14353457, 2nd Bn., South Wales Borderers

[scottiow]

Hi i have recently been researching my family history and found that a relative of mine was in the 2nd battalion South wales borderers. He was killed on 10th sept 1944 and is buried at Rouen.

A family member told me that he was at Dunkirk and went back on D-Day. I know that his battalion were evacuated from Norway 1940 and were in the D-day invasion and put the Dunkirk story down to confusion of where he was evacuated from.

However after looking at the following thread:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/researc...ales+borderers

It became clear that the Army block allocation numbers meant he was in a different unit before the South wales borderers.

His details are:

Private DONALD HENRY FRANK CROOK
14353457,
2nd Bn.,
South Wales Borderers

Any help on what unit he was in before hand would be of help as this may mean he was in fact a Dunkirk.

Thanks

Scott

[Paul Reed]

Hi - and welcome.

Attached are his details from the Army Roll of Honour which don't show a different unit.

I have copies of 2nd SWB's War Diary up to 31st August 1944 (!) but I also know a veteran of this battalion (he was the Intel Officer) and I have his account, which I will fish out over the next few days and see what it says.

Many of the men buried at Rouen died of wounds in the hospital there, or were killed after the Seine Crossing in the operations from the Seine up to the Somme. There was also intense fighting along the channel ports from le Havre up to Dunkirk, so he may also have been involved in that.

[scottiow]

Originally Posted by Paul Reed

Hi - and welcome.

Attached are his details from the Army Roll of Honour which don't show a different unit.

I have copies of 2nd SWB's War Diary up to 31st August 1944 (!) but I also know a veteran of this battalion (he was the Intel Officer) and I have his account, which I will fish out over the next few days and see what it says.

Many of the men buried at Rouen died of wounds in the hospital there, or were killed after the Seine Crossing in the operations from the Seine up to the Somme. There was also intense fighting along the channel ports from le Havre up to Dunkirk, so he may also have been involved in that.

Any help would be brilliant. I was planning on going up to the national archives to have a look at the war diaries.

So do you think it would be more likely he died of wounds? A history of the battalion says it was taking Le harve on the 10th -12th September, so i assumed he died on first day of fighting. Could be interesting to look into what you have have mentioned.

Thanks for your help so far, any more help would be brilliant

cheers

scott

[Owen]

scott his army number shows he was General Service Corps .
That was just a holding unit before sending him where the Army thought he was needed.

[scottiow]

Ok that helps, well in that case maybe he was in Norway.

Thanks Owen

scott

[Paul Reed]

Scott - haven't forgotten your request. I am still looking for the material; will hopefully have found it over the next couple of days.

[scottiow]

Thanks Paul whenever you get a chance.

Thank you for your time, much appreciated

scott

[Owen]

scott you contated the Museum yet?
The Royal Regiment of Wales

South Wales Borderers Museum
The Barracks
Brecon
Powys
LD3 7EB
Tel: 01874 613310
Fax: 01874 613275
swb@rrw.org.uk

have you looked at Paul's thread here.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searchi...s-address.html

Have you a close relative to Donald who would be able to ask for his Service Records?

[scottiow]

Hi Owen,

I contacted them last night by email.

I do know of his sister, however I have never spoken to her as that side of the family do not have much contact. She would be the closest living relative of him.

Maybe I will have to try and contact her. Would be useful.

Thanks

scott

[Owen]

scott get in touch with her NOW.
You never know what gems she may have.
Does she remember him?
When I started looking into my dad's cousin who died we met the entire Australian branch of our family who we'd never met before.