For future reference: The Book "None Had Lances" includes a full Roll of Honour of the 24th Lancers - including those who died whilst serving with the Regiment and those who died after being transferred elsewhere. The Memorial stone in Tilly sur Seulles commemorates the Regiment but does not include a Roll of names. (Thanks SDP!) Ps. There's a roll of honour here: http://www.tankmuseum.org/museum-online/roll-of-honour ...at the Tank Museum that can be searched by regiment, with the list there for the 24th L. Edit: nb. As this thread developed, for many later posts, I have expanded the use of the term "Roll of Honour" from a list of those 24th Lancers who have died in battle - to a broader reference, to some other details, of those who were at some point in the 24th L. roll of honour ˌrəʊl əv ˈɒnə/ BRITISH a list of people whose deeds or achievements are honoured, or who have died in battle.
For example: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780951071809/Lances-Story-24th-Lancers-Willis-0951071807/plp (Prices (second hand) can vary quite a bit as it is currently (and foreseeably) out of print and had a relatively low initial print run) There are six listed here at the mo. ranging from about £68 (with shipping!) up to about £160. Though some I have heard can go as low as £10-£30. You takes your pick...
I got my first read of NHL from inter-library loan my local library never had it but I think Nottingham library did. After that I spotted a signed copy on Amazon for I think £48 so I offered £35 and they accepted but I did see it on eBay go for £15 I guess it got under the radar of people that wanted it. ( honestly tho if they had said no I'd have paid £48 for it)
I'm waiting for the day when one comes up for 10p in some bargain bin I guess It must be tempting though to buy them as an investment! As like land (Dubai etc excepting!) they don't appear to be making any more I'm still looking though for those threads of knowledge that aren't in there! Seems pretty comprehensive though by all accounts Even has a pic of my gd in there! All the best, Rm
Yes I agree there must be the odd one or two sitting in a car boot sale or similar. Did I already mention the same picture of your GD is in battle of tilly sur seulles as well?
Interesting...hummm... I'm still trying to work out why they all seemed so very cheerful??! I'm guessing tho. at the mo. it was for some publicity that the war correspondents there wanted for the folks back home, but it might still be something to do with the Rev's wondering exploit? I guess??! Working it out I don't think any of those troopers at the front of the picture were actually even in his crew, and why he wasn't kneeling at the front? But had plonked himself right next to the officers no less (Bad knee perhaps??!) Any how must go now for a bit... All the best, Rm.
.....because they had survived the day? They also had the most amazing CO imaginable in WAC Anderson who was probably one of the most respected officers in the Royal Armoured Corps and who went on to great things afterwards as, in fact, did many of the Officers and Other Ranks. I've met many 24th Lancers over the years and I can't remember a single 'grumpy' moment: even after being disbanded and the intervening 60-70 years, the feeling of camerarderie is outstanding (as Shaun will also no doubt testify, having recently met one himself!). A part of this togetherness no doubt originates from the disbandment (separating people often brings them closer together) and Annual Reunions that started in 1946 and continued without interruption until 2007 and with less formal contact ongoing.
Guess so, simple survival would have cheered anyone up at the end of any long day, but that cheeky grin though speaks to me of something going on, but it's probably just my imagination though. He generally manages the same cheering smile in most (if not all) of the pictures of him I have seen It (pic) puts them on Pt.103 on the 13th June 1944. Whilst... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/religion-obituaries/6224060/The-Right-Reverend-Mark-Green.html ...has the Rev. arriving with the 24th L on D+3, then leading a night convoy into St.Pierre and getting lost. There are plenty of other reasons though to assemble that particular group at that particular time and place. I don't know if from your memory there is anything in the text of the "Lancer Life's" that sheds some light on the "proceedings" there? All the best, Rm.
Rob That article also mentions that Mark was with 27th Lancers in 29th Armoured Brigade. Such errors are normally associated with the Gruniad rather than the Torygraph.....but hey, it's only history!
In reference to Mark Green (as noted in post #8) above, there is this book (written by Mark Green): "Before I Go": Bishop Mark Green : A collection of inspirational writings that starts with the diary of (the later Bishop) Mark Green as a young priest in Normandy (during and after D-day) : Before I Go That contains a chapter or a few that refers to the period of Mark Green's service with the 8th Armoured Brigade, his MID for services with the 8th Armoured and 24th L, and his MC for gallantry in collecting casualties under fire during the advance towards Germany of 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in the winter of 1944. - by the way, in addition to the Roll of Honour for the 24th Lancers in "None Had Lancers" is there also a list of medals, MID's etc. awarded to them? I think (from memory) it has a list of the 24th L's battle honours there? All the best, Rm. See also: Re: Captain The Rev. Mark Green - attached 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, late 24th Lancers
Hello RM, I've haven't found a copy of "Before I Go" by Bishop Mark Green, but have managed to screen capture most sections regarding his descriptions around Audrieu, St. Pierre and Tilly. Some of the details are not pleasant and was amazed the composure of men like him under exceedingly difficult times. With kind regards, David
David Copies come up on eBay very occasionally. I also remember that copies were being sold by a Christian Book Shop (?) in Eastbourne when Mark first published the book. Not sure of the current situation. He was a remarkable man, totally dedicated to his 'flock' and a privilege to meet. I was fortunate enough to attend his funeral: quite an event with more Bishops than you can imagine and an actual joyous occasion. Seeing his MC alongside the wreaths on the coffin really brought home his genuine valour. As I said, a truly remarkable man.
Re. Mark Green, I noticed in the SRY WD for 6th July 1944 it had this: "A Padre from 24L came over and conducted a service. He gave a very excellent informal short sermon and started off with the words “There are no atheists in a slit trench.” " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Green_(bishop) http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/funeral-set-for-rt-rev-mark-102492
Re. WAC Anderson The Scottish War Graves Project :: View topic - Invershin Cemetery, Creich, Sutherland And in IWM collection : B 5416-17 Lt Col Anderson (24 L), Lt Col Christopherson (Sherwood Rangers), Brig Cracroft ( * Armd Bde) in conference near Rauray. Ps... Given the date - I did wonder if the tank up in the far upper left had been "identified" as "to whom it belonged to" yet... Lieutenant-Colonel WAC Anderson DSO and Captain Tedd Dunn leading the regiment to Pinneburg, 1945 | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London
Rob The photo of the O Group at Rauray 29th June shows Major Bill Luddington (24L, C Squadron), Lt-Col WAC Anderson (24L, CO), Brigadier Bernard Cracroft (CO 8th Armoured Brigade) and Lt-Col Stanley(?) Christopherson (SRY, CO)
Thanks SDP, BTW are there any actual regimental (or whole squadron?) photos of the 24th L anywhere i.e. on line? or in books (you know of?) etc. I'm pretty sure I was shown one or two of these many, many years ago, but I haven't as yet unearthed one, so that I can post. It would seem to have been a pretty obvious thing to do though so I'm a bit surprised after looking for quite a while, that I haven't yet seen a large number of these coming to light. Even the various visits of dignitaries to the regiment would, I would have expected, have resulted in a considerable number of pictures being taken, so I wonder where these have all ended up All the best, Rm.
by the way, in addition to the Roll of Honour for the 24th Lancers in "None Had Lancers" is there also a list of medals, MID's etc. awarded to them? Rob, There is a piece towards the back of NHL titled Citations mentioning many officers and OR's medals etc I had wondered what happened to WAC Anderson. I never knew he went back to the 17/21 lancers he seemed to have died quite youngish really. Was he Scottish? I've never seen it stated one way or the other or was he buried there just because he lived in the area?
Headstones for Sjt Sidney Norton age 32 kia 17/6/44 Bayeux war cemetery Trooper R J Stephens aged 34 kia 12/6/44 Tilly-sur-Seulles cemetery Trooper N Robinson aged 27 kia 12/6/44 Tilly-sur-Seulles cemetery L/Cpl T W Mintoft aged 34 kia 12/6/44 Tilly-sur-Seulles cemetery Trooper J W Brown aged 21 kia 12/6/44 Tilly-sur-Seulles cemetery
Shaun re. post #18 "I had wondered what happened to WAC Anderson. I never knew he went back to the 17/21 lancers he seemed to have died quite youngish really". I don't know though: Banstead War Memorial WW2 Casualties Seems to say that WAC Anderson went on to the 22 Dragoons. In the case below though, "despite serving in the 24th L - Sir ROBERT DALRYMPL ARBUTHNOT- was commissioned into 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and actually remained listed under the 9th Queen's Royal lancers on his grave" Sir ROBERT DALRYMPL ARBUTHNOT - 6th Baronet of Edinburgh, cr. 1823, Succeeded father 31.03.1941. Eldest son (with one brother) of Brig.Gen. Sir Dalrymple Arbuthnot, 5th Bt, CMG, DSO (1867-1941), and Alice Maude Arbuthnot (1880-1969). Brother of Capt. Sir Hugh Fitzgerald Arbuthnot, 7th Bt. Person Page He gained the rank of Major in the service of the 24th Lancers, and after the loss of the former head of "B" squadron 24th L, led "B" squadron 24th L briefly in June 1944, up to his death on 30th June 1944, despite serving in the 24th L he was commissioned into 9th Queen's Royal lancers and actually remained listed under the 9th Queen's Royal lancers on his grave: Casualty Details Officers of the British Army 1939-1945 -- A Also, by the way there's a listing of some of the British Peerage that served in WW2 here: thePeerage.com - Index to WW2 Combatants