Fantastic images Jamie. Its taking longer than expected due to overruns on my (primary 53 Div history)... that said, it also means I've turned up some real gems in researching the former that I'd have missed just doing the latter. Patience, virtue and all that :p
Hi Dave 3164 Kenneth Philpot My Dad belonged to the 53rd Reconnaissance, he served with the T.A's before serving with the 2nd Monmouthshire Brigade then the 53rd Reconnaissance. C Coy. He appears in your list for receiving the Good Service Certificate. He passed away 1987 never wanting to speak about the war years, I would be interested in knowing where he served and what battles he was involved in. I have his service record but no hint of where he served during the war, only that he embarked for N.W. Europe. I have a picture of him that I will upload. I also have a wooden plate with the Reconnaissance badge in the centre with the words Solingen written underneath. Hope you can give me some insight into his whereabouts during the war.
Taffie, C Squadron formed from 160 Brigade AT Company. A picture would be wonderful, I am still trying to assign all known named/numbered vehicles to Squadrons/Troops in the Regiment... [Corrected Typo thinking of d'Avignor-Goldsmid's chaps again...]
Hi Taffie, Been a little busy so it has taking me a while to respond, sorry!!! If you go to post 173 of this thread you will be able to download (via mediafire) the regimental war diaries this will give you all the information that you need in regards to battles, locations etc.... Regards Dave
New to the forum but I'm about to start digitising all my granddads old war diaries, photographs and other bits passed down to me. He was in the 53rd Recce Joseph "Bud" Abbot. It's great to see the collection building and hope to add plenty to it.
Hi dannyb0y, welcome to the forum! Looking forward to your input to the thread. Joseph "Bud" Abbot is a name I recognise, he provided an interview which has been digitised and is on the Imperial war museum website. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80020136 Regards Dave
Hello and welcome to the forum. Lovely to have another Recce here. I look forward to your postings Lesley
My father left a copy of the Welsh Speahead book, on page 143 he has marked all member of his Troop ( A) that were lost, missing or wounded in action. Would anyone like this info? I would think it may be easier to trace a chap if you at least know his squadron. In fact I would like to know who was in A Squad with my father. Is that possible?
I just saw your post, it would be tremendously useful - not least as I am trying to work out a casualty (the only one whose Squadron is not clear) from the War Diary, History or any personal accounts thus far.
All done Swiper, any problems let me know. I finally got in the post 'Only the enemy in front' and found the following from Sgt Robbie Robinson near St Pol As leading car of A Sqn on a 2nd class road and unusual site confronted me. 150 yds in front was an old armchair in the middle of the road, and old man with broken clay pipe sitting on it. I dismounted and in my best French asked him why he was there. He got to his feet and pointed to a pile of manure beneath the chair. Under the manure was an Mk 7 teller mine, he had been sitting there for 3 hrs! I noted his pipe was empty and so the hat went round 7 troop ( my dad's) until it was filled to overflowing with cigarettes. We removed the mine - disarmed it, thanked the old man and went back to business once again. We all thought he was a brave old boy. Magic moments we all need them.
Many thanks! Unfortunately it kills my hypothesis that the casualty, Bright, was in A Squadron... but also eliminates that as an option. I must say small actions of brave, quiet, kindness like that French gentlemen must have saved many lives during the Great Swan.
Just trying to upload WO361/569 which investigates Missing 53 Recce Personnel... so will edit this post when done.
Hi, this arrived today from my friend Herve Willemand via 53rd Welsh facebook page . He says it is dates 3/4th September 1944
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:26262] This arrived today from Herve Willemand via Facebook. it is dated 3-4September 1944
Hi dannyb0y144! Great to hear from a relative of "Bud". We corresponded quite a bit back in 1998-2000 and he was really helpful in providing information about the action that took place around 18th August 1944, in which my Uncle Donald Newell was killed, although he's officially listed as missing in action. I just found a letter from "Bud" that I transcribed for my Dad and I thought you'd be interested in reading it (if I can attach it properly!) Best regards, Jamie
Hi Swiper I'm very interested to hear that you're working on a document that investigates missing 53rd personnel, as my Uncle falls into that category, and I figured something must be written somewhere! Does 5950042 Trooper Donald Harry Newell appear in it by any chance? Also, can I access casualty records online somewhere (I've seen a few on here somewhere I think). I'm trying to find details of the other men listed as killed in action on 18/8/44. Many thanks, Jamie
Hi Jamie There's a 'missing men' file at the National Archives on this unit that your man may be listed in. WO 361/569 North West Europe: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps; missing personnel. I'm currently running an other to copy these files for free if the units war diary covering the same period is ordered. WO 171/565 53 Recce Regiment 1944 Jan.-Dec. Drop me a PM if you are interested in getting copies. I charge 10p per page and can have both of them copied next week for you. Cheers Andy
War diaries vary greatly in thickness so it's impossible to say until a file is ordered and copied. Most range between the 200 and 400 page mark but some can be less or more. In the event of a file being rather large, over 600 pages, I offer forum members the opportunity to split the payment to make things that bit easier. Cheers Andy