I am also researching this period for my Mum - her Dad served with 2 RTR too as a Tank Driver until he was killed in Italy 1944 - he is listed on the The Tank Museum Roll of Honour and I have had the humbling experience of visit his war grave. REGINALD G PARKER Army Number: 7927218 http://www.tankmuseum.org/museum-online/roll-of-honour/recipient/B7974 REGINALD G PARKER Rank: Trooper Regiment: Royal Tank Regiment Place of Death: ITALY Date of Death: 3/9/1944 Book Number: 2 He died of wounds sustained whilst sitting outside of tank having something to eat :-( I am trying to find more details and am trying to find War Diaries to match up with letters received by my late Grandma.
The 2nd RTR War Diaries are a long read, sure it has already been mentioned but there is a very good history of the 2nd in the book "Battles with Panzers - Monty's Tank Battalions 1RTR & 2nd RTR At War" by Patrick Delaforce . My father was a regular soldier with the 2nd when war broke out, served in France,Africa, Burma, Iraq and finally Italy. He retired with the rank of RSM, have been trying to find out for years what squadron he was in. As a further point of interest in the mid eighties he and some WW2 comrades were invited to an Africa Korp reunion at Bochum in Germany, he met an A.K. Tank Commander called Walter who fought in the same battles as Dad in the Africa Campaign but on the other side. Guest of Honour at the dinner was General Siegfried Westphal, Rommels chief of staff, he spoke perfect English and came and sat with us at our table, a real gentleman.
