Royal Ulsters - What was happening in April 1945?

[Mostonian]

Cheers Owen.
We went to the cemetery on our trip to the Market Garden sites. We were based on the outskirts of Nijmegen and it's only a short trip over the border to the Reichswald. I have more information on him and have a section ear marked on my website for him, but am waiting on a mate scanning some stuff for me. Although he wasn't a direct relative, it was still a strange moment.
I felt sorry, proud and angry all at the same time. Saying that, if he'd have lasted those last few months of the war, my Nana wouldn't have met my Grandad, and I'd never have been.
Anyway, until then, here's a photo I took:

[Warren]

As Owen says, it seems likely that Rfn McGrory was killed in the incident involving Major Bird and Lt Hancock. From the History of the 2 RUR in NW Europe 1944-45

"One disaster clouded the completeness of triumph in ffice:smarttags" />lace>Bremenlace>. When "D" Company had reached their objective, Major Bird MC, Lt. Hancock, and a section set off in the company carrier to contact the 51 Highland Division in Huchting. Not far from the Company Headquarters there was a fearful explosion, and it soon became apparent that the carrier had activated the most diabolical of all German mines - the magnetic mine. There were no survivors. This was the second accident of its kind within the month, and in each case a high percentage of the casualties had been fatal. Major Bird, a gallant leader, who had brought his Company triumphantly through many actions; Lt Hancock, whose unassuming bravery and steadfastness in action had won universal admiration; and L/Cpl McCoy, Rfn McGlennon MM, Rfn Stevens, and others who constituted the very core of "D" Company. The loss of these men in this cruelly wasteful manner stunned and shocked the whole Battalion.”

My uncle (Rfn EJ Whitehorn) in the 2 RUR and he was an Englishman. He was killed on D-day.

Warren

[Owen]

Name:	McGLENNON, HUGH HENRY
Initials:	H H
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Rifleman
Regiment/Service:	Royal Ulster Rifles
Unit Text:	2nd Bn.
Age:	30
Date of Death:	26/04/1945
Service No:	7012171
Awards:	MM
Additional information:	Son of Patrick and Margaret McGlennon, of Kireubbin, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	8. G. 10.
Cemetery:	BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY

[Owen]

Name:	STEVENS, THOMAS GEORGE
Initials:	T G
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Rifleman
Regiment/Service:	Royal Ulster Rifles
Unit Text:	2nd Bn.
Age:	25
Date of Death:	26/04/1945
Service No:	7017250
Additional information:	Son of Joseph and Florence Annie Stevens, of Putney, London.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	4. G. 1B.
Cemetery:	BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY

[Owen]

Name:	McCOY, WILLIAM
Initials:	W
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service:	Royal Ulster Rifles
Unit Text:	2nd Bn.
Age:	23
Date of Death:	26/04/1945
Service No:	7017351
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	8. G. 5.
Cemetery:	BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY

[Owen]

gasman, any thing to add to this thread?
You are the RUR man.

[sapper]

Just a quick word about "Assault Division" Of all the books that describe war, this is the one that is from first hand. Much of what is writen I recall personally.
It is the one book I treasure as being the true face of war.
Sapper

[gas man]

well all i can say is that the RUR were part of the 3rd division landing at sword beach in the afternoon, they had the distinction of being the first Allied unit to enter Caen after the bitter struggle to capture it..they fought their way to Germany as part of the 3rd Division..During the Normandy Campaign Cambes wood was their Triumph, kicking the 12thss out at the point of the bayonet..there is a lovely piece i read in one of the regiments journals about the attack, that an officer observed the men attacking and coming under a heavy bombardment thought they would go to ground..as most men did and that the attack would come to a halt,when the smoke cleared and the stonking had finished he was in tears when he saw the rifles advance in perfect formation entering cambes wood and evicting the enemy..i think that sums the rifles up for me...i have spoken to a capatin at the RUR museum who informed me that the RUR consisted of men from all countries and it was amazing just how many there were.. i think she said there was one man from the ukrain!! i suppose men went where there were shortages..it amazes me when we reenact the rifles just how many people come up and say firstly how lovely it is to see the rifles and secondly that they had a relative who fought with them.. i then reach for the SRD jar and pour a big one!! i have to do some research myself on a relative,who may have been with them at Dunkirk but may have transferred to the London Irish. one chap told me how in germany after the war, his lot were there to keep the peace but it was the RUR who were out there causing it all, fighting all the time..he then laughed..i have always found the museum curator very helpful, my friend Andrew who reeacts with me, has a very good knowledge of the RUR, his grandfather was with them, he has some lovely collectable items which you can see on our website, he also has some origianl regimental journals which are full of information..i feel very proud when i am reenacting the RUR, great regiment..great lads thats why i dedicated a memorial page to them www.2ndbattalionroyalulsterrifles.com in 1921 the Royal Irish Rifles disbanded to become the Royal Ulster rifles, and during the second world war the London Irish Rifles were the Territorial regiment of the RUR, seeing action in Egypt and Italy..so i suppose even though there were men from all countries serving in the regiment, the majority were Irish so if you were one of 8 english men serving i bet you were well looked after and never sober...anyway great talking to you all, all the Best GM otherwise known as steve ps can anyone stick an rur badge under my name, or is it something i have to do

[Owen]

can anyone stick an rur badge under my name, or is it something i have to do

You could do it but I already have.

[gas man]

what a lovely bunch you are, many thanks for that GM