316773 Acting Lance Serjeant Leslie Cribben MM, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry

There is a list of the SRY MIDs: (I think there is only the one trooper - Trooper Greenwood on there)

My grandfather, Sgt. Ben Symes, as well as mentioning "Sergeant G Murphy" (attached from the Royal Signals) - quite a number of times also wrote this re. a "Handley"... which I recently transcribed: "Cigarettes. They have cut the issue a bit and Handley has been wading into mine and we’ve run out and now we are scrounging, it’s not as bad as it…(next page)…sounds we scrounged a hundred this afternoon and another bloke owes me 50, so if you could send two lots of 200 on I’ll send the cash to you; not that that matters, or does it!"



Looking back at the redacted name in the Cribben citation, I suppose it could be Handley and certainly don't think it would be impossible to make it fit. It at least seems more possible than "Murphy" I guess anyhow - as the tail of the "p" in Murphy (to me) def. doesn't look to be there.



I've looked through the War Diary of the SRY but so far I've not seen a mention of the name of Sergeant Handley in there. I also did a text search in the google book of "An English Man at War" for Handley and didn't immediately see a mention of his name in there either.... with "Englishman at War - search for "Handley"....Englishman at War

I suppose though something might turn up somewhere eventually.

All the best,

Rm.

 

Remembering my relative who was killed in action, this day 75 years ago.
RIP Larry

Casualty

 

The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1939-1945

 

Karl, many thanks for that link, I was aware of the circumstances of his death but had not seen that memorial stone before.
Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in Normandy.Berjou 16-8-44

 

Does a photo of Sgt.Cribben exist.?

 

Unfortunately not, I am afraid.

 

I'll try rectify that.

 

A question if I may.
Alongside the Laurence Cribben Casualty and John Sharpe Casualty of the Sherwwod Rangers Yeomanry, lies Harold Ruffell Casualty of the 2th (2nd Bn. The Queen's Westminsters) Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Cribben and Sharpe were killed following a direct hit on their tank at Flessells on 1 September 1944 Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in Normandy.Berjou 16-8-44 but what about Harold Ruffell? I am aware his regiment were part of the 8th Armoured Bde. alongside the SRY, so assume that he was a crew member in the tank? I have read reports and books on the incident but have not come across any that mention Ruffell and he is not mentioned in Leslie Skinner's notebook that records the incident.



Would my assumption be likely?

 

This is what it has in Lindsay's "Sherwood Rangers"...



I wouldn't assume he "Ruffell" - "was a crew member in the tank" - he could/would have been nearby though?

 

Thank you for that, I think you are correct. A little more searching has resulted in this article from this link:
Newsletters - Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry Association

12/60 KRRC were sent in when the Germans re-occupied the village. It appears that Tpr Flaherty, SRY, was wounded and died later.
Casualty

 

RIP Larry