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Gunner Arthur Moore
January - July 1944
66 Anti Tank Regiment
Royal Artillery
Northern Ireland D-Day training
On 16th December 1943 Arthur was given Christmas leave but instructed to report 5th January 1944 to the 66 Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery (66 ATK Regt RA). The regiment was based just to the south west of Belfast in Aberdelghy camp, Lisburn, Northern Ireland and spent the next 6 months, before D-Day, training and participating in war game exercises.
The regiment had orders to train for offensive operations overseas and that this main role was to be interfered with as little as possible. The risk of enemy invasion was very unlikely in Northern Ireland. Seaborne commando and airborne parachute raids were also deemed low. The risk of sabotage and civil disturbance were greater than on main land Britain because they could be assisted by the IRA from Eire. The regiment had to be prepared to help the local police but they were never called out. The regiment were also tasked to be on standby to help the civil authorities deal with the damage and to rescue trapped people following air raids on the docks.
January 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
Arthur did not have long to get used to his new duties before going out on exercise.
Between 18th and 30th of January he was involved in live firing at the Tyrella ranges, County Down, south of Belfast on the coast over looking Dundrum Bay and the Irish sea in Northern Ireland.
February 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
Arthur was involved in a regimental Anglo US exchange of personnel with the Tank Destroyer battalion (US Army). Groups of soldiers would swap places with their American counterparts to experience how each nation operated. The British troops loved the American food but the same could not be said for the American’s enjoying the British NAFFI food. Some of them had never drunk tea with milk before. The regiment continued with live firing exercises at the Tyrella ranges during the cold winter days of February on the 14th 17th 18th 24th 25th and 26th. On 26th the 66 Anti Tank Regimental rugby team took on 55 Divisional HQ team and won 17 points to 3.
March 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
Arthur had to re classify on the rifle ranges on the 7th. On the 12th and 13th the 66 ATK Regt RA was involved in an exercise called ‘Urgency I’ near Downpatrick, which is to the south east of Belfast. The unit’s war diary records the weather as wet and windy. They were out in the cold wet March weather again on the 15th and 16th in the Downpatrick area on exercise ‘Urgency II’. Again on the 19th and 20th in the Downpatrick area on exercise ‘Urgency III’ and again on 23rd in the Downpatrick area on exercise ‘Urgency IV’. On 18h the 66 Anti Tank Regimental rugby team took on the South Lancs. Regiment team but lost 9 points to nil.
April 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
April was no different to March. The regiment was involved in exercises throughout the month but the weather was totally different. It was the warmest April in Northern Ireland since records were started. On 4th the 66 Anti Tank Regiment RA was involved in exercise ‘Defilade’ near Lisburn south west of Belfast. On 11th-15th they went to Kilrea in Co Antrim,which is north west of Belfast, or an exercise called “Rose I”. They went back to that area 26h to 27th for exercise “Rose II” but this time they were near Portglenone. On the 18th – 19th the regiment went on an exercise with the US Army Cavalry.
May 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
The pressure of training was maintained throughout May. On 3rd the regiment went to Cullybackey, Co Antrim, north west of Belfast, and took part in exercise “Deadeasy” which knowing the military sense of humour was probably very hard. Between 6th – 8th Arthur took part in exercise “Dollar” at Ballykinler, Co Down near the coast south of Belfast. They also took part in live firing on the 8th and 26th at the Tyrella ranges. Orders were received that the regiment had to learn how to transport their equipment over rivers so they had to learn the skill of rafting. On the 9th 13th 20th-23rd rafting practice was undertaken at Poyntz pass, south west of Belfast, on the Newry canal. The a regimental Anglo US exchange of personnel program continued in May. Troops change regiments for a period of two weeks.
June 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA)
Although it was now summer the weather was wet during the whole of the next exercise on the 1st called “Gallop II” held at Castlewellan which is south of Belfast. D-Day occurred on 6th June 1944 but the 66 ATK Regt RA remained in Northern Ireland. On 18th – 25th they conducted live firing exercises at Bangor training camp. Again it was dull and wet. One the 26th – 29th they were involved in battle practice at Benbane Head Anti Tank Range on the northern coat of Northern Ireland near the Giants Causeway.
July 1944 (66 ATK Regt RA & 97 ATK Regt RA)
The 13th of July 1944 was a very dramatic day for Arthur. This was the day he learnt that he was going to war. The regimental war diary records the following. “This draft was flown from Bishopscourt RAF Station direct to Normandy. 15 Dakota planes were used to transport the draft. The draft assembled at the airfield on 13th July but owing to bad flying conditions the transport planes did not arrive till the following day. Moral of the draft was very high and left best of spirits. Lieutenants E.W.Morgan G.P.Davis K.M.Newington, 2nd Lieutenant F.A.Samsom and 220 OR (other ranks – that included Arthur) left the regiment on draft REMMB (Replacement Emergency Mobile Manpower Battery).
Douglas Dakota transport plane
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