Priest ID

kevinT · #1 14-04-05, 19:31

I was browsing through some clips I had saved from British Pathe some time back, and came across the following.
1374.26 "The Fall of Caen". From about frame 70 to 75 are 3 M7 Priests.
"Festubert", "Escaut" and "Cheluvelt".
Only "Festubert" shows AoS of 42.
Can anybody id which unit(s) these Priests belong to? Not much to go on I know, but any help is appreciated.
The most likely candidates suggested so far 7th Field of 3 Infantry Div, or 74th Field of 50th Infantry Div.
The three names are places in Belgium where Canadian units fought during WWI. So I am edging towards a Canadian unit.

Cheers
Kevin

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #2 14-04-05, 20:01

AFAIK, the Brits didn't have any of them. I haven't got my charts here at work, so can't comment on the "42", will look it up at home.

John McGillivray · #3 14-04-05, 22:44

The AoS 42 is for the senior Field Artillery Regiment in an Infantry Division. The three assault divisions that landed on the British and Canadian beaches on D-Day were equipped with M7 SP 105mm guns in place of their usual 25 pdr guns. These units were:

3rd Division
- 7th, 33rd and 76th Field Regiments RA

50th (Northumbrian) Division.
- 74th, 90th and 124th Field Regiments RA

3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
- 12th, 13th and 14th Field regiments RCA

Both the 3rd British and the 3rd Canadian Divisions took part in the Capture of Caen on the 9th of July. However, I have not seen any pictures of the Canadian guns with names on them. So I would think that the M7’s you are referring to, most likely belonged to the 7th Field Regiment RA.

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 15-04-05, 00:36

Quote:

Originally posted by John McGillivray
However, I have not seen any pictures of the Canadian guns with names on them.

How about this one:

Click image for larger version

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http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoels...s/dnd36069.jpg

Source: The Public Archives of Canada (DND Army 36069); courtesy of Peter Brown; picture linked from THE PRIEST KANGAROO

Caption: 'Priest' self-propelled gun of the 19th Field Regiment, R.C.A., Normandy, July 1944. [Left to right]: Bdrs. D. Nashawa, G. Harper. Full names of 'the "Wacky" Seven are - top row painted directly onto the hull side DICK and GORD, second row on Maple Leaf background HARRY and JIM, third row also on Maple Leaf background BERT and BRES."

H.

servicepub (RIP) · #5 15-04-05, 02:35

Hi Hanno,
I have a print of this and both Dick and Gord are also painted on Maple Leaves. It loks like the leaves are of different colours (at least three) and may represent the men's original divisions (red for 1st, etc...)
PS did you get my PM?

Tony Smith · #6 15-04-05, 05:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Caption:Full names of 'the "Wacky" Seven are - top row painted directly onto the hull side DICK and GORD, second row on Maple Leaf background HARRY and JIM, third row also on Maple Leaf background BERT and BRES."

Seems they can't count. Crewman No 7 is "Ken", between the legs of the allied star

Mark W. Tonner · #7 16-04-05, 01:33

Quote:

Originally posted by kevinT

"Festubert", "Escaut" and "Cheluvelt".

The three names are places in Belgium

Hi Kevin;

The three place names coincide with the 7th Fd Regt, RA gun areas from Belgium in 1940 (3rd Div). I believe that these three M7 Priests are from the 7th Fd Regt, RA. I have a similar photo of 7th Priests that once I find I'll post.

Cheers

Mark W. Tonner · #8 16-04-05, 01:41

Quote:

Originally posted by John McGillivray
However, I have not seen any pictures of the Canadian guns with names on them. So I would think that the M7’s you are referring to, most likely belonged to the 7th Field Regiment RA.

Hi John;

'BEBE' - 'B2' of 34th Fd Bty, 14 Fd Regt, RCA (3rd Cdn Inf Div) - Normandy, 1944

Ref: PA 132886 (National Archives Canada)

Cheers

Hanno Spoelstra · #9 03-08-07, 02:10

Came across this pic of a Priest in Commonwealth service the other day. Obviously being prepared for D-Day.

servicepub (RIP) · #10 03-08-07, 15:16

I think this might be earlier than Spring 1944. The men are wearing the Field Service Cap and by 1943 this had been replaced by the beret.

Hanno Spoelstra · #11 03-08-07, 17:59

Quote:

Originally posted by servicepub
I think this might be earlier than Spring 1944. The men are wearing the Field Service Cap and by 1943 this had been replaced by the beret.

Clive,

Your call. The reason I said obviously being prepared for D-Day was because it was obviously being prepared for deep wading.

H.

Mark W. Tonner · #12 03-08-07, 20:50

Clive/Hanno;

This should answer your question(s) regarding when this photo was taken: -

Source: IWM Collections Online: -

Photo No.: H 37994
Photographer: Wooldridge (Sgt) War Office official photographer
Title: THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
Collection No.: 4700-37
Description: Priest 105mm self-propelled gun of 303rd Battery, 76th Highland Field Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Emsworth, Hampshire, 29 April 1944.
Period: Second World War
Date: 29 April 1944
Access: Unrestricted
Colour / B&W: Black and white
Type: Official photograph

servicepub (RIP) · #13 03-08-07, 21:02

Interesting! I guess the Brits didn't adopt the beret as early Canada.

Steve Guthrie · #14 04-08-07, 03:51

Hi there

It's unusual to see the red-white-red AFV recognition marking still in use in April 1944. However, it could be an older vehicle turned into Ord then re-issued prior to D-Day.

Then again, I have seen a photo of an M-10 3" SP on the beach at Normandy sporting the marking.

Steve

John McGillivray · #15 04-08-07, 13:42

I think that the Artillery was just slower to change. There is a photo of an Archer SPG in Nicholson’s book “The Canadians in Italy” which bears the old red-white-red AFV recognition marking in October 1944. The Archer has to be new vehicles since they only entered service in the fall of 44.

Hanno Spoelstra · #16 05-08-07, 22:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
Clive/Hanno;

This should answer your question(s) regarding when this photo was taken: -

Thank you, Mark!

Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #17 27-07-19, 09:26

“A unique document just released as it describes what the 12th Canadian Field Artillery experienced during the first few days in Normandy, 1944.”

http://12thfieldrca.ca/12th-canadian...y-publication/

MicS · #18 30-08-19, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Guthrie

Hi there

It's unusual to see the red-white-red AFV recognition marking still in use in April 1944. However, it could be an older vehicle turned into Ord then re-issued prior to D-Day.

Then again, I have seen a photo of an M-10 3" SP on the beach at Normandy sporting the marking.

Steve

On D Day all 3rd British Infantry Division arty SP guns (inclunding the M10s as you noted) and Shermans had the Red-White-Red flash, as had the Centaurs and Shermans of all the RMASG units.

Michel