British units serving in Palestine 1945 - 1948

“2035   Series of explosions (approx 6) in PETAH-TIQVA district.
2040    Camp warning sounded.
2045    Guards “standing by”.  F/L YEARWOOD handed over command of detachment to F/L BAKER (2nd i/c Sqdn) having arranged Patrols & Security measures.
2055    Troop of 3 GMCs despatched to North Gate Guardroom.
        Troop of 3 Morris Recces despatched to Patrol and
        Guard the PETAH-TIQVA cross-roads and all boundary
        Roads (Green Route).
2058    A Troop of 3 GMCs despatched to Domestic Site Cross-
        Roads to cover any approach to the cross-roads through
        Domestic Site Gate.
2100    One GMC, one Corporal & four men detailed to guard
        2717 Sqdn Signals Section.
2325    One Troop AFVs despatched to reinforce MAIN GATE GUARD
        for the remainder of night. Flares observed dropping
        in vicinity of North Gate Guardroom.  Ascertained to
        be searching aircraft.  One Troop AFVs despatched
        to reinforce 2717 Signal Section and entrance Gate
        guards for remainder of night.
        “STAND DOWN GIVEN”
2400    Nothing further to report.”

Royal Artillery
   1st Royal Horse Artillery
   2nd Royal Horse Artillery Ramsays Troup. Mughazi Camp, Gaza 1947. Illegal immigrant interception, road blocks and vehicle searches. General mobile patrols. Regiment disbanded in 1947.
   6th Royal Horse Artillery 6th RHA moved to Egypt from India in 1947 and thence to Nathanya where it was redesignated 6th Fd Regt RA.
   1st Field Regiment based at Ramat David November 1946 then moved Nethanya January 1947. Redesignated 59th Field Regiment 1st April 1947 to October 1947.
   2nd Field Regiment The 2nd Field Regt was based in The Canel zone Egypt in November 45 prior to moving to Palestine in March 46. Located at Camp 101 at Benyamina. In February 47 moved to Camp 22. In June 47 was redesignated 41st Field Regt. Lt Col Sinclair was CO. 2nd Fd was comprised of three batteries: 35 Bty, 42 Bty and 53 Bty. 41st Fd was comprised of 88 (Arakan) Bty,42 Bty and 135 Bty. The units were involved in Illegal immigrant interception, transfering some to Cyprus and gaurding those remaining. Also road and rail searches, patrols, and providing guard duties at Latrun, and Athlit prisons and intervening the Arab attack on the Jewish settlement at Petch Tichva. The 2nd Fd had seen service in North Africa, the invasion of Italy including Anzio and onwards into North Italy. Both units were part of The 1st Infantry Division.
   2 Forward Observation Unit (Airborne), Royal Artillery
   6 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Previously 6th Royal horse Artillery.
   7 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Arrived Palestine end 1945. Operated North of 6th Para. Amongst patrol and similar duties provided guards for Athlit detention camp south of Haifa.
   12th Anti Tank Regiment ex 7th RHA, last camp was Karkur. attacked on 6th April 1948 by 29th attack force of I.Z.L. C.O. killed along with 6 other ranks.
   20th Anti Tank Regiment
   33rd Airborne Light Regiment, 3rd British Division.
   33rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Also served along side 74th a.a. in gaza moved to egypt 1948 with 33rd
   39 Medium Regiment. Unit was in Gaza, Rafah. CO. was Lt.Col. Weir. Moved to Misurata/Tripoli 1948.
I was battery clerk with 169 Bty, 39 Med Regt RA. We arrived at ISDSUD from Qassasin in Egypt in April 1947. We then moved toi MUGHAZI then did a spell on guard duties at LATRUN befor returning to MUGHAZI in JaNUARY 1948. Wemoved to RAFAH in Februay from wher I left for demob.
   F Troop Royal Signals att. 41 Field Regt R.A.. I joined Troop Jan 1948 at Tel litvinski moved to Sarafand April. Moved to El Ballah May --Gordon Camp. O.C.Lt. C.L.Lewis Barclay. I was Lt. Col. Sinclair's Radio Operator. Thanks to John Peyman for this entry.
   58 Medium Regiment, arrived in Egypt from Italy with 3rd Infantry Division. Original 4th Medium regiment based in Udine, moved to Palestine after a short spell in Qassassin. Spent a short while at Isdud, then moved to Latrun. The billets were in the Palestine police fort which overlooked the screening camp and prison camp which were for the terrorists. The fort had two towers with a bren gun and searchlight. The batteries were on guard duty for the prison camps. The regiment moved south in late 1947 Colonel Delamain commanding, RSM Marsh.
   52 Observation Regiment. Between 1947 Jan- April called 2nd Survey Regiment, RA.
1947 Jan - April 1948, CO Jan - May 1947 Lt M.C. Sands. May 1947 - Fweb 1949 Lt Col S.L.A.S. Rudd Clarke, DSO under 1 Armd Div, then 3 Inf Div, then 1 Inf Div, 3 AGRA used for internal security and infantry training: consisted of 15, 237, 236 and 22 Bty. 15 Bty ran a detainee camp at Latrun; 237 Bty based at Jerusalem with task to deploy OPs and plotting centre at police HQ -by this means explosions and terrorist activities were passed on to police by wireless Feb 1948 15 Bty moved to Aerc, sharing camp with 1 RHA. Many Thanks to Massimo Mangilli-Climpson for the detailed information.
   66th Airborne Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
   66th battery, 80th Regiment, Royal Artillery
   211 Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery
   300 Battery, 2 Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
   334 Forward Observer Battery, Royal Artillery
   2923 LAA Squadron.
   Middle East School of Artillery.

Royal Army Service Corps
   1 Company, RASC, CO was Major RE Rushby MM. Left Palestine on 15th May 1947 for Egypt.
   1 C.S.P.S.U., RASC, I was posted to 3rd Division at Fayid/Fanara in Egypt Oct 46 then sent to a C.S.D at Gaza. In 47 the 3rd Div reached its 'Python', I was then posted to No1 C.S.P.S.U at El Ballah, on detachment, under MAJOR JEFFERSON despatching fruit/veg to all troops in North Canal Zone each day before sunrise. I was demobbed Sept 1948. group 73. Ballah had a Lido on the Suez Canal used by many troops. Thanks to Tony Blades for this entry.
   13 Company, RASC (GT), Stationed at Sarafand left for Egypt at end of Mandate. A platoon of Danish troops served with this Company.
   31 Supply Reserve Depot The depot issued to supply platoons situated in Haifa, Hedera, Sarafand, Majdal, Rafa, Jerusalem and Mafraq which in turn issued to formations.Haifa sub depot had a cold storage section for meat and a further cold storage 15 miles further south for potatoes.
      A Sub Depot Haifa
      B Sub Depot Sarafand
OC Major D.S.John,
2 I/C Capt. McCafferty,
Lt. B.A.Hester,
Lt. P. Clayton.
   No.2 Command Supply and Production Supervising unit at Kingsway Camp, Haifa.
   7/73 Company RASC, I joined co Oct 46 to evacuation end May 48 we were at various locations incl Hadera Tulkarm Natanya Haifa transporting troops on different operations there was another RASC co 40/42.
   40 Company, RASC, 1st Infantry Division. We moved from Fayid Egypt to Camp 80 near Hadera in early 1946.We stayed there for some time and then moved South to Camp 22 near Nathanya.I spent some of the time on Detachment at Mount Carmel with the Div HQ.the Coy was very active and we lost comrades to roadside mines. one task was to convert a Bedford MW into a hearse.We took part in the search for the two murdered Intelligence Corps Sgt's both of who I knew as I maintained their Motor Cycles.We started off with Dodge 3 Tonners but at some point took over Bedford QL's from another unit. Thanks to J Eveleigh for this entry.
   101 Company (Amphibious) RASC My father joined 101 Company RASC in July 1946 stationed south of Haifa as a subleuitenant. Commanding officer Major Horrocks, Adjutant Captain Beck, Company Seargeant Major Jacks. General transport duties with Canadian Dodge Trucks. Moved to Sarafand in September/October 1946 to start training with Neptune amphibious vehicles.
   138 Field Bakery RASC at Kingsway Camp, Haifa.
   193 Company Basic Petroleum Transport R.A.S.C. Stationed at El Jalama (approx 35 Km South East of Haifa) from Nov 1947 to May 1948. Posted to Jerusalem for the main evacuation convoy May 15th and then to Bat Galim in Haifa until June. Company was then posted to Benghazi and Tobruk as 193 Company General Transport (Mauritius).
commanded by Major Hooper El Jalama near Haifa I was sent on attachment to Beiruth for several months then on to Tripoli in the Lebonon several months later i was to return to El Jalama untill my return to the uk in 1948 on the SS Samaria. I cannot recall precisely the ammount of personnel at either of the attacthments but i think it was about 25 at Beiruth and 10 in tripoly. One of the sgts. names was Dallas. 193 coy. supplied most of the forces in palestine, syria, lebonon, with petrol and cooking oil.
   242 Company RASC (6th Armoured Division), Moved from Italy to Palestine May/June 1947.Located at Khassa Camp (next to Life Guards) Moved on to Kenya.
   258 (GT) Heavy Goods RASC, Mt. Carmel Haifa.
   285 Company Royal Army Service Corp (Royal Corp Transport) 285gt from 1945 to 1948, trained at bodmin then stationed at diss near thetford forest in norfolk. Part of initial crew that opened up the then dissused camp, there should be a plaque there with our company on it but I have forgotten the name of the camp and would like to find out so my nephew could research this for me. Served in Egypt then palistine early 1945. Thanks to Ramond Carr for this entry.
   414 coy RASC Horse transport.
   405 company, Palestine Regiment, R.A.S.C, M.E.F Ismaelia Egypt I was a bedford tank trucks driver operating between Port Saïd and Suez during the period 1944 - 1946.
   470 Ambulance Car Coy RASC Sarafand prior to moving to Egypt upon the end of the Mandate.
   474 Supply Platoon RASC, Haifa area 1946-1948. At Kingsway camp most of the time, next to the Railway station, and Barclays Bank. Also in the camp were 138 Field Bakery RASC, and No.2 Command Supply and Production Supervising unit. These units were responsible for the supply of food to all units within the Haifa area.
Officers serving at Kingsway Camp included Captain WFB Donald, Capt'Bishop, Capt' AVN Reed, Lieut'P Clements, and Lieut'GA Baseden. I was a Lieut' with 474, and as a Captain C.O. of No2 C.S.P.S.U, and later 138 Field Bakery. Both Lieut'Baseden, and Capt' Reed were wounded as a result of a civil disturbance while in Kingsway Camp. Many Thanks to Ken Wyatt for this entry.
   639 Company, RASC, our company base was on the road between Jeruselem and Bethlehem.
    843 Amphibious unit Based at Beit Jerja.
    843 MT Company RASC 843 Co.was stationed at Ishdud (hope thats spelt right) on the outskirts of Gaza.in fact we used to walk there.it was made up of mainly Dodge Tpt.On occaisions i drve the water truck to service the Jewish Kibutz located between our site ond the sea.I was posted there from 242 Co.RASC. and subsequently to the RASC unit at Hq Pal. Allenby Barracks and Mount Carmel.
   RASC Transport Platoon, HQ Palestine, CO Cpt. Flavel followed by Lt. Tostevin, Sgt. Dean admin. Stationed at Allenby barracks.

Royal Army Medical Corps
   British Military Hospital Gaza.
   No.42 Military Hospital, Haifa.

Royal Army Ordnance Corps
   531 Base Ammunition Depot, R.A.O.C. Located at WADI SARAR, 1947 to 1948.
1941-42 Known as 2 Base Ammunition Depot.
1943-47 Known as 567 Central Ammunition Depot.
1947-48 Known as 531 Base Ammunition Depot.
The rear party left Wadi Sarah in April 1948 and drove in convoy to 9 BAD Abul Sultan in the Canal Zone.
Thanks to William Allen-Muncey for this entry.
   2 BOD RAOC , with-in these depot was No 3 Base work shop REME RAOC had a teriffic amount of stores to move before dead-line having 3 depots in Haifa area 614's transport ran non-stop 24 hours a day from depots to docks at Haifa so you will understand there being no time or recreational times some of us were survivers of the rail atrocity on 28 Feb.at Rehover when 28 were killed over 30 wounded and 30 escaped out of 110 troops on train
   614 A.O.D. R.A.O.C. 612 C.V.G. R.A.O.C., 614 A.O.D. under the command of COL. GORE & MAJOR NEWMAN was at camp 153 outside HAIFA. I beleave 3 BASE WORKSHOP were in 614's main depot,also sub.depots at KHAYAT BEACH and KYRIAT MOTZKIN. Joined by 612 C.V.G. in APRIL 48, this unit came from SARAFAND. 614 closed the gates in JUNE 48, embarking on GEORGIC on 5th JUNE 48 with rear party embarking SS SAMARIA on 12th JUNE 48 for 5 BASE ORDANCE at T.E.K. both units were given 7 days R&R. then disbanded. Some staying in EYGPT others going CYRPRUS, TURKEY.

Royal Corps of Signals
    3rd Infantry Division Signal Regiment, H Troop, 2 Squadron El Bureij, Gaza, Palestine 1947. CO: Lt Christopher Hodder-Williams. Thanks to Bryan Cox ex L/Cpl Royal Corps of Signals for this entry.
    4th Air Formation Signals Regiment..o. LtCol M.A. Lloyd later in '47 was posted to TransJordan Fronteer Force. Camp 11 Tahag,Ismalia.EgyptI was his driver.
    50 Wing, 4th Air Formation Signals Regiment. Stationed at Ein Shemer. O.C. was Major Palmer, unit was withdrawn to Egypt in late 1947 and reduced to become 4th Independent Air Formation Signals Squadron. Ishmailia and Tahag Egypt 1947/8. CO Major Stevens FOS F Linington D/R Troop Sgt Holness, I was Sgt i/c Workshop 4th A/F Sig Regt withdrew from Tahag to Iahmailia to become 4th Ind A/F Sig Regt. In May 1949 it started expanding again and became a full Regiment again in 1950. 2ASSU also had detachments on Iraq oilpipeline at H3 and H4 Thanks to Gerald Reeve for this entry.
    2 Air Support Signal Unit Sarafand garrison, Palestine. Sarafand 46/47 Jerusalem The Augusta Victoria on Mount Scopus 47/48 El Ballah 48 RAF Fayid 48 CO Major Liske then Major EW Lewis OC Capt Willis then Capt Prest OC B Troop Capt C Mawson Lt I T Wright also att Lt CH Watson (Capt Willis married Sarafand Church 18/2/47 2ASSU detachments at RAF Stns Ein Shemer,Habaniya,Nicosia,Khartoum,Aden also 6A/B Mt Carmel Haifa,3Div Sarafand, Pardes Hanna,Nathanya,Peta Tykva,Teletwinsky,Nazareth,Mogadishu.
    5th Air Formation Signals Regiment, 15 Wing Section Ramleh, Heifa, Lt.Nichols, Major Hibbs, 1941-46.
    18th Air Formation Signals Regiment 18th Air Formation Signal Regiment left Southampton 10th December 1945 arrived Port Said circa 19th December 1945 went to Quassin them Maadi

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
1st Guards Brigade Workshop REME. CO Major Plews, succeeded by Renny Sutcliffe. Approx 1945 at Tel el Kabir, then Haifa until May 1948 when it moved to Libya. It was mobile unit with motor repair, instrument mechanic, recovery and I had a "Z" lorry for telecommunication repairs. This lorry was 10 ton Leyland workshop and we either moved to the individual battalions or stayed with the main workshop and had wireless equipment sent to us for repair.
3 Base Workshops I was stationed at 3 Base Workshops at Haifa during July and August 1945 until admitted to hospital in Haifa with stomach trouble.
Attached REME 3 Base workshops Jan1947 to Nov 1947.Posted to Rasc at Headquarters King David Hotel camp at Allenby Barracks Nov 1947 until May 1948.Moved to Hadar ha Carmel left Palestine June 1948 went to GHQ at Fayid until Aug 1948.
52nd Observation Regt REME attached 2nd RHA, We were based in Acre palestine O/C Capt Wall Serviced Vehicles also in Jerusalem Syrian Orphanage Evacuated to Gharian in Tunisia. Thanks to L/A Staff Sgt Wells for this entry.

Royal Engineers
   1 Airborne Squadron, Royal Engineers Famagusta-unloading Jewish immigrants,1947 under Major O' Callaghan.
   3 Airborne Squadron, Royal Engineers
   3 Engineer Base Workshops, Royal Engineers I was stationed with 3EBW at Beit Nabala from 1944 - 1947. CO was Col R. Stevenson. On re-organisation it was renamed H,Q. R.E. Establishment Beit Nabala. The various units were called Workshops Wing, H.Q. Wing. Stores Wing etc.
   8th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers also 55th 56th and 143 Field Park Squadrons
8th Field Sqn. RE along with 56th. 55th. and 143 Field Park squadrons were stationed in Gaza Strip. Formerly part of 6th Armoured Div, finished war in Italy. Palestine 1946/47. Withdrew in Oct 1947 to Egypt and reformed as 34 Army Engineer Regt. Sent to Kenya to prepare water supply for proposed move of Middle East HQ to Mackinon Rd in Kenya from Fayid in Egypt.Proposals fell through. CO was Major C L Stevenson . OC Lt Col Orchard. Stationed North of Gaza at Isdud. Duties included surveilance of Railway Lines for Bombs etc. and general Counter terrorist activities.
   17th Field Squadron, were at Llyda, Sarafand,& Jerusalem. O.C.Major Jarret-Kerr.
   22nd Field Regiment.
   23 Field Company, Royal Engineers. 23 Field Company was the senior engineer company of 1st British Infantry Division. They moved to Palestine in January 1945 under command Major E V Rambush RE. In 1945 the company moved to Egypt for training at the School of Military Engineering at Ismalia and returned to Palestine as the troubles flared up in October. The Company was employed in construction accommodation and security bases as well as security duties. It was indeed a Captain Gallettie of 23rd Field Company RE who cut down the bodies of the two unfortunate Intelligence Sergeants in July 1947. He was temporarily blinded when he cut the body of one sergeant from a tree and the body struck a mine placed by the terrorists below the tree. The covering infantry was provided by the Grenadier Guards. The company remained in Palestine upto the last withdrawal and then moved into Egypt. Thanks to Captain Stu Pemberton for this entry.
   25 Field Company, Royal Engineers, Stationed at Bir Salem.Later became 17 Field Sqdn. Officer Commanding Major Pilkington.
   55th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. See entry for 8th Field Squadron.
   56th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. See entry for 8th Field Squadron.
   143rd Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers. See entry for 8th Field Squadron.
   177 a.w comp / 252 construction squadron, moved to Palestine in July 1946.
   193 Squadron, Royal Engineers.
   193 Railway operation squadron, RE Assib
   199 Railway Workshop, RE Tel Aviv. At Lydda 1947, Major Gray, RSM Gradwell.
   238 Field Company, 12th Field Squadron238 Field Coy/12 Field Sqn was part of the 2nd infantry brigade. The O.C. for most of the time during 1946-1947 was Major(Jerry)Chambers, greatly admired and respected by all his (soldiers) as he called them. Locations were 87 camp(Pardess Hannah)-Atlit camp-Beit Nebala-Ceasarea(abandoned) Police Stn-Ramallah, White Horse Hotel-Jerusalem, Syrian orphanage.
   249 Airborne Park, Royal Engineers
   603 Railway Construction Company/Squadron, Royal Engineers We were based at Beit Nabala Camp, Palestine Jan 1947 - 1948. C O was Major F D Goodwin. The Coy was in MEF from Jan 1946 based in Egypt (Suez canal area) spread out in detachments from Tobruk to Palestine.The whole Coy was moved to Palestine in Jan '47 where we were engaged in repairs following damage to railway lines, sidings, culverts etc due to terrorist activity.
   703 Artisan Works Company, 653 Road Construction Squadron, Royal Engineers. built a guards camp at Assib north of hHaifa and near the Syrian border. It then moved to Khan Unis south of Gaza where it was disbanded. Most of the drivers including myself were posted to 653 Road Construction Squadron at Khan Unis. The squadron then moved to Rafah near the Egyptian border in 1947.
   1261 Port Operating Squadron, Royal Engineers Haifa 1948.

Pioneer Corps renamed Royal Pioneer Corps on 28th November 1946

Royal Signals
   4th. Air Formation Signals Regiment, 2 Coy 4 AFS at Ein Shemer, Ramat David and Ramleh, 1945 to 1948
   K troop Royal Signals att. 2nd inf Brigade 1st inf Divisionposted camp 87 Pardes Hanna aug .1946 carried out internal security , all radio nets on 24 hrs watch then moved to Jerusalem early 1947 until end of mandate 14 may then to egpyt Quassasin
   N Troop Royal Signals att. 22 Field Regt. Royal Engineers, stationed at Camp 21 Nathanya. N Troop left in May 1948 across the Sinai Desert, then on to Benghazi to Lumsden Barracks and to The U.K. in 1949.
   32 DQ Royal Signals, Instructors were SGT Bowler and Cpl Taylor 1945/6.

Royal Military Police
   1st Infantry Division Provost Company C .M. P., Haifa Teletwinsky, Capt Barnes Capt Phillips, Major Pillitz 1946-1948 Tripoli 1948.
   209 Provost Company, Sarafand Camp. Soputh Palastine.Police barracks at Bat Galim, Haifa Port Police Station, Haifa Docks until 30th June 1948.
Army Air Corps