1/5th Queen's Royal West Surrey

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by SOMMESOLDIER, May 19, 2005.

  1. SOMMESOLDIER

    SOMMESOLDIER Junior Member

    Hi There, :)

    I am researching my Uncle's service and have recently got hold of his Service records but they have not told me as much as I had hoped for !!

    My Uncle was 14760250 Pte Bernard Joseph Corbett 1/5th Royal West Surrey Regiment. Son of the late William Corbett and Amy Corbett. He was born and bred in Torquay Devon but during the war he moved to Walsall with my Grandmother and my dad. His father having died in 1933.

    When he was called up in 1944 he joined the Devonshire Regiment but was transfered to the Royal West Surreys on 19-11-44. He went to Europe on 12-12-44. He was wounded sometime after this before retuning to England where he died on 7-5-45 aged 19.

    I was hoping that his service record would tell me where, when and how !! but it didn't !! all I really have are some confusing numbers to go on and wondered if someone would be so kind as to help me ?

    Sorry for the confused state of these numbers but here goes:-

    5-9-44 to 6th Brigade

    to 44 RHU (RXKMJ) 4-11-44

    to 1/5th Royal West Surrey 19-11-44

    (X11) 12-1-45

    Y List 6-2-45


    On another page it states Home 4-5-44 to 11-12-44

    North West Europe 12-12-44 to 5-2-45

    Home 6-2-45

    Died 7-5-45

    also on another page it states X List 8-6-44 to 1/5th 19-11-44.


    Hope someone maybe able to make sense of this.


    Cheers

    Tim.
     
  2. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Hi Tim,

    Unable to help with the numbers and letters
    on your grandfathers service papers but
    I can tell you that the 1/5th Queens were
    stationed along the Maas and Roer for 3
    weeks starting at the beginning of February
    45 and were engaged in patrolling activities.
    They were in the Paarlo area and then with
    the 1st Royal Tank Regiment in barracks
    at Maesyck.

    A book that is a must for you to get is
    The Only Way Out by Lance Corporal
    Rex Wingfield. This is an account of
    a soldiers life serving with the 1/5th
    Queens and what will interest you
    to know is that he was wounded on or
    around the same time as your Grandfather.
    This book takes you to the front line
    with an infantry soldier and is an excellent
    factual read...a book you will not be able to
    put down.

    I hope this is of some help.

    Good luck in your research.

    Regards
    Kieron
     
  3. SOMMESOLDIER

    SOMMESOLDIER Junior Member

    Hi Kieron, :)

    Very many thanks for your reply, it was of great interest. Do you know where they were during January 1945 ?

    Thanks for the tip off about the book, I have just ordered it from Abebooks !

    Cheers

    Tim.
     
  4. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Hi Tim,

    On Christmas (44) night they were at Gebroek Village but left
    the next day due to heavy shelling (twenty five 88mm shell
    and heavy Spandau fire).

    New Years Day holding defensive positions at Gebroek

    10th January 45 - 1 1/5th Queens were relieved by the
    2nd Devons and were sent back to Geleen for the preperations
    of Operation Blackcock.

    13th January 45 - The task was to capture Bakenhoven,
    a village on the westside of the Vloed Beek stream.
    1 1/5th Queens carried out this attack but not before
    the frail tanks of the Lothians and Border Yeomanry
    had cleared minefields and a heavy barrage from the
    Royal Horse Artillery. They repulsed a German counter
    attack under the command of Major C.V. Lilley at the
    cost of 17 casualties, but there were 27 enemy dead
    laying on the frozen battlefield. The weather conditions
    for that day were freezing with a thick freezing fog.

    17th January 45 - 0200 hrs 1 1/5th Queens attacked
    Susteren from the west in the dark and thick mud.
    due to the conditions it was impossible to get the
    6 pdr A/tank guns across the dykes. a counter
    attack was repulsed by Bren guns and a barrage
    from the Royal Horse Artillery. at 0400 hrs they
    were with 30 yrds of the outskirts of Susteren
    (2 miles from the German border). Duringt he
    following street fighting in Susteren there were
    39 casualties including all the officers and also 29
    Queens were taken prisoner.

    20th - 23rd January 45 - 20th 1 1/5th Queens were
    ordered to pass through Echt in support of
    the Skins to take and hold Montfort.
    2200hrs on the 22nd the Queens joined in an
    all night battle to capture Aandenberg.
    On the mornining of the 23rd they finally
    cleared Montfort. This had been a two day
    battle to clear Aandenberg and Montfort and
    wood clearing on the 25th cost the 1 1/5
    Queens a further 16 casualties.

    26th January 45 - The objective was
    Posterhout a village 5 miles east of Montfort.
    1st Royal Tank Regiment and 1 1/5 Queens,
    they moved briskly and on the sameday
    took Posterhout.

    29th January 45 - 1 1/5 Queens had occupied
    Paarlo and Holst south of Posterhout. On the
    night of 29th/30th there was a heavy counter
    attacked by 50 enemy in assult boats and
    motar shelling. This attack was repulsed, they
    received 7 casualties and took ten prisoners.

    On the 31st January 45 the remaining bridge
    over the Roer at Vlodrop south of Roermond
    was blown up and operation Blackcock was
    over.

    Tim the information above has come from two
    books that I suggest you also get.
    Alot of the above has been put im my own
    words so some of the detail and atmosphere
    of the battles may have been lost in my translation.
    In the two books I am going to recommend there
    are maps photos and more in depth accounts of
    these battles that lead to your Grandfather
    being wounded.

    The first book

    Churchills Desert Rats from Normandy to Berlin
    with the 7th Armoured Division by Patrick Delaforce
    - This has lots of 1st hand accounts from men
    who served with the 1 1/5 Queens and also alot
    of extracts from Rex Wingfields book.
    (I picked this book up for £ 4.99 at a book shop)

    The second book

    Desert Rats at war (Europe) by George Forty -
    This is a detailed book with lots of photos
    and details from these battles.
    (I picked this book up for £ 3.50 on ebay)

    I guess if you put Operation Blackcock in
    your search engine you'll get a more detailed
    account of proceedings.

    I hope I have been of some help and if
    I can be of any further assistance don't
    hesitate to ask

    Regards
    Kieron

    ps. please excuse any type Os
     
  5. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Tim,

    Here is a link to a page on the Queens museum
    which maybe of interest.

    Queens museum/Operation Blackcock

    I don't know your whereabouts but if
    you can get down to the museum its
    really worthwhile.

    Regards
    Kieron
     
  6. SOMMESOLDIER

    SOMMESOLDIER Junior Member

    Hi Kieron, :)

    Very many thanks for all the information. It is brilliant.

    I'll let you know how I get on.

    Cheers

    Tim.
     
  7. Keith Kendall

    Keith Kendall Member

    When he was called up in 1944 he joined the Devonshire Regiment but was transfered to the Royal West Surreys on 19-11-44. He went to Europe on 12-12-44. He was wounded sometime after this before retuning to England where he died on 7-5-45 aged 19.

    Hi Tim
    I have a copy of "History of The Queens Royal Regiment" 1924-1948
    The period you are interested in is covered by 2 chapters some 40 pages with a number of photographs, far too much for me to enter in any detail. 1 chapter covers Set 12 1944 to 21st Feb 1945 and the next covers 21st Feb to early May Kieron has covered a lot of the detail in his reply.
    If there are any particular dates or events you want me too look up I would be only too happy to do so.
    Keith
     
  8. Kieron Hill

    Kieron Hill Senior Member

    Hi Keith,

    I wonder if there is anything in your book
    of when my Grandfather was wounded in
    Normandy, he served with the 1 1/6th Queens
    Royal (West Surrey) Regiment.

    His details can be viewed on my website
    at:

    Eighth Army

    under the Grandads link on the main page,
    look forward to hearing from you.

    Regards
    Kieron
     
  9. Keith Kendall

    Keith Kendall Member

    Hi Keith,

    I wonder if there is anything in your book
    of when my Grandfather was wounded in
    Normandy, he served with the 1 1/6th Queens
    Royal (West Surrey) Regiment.

    His details can be viewed on my website
    at:

    Eighth Army

    under the Grandads link on the main page,
    look forward to hearing from you.

    Regards
    Kieron

    :eek: Hi Kieron
    I have jut been checking out the new site and found this post/request you made some months ago.
    So very sorry I must have missed it at the time.
    I will get the book out over the weekend and see if there is mention of what his unit were involved in when he was wounded.
    Regards
    Keith
     

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