55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA

Okay, so hear me out here, would anyone be interested in a history of the Suffolk Yeomanry, 1944-45?

Yes, I appreciate it is a little off my usual topic, but like the regular county neighbours, the Suffolk Yeomanry never really get a mention in the history of the NW Europe campaign.

The 55th (SY) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, landed in Normandy on D+4 equipped with both 6 and 17 Pounder guns and after a ferocious battle against tanks at Rauray, they followed the 49th (West Riding) Division through France and up into Holland.

Though their only major offensive enemy action was in France (with another skirmish on the Dutch Border), they fought as infantry during the cold winter of 1944-45 on the ‘Island’ between Nijmegen and Arnhem and ended the war close to Utrecht. In between, several troops had been issued with Valentine SP guns (known as the ‘Archer’) which were a popular, if seldom used weapon.

Whilst there is a fair amount of information on their Normandy tank scrap, after this, there is virtually nothing. Does anyone have anything else that could add to their service to make a book on their history?

Please get in contact if you have anything. I’m really fired up about this one, especially since I had two relatives who served with the Loyal Suffolks Hussars in the Great War.

Perhaps I need to devote some more time to this project over the winter?