2615902 Guardsman Derrick John Herbert COSSER, 3 Grenadier Guards: 28/05/1940

Hi, I would like to find out some info about my mothers uncle who died in may 1940.He served in 3rd bn grenadiers and is burried at bas-warneton in belgium.
does anyone know how i might find which battle he died in? if there are any sites i might find pictures..etc

many thanks

dan

 

Hello Dan and welcome to the forum. It shouldn't be too difficult to find you some background information. 3 Grenadiers would have been part of 1st Infantry division at the time and they are fairly well documented.

What was his date of death ? A name may also be useful.

Rich

 

hi, yes his date of death was 28,5,1940 his name was derrick john herbert cosser and his service number was 2615902.

many thanks
dan

 

This map is from Volume one of the Grenadiers Regimental history for 39-45.
Shows 3GG counter-attack evening of 27th May & positions early on 28th May.





The Grenadier Guards in the war of 1939-1945, by Nigel Nicolson and Patrick Forbes. v.2.

Here's his name in the Roll Of Honour in Volume 2.
Listed as Died Of Wounds.

 

oh my goodness!!! thank you very much!!! do you think there might be anymore info? i going to have a look on google earth and see if i can find the area. is the info of "died of wounds" something you can find on internet?just out of interest what do the other abbreviations mean ie..DAS?

Many thanks once again!!

dan

 

I suggest contacting the Regimental Archivist.
Regimental Archive - Regimental Headquarters - The Regiment - Grenadier Guards

Regimental Archivist
RHQ Grenadier Guards
Wellington Barracks
London SW1 6HQ

I'll scan some more info on the battle for you to read.

 

Don't worry about DAS, Died On Active Service, that's for the chap above, Corbett.

Hope his answers some of your questions about the action he was killed in.

 

GoogleEarth Location of Bas-Warneton Cemetery
Click the kmz file attachment.

 

Hello Dan and welcome,
Do you have any photos of your uncle?
Regards,
Diane

 

Owen, thank you very very much!! a great help. i really can not thank you enough, i have always wondered about his time there.

Diane i will ask the family and try to get some scanned and on here.



many thanks

dan

 

Have a look at this thread too, your Great-Uncle would have been involved with this action , where Nicolls won his VC.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/21050-lance-corporal-harry-nicholls-vc-3rd-battalion-grenadier-guards.html

 

Well done all - Owen especially - for suplying such great detail in a matter of a few hours.
I still find it amazing that in 1940 the British Army was fighting in places so familiar from WW1excuse spelling!) Messines, Ypres, 'Plugstreet' Wood and Poperinge. I have visited all of those on a WW1 battlefield visit and didn't realise how close some of the WW2 fighting was.

Mike

 

Welcome to the forum

Cheers
Paul

 

As stated in the excerpt which Owen has shown, 3rd Grenadiers were ready to embus for Dunkirk when Alexander, commanding 1st Divison was persuaded by Alan Brooke to let them come to the reinforcement of 5th Division. This action and the subsequent move of 3rd Division to cover the gap left by a Belgian surrender contributed significantly to the saving of the BEF.

This is what Blaxland has to say in 'Destination Dunkirk'





Michael Piercy makes the observation that during this battle on the canal line, the four medium artillery regiments of 1st corps fired over five thousand rounds in 36 hours. This weight of fire from British guns was not seen again until El Alamein more than two years later.

The 1940 campaign is often overlooked but it would be a mistake to think that it comprised only small scale engagements.

 

I have to say this is really a great site and the people are so helpful!!! it really had been a treat for me and my family to hear about our relative that my grandmother never knew.

Many thanks!!

I have other great uncles who fought in ww2 that have now passed on that i would be very interested to know what their regiments got up to in the war.
Thank you all so much

Dan Cook

 

I have to say this is really a great site and the people are so helpful!!! it really had been a treat for me and my family to hear about our relative that my grandmother never knew.

Many thanks!!

I have other great uncles who fought in ww2 that have now passed on that i would be very interested to know what their regiments got up to in the war.
Thank you all so much

Dan Cook

Actually Dan, we're mostly just a bunch of show-offs who like to display how close at hand our expensively stocked bookshelves are

Bring on the rest of the units !B)

 

Dan,
Posts 41-43 on this thread may be of interest
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/21498-grenadier-guards-roh-ww2-casualties-awards-5.html#post265612

Has anyone in the family applied for your grand uncle's records?

 

DBF... hi no no one has applied for them although i would be very interested in doing it myself if you have any info on how to do this.

regards
dan

 

Just checked Guards VC and he is listed as 28.5.40 (Died of wounds)

CWGC :: Certificate

Ref his records all the info is in the link below:
[deleted - not applicable]

There is lots of 3rd GG War Diary entries in the book 'Guards VC' by Dilip Sarkar which I would highly recommend you to get.

Guards VC: Blitzkrieg 1940: Amazon.co.uk: Dilip Sarkar: Books

If he died of wounds as the book suggests his war may have finished quite a few days before the 28th.

Regards
Andy

 

thanks andy!! i will track that book down and have a good read.My mothers other uncle also served in the grenadiers and survived the war and i would like to find out about his service record.if i can find his service number will anyone be able to help?


dan