312th (Wessex) Medium Regt R.A.

The 1st Wiltshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery, and its successors were part-time Territorial Force units of the British Army from 1908 to 1950. It carried out garrison duties in India during World War I and saw active service in the Third Afghan War. It served in various units in the interwar years, finally becoming a full regiment (as 112th (Wessex) Field Regiment) in time for World War II. It saw action with 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division in the campaign in North West Europe, including Operations Epsom, Jupiter and Bluecoat in Normandy, the crossing of the Seine, the battle for Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) in the Low Countries, and then Operations Clipper, Blackcock, Veritable and Plunder across Germany. Its short-lived postwar successor unit had little or no Wiltshire connection.

When the TA was reformed on 1 January 1947 the regiment was revived as 312 (Wessex) Medium Regiment. The new regiment was based at Bristol and had little or no Wiltshire connection. It formed part of 90 (Field) Army Group RA. Later the regiment was merged on 30 August 1950 into 498 (Gloucestershire) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Rgt as 312 (Gloucestershire) HAA Rgt, and on 10 March 1955, this in turn became a single Bristol-based battery in 311 (City of Bristol) HAA Rgt.

3.7inch medium anti-aircraft gun

312 Regt R.A. Officers Guest Night at Bude

311 or 312 Regiment, 1953

It is believed the above photo is of 311 or 312 Regiment on its way to church service for the Queen's Coronation in 1953. The men are not wearing white Lanyards, but the L/Bdr is. White plaited lanyards were introduces again in the 1950s for a short time. Bristol Cathedral is to the right of the men and there is some kind of structure on the grass frontage of the Cathedral. On the structure is what appears to be a oval shield with a crown on the apex. Perhaps it is the Territorial Army badge? The building behind the men is now the Marriott, Swallow Hotel. Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) went out of service in the 1960s.

Territorial Army badge

Sources and Resources

Derek Driscoll's original pages

312th (Wessex) Medium Regt R.A.

Other Resources

1st Wiltshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery - Wikipedia