The 3rd Bn the Monmouthshire Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by SiggyScott, Aug 13, 2020.

  1. SiggyScott

    SiggyScott Battlefield Historian and Guide

    During my research into the 3rd Mons for my book project (Your Peace is Bought with Mine - A Welsh Poet at War) I was given access to the private archives at a local museum Musée de La Percée du Bocage (Musée de La Percée du Bocage Musée 44 La Percée du Bocage - Operation Bluecoat - Accueil).

    Those that have tried to look into the 3rd Mons before have no doubt noticed the lack of books. Their official unit history is both hard to find and when discovered, very expensive. I was delighted to find within their private collection a unit History written about 40 years after the end of WW2 by a veteran of the 3rd Mons Hedley J. Bunce.

    I was given a copy of the 75 page history that spans 1939 to 1946 with additional history dating back to 1660 within. I was also granted permission to share the file with like minded individuals so I hope this document is of use to some of you. You can download it at the link provided below.

    [​IMG]

    3rd Mons history by Hedley J. Bunce.pdf
     
  2. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Great museum and great area for a (Operation Bluecoat) battlefield tour. Not much seems to have changed, apart from removal of most battle scars.

    13a - Crossroads at Saint Martin des Besaces.jpg
     
  3. Nathan Obady

    Nathan Obady Member

    Thanks for he share,
     
  4. Mia Litjens

    Mia Litjens New Member

    Yhanks for this extensive report. I wondered if anyone can help me. I adopted the grave of private Joseph Victor Doughty, service number 4916661.He served the 3rd battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment. He died of wounds on 19-11-1944 and was burried on the Venray War Cemetery in the Netherlands. I try to find out where he was injured, so I can complete the file of this brave soldier.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Lizdutch

    Lizdutch Member

    Hallo Mia, ook ik heb een graf geadopteerd van een soldaat van het Monmouthshire regiment nl. Private Thomas S Plumb. Ik zie dat je een foto hebt gevonden van jouw geadopteerde, op welke site heb je deze gevonden?
     
  6. Mia Litjens

    Mia Litjens New Member

    Hallo Liz, ik heb de foto niet zelf gevonden, maar gekregen van de voorzitter van de Stichting Adoptiegraven Venray War Cemetery
     
  7. Mia Litjens

    Mia Litjens New Member

    Helaas leeft de man niet meer, dus ik kan hem niet navragen, waar hij de foto vandaan heeft.
     
  8. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Thank you for sharing the history. Great find.
     
  9. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member


    Thank you so much for sharing, My Auntie's step Dad just passed Norris Willam Marshall part of 3rd BN. I am doing some research on their behalf and this is a great piece of information that will bring a lot of happiness to the family understanding what he went through. He was 98yrs old and died last week.

    Will continue research to help my family discover what he did and be able to add that to their memories to him as they say goodbye.

    I know this is an old thread but if anyone has recommendations on BOOKs or resources I can share that would be much appreciated.

    thanks again,

    Chris
    www.family-treasure.com
     
  10. Nathan Obady

    Nathan Obady Member

    Hi Chris,

    Sorry to learn about Norris's passing. I assume you have his service number, and were able to obtain a copy of his service records, as well as some of the war diaries covering the movements of his unit from D-Day onwards? Would you happen to know in which company within 3rd battalion, Mons he served? Best
     
  11. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Thank you for reaching out. We don't have his service records. HIs grandson posted the POW letter and I found on www.findmypast.com the missing list.

    He died only a few days ago but will send off for his service records. The family is already excited to see the information I was able to obtain, regarding battalion and rough timeframes, but any help and assistance would be greatly appreciated!

    upload_2022-2-15_22-5-19.jpeg
    upload_2022-2-15_22-5-25.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Nathan Obady

    Nathan Obady Member

    Hi Chris,

    Well the good news is that you already have a lot of information. You know the approximate date of his capture, and his service number which is all you need to start off on your journey on the path of your ancestor, which I am sure will be a rewarding one for you and the family.

    To obtain service records, as you will be aware certain criteria need to e fulfilled;

    Get a copy of military service records

    One of the things you can also do, while you are waiting to hear back from the DoD on the personal service records, is to contact the small regimental museum at Monmouth Castle (Open from 14:00 to 17:00 daily from 1st April to 31st October) to see if they can assist more generally.

    While they will not have your ancestors records (as mainly house the regiments Engineers records) they may have a lot of other information, so simply email them to see how they may be able to help.

    curator@monmouthcastlemuseum.org.uk

    For example there is a link here on their website to POW locations and experiences in Germany

    The Prisoner Story | C a s t l e a n d R e g i m e n t a l M u s e u m - M o n m o u t h

    National Archive @ Kew

    Assuming you have not already trawled through the many posts on the WW2Talk to see if someone has not already shared the War Diary of the 3rd Battalion of the Regiment, you can retain a researcher to obtain these records for you, see details.

    Searching the archives is a tricky business of you don't know what you are looking for, and you need to base yourself in London for your research.

    Reading War diaries General

    War Diary Identification Link WO 171/1349 (Jan - Dec 1944)

    3 Monmouthshire Regiment | The National Archives

    War Diary Identification Link WO 171/5246 (Jan - Dec 1945)

    3 Monmouthshire Regiment | The National Archives

    Once you receive his service records, you need to establish what 'company' (within the regiment he served) and if necessary what section (or sub unit) he was in, within that company.

    By understanding the identity of his company, usually identifiable by the letters A - F, but not always, it becomes easier to trace the movements of the unit your ancestor was in, as you simply follow any references to his company or its commanding officer.

    The regimental war diary itself, being collated by the regimental Intelligence Officer (or "IO") gives a very dry and un-emotional report as to the daily experiences of that unit, sometimes, very understated, depending on the alacrity of the IO in his task.

    Anyone require War Diaries or other files from the National Archives?

    Obtain a copy of the regimental history (General)

    The Published Histories | C a s t l e a n d R e g i m e n t a l M u s e u m - M o n m o u t h

    Follow their North West Europe Campaign

    The Royal Regiment of Wales

    3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regiment

    Facebook Page

    If you or your family members are on Facebook you can join the regimental FB page, with a view to getting further info on your ancestor, on the same way one shares on the WW2Talk forum

    https://m.facebook.com/3RWelsh/posts/1016688675108551

    Wartime Memories Project - 3rd Mons

    3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project -

    That should be enough to get you going

    Best of luck, and keep me posted as to how you are getting on, as these things take time.

    Best

    R
     
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  13. Chris WIlletts

    Chris WIlletts Active Member

    Incredible thank you much for this massive leap forward in research! They will be delighted to understand more of what he experienced and will be encouraged to send off for his records.

    I will post findings on my website :
    https://www.family-treasure.com/
    and keep in touch and follow our group
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/534361501320621
     
    Nathan Obady likes this.
  14. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    In 1976 the veterans of the 11th Armoured Division return on the tracks of their breakthrough of August 44.

    Various Norman family are then asked if they can welcome them in their home.

    The Barabe family of Tinchebray is one of them and hosts a veteran of the 11th Armoured Benjamin, Welsh veteran of the 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire. In this family he meets the 13-year-old Marc Henri, who holds in his house a small exhibition about the battle of Normandy. Very moved by this young Boy, Benjamin will invite him to come to his house in Cardiff and give him the only thing that he had kept from the war: some Banknotes.

    Marc Henri continued to be passionate and grateful to the men who fought for our freedom in August '44 and became a local historian of the events of that period by publishing a book.

    Does someone know Benjamin's last name? And if so, how is his family doing?
    Benjamin is second from the left on this picture.
     

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    Chris WIlletts and 8RB like this.
  15. Timothy Evans

    Timothy Evans New Member

    my grandfather was intelligence officer with 3rd mons up to his death at Broekhuizen on Nov 30th 1944. Captain Geoffrey Ernest Gibbs
     

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