The regiment were in the final stages before crossing to North-West Europe after D-Day. The landings had already happened on 6 June 1944, but 13 Medium Regiment had not yet gone across. They were still in England, preparing men, vehicles, guns, and equipment for the move overseas.
On 9 June, the regiment moved to Five Oaks Camp near Horsham, described as a concentration area. In this context, that means a gathering point where units were assembled, checked, equipped, and prepared before moving on. The diary notes that the regiment was brought up to full strength in vehicles and equipment, which means they were getting ready for active service abroad.
A key job mentioned twice is waterproofing. Before driving off landing craft into the coastal surf of Normandy, every single truck, Matador tractor, and gun had to be slathered in thick waterproof grease (asbestos compound), with rubber hoses fitted to high exhaust pipes. If seawater got into the engine, the vehicle was dead in the water.
By 18–19 June, the advance party and then the main body moved to the Marshalling Area at Wanstead Flats in London. A marshalling area was the final holding area before embarkation. The diary’s phrase “a most unpleasant camp” gives a small but very human glimpse of conditions before they sailed. Thousands of men were crammed into canvas tent cities surrounded by barbed wire so no secrets about the invasion could leak out.
The most dramatic part is 22 June. The drivers and vehicles were loading at Victoria Docks when the ship carrying 89 Battery’s vehicles narrowly escaped damage from a near miss by a pilotless bomb. This almost certainly refers to the German V-1 flying bombs, which began falling on London in June 1944. So even before the regiment reached the continent, they were already in danger from enemy attack.
Eyewitness Memory (IWM Sound Archive, Cat. 12497):
Veteran William O’Sullivan recalled this exact moment in an Imperial War Museum interview. As the Doodlebugs started coming down around Victoria Docks, the sudden panic caused the troops on board to rush to one side of the vessel for cover, almost tipping the ship over before they had even set sail.
🪖 Life in the Gun Pits
Transcription:
Month and Year: June 1944
Unit: 13 Medium Regiment RA, including LAD attached
Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. G. P. W. Dunphie, RA
Place: Field
8 June 1944
166142 W/Lt (T/Capt) A. H. Massey RA posted to this unit wef 8 Jun 44, vice 134934 W/Capt O. R. Seligman RA posted to 105 Rft Gp pending admission to hospital.
293770 W/Lt D. J. Lindsay RA posted from and 295253 W/Lt R. P. D. Wallis posted to 52 RHU wef 6 Jun 44.
9 June 1944
Regt moved to Concentration Area, FIVE OAKS CAMP, near Horsham, and was brought to full strength in vehicles and all equipment. No reinforcements received.
First stage waterproofing completed.
18 June 1944
Regt advance party for overseas left for Marshalling Area — 2 IC, 2 Officers, 7 ORs.
19 June 1944
Regt, less Residue Party, moved through London to Marshalling Area in a most unpleasant camp on WANSTEAD FLATS.
Second stage waterproofing carried out.
21 June 1944
Drivers and vehicles to Victoria Docks. Loading started.
22 June 1944
Loading completed. Ship containing 89 Battery vehicles had lucky escape from a near-miss from a pilotless bomb, a number of which landed in the dock area throughout the period of loading.