5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

I am intrigued by the reference below to. J W Bousfield. John was a best pal of my dads and dad claims in his memoirs that John was killed by the friendly creeping barrage during the battle.

I am astounded to read a report that appears to differ, especially as I have already told john's family how he died.

You can read all I know at this link to dads web site

John Bousfield - British soldier in - Bill Cheall's World War 1939-45 diary and autobiography

Anyone got any ideas about this?

Paul

Hello Paul,

I have recently procured the War Diary for the 5th Bn East Yorks covering this period. I have yet to make any inroads into it, but will try to find the time to have a look for the relevant entry tomorrow - I do not have the facilities at home presently - and revert!

Best,

Steve.

 

Hello Paul,

If you look at the first few lines of the War Diary for the 6 April 1943 Andy provided at Message #64 you will see the analogous entry to that included in the battalion history; albeit the OR's (Other Ranks) are not named in the War Diary.

Best,

Steve.

 

A long shot, but well worth it IMO, if you can get to Kew is have a look in the Bde War Diary-They are normally quite thick but they are the sort of diary that could contain info like casualty returns etc.

 

Thanks for that Steve! Any info will be appreciated and I am sure his family will be most interested.
Paul

Hello Paul,

I have recently procured the War Diary for the 5th Bn East Yorks covering this period. I have yet to make any inroads into it, but will try to find the time to have a look for the relevant entry tomorrow - I do not have the facilities at home presently - and revert!

Best,

Steve.

 

4344894 Cpl/L-SJT WILLIAM EDWARDS East Yorkshire Regiment.

Awarded the MM for the below action.

Can anybody help further with Sgt Edwards, I wish to know if anything is mentioned in the war diarys for the MM.
And further more the 5th served in Normandy during 1944, can anyone confirm he served in France??

In 14th June 1942 during an attack on Italian lines he was wounded both legs and arm, by shell fire.
Although wounded he lead his platoon and saw the action through.

Regards
Scott

 

4344894 Cpl/L-SJT WILLIAM EDWARDS East Yorkshire Regiment.

Awarded the MM for the below action.

Can anybody help further with Sgt Edwards, I wish to know if anything is mentioned in the war diarys for the MM.
And further more the 5th served in Normandy during 1944, can anyone confirm he served in France??

In 14th June 1942 during an attack on Italian lines he was wounded both legs and arm, by shell fire.
Although wounded he lead his platoon and saw the action through.

Regards
Scott

Hello Scott,

I have two books covering the East Yorkshire Regiment in WWII and neither has an index, so not easy to track down information without re-reading them. There is no mention of his MM in the one that covers 14 June 1942, albeit this is the day (actually night) that the 50th (Northumbrian) Division broke out from Gazala by attacking the Axis forces to the west, at a time when the rest of the 8th Army was withdrawing east; eventually to the Alamein line. The 5th East Yorks made a corridor through the enemy minefields and front line and held it whilst the rest of the 69th Infantry Brigade passed through. It would appear Sjt Edwards was wounded at this time.

I have the 5th East Yorks War Diaries for 1943, 44 and 45, but not 1942.

His service number is from the East Yorks batch of numbers, even though he was from Stockport; suggesting he was not pre-war TA and joined up early in the War; prior to the advent of the General Service Corps.

He is not listed on the CWGC as KIA.

All I have found out about him so far is in this link:

ttp://www.themedalcentre.co.uk/item.php?i=4380

You will note that he has the France & Germany Star, which suggests he saw action in Normandy; but not conclusively.

Have you obtained his citation from CWGC?

I trust this assists.

Best,

Steve.

 

I've got a copy of the 5 East Yorks diary for 1942. Drop me a PM in a couple of days and I'll look the day up for you.

 

4344894 Cpl/L-SJT WILLIAM EDWARDS East Yorkshire Regiment.

Awarded the MM for the below action.

Can anybody help further with Sgt Edwards, I wish to know if anything is mentioned in the war diarys for the MM.
And further more the 5th served in Normandy during 1944, can anyone confirm he served in France??

In 14th June 1942 during an attack on Italian lines he was wounded both legs and arm, by shell fire.
Although wounded he lead his platoon and saw the action through.

Regards
Scott

Not really a lot of detail in the diary for June 1942:

 

Hello Bill,

I'm just back from holiday; apologies that I am late to your request and a belated happy birthday to your dad for yesterday.

The 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, 150th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, was overrun at Gazala on 1 June 1942 and thereafter ceased to be on the nominal role for the remainder of WWII. Those that were not killed or taken prisoner were absorbed into the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

The 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, 69th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, remained - with the remainder of Fifty Div - in the Gazala line until the night of the 14/15 June 1942, when the Division was the last to withdraw.

The Commonwealth forces always patrolled strongly and harrassed enemy communications. It looks like your father was injured whilst undertaking some similar work.

His service number is definitely East Yorks Regiment. His service records should fill in a lot of the gaps.

Did he go back to war or was his injury too severe?

Best,

Steve.
I'm sorry I didn't see your reply.
My Dad's war was finished at that point.
Shipped home via Alexandria and Durban, he had that shrapnel in his head for 40 years till he died.
I have applied for his service records, they have quoted me 12 months waiting.

 

Don't be put off by the wait...They'll arrive before you know it.

 

I'm sorry I didn't see your reply.
My Dad's war was finished at that point.
Shipped home via Alexandria and Durban, he had that shrapnel in his head for 40 years till he died.
I have applied for his service records, they have quoted me 12 months waiting.

No problem, Bill. Get back in touch when you have his service records and we'll see what we can do to help you complete the 'jigsaw'.

Best,

Steve.

 

I would appreciate information about the 7th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment activities for the period between 1938 and 1940 after the Dunkirk evacuation.

My uncle served with the regiment (SN 4344034) during this period and died in a Davenport hospital after being evacuated. He was a trained radio operator prior to the war and may have been involved in signals. So I would be interested to know if there was a battalion signals core where he may have been operating.

 

I would appreciate information about the 7th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment activities for the period between 1938 and 1940 after the Dunkirk evacuation.

My uncle served with the regiment (SN 4344034) during this period and died in a Davenport hospital after being evacuated. He was a trained radio operator prior to the war and may have been involved in signals. So I would be interested to know if there was a battalion signals core where he may have been operating.

Hello jimarm,

Quite puzzling this one.

I do not believe that the 7th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment were ever deployed overseas. Deployed with the BEF were:

• 2nd Bn East Yorks, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division;
• 4th Bn East Yorks, 150th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division; and
• 5th Bn East Yorks, 69th Infantry Brigade, 23rd (Northumbrian) Division - transferred to 50th (Northumbrian) Division on 1 July 1940.

There are only 15 deaths on CWGC attributed to the 7th Bn East Yorks for the whole of WWII and I know that in the case of Major Charles A Riley:

001 RILEY CA 53496 7TH BN 04/10/1944 EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

-he was serving with th 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, at the time of his death.

In conclusion I believe that your uncle may have been attached to another unit whilst serving with the BEF. His service records should provide confirmation of this - do you have these?

Best,

Steve.

 

Hello jimarm,

Quite puzzling this one.

I do not believe that the 7th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment were ever deployed overseas. Deployed with the BEF were:

• 2nd Bn East Yorks, 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division;
• 4th Bn East Yorks, 150th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division; and
• 5th Bn East Yorks, 69th Infantry Brigade, 23rd (Northumbrian) Division - transferred to 50th (Northumbrian) Division on 1 July 1940.

There are only 15 deaths on CWGC attributed to the 7th Bn East Yorks for the whole of WWII and I know that in the case of Major Charles A Riley:

001 RILEY CA 53496 7TH BN 04/10/1944 EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

-he was serving with th 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, at the time of his death.

In conclusion I believe that your uncle may have been attached to another unit whilst serving with the BEF. His service records should provide confirmation of this - do you have these?

Best,

Steve.
Thanks Steve
This is the information I have:
Name: ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: East Yorkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Date of Death: 17/12/1940
Service No: 4344034
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. C.C.C. Grave 996.
Cemetery: GREENOCK CEMETERY
Campaign Medals:
1939-45 War Medal
1939-45 Star
There is also a mention in a church commemoration board that he was associated with (Sig).
Unfortunately I do not have his service record – can you tell me where I can get this?
Many Thanks
Jim

 

Hello Jim,

From using the service number I knew the soldier (your uncle) you were referring to, but didn't Know if you wanted the details publishised...

For his service record then an application needs to be made to the Ministry of Defence - I beleive they are free to his next of kin, otherwise £30; link: https://www.gov.uk/government/organi...to-information

Make sure you ask for his FULL service record. You may have to wait for up to a year for a response, but sometimes they arrive within a couple of months - a bit of a lottery. But the sooner you apply, the sooner they'll arrive.

Do you have any photographs, letters, family folklore or other memorabilia that may help us place him?

Best,

Steve.

 

You'll have to pay £30 for them and you don't need to be the NoK because he died more than 25 years ago. For proof of death print off the CWGC page and that will save you paying £10 for a death certificate.

As already mentioned the 7th Bn were not with the BEF and looking at the date of death I suspect he wouldn't have died as a result of wounds from France. France was evacuated almost 6 months before he died.

I would start by checking who else is buired in GREENOCK CEMETERY to see if there is any clues there ie dates of death or same battalion.

 

You'll have to pay £30 for them and you don't need to be the NoK because he died more than 25 years ago. For proof of death print off the CWGC page and that will save you paying £10 for a death certificate.

As already mentioned the 7th Bn were not with the BEF and looking at the date of death I suspect he wouldn't have died as a result of wounds from France. France was evacuated almost 6 months before he died.

I would start by checking who else is buired in GREENOCK CEMETERY to see if there is any clues there ie dates of death or same battalion.
Prior to the war William was a radio operator on deep sea trawlers.
I found ref to a service note which say he was Awarded a 3rd Class Certificate of Education Beverley 19 July 1938 This suggests he was living in the Hull area at the time and already in the army.
Family says he was evacuated from Dunkirk (after 5 days) to a hospital in Southern England (Davenport on his gravestone) with breathing problems (nose?). He died after an operation.
I have no knowlege of anyone else with service in the EYR at that time. Nothing in the graveyard
Thanks