Many thanks Andy! I was pondering all of those X (iv)'s and then I remembered I had this... XlistWW2 by Ramiles posted Nov 29, 2015 at 12:42 PM [sharedmedia=gallery:images:29356]
Andy Thanks for posting this Disbandment List. Sincerely appreciated. That's actually the first time I've had a glimpse of the whole document in my many years of researching the 24L as its not attached to the Bovington copy of the War Diary and I've never, yet, managed a visit to Kew. I have a photocopy somewhere but it's on A4 paper so suffers from truncation. Steve
There is an interesting bit on the 10th of these IWM audios: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018967 Where the interviewee, J.D.Hutchinson, discuses - for a few minutes - (around about the 20th minute of the 10th Reel) the arrival of the 24th Lancers into the Fife and Forfars: REEL 10 Continues: operations on Vire-Conde road, 2/8/1944, including call for assistance to RAF Typhoons and effects of their rocket attack, accidental attack by US Thunderbolts despite smoke identification signals, arrival of reinforcements and leaving 4 Troop behind on withdrawal to laager; renewed German attacks, 3/8/1944, including problem with sun dazzle, casualties and decision to withdraw towards Burcey; confused situation and German infiltration attacks, 4/8/1944-6/8/1944; German counter-attack on A and C Sqdn positions on between Burcey and Sourdeville on Burcey Ridge, 7/8/1944-8/8/1944, including situation, Tiger fire from east and relief. Rest period at Le Quellet, 8/8/1944-14/8/1944: reinforcement drafts from 24th Lancers; opinion of Lieutenant Peter Northern, Captain David Voller and Captain Desmond Chute.
I noticed with interest that there was a little bit in here re. the disbanding of the 24th Lancers: The Armoured Campaign in Normandy, June-August, 1944 : By Stephen Napier https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armoured-Campaign-Normandy-June-August-1944/dp/0750962704 Especially from the paragraph(s) just before and after the mention of the British 24th L: The Armoured Campaign in Normandy, June-August, 1944
Rob The second reference in that last link relates to 24th Polish Lancers and not 'our' 24th Lancers.
Yes, he (the author / and/or editor) has tended to use (I think) "24th Uhlans" for the "Polish 24th Lancers" elsewhere generally in the same book...
Just spotted my uncle's name on Sheet V - 7941218 Trooper Jones R posted to 44th RTR. I only recently found out about his wartime service from my surviving uncle (also ex Tankie - No. 3 Squadron, 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion, Welsh Guards,) who had translated my Uncle Rhys' wartime memoirs from Welsh.
BobL Would be very interested in seeing Rhys' wartime memories! According to the Nominal Roll (effective D Day, so very poignant that you have posted this message today) 7941218 Trooper R Jones was a Driver/Mechanic in 24th Lancers 'B' Squadron.
The memoirs consist of 16 A4 pages and cover his service from being called up in 1941 at the age of 38, through training to D-Day and the days after up to the end of his service in Lubeck. Here is an extract for this day 73 years ago -
I wonder, BobL, did your uncle stay in touch with any other 24th Lancers? Also - it might make sense to start a new thread for your uncle's memoirs. I don't always read everything on here, and often the title is what prompts people to look to see what's inside ;-)
Ramiles, I only found out about his service last June!!! I was in N. Wales visiting my uncle and I asked him if he'd seen the Mark Urban BBC documentary about the Filthy Fifth that had just been shown. As mentioned above, he'd served in No.3 Squadron, 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion, Welsh Guards until wounded in the battle for Caen. He asked if I had read Rhys' memoirs to which I replied I didn't even know he'd been in the war. He never talked about it, which probably explained my ignorance, but my Uncle Arthur had convinced him to write it down and he translated it from Welsh. He let me have a copy of the translation. At some point I'm hoping to see film of the 24th Lancers which the IWM have (I volunteer in the film and video archive) - it's a long shot but you never know! I would have to ask my uncle if he is happy for me to share the full document - I wouldn't like to upset anyone!!!
They also, I believe have a copy of... None Had Lances - the story of the 24th Lancers None had lances the story of the 24th Lancers (LBY 86 / 555) I did a quick look on Amazon etc. but I didn't see any real bargains at the mo. but it depends on the day. Amazon.co.uk: Buying Choices: None Had Lances: The Story of the 24th Lancers One there currently (albeit not the very least expensive) £50 + p&p - signed by the author etc. Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 174,784 in Books I thought for a brief moment that from: None Had Lances Google were doing their scanning thing and there might now be a searchable edition online that could be browsed up to a certain number of pages. But sadly this wasn't to be :-( This was not the cover either ;-)
I understand there is some film at the IWM of 24L tanks loading onto Train Warflats at Newmarket as they were being moved down towards the south coast in the run up to D Day - they had been based at Chippenham Park near Newmarket from February 1944. I've checked NHL and he is not mentioned by name - that's not unusual! Does it say anything in his memoirs about his Squadron or Troop or other guys names?
Looking at the time from joining the 24L he mentions an Alun Griffiths, Major Fitzhugh, Lt Fuller Len Guest, Major Bennett, Capt. Jock Kerr, Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Lt Pip Williams, Cummings, Charlie Price, Jim Wassal among others.
Lots of familiar names there, all now sadly departed (those that I know of anyway). Some KIA and some passing on relatively recently. Going by the names he must have joined the Lancers quite early. Does he name his fellow crew members?
Len Guest was the Wireless Op and Charlie Price was gunner when his tank was hit - Len was killed and the commander seriously injured (don't think I have his name but he was a Sgt). This happened after they'd been absorbed by the 44th RTR. Jim Wassal was his co-driver at one point.