421330 Cpl J.A Morland, East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by auzz77, Mar 17, 2019.

  1. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Another WO/NCO group photo from the 1ERY camp at Stockbridge, Hampshire in June 1939:
    upload_2021-5-25_20-28-23.jpeg

    Standing from left: Suggit, Clayton, Eldon?,Gaze, Beautement
    Seated from left: Robson?, Pion?, ?, ?, ?

    Grateful if anyone can confirm/offer other names.

    I see that a 24 year old Tpr Roy Beautement 1 ERY is listed as a fatality on 26 May 1940; commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial, Column 5:
    Casualty Details | CWGC
    the same or a relative?
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    The guy in the middle of the front row is the regular RSM, RSM A. E. Stocking RTR. He was awarded the LSGCM in 1938. He was captured at Cassel in May 1940.
    I assume that Beautement is one and the same, not a common name and no others that I know of in the ERY. He was with No. 3 Troop 'A' Squadron during the 1940 campaign. Although the CWGC lists his death as the 26th May, there is an account that he was last seen on the 29th during the attempted breakout from Cassel, so he was more than likely killed then (many of the dates of casualties are, not surprisingly, suspect).
     
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  3. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the additional info. I’d wondered if the WO was Stocking. His rank badge in the photo looks like that of a WO2 appointment holder (RQMS?) so he must have been promoted to WO1 RSM thereafter.
     
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  4. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    Yes, I assume he was the WO2 Company Sergeant Major (or whatever it was called) for the 26th ACC and was promoted to WO1 RSM when Regimental status was restored.
     
  5. neilisju

    neilisju Member

    Hello
    Im using this thread coz i need some help.
    I'm after information about trooper J V Woolley, he was part of the 1st ERY. Woolley was wounded on the 28th of June.
    Is anyone having any data on where was the 1st ERY on that day?

    tku for any help
     
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  6. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    'C' Sqn ERY were supporting ‘B’ Coy 2nd RUR in an attack on La Bijude from Cambes on 28th June. The attack was repulsed with heavy losses: the ERY war diary reports one tank completely destroyed and six others knocked out, with 2 officers killed, 1 OR killed and 6 ORs wounded
     
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  7. neilisju

    neilisju Member

    TKU
    Do you have a copy of the WD for that day by any chance? and a map with the moving of the troops?
     
  8. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    The war diary states:
    1435. Zero hour. The RUR with C Sqn attacked LA BIJUDE from area 024736. The Sqns intention was to occupy the area of the buildings in LA BIJUDE which was later to be followed up if successful by a company of the RUR. The Sqn advanced with 1st and 2nd Tps up supported by the remainder of the Sqn and artillery concentrations. When the tanks moved over the crest between CAMBES and LA BIJUDE they came under very heavy machine gun and AT gun fire from the right flank and the forward edge of LA BIJUDE. This frontal attack was tried again with further artillery support but with no success. An attack was then put in from the left flank, again meeting no more success and later due to tank casualties the project was abandoned. Lt R G Jackson and Lt P G F Howitt were both killed in this action. One OR was killed and 6 ORs wounded. C Sqn tank losses were one tank completely destroyed and six others disabled. Sgt Fitzmaurice of 3 Tp destroyed one enemy Mk. IV tank.
     
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  9. neilisju

    neilisju Member

    tku so much. i can keep going now
     
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  10. liesbethblogt

    liesbethblogt Liesbeth Blogt

    John (Joe) Woolley co-driver of the

    John (Joe) Woolley? I think this is the same person he was co-driver of the tank where George Dry was commander of.
    Diary of a soldier in the East Riding Yeomanry read this, I hope you will find what your looking for.
     
  11. liesbethblogt

    liesbethblogt Liesbeth Blogt

    I think we spoke somewhere else but to be sure here is a photo. Can't tell you anything more then that I got this photo from relatives from Less Timms who I got in contact with and send me this photo.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. nfh249

    nfh249 Junior Member

    The service records of WW2 soldiers are not yet open to the public and therefore information in the public domain is limited. Next of Kin can apply to the MoD for copies of the service records for a fee (and a significant delay).

    John Alexander ‘Alec’ Moreland’s service number, 421330, suggests he joined the 26th (East Riding Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company Royal Tank Corps sometime between October 1938 and April 1939…

    In October 1938 it was announced that the Company would be expanded to a full cavalry regiment (Divisional Cavalry Regiment (Mechanised)) and at some point after that ‘Cavalry’ service numbers were issued in the 421XXX range (supplanting the earlier Royal Tank Corps numbers 788XXXX). After the formation of the Royal Armoured Corps in April 1939 service numbers reverted to the previous sequence 789XXXXX, now allocated to the RAC, although I suspect that that date range needs to slip to the right as it will undoubtedly have taken time for the number changes to filter through the system. In fact ‘known’ enlistment dates suggest an enlistment for Moreland as late as May 1939.

    He may or may not have gone to France with the BEF (1st East Riding Yeomanry) as many with numbers in that range did and were killed or captured. If he didn’t, then he remained in the UK with 2nd East Riding Yeomanry. On their return from Dunkirk, the remnants of the 1st ERY were brought up to strength by drafting personnel across from the 2nd ERY (which went on to become the 10th (East Riding Yeomanry) Battalion, Green Howards), eventually converting to a full armoured regiment.

    Certainly after that he would have spent the period July 1940 – May 1944 training in the UK (thus qualifying for the Defence Medal) and then going to N W Europe with the Regiment, which landed on Sword Beach on D-Day in the third wave (a delayed landing around 2pm). They fought in the Battle of Normandy, took part in the liberation of Le Havre (September 1944) and then fought in Holland (October/November 1944), The Ardennes (December 1944 – January 1945) before retraining on Buffalo amphibious vehicles for the assault crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. They ended the war in Holland (back in tanks) and then garrisoned Laboe on the Baltic until demobilisation in March 1946.

    Qualification for the Efficiency Medal (Territorial) was 12 years, but wartime service counted double so, since we assume he enlisted in 1939, he became eligible in 1945 and was duly awarded it in 1946.
     

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