BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2

  SOME LINKS

Further information about the British artillery in World War 2 means doing some serious digging.  This sort of information is not available on-line.  You need to either go to the places with the information, see if the information holders offer a research service or employ someone to research on your behalf.  Here are some information holders:

Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum at Woolwich (South East London) - Firepower - the James Clavell library, which holds the collection of the RA Institution (some one million items), has a wealth of material including copies of unit war diaries.  However, their cataloguing system is rightly described as eclectic.  Since they are not funded by the government a financial contribution with any request for information is required.  If you visit you need to book and they charge by the day.

The Badley Library in the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill (Wiltshire) - is a much newer library but holds a useful collection of artillery publications and offer research for a fee.

The Imperial War Museum (London) - The IWM holds a major collection of documents and photographs relating to the two World Wars.

The National Army Museum (London) - The Nationa Army Museum focusses on the entire existence of the British Army.

The National Archives (formerly Public Record Office) in Kew (West London) - The PRO is the archive for all official records.  They too have war diaries. However, their main collections are all the other official records, reports, papers, etc.  The challenge is finding what you want because they do not offer a research service but will copy and send documents to you according to their scale of fees. However, there are researchers who will work for you and PRO's class lists are now available on-line and searchable.  The WO classes proved the main sources but AVIA provides classes concerned with some equipment development and procurement.

The Australian War Memorial (Canberra) - The AWM is the major military museum and library in Australia with comprehensive collections covering both World Wars.  Its scope is roughly that of IWM and PRO.

The New Zealand Army Museum (Waiouru, North Island) - The Army Museum has a most interesting collection, including 3.7-inch howitzers used by New Zealand Gunners on Guadacanal (OK did you know they were there, or were you too under the delusion it was all US?).  However, the World War 2 focus is, of course, on the Mediterranean Theatres

The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum (CFB Shilo, Manitoba) - The RCA Museum records Canadian World War 2 action in Sicily, Italy and NW Europe.  

Directory

Top

Copyright © 2001 - 2010 Nigel F Evans. All Rights Reserved.