12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Superb photos! As a 'living historian' I've been involved in a couple of photoshoots to mark the Anniversary of Operation Varsity which the 12th were, of course part of and its always been nightmare trying to find any decent photographs of them or any in depth accounts for that matter. I have a copy of 'Three Cheers For The Next Man To Die' and will now add 'Shine Like A Glow Worm' to the wish list.

The reverse Pegasus is mightily interesting and could be the source of a major argument among the reenacting fraternity!!

Matt

 

Paul,

Another Paul has declared otherwise on that possibility ...

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/13947-arnhem1st-british-airborne-divisionopmarket-garden-book-collection/page-175#entry505422


Cheers ...

 

reddevon,

Hopefully someone has a clue on the Horsa group shot with chalk 33 - that is if it was a pre-campaign photo?

Cheers

It's Chalk 133 (you can just make out the '1') from Serial B11 which flew from Rivenhall on Op Varsity. It was the second of the Devons' gliders to lift off for Germany and only made it as far as Methwold, nr Thetford in Norfolk; Additional infothe rope broke but the glider landed safely. It's a cracking photo, very unusual, and I shall be sharing it to try and ID the GP.

Steve W.

 

Nice to see dads pic here.

 

It seems there's a lot of interest for photographs of 12th Devons men. You could find a film on internetwebsite of pathé news: in this you see Devon soldiers embarking for operation Normandy. You will also find these in the IWM in film and photograph department. There you also could find photographs and films which were taken in the rest area in Normandy. There's one small film showing a CSM and a group of 12 Devons waiting for an ENSA show to start. If you would like more details and really think of visiting IWM or would like more info on 12th Devons or 8th Para, you may always send me a PM. I would be very interested to hear from any family members of 12th Devons or of 6th Airborne Division veterans. I hope we would be able to help each other. Best wishes and good hunting on this interesting forum. 8PARA
contact me if you wish, my father was in 12th devons as a runner and number 2 in a mortar team: jon_black7@msn.com, i have a contact number for the devons

 

i have also been looking for photos of the 12th Devons, i have managed to find a fewbut not many.
12th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment | ParaData Acompany photo circa 1944

 

On the 6th of October the living History Group i belong to were invited to the final reunion of the 12th Battalion with a service being held at Exeter Cathedral and a luncheon being held at the Devon Hotel where we were asked to put on a small display of ww2 equipment

veterans and their families entering the Cathedral

Us with the Battalion flag


Chatting with some of the vets at the Hotel


One of the lads going over the finer points of WW2 underwear (Lt Col Gleadel's daughter on right and his daughter in law Sarah Gleadell)

 

Red,

Well done and thanks for posting the photos. You guys look pretty sharp. It was a great way to honour the veterans.

Regards ...

 

My uncle was Harry Kruyer, A Comp 12th Devons and landed by glider on D Day as related in the War Diaries. Does anyone have an alternative photo of A Company as the one online appears not to include him? Does anyone now if is there ayone aroudn who may have known him??

Martin Sugarman

 

Hi. I have just seen these execellent photos so thought I should say something...
My Grandad was 14590177 Private George Henry Bridgeman, from near Swindon, who enlisted at Beverley in Yorkshire on 15 April 1942, aged 18.
He was in D Coy of the 12 Devons and was wounded at the battle in Breville, with severe wounds to his leg, which he was lucky to keep. He once said that he was a member of a 2" mortar team and that his friend and fellow mortarman was killed in the same blast that wounded him. He also mentioned that his friend's name was George too...but I have no way of confirming any of this as unfortunately I never asked all the important questions that I now want to before he died nearly 10 years ago.?
He can however be seen second row down and third from right on the D Coy 12 Devons photograph that can be readily seen on the internet and he can also be seen second from left sitting on the ground in the larger battalion photograph of 12 Devons taken in October 1943 (the same one that can be seen in the Airborne Museum at Pegasus Bridge).
I have tried to upload a picture of him on to this site but confusion has overtaken me but I will keep trying.
Do you have any more information about D Coy that may not be widely known...?

 

My uncle was Harry Kruyer, A Comp 12th Devons and landed by glider on D Day as related in the War Diaries. Does anyone have an alternative photo of A Company as the one online appears not to include him? Does anyone now if is there ayone aroudn who may have known him??

Martin Sugarman
Have you seen the larger Battalion photograph from October 1943?

 

Hi guys

I'm trying to do some research on my grandfather Malcolm Skipper. He was in 12th (Airborne) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment b company and only went in in 1944 as he was just 18. Are there any mentions of him anywhere? Also how would I found out his number as he just cannot remember it.

 

Hi guys

I'm trying to do some research on my grandfather Malcolm Skipper. He was in 12th (Airborne) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment b company and only went in in 1944 as he was just 18. Are there any mentions of him anywhere? Also how would I found out his number as he just cannot remember it.
Hi Norfolkguy, I have just had a look in the Battalion nominal roll of all Officers and soldiers who proceeded with the Battalion on DDay... unfortunatley I can not find any SKIPPERs... perhaps he was a later replacement after DDay?
I got this information in 2008 from a gentleman called Mr Cox BEM who is the regimental archivist (I don't know if he is still there...) at: Exeter Office, The Rifles, Block 11, Wyvern Barracks, Exeter, EX2 6AR.
Sorry to disappoint but they should be able to tell you more...

 

Hey,

Thanks for letting me know, I'll see if I can get in touch with the Exeter Office and see if they can point me in a better direction.

He thinks he knows his number but during the same conversation he gave me 2 different numbers and is just so confused about certain details. He knows he was based out of Bulford, He only did the last year and was called up rather than applied and joined (I dont know if this makes any difference). He received medals during the last 15 years but he is adamant there isnt a number inscribed on them, but I'm unsure what medals they are, etc....

I've attached a photo of him, I think he was part of the red devils team and his uniform does seem to support that (devils)....

Does any of this make sense?

 

Hey,

Thanks for letting me know, I'll see if I can get in touch with the Exeter Office and see if they can point me in a better direction.

He thinks he knows his number but during the same conversation he gave me 2 different numbers and is just so confused about certain details. He knows he was based out of Bulford, He only did the last year and was called up rather than applied and joined (I dont know if this makes any difference). He received medals during the last 15 years but he is adamant there isnt a number inscribed on them, but I'm unsure what medals they are, etc....

I've attached a photo of him, I think he was part of the red devils team and his uniform does seem to support that (devils)....

Does any of this make sense?
Hi,
My Grandad volunteered but having spoken to an Ex-12 Devons member who was also a friend of Grandad's last year I was told that after enlistment, they did their basic training at Colchester under the General service cap badge and then were posted to the Devonshire Regiment. The young ones and those with A1+ fitness were then sent to 12 Devons at Bulford. This gentleman, Ralph Purvis started in C Company but was hospitalised before DDay (hence he is not on the nominal roll either) and was sent over as part of a reserve company later on, this time being posted to D Company, my Grandad's company.
If your Grandfather only did wartime service and unless he won a gallantry medal or a post-war campaign medal (General Service Medal, perhaps in Eygpt / Palestine - purple green purple ribbon?) he would not have had a number inscribed. Did he get three? The 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star and The War medal? These would not be inscribed with any details.
The badges on his uniform are correct for a member of 12 Devons. See other threads about 12 Devons on here... there are a few more pictures on that.
I also attach two pictures of my Grandad...

 

Hi guys

I'm trying to do some research on my grandfather Malcolm Skipper. He was in 12th (Airborne) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment b company and only went in in 1944 as he was just 18. Are there any mentions of him anywhere? Also how would I found out his number as he just cannot remember it.

Have you considered applying for a copy of his service records from the MoD? They will contain his service number amongst other things.

 

A great couple of photos there, could i ask you both if i can copy them and put with the rest of my collection with their names and rank, all the best.
Tony

 

A great couple of photos there, could i ask you both if i can copy them and put with the rest of my collection with their names and rank, all the best.
Tony

Of course you can. If anyone is interested I've actually found some documents for my granddad. I've got his driving permit, grade card and his assessment of military conduct

I managed to get his service number from the documents we found. My brother actually had them sitting in his loft in America and no one realised he had them lol

 

Thanks Norfolkguy, much appreciated.
By the way could anybody help identify any of these chaps in the following pics.






Leslie Hills, center front

 

A great couple of photos there, could i ask you both if i can copy them and put with the rest of my collection with their names and rank, all the best.
Tony

Delighted if you would... please do as you see fit and thank you for keeping him and his fellow Swedebashers 'alive'!

He was 14590177 Private George Henry Bridgeman of D Company, 12 Devons.

Not sure if you have seen the attached photo of D Company but he is one row down from top and third from right.

Good luck with it and looking forward to seeing more...!