Hello ObserverPete, B squadron 4th troop was my grandads troop It's interesting as This is another mention of the nickname Chunky for my grandad (Sgt Norton) which I have only heard about over the last couple years. As far as his family knew his nickname was Darkie. I have a photo of him where he has signed it Darkie and one from my nana who refers to Sjt Norton as Darkie. But obviously at some point it was changed to chunky. I wonder if it was because he had lost his dark tanned look he got whilst serving in India with the 17/21L. I wonder if the photo was taken near or after October 43 because that was when my dad was born which might be one explanation for Sgt norton absents. I was at one point in contact with cpl Mintoft's grandson but have not been able to contact him for quite a while now which is a shame because he may not have seen this photo. Thanks for sharing the photo
Re. Lieutenant EVAN ROLAND THOMAS (Another 24th Lancer) Fourth from the bottom on the first page of: 24th Lancers Regimental Nominal Roll and Postings August 1944 Casualty Lieutenant THOMAS, EVAN ROLAND Service Number 311632 Died 20/11/1944 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Royal Armoured Corps Commemorated at GROESBEEK MEMORIAL Location: Gelderland, Netherlands Number of casualties: 1021 Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 1.
Re. Trooper Wally Blaxall (Ex-24th Lancer - who transferred to the SRY, when the 24th L was disbanded at the start of August 1944) There is a photo: (Trooper Wally Blaxall of Lt.Cowans crew... KIA 10 Sept 44) ...and some comments here: The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1939-1945 "Remembering Today Trooper Wally Blaxall, Trooper John Greenan and Trooper Thomas Fothergill who lost their lives during the battle for Geel, Belgium on Sunday 10th September 1944. Tprs.Blaxall and Greenan lie in Geel War Cemetery while Tpr.Fothergill is buried in Stelen in St.Apolonias Churchyard. Edit: And BE02-Geel - Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry Association
Royal Tank Regiment attestations: Ernest Riches Birth: 2 Dec 1904 - Yorkshire, England Death: 1976 - Poole, Dorset, England Parents: John William Riches, Lily Smales
Re. Ex-24th Lancer - Charles Clifford Remane (He previously served in the 24th Lancers, he moved to 3 RTR as a Firefly Comd in 3 Tp C Sqn on 3 Aug 44.) Casualty Serjeant REMANE, CHARLES CLIFFORD Service Number 7928067 Died 29/08/1944 Aged 31 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. Son of Karl and Emily Remane; husband of Betty Lilian Remane, of Bracklesham, Surrey. See also:
1939 REGISTER 'Trennern', Holly Hill Drive, Banstead U.D., Surrey Name - DOB - Occupation - Marital status Charles C Remane - 24 Jan 1913 - House, Land & Estate Agent - Married Betty L Thomson (Remane) - 20 Sep 1911 - Unpaid Domestic Duties - Married The record for this person is officially closed. Emily L M Headford - 17 May 1890 - Maternity Nurse (Travelling) - Single
Sgt G Field 12/6/44 Aged 34 Sgt H Cowell 12/6/44 Aged 28 Tpr A R Constable 1/7/44 Aged 23 Tpr A.W.A Tpr Little 2/8/44 Aged 32 Tpr J Moore 10/6/44 Aged 21
Nb there is an entry in the 24th L War Diary for the 5th October 1941: (for an officer then serving with the 24th L - whom - (looking below) - I guess was on a kind of secondment/transfer from the 17th/21st Lancers): Whitby (i.e. where the 24th L then were) - 5/10/41 Capt.G.M.T.Morris died from gunshot wounds in London. For which this (below) seems to tally: (Albeit Nb. it is GNT Morris - i.e. not Capt. G.M.T.Morris - though this is probably / possibly a transcription issue - from the wardiary to the transcribed type) Casualty Captain: MORRIS, GUY NICHOLAS THOMAS Service Number 63344 Died 05/10/1941 Aged 26 17th/21st Lancers Royal Armoured Corps Son of Thomas I. Morris and Gwendolen M. T. Morris, of Bedingfield.
Re. Trooper Keith Arthur Cornish, ex. 24th Lancer (B squadron)... Casualty Lance Corporal CORNISH, KEITH ARTHUR Service Number 14318909 Died 19/11/1944 Aged 20 Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corps Son of Arthur Frederick and Grace Elizabeth Cornish, of Addlestone, Surrey.
Re. Trooper Frederick Dennard Gasson, ex. 24th Lancer (B squadron)... Casualty Trooper GASSON, FREDERICK DENNARD Service Number 7930488 Died 19/11/1944 Aged 33 Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corps Son of William Henry and Ellen Gasson, of Ore, Hastings, Sussex; husband of Dorothy Kathleen Gasson.
Re. Trooper Joseph M.Whitehead ex. 24th Lancer (C-squadron)... Casualty Trooper WHITEHEAD, JOSEPH MORGAN Service Number 14223533 Died 19/11/1944 Aged 21 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Royal Armoured Corps Son of Joseph and Veronica Whitehead, of Oldham, Lancashire.
Re. Lieutenant Evan R.Thomas, ex. 24th Lancer (A-squadron / C-Squadron) Casualty Lieutenant THOMAS, EVAN ROLAND Service Number 311632 Died 20/11/1944 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Royal Armoured Corps Commemorated at GROESBEEK MEMORIAL
Re. Trooper Henry Patrick Compton... (Gunner/Mechanic C squadron 24th Lancers ref. Steve / SDP) http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2218590/COMPTON, HENRY PATRICK (grave photo from 24th Lancers - Roll of Honour plus Stephane Saint-Martin)
Not sure where this chaps information came from so (reference a Facebook post) I'm intrigued so say the least. All three are down in the Nominal Roll as Gunner/Mechanics in A Squadron so not necessarily all in the same crew - open mind required. Ken Shelton passed away a number of years ago - he lived in Derbyshire. I've found D P Jackson in an old Old Comrades Association address list - living at that time (about 1998) in Hertfordshire.
Lieutenant Henry Barry, MC Who around D-Day 1944, was the leader of the 5th Troop in "A" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. "None Had Lances" p216-217 has the citation for his MC from the fighting around St.Pierre, Normandy - 11th June/12th June 1944. Notices | All Notices | The Gazette... Has... Page 4056 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1942. Has... "ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.: The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd 'Lts. : Henry BARRY (243188)" And... SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 31 AUGUST, 1944 p4044 Military Cross : Lieutenant Henry Barry (243188), Royal Armoured Corps (Lancers) (Bushey) MC - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9047227 The London Gazette - TUESDAY, the 21st of FEBRUARY, 1947 has... "The following Officers are awarded the Efficiency Medal (Territorial). Royal Armoured Corps. : Lt. (Hon. Capt.) H. BARRY, M.C. (243188)." Efficiency Medal - Wikipedia