2718842 SSM James McRORY, MM, 2 Irish Guards: 24/04/1945

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by pmcrory, May 5, 2006.

  1. pmcrory

    pmcrory Junior Member

    An ancestor of mine was killed on 24th April 1945 - just a couple of weeks before the end of the War. He was serving as a WO2 (SSM) with 2nd Bn Irish Gds (Armoured) in northern Germany. He is buried at Becklingen, near Soltau/Munster. His name was James McRory MM. Can anyone tell me what the unit was doing at this time? Thanks. Paul
     
  2. pmcrory

    pmcrory Junior Member

    An ancestor of mine was killed on 24th April 1945 - just a couple of weeks before the end of the War. He was serving as a WO2 (SSM) with 2nd Bn Irish Gds (Armoured) in northern Germany. He is buried at Becklingen, near Soltau/Munster. His name was James McRory MM. Can anyone tell me what the unit was doing at this time? Thanks. Paul
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Hello Paul and Welcome
    I've a tiny bit about this in my Grenadier Guards 1939-45.
    In the early morning of April 24th a Brigade attack was launched on Zeven.


    I'm sorry it's not much but it's all I can do for the minute.


    Have you contacted the Regimental HQ?
    Regimental Headquarters
    Irish Guards
    Wellington Barracks
    Birdcage Walk
    London
    England, UK SW1E 6HQ

    Here's a link to an article in the days before.http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/16/a4354616.shtml

    The Last Major Battle of the Irish Guards in North West Europe


    This story is transcribed by me Graham Shepherd , from notes and discussions
    with Bill Ashley , and will be added to the site with his permission . He
    understands the sites terms and conditions.

    On 16th April 1945 the Guards Armoured Division were told to move to join
    the XII Corps ; which was about 100 miles away . We were in the 5th Guards
    Brigade and followed the signs of what we called the highway decorators and
    arrived a village close to the Hamburg / Bremen autobahn on 19th April .
    After a good nights rest with some good food we No. 1 squadron and No. 3
    company set off to take the small town of Elsdorf . Having taken the town
    our squadron commander Major Mick O'Cock - later to become Brigadier - planned
    his campaign and my No. 4 Troop were sent to a small farm about 200 yards
    from the bridge over the autobahn .Straight in front of us about 300 yards
    the other side of the autobahn was another troop who were using a milk factory
    , while the other troop went on a further two kilometres to Wistedt . I cannot
    remember where H Q Troop were.

    Our troop got into position , my tank being in the left hand corner of the
    orchard . To our right was the troop sergeants tank and then the fire fly
    and a further tank covering the rear . We were getting low on supplies so
    it was a welcome sight to see No. 1 transport with fuel and ammunition .
    We then heard on the wireless that the Irish Guard group in Wistedt were
    coming back to cover the other side of Elsdorf.

    By now our 3rd Battalion friends were digging along the hedge in front of
    the tanks and our troop officer Lt. Halinan told us that he was off for a
    O Group meeting and that he would cook supper when he arrived back . In the
    mean time we carried out maintenance , looked at our mail , brewed up and
    generally talked about the end of our war . I well remember that night ,
    we had omelettes and sponge pudding . Jack Ashbridge cut slices from the
    leg of ham which was salty , but after a few hours soaking it was very nice.


    At this point we did not know that we were about to get a reminder that the
    war was not yet over . I was detailed first ' stag ' at 22-00 so I stood
    in the top of the turret and it was very quite with all the crew off to sleep
    while I listened to the 19 wireless set . We were callsign Charlie 1 . I
    was also in conversation with our infantry friends.

    At about 23-00 hours all hell let loose , as our gunners started to put a
    ' stonk ' on the town of Zeven about miles away . It turned out that our
    friends the Grenadiers were putting in a night attack . At last I was relieved
    , so into the drivers seat I went and made myself as comfortable as possible
    and went to sleep.

    At about 04-00 hours Bob Avis woke us all up and we stood to ready for action
    . We decided to brew up and cook our ham and eggs and while we could hear
    the noise of battle in the distance . The troop in the milk factory were
    also on stand to like us , while the other troop and infantry started off
    to Wistedt led by Lt. Quinan. We heard on the wireless that Wistedt was occupied
    by the Germans with SPs and that we had lost two tanks.

    At around 06-00 our crew has finished breakfast but others had not when we
    heard those dreadful Moaning Minnies start up in the distance and we new
    that they were for us . We jumped into our tank in quick time and closed
    the hatches and waited . We were soon under a heavy barrage including artillery
    shells and our troop opened up on them and although our gunners were on target
    they put us under great pressure . The tank stank of cordite , but we were
    running short of ammunition and called for urgent supplies . Fortunately
    there was a lull , although the troop near Wistedt were up against elite
    German troops who were pressing home their advantage.

    From one tank which got knocked out Guardsman Charlton took the browning
    300 from the tank and faced the advancing German troops single handed and
    although he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy he was severely wounded
    but moved his position and carried on shooting again inflicting many more
    losses on the enemy . He was removed by his mates and taken into a house
    for cover but was soon surrounded by the German troops and all were taken
    prisoner.

    We were right down on ammo and to our surprise we saw three Bedford three
    tonners coming over the bridge and they turned into the orchard . They were
    from RASC transport . They were amazed when we told them that they had just
    come through Jerry lines and said that they had not been this close before
    . We soon had our ammunition on board and straight away Jerry who had managed
    to get up to the church started to let us have it . They had set up a machine
    gun post in the church and were creating havoc , but a well placed shot from
    our tank put a stop to that . Up until now we had been on the receiving end
    of the battle and you could see by the expressions on the faces of our men
    that the heavy bombardment we were under was causing some trouble both to
    ourselves and our infantry . However luck was on our side for the weather
    started to change and we could see blue sky appearing.

    Next moment the wireless operator was calling Charley1 , Charley 1 could
    we have the our 'feathered friends' at map reference ' bla bla bla ' ,
    Charley 1 over and out . All of a sudden the shelling stopped and we knew
    that RAF Typhoon's were about so we opened our hatches and looking up to
    the rear there they were . With the targets located they peeled off from
    their formation into a steep dive and we saw the rockets leave the planes
    . When they had finished their job it was our turn and when the order to
    advance came we set off past the church and saw that there were many casualties
    from both sides lying all around.

    As we were leaving the village a lady came out in front of us with two children
    , she was very frightened and had a note in her hand which she was determined
    that we should see . My troop officer told me to see what she wanted and
    I got out to look at the note which had been written by one of my mates who
    had been taken prisoner with Guardsman Charlton and asked that we look after
    the this family as the lady had done everything possible to dress Gdsm.Charlton's
    wounds and make him as comfortable as possible . She also insisted that I
    go inside the house where I found the badly wounded body of a German soldier
    and I assured her that everything would be all right.

    We then pressed on while the 53rd Welsh Division took up our old positions
    . It was two days before we caught up with our pals who had been captured
    only to be told that Guardsman Charlton had died of his wounds.

    The German Officer who had led the Battalion against us praised the courage
    of Guardsman Charlton and recommended that he should be awarded a bravery
    medal . He was , being awarded the VC , the last VC in the European Campaign
    - for us the war was over.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    From CWGC
    Name: McRORY, JAMES
    Initials: J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Warrant Officer Class II (S.S.M.)
    Regiment/Service: Irish Guards
    Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
    Age: 27
    Date of Death: 24/04/1945
    Service No: 2718842
    Awards: MM
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. B. 11.
    Cemetery:BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY
     
  8. pmcrory

    pmcrory Junior Member

    Hello all,

    Many thanks for the information: and especially the link to the photo - I can already see a family resemblance.

    I'm aware of the Gdsmn Charlton story in the previous week or so, but does anyone have access to the war diary for the 24th April?

    Thanks again.

    Paul
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Paul,
    Have some info. found in IG Assoc. Journal; my father was in IG 3Bn.
    Hope you are still around the site...


    IRISH GUARDS ASSOCIATION JOURNAL, MARCH 1972, pg 71
    OPERATION MARKET GARDEN
    FitzGerald’s History of the Regiment in the 2nd World War on page 513 refers to a small action during Operation Market Garden in St. Oedenrode, when the 2nd Battalion were working with the 101st US Airborne Division:


    “Sergeant McRory limping up the road in a lone tank, stopped to help a Battalion of the 101st Division. The Americans were most appreciative of the number of Krauts he killed for them and sent a letter of thanks to the Battalion referring to him as our boy”

    The Battalion Sgt. McRory helped was the 1st Battalion 302nd US Parachute Regiment and the Commander was Lieutenant Colonel Patrick F. Cassidy. 2723471 Guardsman Murphy was Sgt. McRory’s driver at the time of this action. He has now emigrated to Australia. This year he wrote to the Pentagon asking if they knew the whereabouts of Colonel Cassidy. Greatly to his surprise and delight he received the following letter, which he thought readers would be interested to see:

    Dear Mr. Murphy,
    Your letter which you wrote to the Chief of Military History in Washington, D.C. has been forwarded to me for reply. I was delighted to receive your letter and will try to give you the information that you asked for.
    I remember very, very vividly when your tank broke down in the village square at St. Oedenrode. I also recall very vividly the terrific job you did against the attacking Germans to the North of St. Oedenrode. As I recall, you had a broken firing pin and had to use a screwdriver and hammer to fire your main gun. I also know that your tank was a big surprise to the Germans and that many of them were slaughtered when you fired your canister rounds. For about three days your tank was one of our mainstays at various times. I recall that my operations Sergeant Pinkerton climbed up on the tank and helped you in one operation. I also remember Sgt. J. McRory getting out of the tank, and we thought he was sneaking up on the enemy, but instead of that, he pulled out his pistol and killed a pig. Evidently you must have had a good supper that night! I lost track of your tank after you moved on North. I submitted to the United States Army a recommendation for our Legion of Merit Medal for Sgt. McRory. I never received a reply as to whether it was awarded or not.

    Seven years after the war I wrote to the British War Office trying to find out something about Sgt. McRory. I never received a reply. Your letter was the first knowledge I had that Sgt. McRory was killed near the end of the war. He was a truly outstanding soldier of Irish descent, whom I would have loved to have had beside me in battle. If he has any next of kin that you might know of, I would be interested in their names and addresses so that I could write to them.
    At the present time I am in Korea finishing up on my second year. The first year I commanded 1 Corps (Group) which is the tactical unit on the DMZ. It‘s probably the largest Corps in the world with over 100,000 US and ROK troops in it. This last year I have been Deputy Commander of Eighth Army and have just received my order to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, as the Fifth Army Commander. Fifth Army takes in approximately fourteen States from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.

    I do not have my library with me, but when I return to the States and assemble all of my household goods, I will forward to you a history of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. It has a fairly complete account of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry at St. Oedenrode, which includes a paragraph about your tank and Sgt. McRory.

    I appreciate very much your letter and the descriptive sketch. I hope that I hear from you in the not too distant future. It will be some time before the book gets to you, but I promise that you will received it. The name of it is “Rendezvous with Destiny.”
    With best wishes,
    Sincerely
    PATRICK F. CASSIDY,
    Lieutenant-General, USA.
    FYI:

    Name: Patrick F Cassidy
    Service Info.: LTG US ARMY WORLD WAR II
    Birth Date: 22 Mar 1915
    Death Date: 5 Jan 1990
    Service Start Date: 10 Jan 1938
    Interment Date: 12 Jan 1990
    Cemetery: Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
    Cemetery Address: 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road San Antonio, TX 78209
    Buried At: Section W Site 1019
     
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  10. pmcrory

    pmcrory Junior Member

    Many thanks to dbf for her help with some anecdotal evidence on the story of James' MM and his death the following year.

    Just to set it in context, can anyone send me a copy of the 2nd Bn IG's War Diary entry for 24th Apr 45? As he was a SSM at the time of his death it may possibly have more than a passing mention. Also interested in any Appendices to the entry that may add detail or show maps, etc. Very many thanks.

    Paul
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Nice to have you back Paul, great find , Diane.
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Paul,
    This is the last bit of information I could find, there is probably no better reference outside of the diary itself than the book I refer to, which was first published in 1949. I have no idea if there have been further print runs.

    From History of The Irish Guards, Part V, Chapter VII The Liberation of Brussels, pg 454 [this is not indexed so requires reading of the book];

    “More prisoners left behind in the general rout straggled in, showing little sign of resistance. No. 3 Squadron caught four officers trying to escape, one of whom the people recognized as a leading Gestapo agent. It was with some difficulty and reluctance that his escort, Sergeant McRory, saved him from being lynched on the spot. Even so, he was kicked vigorously and spat on, much to the discomfort of Sergeant McRory, who got some of the ‘overs’.”
    [AUDERGHEM, BRUSSELS, possibly 4th September 1944; they arrived in Brussels at dusk on 3rd and left at 1000 hrs on 6th]

    From Part V, Chapter X Market Garden Phase II, Pg 513:
    The following morning, the 23rd [September 1944], more of the 130th Brigade on the left flank reached the Lower Rhine. It was an immense relief. There now seemed to be a good chance of making an assault crossing to join the Airborne. There was much to be done first; ammunition, bridging equipment and , above all, more infantry had to be brought up. The official report kept on emphasizing the need for more infantry, repeating , almost monotonously, that the country was quite unsuitable for deploying armour against determined, or indeed any, resistance. To get more infantry up it was necessary first to clear the road. At dawn the 32nd Brigade and the 101st U.S. Airborne Division began to clear the axis south-west from UDEN, and by the afternoon they had driven the Germans off the road. Traffic began to flow through once more though subject to occasional interruptions from enemy shelling, bazooka-ing and small-arms fire. Sergeant McRory, limping up the road in a lame tank, stopped to help a battalion of the 101st Division. The Americans were most appreciative of the number of Germans he killed for them, and sent a letter of thanks to the Battalion, referring to him as “Our Boy.” [North of Nijmegen en route to Arnhem. Paul, this is merely a context for the letters and medal recommendations which you now have.]

    From Part V, Chapter XIV Across The Rhine, pg 575:
    “ZEVEN was taken on the 24th [April 1945] by the Grenadiers and the Coldstream. Till then the Irish Group remained in ELSDORF, being shelled by the Germans and twice bombed, once by the Germans and once by the Americans. Neither the shelling nor the bombing caused serious casualties, but they reduced ELSDORF to a heap of ruins. “In the execution of the 21st Army Group operations in the north,” says the Supreme Commander’s report, “the resistance encountered by the British Second Army in its attacks towards Bremen and Hamburg was persistent.” Following the fall of Bremen on the 26th April, however, the situation changed.”

    This latter extract is the only mention of action on that day.

    Good luck and I hope Patrick and James' brother Willie has some solace from the information you have in respect of James.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2024
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  14. bavarianbrit

    bavarianbrit Junior Member

    Hello PMcrory,

    My uncle was killed on 23 April 1945 and is also buried in Soltau-Becklingen, he was with the 3rd btn Irish Guards.
    Patrick McAneney number 2720423.
    I have not yet found out what his Btn was doing during this period.
    Update 04 Oct 2009 - I have just got a packet of momentos from my sister including a letter from his officer to my grandmother. He wrote that he was killed by a direct hit on his slit trench during shelling.

    Regards

    Martin
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    This is a photo of SSM McRory, dated about a fortnight before he was killed.

    From The Armoured Micks: SSM McRory (standing), Furstenau, 8 April 1945

    Major Eddie Tyler, SSM Jim McRory, Captain Paddy Jeffries
    Scan10024_4.jpg
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  17. Susan Smethurst

    Susan Smethurst Senior but too talkative

    My father was injured near Saltou on 16th April. One of our number will now tell me how to link this fact on my thead about my father to you on the forum. its a great place -I learn so much every day.
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Dam, You are good Miss D :D
     
  19. pmcrory

    pmcrory Junior Member

    Hi Diane,

    That's a great photo. I can see the resemblance; those McRory ears. And you can just make out the WO2s crown on his right sleeve. Can I ask where you got this from and/or if you know who took it? Does anyone know the officer?

    Paul
     
  20. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Paul
    Welcome back
    It's taken from 'The Armoured Micks 1941 to 1945'
    I cropped the photo for better detail. The original shows Major Eddie Tyler (originally far left), along with SSM Jim McRory (shown, standing), Capt Paddy Jeffreys (shown, seated)

    There were several contributors to the accounts in the book, any one of whom could have taken the photo.

    As far as I am aware, copies of the publication are still available by post through IG.
     

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