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166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment

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166th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment
Unit insignia
ActiveApril 1940 – October 1945
Country Dominion of Newfoundland
TypeField Artillery
SizeRegiment
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant Colonel H.G. de Burgh
Military unit

The 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment was an artillery regiment of the Dominion of Newfoundland during World War II. The regiment notably fought in North Africa Campaign and Italian Campaign as part of the Eighth Army. The regiment was disbanded in October 1945.

History

Formation

The 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment was originally formed in April 1940 as the 57 (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA. It later became the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment in November 1941. Its commander was Lieutenant Colonel H.G. de Burgh who was a veteran of the First World War.

It originated in St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador on 24 October 1949.

Deployment to North Africa

The regiment was sent to North Africa in December 1942. The regiment then served in Tunisia until the end of the campaign. In Tunisia the 166th supported soldiers of the French XIX Corps, specifically the Goumiers. During the Tunisia campaign, the regiment suffered 24 killed in action. The first fatality was Gunner J.J. Flynn of Norris Arm, who died on 7 April 1943 after an enemy shell hit his gun shelter.

Transfer to Italy

The regiment was sent to Italy in October 1943. Throughout the campaign, the 166th participated in major actions such as the Battle of Monte Cassino. Captain Gordon Campbell (Cam) Eaton, was awarded the Military Cross in 1943 while serving as a forward observation officer in the regiment. The regiment remained in Italy until the end of the war, participating in the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy

References

  1. "57 (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  2. "166 (Newfoundland) Field Regiment RA". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  3. "L'Artillerie royale". www.heritage.nf.ca.
  4. Defence, National (2018-11-06). "The Royal Newfoundland Regiment". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  5. "Members of the 166th [Newfoundland]Field Regiment World War II". ngb.chebucto.org. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  6. "Royal Artillery". www.heritage.nf.ca.
  7. "Remembering the battle for Monte Cassino, and the role played by Newfoundlanders". SaltWire.
  8. "Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum honours WW II vet". CBC. June 25, 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
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