paul.

googie wrote:

I WAS POSTED TO MENDEN IN 1958. I WAS IN R.H.Q.BATTERY.ITS A SAD FACT THAT I HAVE FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE ANY OTHERS WHO SERVED IN THIS REGIMENT,AND IT HASNT BEEN FOR THE WANT OF TRYING.SADLY THE 58TH WERE DISBANDED IN 1959 AND WERE REPLACED IN MENDEN BY 50 MISSILE REGT.

You shared the barracks with 115 Locating Battery RA. It is so long ago that I had forgotten the number of the Regiment WE shared with. 58, commanded by Lt-Colonel Kup. He had one of the earliest 'bubble cars', front opening(?). Silly things we remember!
Menden a nice town to be. Friendly citizens.
Cheers
Locating

Hello

Can Someone please help with this query?

I have my Grandfather's Record of Service and in 1949 he is listed as going to Hong Kong with the 58th Medium Regiment. He returns home in 1952.

Can anyone direct me as to where to find information with regard to what he and his regiment would have been doing in Hong Kong at this time?

Thank You

amcg, Do you have Grandad's name?

Hi, I have found nothing of real interest.

I did find, what is known as 'an Oral Recording' held by The Imperial War Museum (IWM).

The IWM holds tens of thousands of records, mostly relating to war personal experiences, but not always.

Prior, these oral and videos were free to listen too and or view. Seems the bean counters have got in and started selling the Archives for money!

Earlier, one could just click and listen/view. Much like 'Youtube'.

Accompanying the oral interview is usually a short description of the content, which, in this case, is 15 reels long. That is a long interview!!!!  Possibly the reason to sell?

I have copied and paste heres Reel 7. It contains a reference to 58 MediumRegiment in Hong Kong

REEL 7 Continues:
Detachment for training as command post assistant with 58 Medium Regt, RA including use of artillery board, map references and director; prior demonstration of 4.2" mortar fire effect; accidental practice deployment of mortars in Kowllon street; live firing exercise at Portshelter including firing at nearby island, misfire procedure, method of correcting fire from observation post and increasing efficiency of unit; driving training; lecture on conditions in Korea; re-equipment for Korean service; typhoon warnings and precautions, 7/1951; battery party at Silver Mine Bay Island; local leave on Hong Kong Island and Macau; VD and AWOL problems amongst regulars; parade and service. Voyage aboard Empire Pride to Pusan, Korea, 10/1951: messdeck conditions and hammocks. REEL 8 Continues: reception on arrival. Train journey to Britannia Camp, 11/1...Continues.................

Here is a Link to the IWM Oral Interview. Listed is the short explanation to ALL 15 Reels


https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80027849

For those interested in the last  post? Here are the full 16/17 Reels Description, from IWM Archives..

Object description

British driver and gunner served with 42 Bty, 24th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in Hong Kong and Korea, 1951-1952; served with 248 Bty, 61st Light Regt, Royal Artillery in Korea, 1952
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Kettering, 1932-1950: family background and social circumstances; education; effects of war, 1939-1945, including arrival of evacuees, communal and Morrison air raid shelters, presence of troops, question of German air raids, food rationing, visits to collect souvenirs from US air bashes and aircraft crash sites, relationship with US servicemen and treatment of black soldiers, following progress of war, view of soldiers returning from Dunkirk, 1940 and street parties. REEL 2 Continues: work as apprentice printer, 1946-1950. Recollections of period with Army Cadets, Northamptonshire Regt, Kettering Drill Hall, 1946-1950: drill; rifle training and firing on ranges; map reading; promotion to corporal; Bren gun training; question of Sten gun training; weekend training and building Bailey bridge; annual tented camps and artillery demonstration; visit by squad to Buckingham Palace; story of brother called up for army service despite membership of Air Cadets. Background to call up for Royal Artillery, 8/1950: question of deferment as apprentice; medical; desire to train as driver. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with 89th Regt, Royal Artillery, Park Hall Camp, Oswestry, 9/1950-9/1950: train journey; reception; kitting out; hut accommodation. REEL 3 Continues: hair cut and shaving; morning routine; food rations; drill; PT; weapons training; preparing for kit and room inspections; relationship with recruits, NCOs and officers; story of painting hut roofs; intelligence tests and question of training as command post assistant; passing out parade; recreational visit to Oswestry pub. REEL 4 Recollections of training as driver with 31st Regt, RA, Kinmell Park, Rhyll, 9/1950-12/1950: progress of training on Bedford QL 3 ton lorry; necessity of carrying rifle at all times; passing driving test; reaction to posting to Far East. Period at Royal Artillery Base Depot, Woolwich, London, 12/1950-1/1951: issue of tropical kit; vaccinations; barrack accommodation; food rations; recreational visits to London; embarkation leave. Voyage aboard Empire Fowey to Hong Kong, 1/1951-2/1951: conditions and food; leaving Southampton. REEL 5 Continues: seasickness; route; visit ashore at Port Said, Egypt; passing through Suez Canal; sunburn case; case of attempted desertion during visit to Aden; infantry aboard ship; cleaning duties; lifeboat drill; recreations; visit ashore at Columbo, Ceylon; small pox cases on arrival at Singapore. Recollections of period with H Troop, 42 Bty, 24th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt at Gun Club Barracks, Kowloon, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2/195110/1951: prior courses; absence of driver posts and consequent posting as gunner on Bofors gun; situation following Communist control of China and consequent increase in British garrison. REEL 6 Continues: initial period in stores; question of Nationalist or Communist Chinese ownership of aircraft and consequent temporary deployment of Bofors during periods of tension to at Kai-Tek airfield; Bofors gun drill and range practice; nature of barracks; relationship with regulars; food rations; Chinese camp workers; officers' servants; recreations including visits to Hong ong Island and photography; Chinese refugees; unloading of Chinese coal ships; meeting friend serving with another unit; question of volunteering for Korean service and reactions to report of conflict; news of posting of 42 Bty to Korea and consequent re-equipment of H Troop with 4.2" mortars. REEL 7 Continues: detachment for training as command post assistant with 58 Medium Regt, RA including use of artillery board, map references and director; prior demonstration of 4.2" mortar fire effect; accidental practice deployment of mortars in Kowllon street; live firing exercise at Portshelter including firing at nearby island, misfire procedure, method of correcting fire from observation post and increasing efficiency of unit; driving training; lecture on conditions in Korea; re-equipment for Korean service; typhoon warnings and precautions, 7/1951; battery party at Silver Mine Bay Island; local leave on Hong Kong Island and Macau; VD and AWOL problems amongst regulars; parade and service. Voyage aboard Empire Pride to Pusan, Korea, 10/1951: messdeck conditions and hammocks. REEL 8 Continues: reception on arrival. Train journey to Britannia Camp, 11/1951: issue of prayer books; conditions; Korean refugees; US food rations; evidence of previous fighting; issue of personal weapons due to fear of Korean guerrilla activity. Period at Britannia Camp, 11/1951: lorry journey; tent accommodation; oil drum heaters; issue of winter uniforms; sings of Chinese night attacks; equipment carried; drive in lorries across Imjinn River to Hill 187 sector, Kowang San area. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with H Troop, 42 Bty, 24th LAA Regt and H Troop, 248 Bty, 61st Light Regt, RA during period in Korea, 11/1951-7/1952: situation on taking over 4.2" mortars and command post equipment from previous unit; dugout; briefing. REEL 9 Continues: abandonment of formal gun drill procedures after first action; situation facing Hill 166 and firing in support of Canadian patrols; view of air strikes in Chinese positions; improvements to command post, mortar pits and dugouts; camp bed; assistance in digging from Korean labourers; latrines; heating dugouts; effects of wet conditions; duties as CP assistant including taking post and role registering and recording coordinates of defensive fire targets; story of being late reporting to CP due to fatigue. REEL 13 Continues: role of tanks in hull down positions; story of use of smoke bombs to cover retreat of tanks from No Man's Land; use of self-propelled Bofors gun in forward role against ground targets; reorganisation of unit as 248 Bty, 61st LR; sounds of various types of artillery; question of ear defenders; moving mortars into forward positions; staged withdrawal plan; effects of bunker fire caused by petrol stove and consequent change to diesel; visit to rest camp; question of movements and units supported; situation; wet conditions in Spring; effects of increasing reductions in troop personnel and assisting with ammunition. REEL 14 Continues: guard duties including court martial of NCO for sleeping on duty and personal morale; Chinese 'stick' grenades and 'burp' gun; restrictions in firing due to ammunition shortages; local leave at Ebisu Camp, Tokyo, Japan, 5/1952, including flight out, accommodation and recreations; firing mortar salvo and story of treating friend's arm wound; story of purchasing tea set sent to GB; use of US searchlights to illuminate Chinese hill positions; question of reduced pay fro NS men; attitude to imminent demobilisation; story of escorting court martialled NCO back to detention camp; informal nature of troop discipline; nickname 'Chalky' White. REEL 15 Continues: reactions to leaving unit, 7/1952; journey to Pusan; re-equipment and medical at transit camp. Voyage aboard Empire Orwell to GB, 7/1952-8/1952: conditions; route and visits ashore; reception and customs search at Southampton. Medical and demobilisation at Woolwich Barracks, 8/1952. Post-service career: minimal reception on return; financial situation; resuming apprenticeship as printer; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; career as printer; Territorial Army service with Bofors AA unit based at Kettering Drill Hall, 1952-1954, including reactions, question of lack of driving license and role as signaller, drill night and weekend camps. REEL 16 Continues: Territorial Army service with Bofors AA unit based at Kettering Drill Hall, 1952-1954, including annual camps and decision to leave unit; membership and role as press officer with Koreans Veterans Assoc; visits to South Korea in 1983 and 1985; effects of NS experiences.