information about my father. anti aircraft gunner Harold (Tug) wilson

[tosie]

I wonder if anyone can help me? I don't even know if my dad was in the Manchester Regiment during WW2, but he was a Manchester lad, so that's a start. the facts I know are: He was born on 15/03/19 and so was 20 in 1939. I know he was posted to Jersey Marine in South Wales as an anti aircraft gunner on a 3 inch gun. (Incidentally he met my mother here and was married in 1941) He was subsequently posted to North Africa. I believe he was a "Desert Rat" and later was a "D Day Dodger" in Italy. Because of his trade as a gunner I was told that he would have been in the Royal Artillery. As I am completely ignorant of army matters, Would that have been part of the Manchester regiment, or was it completely separate?  what is the difference between a regiment and a battalion? You see I am a complete novice. Does anyone know how i can find out more about my dad's regiment, etc? He died in 1979, aged  60, and I regret not asking him more before we lost him .
thank you.

[charlie]

Hello and welcome to the forum Tosie.

It sounds like your Grandfather was in the Royal Artillery which was not a part of the Manchester Regiment. Your best course of action would be to apply for his service record, the forms are available here
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

In a nut shell as far as the Infantry is concerned, a Regiment, which could contain one or more battalions, is the parent administrative unit. A battalion is a „fighting unit“ of the regiment.

Charlie

[tosie]

thank you for your reply, Charlie. That will give me a start.