- Contributed by听
- WW2_Database
- Article ID:听
- A8675319
- Contributed on:听
- 20 January 2006
Information provided by: Peter Donnelly
Part of: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum
First Published: 13 January 2004
Overview
After Annual Camp in 1938 the 4th Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster was converted into the 56th Anti-Tank Regiment (King's Own) Royal Artillery. In September 1939 the unit was mobilised as part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division (TA) - which joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in April 1940. The 56th provided the defence on a section of the Dunkirk perimeter before being evacuated. Following its return to the UK the 56th lost men and batteries to form other units. 223 Battery became 1st Air-Landing Anti-Tank Battery in November 1941. They became the first Royal Artillery unit to fly into battle - on board gliders - serving with 1st Airborne Division in Sicily in 1942 and later at Arnhem in September 1944. The 56th itself went out to India in 1941 and fought in India and Burma from October 1943 until the end of the war.
Facts and figures
Unit name: 56th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery (The King's Own)
Force: Army
Designation: Regiment (Army)
Type: Artillery - Anti-tank
Motto: Honi soit qui may y pense
English translation: Evil be to he who evil does
Further resources
Museums and Associations
Name: King's Own Royal Regiment Museum
Address: City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, Lancashire
Postcode: LA1 1HT
Telephone number: 01524 64637
Email address: kingsownmuseum@iname.com
Comments: If contacting the museum by email please supply a full postal address to which a reply can be sent. If visiting the museum in person with a particular enquiry please telephone first to ensure the curator is available.
Books and Magazines
Title: The King's Own The Story of a Royal Regiment, Volume Three, 1914-1950
Author: Cowper, Julia M
Pub year: 1957
Description: The best single source history of the King's Own and all sub-units for World War Two. Now out of print, but should be available on inter-library loan. Now available from the King's Own Museum on cd-rom.
Title: Lions of England - a pictorial history of the King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster
Author: Eastwood, Stuart A
Pub year: 1991
ISBN: 0 947971 68 8
Description: Pictorial history of the regiment with chapter covering all operations in World War Two.
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