57th (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A.

November 1938 - July 1940

The Regiment originally existed as the 5th Battalion of The East Surrey Regiment. This was an old Territorial Infantry Battalion recruited from personnel whose homes were in Surrey and South West London. The headquarters were at Wimbledon, with detachments at Streatham, Sutton, Epsom and Leatherhead.

In November 1938 the Battalion was converted to artillery and became the 57th (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. The changeover was received with mixed feelings and deep regret at leaving The East Surrey Regiment, but all but a very few men accepted the choice of remaining with the unit. On the outbreak of war in September 1939 the Regiment, as part of the 44th (Home Counties) Division, was embodied at Epsom Racecourse. The men lived in the Grandstand - all steel and concrete and with a long climb to the top where they slept on the hard stone floor. The time was spent in individual training, gun drills and digging gun pits on Epsom Downs.

On the night of October 22, the Regiment left Epsom by train for Chard in Somerset for training and mobilisation. Most of the Regiment was billeted in the town, but 226 Battery, commanded by Major J.R.C. Christopher, was in Combe St Nicholas with its headquarters at the Green Dragon Inn. The training progressed to tactical exercises by the batteries and on to brigade and divisional level. The exercises were spent on the bleak downs in freezing cold and wet weather. The winter was one of the worst for years and in the New Year heavy snow blocked the narrow country lanes.

In February the Division was inspected by H.M. King George VI at Crewkerne, while it continued to prepare for its move overseas to join the B.E.F. in France.
The road party with the vehicles and guns left Chard for Southampton and France on April 2 and six days later the remainder of the Regiment left by train from Chard Junction. The Regiment paraded in Fore St outside the Corn Exchange at 7.15 am and despite the early hour the local people turned out to see them off as they marched to the station. As one officer recorded, 'It was a quietly thrilling moment - all the months of training and preparation had led up to this - the crowds cheered and cameras clicked and farewell songs were sung - we were off to France.'

The kindness of the local people of Chard and Combe St Nicholas is remembered to this day. The Regiment had been warmly welcomed and everything possible had been done for their comfort and amusement. The strong cider is remembered too!

Personal Accounts - 226 Battery in Combe St Nicholas

C.C. (Jack) Fuller - E Troop
When we moved to Chard, 226 went straight to the village of Combe St Nicholas about two miles away. RHQ was in Chard itself. I was billeted in a skittle alley behind the 'Rising Sun' and half a mile from BHQ in another pub. By now having two stripes, I slept just inside the door and marched the team to BHQ each morning. At first we spent a lot of time in the local quarry, digging and sorting rocks to turn a small field into an all weather vehicle park. The emphasis was now on fieldcraft, camouflage and fitness training - it was here that I discovered I was a good distance runner. The inspection by the King was in a narrow lane and we, glittering, proudly formed up. As the King approached, the order was given, 'two paces step back march'. The rear rank was up to its ankles in mud and the air was quietly blue!

William (Jock) Giles - BHQ
We were then transferred by train from Epsom to Chard. We were billeted in Combe St Nicholas and slept in a bowling alley, while some slept above a pub. We used to go to a house to eat. I will never forget that the King inspected us, as nobody ever got to see a King in those days. Our Battery paraded with the guns and he came down the ranks. He said to me, 'How old are you boy?' and I said 18. He said, 'You be careful and look after yourself.
When the time came to go to France, the excitement was unbelievable, there were so many things happening, they were checking kit and making sure everything was right and ready. I went with the main party to Southampton and crossed to Cherbourg.
 

Sid Harris
We moved to Chard/Combe St. Nicholas, where I was put in charge of training drivers who had never driven 15cwt trucks. Well, this one learner had a civilian license. It was snowing and the roads were icy. After a couple of hours he seemed quite happy driving the 15cwt, when we approached Green Square in Combe St Nicholas. He went to put on his brake, but instead his foot went on the accelerator and we skidded and knocked over the only telephone box. If anybody had been in the telephone box they would have been killed, even with myself pulling on the handbrake. As I was in charge of the vehicle, I was put on a charge and served four days punishment. I must say the people of Combe St Nicholas village were very kind to us and apple pies were given to us with lots of Devonshire/Somerset cream.

D.A. (Jack) Hill - BHQ
The move to Chard was undertaken at night and after entraining at Tattenham Corner we found ourselves at Chard Junction station about dawn. We had a four mile march to Chard itself, where there was a canteen where we had something to eat and a short rest, before a march of a further three miles to a village named Combe St Nicholas. There were two pubs in the village and one, The Green Dragon, was taken over as BHQ, while the skittle alley became Battery Stores. The other pub was used to house members of BHQ.When we went to Lydd for range practice, I think it rained every day for the whole fortnight we were there.
I was with the main party when we went to France, which was uneventful, except that the journey was made at night. The move was supposed to be secret, but the whole village turned out to see us off.
 

Stan Slade - BHQ
We left Epsom in convoy and stopped overnight at Bulford in our old clapped-out cars and vans. We arrived at Combe St Nicholas outside Chard and were billeted over an old village pub. We spent the day and night digging gun pits and on exercises during the winter snows. The move to France was cancelled as Lord Haw Haw announced the move of the Division. We were inspected by the King at Crewkerne. I left with the advance party to Southampton and we billeted in a school with 2/Lieut Edwards who was in charge. We loaded the guns and trucks and boarded a transport ship and were issued a tin of soup that night for our meal and landed in Cherbourg the next morning.