59th Army Group Royal Artillery
59th Army Group Royal Artillery was a Second World War British artillery formation that served in North West Europe before redeploying to India for the planned liberation of South-East Asia.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
59th Army Group Royal Artillery, commonly abbreviated 59 AGRA, was a British Army artillery headquarters formed in the closing months of the Second World War. It emerged from the reorganisation of the artillery component of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division, an infantry division selected for disbandment because the British Army was experiencing a severe shortage of infantry replacements. Rather than disappearing with the division, its headquarters and several field artillery regiments were converted into an Army Group Royal Artillery formation under the direct control of Second Army. The formation was designed to command and coordinate artillery units that could be attached to corps, divisions, or individual operations as required. Its order of battle was therefore flexible rather than permanent. In North West Europe it worked with British, Canadian, and American formations, moving between operational areas and controlling field, medium, heavy anti-aircraft, signals, and logistical elements. Its early headquarters was established at Château St Lubin near Louviers in Normandy in September 1944. It subsequently moved into the Nijmegen area, known as The Island, and supported operations involving the US 101st Airborne Division and Canadian formations. During October 1944, 59 AGRA operated in the Hoogboom area while supporting the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions. Its commander, Brigadier Harold Thicknesse, and the brigade-major, Captain D. P. Whitehorn, disappeared during this period. Thicknesse was later recorded as having died on 23 October and was buried at Dordrecht General Cemetery. Temporary command arrangements followed until Brigadier K. A. Matthews assumed command later that month. The formation supported several Allied formations during the autumn campaign, including the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, 2nd Canadian Division, and, when its guns were available, the 49th (West Riding) Division. Its final significant operation in Europe was Operation Guildford on 3 December 1944, an attack by the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division against the German bridgehead at Blerick, opposite Venlo. The operation used concentrated artillery, engineering, and air support to overcome extensive defensive obstacles and was judged successful with relatively low casualties. After the operation, 59 AGRA moved to the Zwevegem area and underwent a major reorganisation. The British manpower crisis meant that many artillery personnel were required to reinforce infantry units. Disbandment of the headquarters initially appeared imminent, and drafts of gunners began transferring to infantry formations in the United Kingdom. Several regiments associated with the formation were placed in suspended animation, while the 61st Field Regiment was converted for super-heavy artillery work. On 30 December 1944, however, the headquarters received orders to remain in existence and return to the United Kingdom for deployment overseas. In early 1945 the staff underwent refresher and tropical preparation training in Norfolk. Brigadier W. G. Pike, formerly associated with the 77th (Highland) Field Regiment, became its commander. The headquarters sailed from Liverpool aboard HMT Mauretania on 28 March and arrived at Bombay on 20 April. It moved to Ranchi under Eastern Command, India, where it prepared to control artillery units assembling for operations against Japanese forces in South-East Asia. By May 1945 its planned order of battle included Indian and British medium artillery, self-propelled field artillery, light anti-aircraft guns, and survey personnel. In July the formation and its subordinate units waterproofed equipment and trained for Operation Zipper, the proposed amphibious invasion of Malaya after the monsoon. Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945 ended the need for the operation, and the formation did not conduct the planned landing. The post-war disposition of 59 AGRA is described as a transfer to the Indian Army in 1946, when it became 59 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery. In 1947 it was retitled 2 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery. Accordingly, the British wartime formation is defunct and should be understood as a military unit rather than a commercial brand.
History
The formation of 59th Army Group Royal Artillery was a consequence of the British Army's manpower crisis in 1944. Before the Normandy landings, British planners recognised that some formations in 21st Army Group might have to be broken up to supply infantry replacements. The 59th (Staffordshire) Division was selected for disbandment at the end of August. Its Royal Artillery headquarters and field regiments were retained in a new structure, designated 59 AGRA and placed directly under Second Army. The initial organisation consisted of headquarters, the 61st (North Midland) Field Regiment, the 110th (Manchester) Field Regiment, the 116th (North Midland) Field Regiment, a Royal Corps of Signals section, and a Royal Army Service Corps artillery company. AGRAs routinely exchanged subordinate units, so this list changed during operations. In October, for example, medium artillery and a Canadian regiment were attached while the formation supported Canadian and American forces. The 84th (Sussex) Medium Regiment, 121st Medium Regiment, 7th Medium Regiment, and 115th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment were among the units associated with it during this phase. The headquarters opened at Château St Lubin near Louviers on 8 September 1944. Brigadier Harold Thicknesse replaced E. T. Boylan as commander after Boylan left for another divisional appointment. In early October, the formation moved toward Nijmegen and supported the US 101st Airborne Division. On 15 October it was active in the Hoogboom area under the command arrangements of the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions. Thicknesse and Captain D. P. Whitehorn disappeared during the operation; Thicknesse was later recorded as killed and buried at Dordrecht. Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling and Major Simson temporarily performed the command and brigade-major functions until Brigadier K. A. Matthews took over on 21 October. On 20 October the formation was supporting the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and 2nd Canadian Division, with provision to assist the 49th (West Riding) Division. During much of November its activity was limited because only the 61st and 110th Field Regiments were under command and no targets were assigned to it. On 30 November Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie, commander of XII Corps, informed the headquarters that it was expected to be disbanded because of the continuing shortage of infantry replacements. Its last European operation was the artillery support supplied for Operation Guildford on 3 December. The operation involved the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division's attack on the German bridgehead at Blerick, across the Maas from Venlo. The attack combined artillery, air power, engineering, and infantry action against minefields, anti-tank ditches, and fortified positions. 59 AGRA supported the attack of the 44th (Lowland) Brigade and contributed to a successful result. The headquarters moved to Zwevegem on 4 December and exchanged the 61st Field Regiment for the 150th (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry) Field Regiment at Dunkirk. Disbandment measures began in December. Artillery personnel were drafted to infantry units in Britain, and the 110th, 116th, and 150th Field Regiments were placed in suspended animation in January 1945. The 61st Field Regiment became a super-heavy regiment, while the signals section moved to the Super Heavy Group. The headquarters itself was unexpectedly retained and ordered back to Britain for overseas service. After a refresher course in Norfolk, the staff prepared for tropical operations. W. G. Pike was promoted to brigadier and appointed commander. The headquarters sailed on HMT Mauretania on 28 March 1945, reached Bombay on 20 April, and moved to Ranchi under Eastern Command. From May it organised and trained with a mixed force comprising British and Indian medium artillery, self-propelled field artillery, light anti-aircraft guns, and survey personnel. In July the formation prepared its equipment for an amphibious operation against Malaya, known as Operation Zipper. Japan's surrender on 15 August cancelled the operation before it could take place. In the post-war reorganisation, the formation appears to have passed to the Indian Army in 1946 as 59 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery. It was retitled 2 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery in 1947. Its wartime British identity therefore ended with the transition from the Royal Artillery structure to the independent-era Indian Army.
- 1947
Retitling as 2 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery
[1]The successor formation was retitled 2 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery.
- 1946
Transfer to the Indian Army
[1]The formation appears to have become 59 Army Group Royal Indian Artillery after transfer to the Indian Army.
- 1945
Redeployment to India
[1]The headquarters sailed from Liverpool in March and arrived at Bombay in April to prepare for operations in South-East Asia.
- 1945
Preparation for Operation Zipper
[1]The formation waterproofed equipment and trained for a planned amphibious landing in Malaya; Japan's surrender cancelled the operation.
- 1944
Formation from the artillery of 59th (Staffordshire) Division
[1]Following the decision to disband 59th (Staffordshire) Division, its artillery headquarters and selected regiments were reorganised as 59 Army Group Royal Artillery under Second Army.
- 1944
Headquarters established near Louviers
[1]The formation established its headquarters at Château St Lubin near Louviers on 8 September.
- 1944
Operations in the Nijmegen and Hoogboom areas
[1]The formation moved into the Nijmegen area and later supported operations involving Canadian divisions in the Hoogboom area.
- 1944
Operation Guildford
[1]59 AGRA provided artillery support for the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division's successful attack at Blerick on 3 December.
Products and positioning
A flexible British Army artillery headquarters intended to concentrate and direct attached artillery units in major operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Operation Zipper preparation
Malaya · British India
After redeployment to India, the formation prepared its equipment and trained for a planned amphibious assault on the coast of Malaya.
Outcome. Japan's surrender on 15 August ended the plan before the landing occurred.
- 1944North West Europe campaign
France · Belgium · The Netherlands
The formation operated under Second Army in the later stages of the Allied campaign in North West Europe, supporting American, British, and Canadian formations through a changing mixture of attached artillery units.
Outcome. It supported Operation Guildford before its European disbandment and reorganisation.
- 1944Operation Guildford
Blerick · Venlo area
59 AGRA supported the 44th (Lowland) Brigade during the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division's attack on the German bridgehead at Blerick.
Outcome. The attack succeeded in clearing the bridgehead with comparatively low Allied casualties.
Brand decisions
1944
Conversion of divisional artillery into an army group artillery formationStrategyBackground
The British Army needed to release personnel for infantry reinforcements after deciding to disband 59th (Staffordshire) Division.
Action taken
The division's artillery headquarters and field regiments were retained as 59 AGRA under direct Second Army control.
Aftermath
The new formation provided flexible artillery command in North West Europe, although its subordinate units changed frequently.
1944
Retention of the headquarters for overseas deploymentStrategyBackground
The headquarters was initially expected to be disbanded as part of the wider transfer of artillery personnel to infantry units.
Action taken
At the end of December, the headquarters was retained and returned to the United Kingdom for tropical deployment.
Aftermath
The headquarters went to India and prepared for the planned campaign against Japanese forces in Malaya.
Sources1 sources
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