First raised in 1940 as infantry of the Essex Regiment, it was converted to the medium artillery role in 1942 and fought in the campaign in North West Europe.

On 4 July 1940, as part of the rapid expansion of the British Army after the Dunkirk evacuation, a new 9th Battalion was formed at the Essex Regiment 's depot at Warley Barracks.

Up to this time, 9th AGRA with its inexperienced regiments had been affiliated to II Corps in Home Forces, but in October 1943 it was assigned 21st Army Group preparing for the Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) and moved to Felixstowe.

11th Medium Rgt sailed from South West India Dock under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel M. Yates and landed at Arromanches on 12–15 July.

On 17 July 9th and 11th Medium Rgts were sent to Putot-en-Bessin to come under XII Corps, where they fired 9th AGRA's first rounds in support of 43rd (Wessex) and 53rd (Welsh) Divisions' continuing attacks against Évrecy, Maltot and Hill 112 following Operation Jupiter.

[11][12][13][14][15] 9th AGRA now came under First Canadian Army and moved up to the coast for the attack on Le Havre (Operation Astonia), but 11th Medium Rgt was sent ahead to Montreuil on 7 September and did not take part.

During this operation the German coast batteries at Cap Gris-Nez were firing in enfilade into 9th AGA's gun area, so 11th Medium Rgt was turned to engage them.

9th AGRA supported an amphibious assault by 52nd (Lowland) Division on 26 October, 156th Brigade's attack meeting with initial success but then bogging down.

On 28 September 9th AGRA's CB officer with 156th Bde brought down the group's firepower on enemy Flak 88 guns that were troubling the brigade HQ.

This was carried out by XII Corps to clear the enemy from the west bank of the River Maas and by 17 November there was only a small pocket left at Roermond.

Progress was slow because of strong resistance and the appalling weather (though some air observation post (AOP) flights were possible), but the triangle was virtually clear by 26 January, and by the end of the month there were no German troops west of the River Roer.

On 3–4 February the regiment moved to its assembly area at Haps and large quantities of ammunition were dumped at the planned gun sites, which were not occupied until just before the attack.

After the opening bombardment on the morning of 8 February, there was a pause while a smokescreen was placed across the corps front; it was hoped that enemy batteries would fire during the resulting silence and be located by flash spotting and sound ranging detachments.

It continued to push through the forest over the following days: as the corps commander, Lt-Gen Brian Horrocks, later noted: 'Slowly and bitterly we advanced through the mud supported by our superb artillery'.

On 2 March the German front collapsed and their remaining units retreated to the River Rhine, putting 9th AGRA's guns out of range.

[12][29][30][31][32][33] On 8 March, 9th AGRA passed to the command of II Canadian Corps for the operation to clear the remaining enemy from the west bank of the Rhine.

[12][34] 9th AGRA was assigned to XII corps for the assault crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder), and on the evening of 22 March the regiments moved up to their gun area outside Xanten, covered by a smokescreen.

The regiment was 'grounded', its vehicles and drivers sent up to provide a transport platoon to support XII Corps' advance while the gunners were employed in battlefield clearance.

There was little role for medium artillery in 21st Army Group's rapid advance across Germany, and before VE Day the regiment had been sent to the area around Bocholt to take over garrison duties.