12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by lineman, Feb 13, 2011.

  1. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Don't think so. Back cover lists him as an ex RAF personnel and Para-drop landing zone controller, then goes on to say he has been a writer since the 50's.
    Book published in 1992 by Spellmount Ltd.
     
  2. Sussex by the Sea

    Sussex by the Sea Senior Member

    Thanks Pegasus, i thought you were refering
    to this chap;
     

    Attached Files:

  3. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Pegasus 2075,

    A Company of the 12th Devons landed on Operation Mallard towed by 296 & 297 Squadrons from Brize Norton.

    One glider crash landed in the English Channel off the French coast, three of the men were taken prisoner.

    The Devons' chalk numbers were 186-193 and the gliders were piloted by men from G Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment, landing on LZ W on the Western side of the Caen Canal and Orne.

    I hope this is of help.

    Brithm
     
  4. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Wow, that's fantastic. thanks for the super fast reply. would be interested in finding out if Victor was on the Muster Roll for the Rhine Crossing, could then work out where he was injured.
    Many thanks again :)
     
  5. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Brithm,

    That description of the Horsa crew lost into the sea on D-Day is very similar to the one that broke from Chaffey's Stirling (Chalk 189). He later says in his account.

    "We gave details of our glider’s plunge and Derek went to the office to ascertain the fate of its crew. We eventually learnt with regret that both the pilot and co-pilot had been killed on impact with the water. Their bodies were never found. Privates Palmer and Nicholls also died, but were presumably washed ashore, as their graves are at Le Havre. However, the other three passengers managed to get in the dinghy dropped to them, only to drift into the harbour at Le Havre, where they were captured."

    As far as I know the Chaffey Stirling, skippered by Flt Sgt de Rome, was part of 620 Squadron flying out of Fairford along with 190 Squadron. In the book GP Mike Dauncey states that half of the G Squadron GPs flew from Fairford. Assuming that is correct it makes you wonder if the small 12th Devon contingent was split between Brize Norton and Fairford airfields. I may have missed something or the author could have slipped up but the Chaffey account is quite convincing.

    Later ...
     
  6. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    I have looked at the RAF Squadron records from the "Action Stations" series by Michael Bowyer.
    It lists the following for Fairford;
    "June 5th, 45 Stirlings started rolling just before midnight for 6th Airbourne as part of operation "Tonga", Three Stirlings of 620 sqn failed to return. After the return and turnaround of aircraft had been completed at approx. 18:00, 25 aircraft had been made ready for operation "Mallard". At 19:01 the first Stirling/Horsa combinations were away."

    Brize Norton;
    On the night of 5/6th June 18 Albermiles from both 296 and 297 Sqn Carried 5th Parachute Batallion to LZ N.
    During the evening of 6th June 40 Horsa's were towed across as part of 6th Airbourne Division being lifted in operation "Mallard".

    It would seem that both airfields were used for the "Mallard" op and as there are records to show the 12th Devons were in fact at Brize Norton and Fairford we have to assume that the Devons were split up. A possible reason maybe the fact that not all the Gliders had Jeeps in them, maybe the Specialist loads were handled at one Airfield leaving the troop gliders at another.
     
  7. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    here are a few pics of members of A Coy waiting to board their gliders ( could the 14 something number the glider number ) could anybody identify the Officer with the Airborne helmet?
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    the other pics are of the rest of Battalion boarding ship at Graves End ( i think)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    All photos borrowed from Pathe news
     
    brithm likes this.
  8. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Correction - The first 3 photos above actually show 12 Devon men standing before their glider at RAF Rivenhall before takeoff on Operation Varsity. The chalk number appears to be in the 140s.

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2021
  9. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    In 5624049 Sgt Charlie Sparey's memoirs he states he was a Corpral in B Company and he took of for the Rhine crossing in Horsa glider number 198 from Dunmow in Essex and was towed by a Stirling tug, whilst Lt Col Gleadell traveled in glider number 188. would it be possible to name the other occupants in those two gliders?

    TALLY HO
     
  10. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Just to add a very big public thank you to everyone who has helped me so far in compiling information about my Uncle. Looks like my trail has dried up at the moment in tracing where Vic was wounded. I am going to apply for his Service Records in the New Year to find this out but know it will be a while before these come back to me.
    Vic was not on the Varsity Muster Roll but I know he may still have been involved. If there is any more information available I would be grateful if I could be pointed in the right direction.
    I will post any information I receive online as I know its of interest to others.
    Thanks again one and all.

    Up The Devons........
     
  11. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    his number was 14332879 L/cpl Drewett. V. Are you going to apply for his service record? which will tell you were and when he was wounded, good luck with your search Keith.
     
  12. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Yes. Going to get full records with a Next of Kin Consent. Will be applying in Feb/March 2014. Glasgow said information available without consent was prob not any more than I have at present, will only know what's available when it comes through my door. Very exciting. I have always thought of Vic as my hero. He was so young in 1944, my son looks as old as he does in those photos. Have decided to compile a mini book about him for my families generations so he or his mates actions however small or short in duration will not be forgotten or overlooked....
     
  13. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    great idea, wish you the best of luck with it.
     
  14. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    On the Rhine crossing Captain Carroll of the 12th Devons states he was in glider 155 along with Brigadier.R.H.Bellamy along with 6th Airlanding Brigade HQ piloted by Lt Col Iain Murry co of the glider wing, is there any info to verify the passengers in gliders as Captain Carroll does not appear on the Rhine crossing Nominal roll

    [​IMG]
    Glider 155 touching down on German soil.

    [​IMG]
    reverse of glider pic written by Capt Carroll
     
  15. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Aah, I see it went to a good home then ... :)

    There's a little more info on the No.1 Wing WD on the Pegasus Archive. Murray's co-pilot was Capt. J.B. Bottomley and they landed off course in LZ 'P' rather than LZ 'R'. I believe they flew from Earls Colne Airfield. I'm not sure what Capt. Carroll was doing at Earls Colne as that is not one of the three airfields the 12th Devons flew out of, unless he was with Brigade HQ. Robert Capa jumped with 513 PIR who were dropped off course in the British sector.

    Regards ...
     
  16. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    If Capt Carroll was with Brigade HQ, would that explain why he is not mentioned on the nominal roll for the Rhine crossing?

    The photo was sent to me by Mick Carroll, Capt Carrolls son along with this one.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    reddevon,

    Tim Saunders' Battleground book on Operation Varsity mentions the role C Coy 12th Devons was to play. A couple of quotes:

    "Headquarters 6th Airlanding Brigade and C Company of 12 Devons would land on LZ P south-west of Hamminkeln..."

    "Following 6 Airlanding Brigade, Divisional HQ and the Airborne Division’s artillery group would land by glider in the centre of the divisional area on LZ P. Along with these troops and other essential fly in elements, was C Company of 12 Devons who were to clear and secure the area, as the Division was, after all, landing on its objectives and they could therefore expect opposition across their DZs and LZs."

    Hopefully that doesn't confuse matters more? One source Saunders cites is the Operation VARSITY - BAOR Battlefield Tour (1947). I'm not sure about the nominal roll exclusion other than it's a possibility if Carroll was with HQ 6th Brigade. Nor can I help with who was on board Horsa 155, it seems like that kind of specific information has gone missing.

    Here's the Life Magazine that contains the Robert Capa photo story (page 27) that may be of background interest. Perhaps someday someone will do an analysis of all the buildings and landmarks to discover their locations.

    LIFE April 9th, 1945 - Google Books

    Ok, hopefully more turns up at some point... Cheers
     
  18. Eddie Oxborough

    Eddie Oxborough New Member

    Does anyone have or can help me find any information regarding my dad Private Bertie Oxborough (service number: 14646355) who served in the 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment.
     
  19. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    Hi Eddie, i have two nominal roles for those in the 12th Devons the first is for those who took part on D-day unfortunatley your father is not mentioned on this list the other is a list of all those who took part in the Rhine crossing in march 1945 your farther is mentioned on this list and is mentioned as being wounded in action, but where and when i do not know. Do you know which company he was with and would you have a photo of him in uniform.
    Sorry not much help but i will consult my books and see if there is a mention of him in any of them.
    Tony
     
  20. shazza

    shazza New Member

    My grandfather was Lance Sergeant Albert Cobden of D Coy 12 Batallion Devonshire Regiment.He was K.I.A at Breville on 11/7/44 and is buried at Ranville.I would be grateful for any info. 001.jpg 001 (6).jpg 001 (3).jpg
     
    brithm likes this.

Share This Page