Looking into another local man, Private Charles Oliver Ford, RASC died 23/1/1943. Also buried the same day were Driver John Robert Taylor RASC and Lt Frank Henry Hughes B Sqn 56 Recce Regt, all 3 at Beja then concentrated at Medjez-el-Bab in 1944. Both RASC men are listed as 1 AF PU RASC. Are all 3 connected to the same incident ? The local paper says Pvt Ford was KIA, the IWM has a photo of Dvr Taylor's grave and one unreadable behind saying 2 men of 2 AF PU KIA, photo taken 10/2/1943. Pvt Ford's wife remarried and had 2 children, she told them he died after falling from a truck. SORRY, TITLE SHOULD READ No2 AF & PU.
There is a mention here, but it doesn't really make things clear... Ps. You can edit the title in the "Thread tools" ...at the top of your post ;-) Re. Harry Rignold... Recommendation for Award for Rignold, Harry W Rank: Temporary Captain ... | The National Archives TUNISIAN VICTORY - 1944
132162 Lt Frank Henry Hughes, 56 Recce - died as a result of accident S 13069504 Pte Charles Oliver Ford - accidently killed T 4276902 Driver John Robert Taylor - accidently killed Can find no mention of incident for Lt Hughes in 56 Recce diaries
Wonder if it was a collision at night, looking on Google it seems a straightish road on flat ground (well now anyway) marked as the P11.
Reading that both RASC in the papers say KIA, and Lt Hughes states road accident but again the others state accidentally killed, wonder if it was 'friendly fire'. I've ordered his death cert, so should come as 'War Operations' or Accident as c.o.d, but worth a punt.
Just to update : Pte Ford seconded to 1 AFPU, Army Film and Photographic Unit, killed by sniper fire along with Driver John Robert Taylor, RASC AFPU. Sgt Billy Jordan, 1 AFPU was wounded and received the Military Medal for filming the events .
Hi, I appreciate that this thread is focused on Tunisia 1943 but wondered whether anyone has any details of the movements of this unit in the previous year? The film that they took was edited into the movie Desert Victory and in the opening credits of that film it says that: "In the making of this film, four British Army cameramen were killed, seven were wounded and six were captured by the enemy". However, the unit's CO, Major David MacDonald is quoted in The War Illustrated of October 1943 as saying: "They [the cameramen] were allotted to the various divisions and ordered to go into action with the troops and film what they could. The terrific barrage, the tank battles and bayonet charges you see in the film were taken from every possible angle - in front of the men, behind them, at the side of them. Of course, we couldn't help having casualties. They occurred after Benghazi, mostly from mines, dive-bombers and anti-personnel artillery fire. Four of us were taken prisoner." So, was it four men taken POW or six? Similarly, in the same interview McDonald noted that he had 32 cameramen but other sources claim 26! Does anyone have a definitive list of either the complement of 1/AFPU in 1942 or details of who was taken POW when? Many Thanks, Col
