Overview

Having redeployed from the Middle East, the regiment entered the Italian theatre in 1944, initially landing in Sicily before moving onto the mainland. From the early stages of the advance at Reggio Calabria onward, it provided heavy artillery support to Allied ground forces operating under both the British Eighth Army and the United States Fifth Army. Equipped primarily with 5.5-inch medium guns, the regiment delivered long-range, high-impact firepower essential to overcoming entrenched German defences. The regiment was heavily engaged in a series of major operations as the campaign progressed northward. Its guns supported offensives across southern and central Italy, including actions around Foggia and Campobasso, and played a critical role during the Third Battle of Monte Cassino. There, concentrated medium artillery bombardments were integral to breaching the Gustav Line, contributing materially to one of the most decisive and hard-fought engagements of the campaign. Operationally, 2 Medium Regiment RA functioned as a highly mobile fire-support asset. Frequently attached to higher formations such as Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) and various corps-level commands, the regiment advanced with the front lines, often redeploying under pressure to maintain effective gun coverage. This mobility, combined with sustained fire missions, made the regiment indispensable during periods of rapid manoeuvre as well as during prolonged set-piece battles. Service conditions in Italy were consistently arduous. Personnel endured difficult terrain, adverse weather, and extended supply lines, often transporting ammunition over long distances while under enemy observation and fire. Such conditions demanded technical skill, endurance, and courage. Acts of individual bravery were formally recognised, including the award of the Military Medal to Gunner Cecil Carswell. The regiment remained in continuous service in Italy until the conclusion of hostilities in May 1945. Its wartime lineage traces back to its formation as 2 Medium Brigade, later redesignated 2 Medium Regiment RA in 1938. Following the war, in April 1947, the unit was renamed 39 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery. A Roll of Honour and Nominal HQ Roll complete this Italian theatre history.

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