2nd East Yorks - Normandy 13 August 1944

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by stanbo43, Nov 27, 2009.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    W= War substansive ie he wasn't holding the rank temporary or acting. Sometimes written as W/S.
     
  2. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    21/22 April 1942 - Hardelot (Operation Abercromby)
    On 21/22 April 1942 an operation took place to reconnoitre the beaches off the village of Hardelot, to capture prisoners and to inflict as much damage as possible on the German defences including the destruction of a searchlight battery. Chosen for this task were 100 men from No.4 Commando and 50 from the Canadian Carlton and York regiment, under the overall command of Major The Lord Lovat, 2nd in charge of No 4 Commando. The first planned attempt was on 18-19 April. This was aborted due to rough weather when the ALCs, under tow by MGBs, took in water. The bad weather prevented a second attempt planned for the night of 20/21 April. The following night the raid took place using LCS (Landing Craft Support fitted with two machine guns and a mortar.) The northern landing by Lord Lovat's own group was achieved without opposition but, due to a navigational error, the Canadians failed to get ashore.

    Lovat's party, once they reached the sand dunes, were caught by search lights, parachute flares and Very lights, and were slowed by a mass of wire entanglements. Enemy machine guns opened up from the flanks but fire from the two LCS's partially neutralized them, and several empty bunkers were subsequently discovered. The searchlight battery was located by a fighting patrol, but time ran out and the attack was called off.. The party withdrew and re-embarked without incident
     
  3. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Overlord - June 6th 1944
    Within Overlord, No.4 Commando took on an assault role. They were the first Commandos to hit the beaches on D-Day. Having disembarked from their landing craft Princess Astrid and Maid of Orleans, with 500 men, they landed on Queen Red beach to find 8 Infantry Brigade pinned down by enemy fire. In the mêlée that followed the Commandos suffered forty casualties including the Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson. He handed over his command to Menday. The Commando pushed forward, breaking out onto the coastal road and set off for Ouistreham, led by Nos.1 and 8 (French) troops of No.10 (IA) Commando. No.4 Commando joined the others at Hauger and dug in between Sallanelles and Le Plein.

    Continuous enemy pressure on the Commando forestalled efforts to send a relief force to No.45 (RM) Commando, and by 8th June Nos.3 and 6 were both forced to mount counter-attacks during the day. By the evening, No.45 managed to break out and reach No.4's lines. No.4 Commando was withdrawn, for some much needed rest, and replaced by the 12th Parachute Battalion .

    On 1st August, Mills-Roberts was ordered to seize and hold a section of high ground by dawn the following day. This was in support of a further advance to Dozule by 6th Airborne Division. No.4 Commando led with Nos.3, 45 and 6 following behind. The Brigade infiltrated through the German line and reached the objective before the Germans realized it. There were four counter-attacks throughout the day but the brigade held firm.

    No.1 SS Brigade landed at Southampton and Gosport on 8-9 September, and No.4 Commando moved to Shanklin, Isle of Wight to retrain, reequip and rest. During this period new volunteers were recruited and trained. No.4 Commando was later sent back to the continent to take over from the shattered No.46 (RM) Commando, which was down to a strength of only 200 men.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    On his discharge certificate he was discharged from the East Yorkshires, would this have been the case if he had been involved with a commando unit??

    Commandos still belonged to their own regiment and could be RTUed if they weren't up to the job, for various reasons, medical, etc etc
    RTU=Returned To Unit.
     
  5. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    If he was discharged from the East York's, then that would be his regiment... The fact that he had friends in the commandos, is not unusual.

    In fact as a general warning for those researching. Do not be surprised at what you find. Men were transferred right left and centre, and many came under command of other groups. Sometimes on a very temporary basis...

    Its a right shambles believe me. At the time of Normandy any one that was needed, wherever, he was put there Quickly. there was no standing on old fashioned ideas....

    So if you find something odd?Do not be surprised. To add to the confusion, whole battalions were disband and transferred to other units The Duke of Wellingtons ??? If I recall, was distributed around other mobs.

    My friend the late Captain Edwards RE. was an RA fellow and transferred to the RE ...against fierce opposition, I may add
    Sapper
     
  6. Turner1

    Turner1 New Member

    Sorry to jump in and resurrect an old thread but my father, Private Roy Barden, was also wounded on 13th August and transferred to 62 Casualty Clearing Station and thence back to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Southampton on 25th Aug. I have only just discovered this thread and am fascinated to read other accounts of this period.
     

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