1 East Riding Yeomanry at Mont Cassel 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by Jack Hester, Aug 19, 2010.

  1. Jack Hester

    Jack Hester Junior Member

    I am researching my Grandfathers time as a member of the ER Yeo at the beginning of WWII. My grandmother and mother have told stories of him being captured and spending the war as a POW and was presumed dead until 1942 when word got back to my grandmother via a convent in the east riding. I know very little of his time in the POW camps and would like to find out how he spent the war. there has been talk of him spending time at Colditz and several photographs of him in various stalags. any help would be appreciated in methods of research for the east riding yeomanry in particular.

    many thanks
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Jack and welcome to the forum. Without stating the obvious it would help if you provided us with more details like his name.

    Have you applied for his service records to confirm what unit etc he was serving with. From my own reserach never rely on what the family says. I was told my GF's grandfather was in one unit - It turned out he served in three when we received his records!

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  3. Jack Hester

    Jack Hester Junior Member

    Hi Jack and welcome to the forum. Without stating the obvious it would help if you provided us with more details like his name.

    Have you applied for his service records to confirm what unit etc he was serving with. From my own reserach never rely on what the family says. I was told my GF's grandfather was in one unit - It turned out he served in three when we received his records!

    Cheers
    Andy

    Hi Andy,
    Sorry about that I have done some more research. He was a SSM in the east riding yeomanry in an armoured vehicle. his name is John Arthur Hester No5223491 and spent a good period of the war in stalag 383. How can I go about getting his war record. He was presumed dead until 1942 as my grandmother was receiving his war pension for over a year until he was reported captured and alive.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    East Riding Yeomanry were part of 1st Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade and remained defending Cassel when the rest of the Brigade moved on. They sufferred the same fate as most of the other defenders.
     
  6. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    Jack,

    I would recommend you get hold of a copy of "Yeoman Soldier, Prussian Farmer" by Richard "Dick" Harvey. He served with the ERY at Cassel and was captured spending the war as a PoW and this should give you a good idea of your grandfathers story. There is also "Forrard" by Pace Mace and Ted Wright which gives an account of the ERY in WW2. According to my database your grandfather was mentioned in despatches although I'm not sure what for. If you have any info I can add to my database I would be grateful, likewise if you have any photos you would care to share I would love to see those too!

    Cheers,

    Neil.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    He was in A Squadron according to this entry in the March section of the diary.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Also...

    The Battle of Cassel 1940 - Research

    With...

     
  9. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    If he is on the photo at:

    Stalag 383

    you may be able to identify him.

    A list of some recorded Hull PoWs is at:

    List of Hull's Prisoners of War - Hull History Centre Catalogue

    Also, the one-time Hull & Yorkshire Times ran a series of wartime service accounts during the late 1950s, with a number of local PoW features through 1958 in particular. Those reported included Tom Redhead, Alfred Atkinson, Joseph Hewitt, Ronald Hill, Bill Clark, Vies Suggit and Charles Wigley, inter alia. Worth keeping an eye open for.

    Lastly, the image below seems to comprise members of the Regimental Officers’ and WOs’ & Sgts’ Messes, but I don’t know when or where it was taken:



    The officer ninth from right looks like Major(?) HFH Philips MC and the Padre may be Captain G Long; others may find it useful, if not you.

    Good searching.
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  10. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Photo does not seem to have carried; try again:
     
  11. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Last try:

    upload_2021-1-21_11-47-1.jpeg
     
  12. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    It is over 10 years since the original request, but maybe .....

    SSM Hester could be on this (poor quality) photo:

    upload_2021-1-24_18-54-38.jpeg

    which was probably taken on 4 December 1943 at:

    upload_2021-1-24_18-57-5.jpeg

    with guests and members enjoying the following special treat fare:

    upload_2021-1-24_18-59-13.jpeg

    likely drawn from the ever appreciated Red Cross parcels, possibly sponsored by the Central Hospital Supply Service Depot, 11 Wakefield Road, Featherstone - worth remembering the next time a Red Cross charity shop is given a bit of trade.
     
    nfh249 and Ramiles like this.
  13. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Another picture featuring more attendees of that dinner is now available:

    upload_2021-2-7_18-51-37.jpeg

    Whilst looking something up for another query today, I noted detail of a not dissimilar feast at:

    Stalag 383

    and wondered whether chef Carl Menti of the onetime Romano’s:

    The Strand, London

    had also been in charge of catering arrangements for this special occasion too.
     
    nfh249 likes this.

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