Quest for info on the Lanarkshire Yeomanry

Mar 20 2008

I am writing to ask Advertiser readers to help me obtain information about the Lanarkshire Yeomanry, particularly of the men of the 155th and 156th Field Regiments (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) RA.

The 155th fought in the Far East during World War II and were subsequently POWs of the Japanese.

The 156th saw action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

There are few remaining survivors of these units — probably no more than half-a-dozen-or-so in Scotland — although their relatives and descendents will still be living in this area.

For example Captain John Henry Fraser Stewart, who died in 1945 while a prisoner of the Japanese, was formerly an architect in Lanark and in recent years members of his family placed a WWW entry on the internet about him.

Unfortunately there was no indication on the site as to how they could be contacted.

The purpose of this enquiry is to compile some form of record of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry.

Unlike most regiments, there is no formal — and indeed little informal — history relating to their service in the two World Wars of the 20th century.

If anyone has any information or material they would be prepared to share, I can be contacted by phoning 01698 350849 or e-mail ct@jcthomsomco.uk

Campbell Thomson, letter sent by e-mail.