A Brief History to 50th Divisional Signals in WW2

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by Drew5233, Oct 14, 2010.

  1. 16 Dec: Posting Orders for officers and O.R’s now being received from DAAG (A)ORG Rear 21 Army Gp. in the case of officers, and Reforcec in the case of O.R’s. Lt Col C.L. Ommanney, R. Signals. posted to HQ 14 Army on appointment GSO1 (SD).
    Other postings were: Major D. Roberts to War Office A.G.11(O); Capt R.M.W. Davies to 40 R.H.U. for posting in 30 Corps; Major G.St. L. King to 5 W/T Group; Lt. R.B. Yates Smith to 11 Armd Div Signals; Capt L.V. McNaught Davies to 43 Div Signals; Capt H.R.W. Watkins to 40 R.H.U. for posting in 8 Corps; Lt. D.W. Soutar also to 40 R.H.U. (attached surplus to 15 Div Signals:) Lt. L.J.R. Arlidge posted to HQ GHQ AA Tps Sig Section; Capt Kyle (Cipher Officer) to 51 Cipher Section; Lt. D.S. Tomlinson to No.2 Indep. Admin Coy; Lt. H.G. Conroy to 49 Div Sigs, and Lt. A.E. Kilner to 22 Liaison H.Q. Lt. A.J.H. Winder to 1 Ind Adm Coy.

    The following officers were posted into this unit:
    Lt. D.N. Bessey from 2 Cdn AGRA Lt. H. Cryer from 59 AGRA
    Lt. M.R. Wakefield from 59 AGRA Lt. R.E. Evans from 49 Div Sigs
    Lt. K.W. Gardner from 1 Ind Adm Coy Lt. H. Stormes from 1 Ind Adm Coy

    Lt. M.R. Wakefield and Lt. K.W. Gardner were posted with draft to U.K.
    Major V.J. Habberfield assumes command of unit w.e.f. 16 Dec.

    19 Dec: Unit farewell dance held in evening.

    20 Dec: Arrangements for troops Christmas fare made.
    Details for leave in U.K. received from HQ RA (HQ RA now comdg the remainder of the division) All personnel still with the unit at 1200 hrs 25 Dec. to be included in unit ballot.
    Capt B.A. Lane posted to 5 W/T Group.

    21 Dec: 13 O.R’s posted to No.1 Fd Broadcast Unit; 10 O.R’s to 21 Army Gp. Signals; drafts of 64 O.R’s to 40 R.H.U. and 35 O.R’s to 39 R.H.U. 36 O.R’s posted to GHQ A.A. Tps Sig Section, and 27 O.R’s to Identification Tps Sig Section.

    22 Dec: Draft of personnel, 93 strong, for Far East, and party of 22 instructors for S.T.C. left for U.K. via OSTEND. 19 O.R’s posted to 1 Indep Adm Coy.
    Capt P.H. Salmon posted to 80 A.A. Bde HQ. Lt M.M. Barker and Lt. H. Stormes to 40 R.H.U.

    23 Dec: 15 O.R’s posted to 79 Armd Div Signals, and a further draft of 66 O.R’s sent to 40 R.H.U.

    24 Dec: 13 O.R’s to 16 Air Fmn Signals, and 19 to 5 W/T Group.

    25 Dec: N.T.R. during morning. O.R’s Christmas dinner held in Minerva Hall, Dixmunde. Officers and sergeants attended to serve men. Major Habberfield, Officer Comdg. Gave a toast to absent friends and the unit. Sigmn Trotter R.W.S., the oldest remaining member, responded.

    26 Dec: A further 14 O.R’s posted to 39 R.H.U.

    27 Dec: 19 O.R’s posted to 13 L. of C. Signals.

    29 Dec: 16 O.R’s posted to No.39 R.H.U.

    30 Dec: Capt. (T.M.O.) E. Fairclough, R. Signals, posted to 12 Corps Signals.

    31 Dec: Unit now in an advanced state of disintergration. 18 O.R’s posted to 39 R.H.U. and a further 27 O.R’s to 40 R.H.U.

    P.R.I. and Officers mess Accounts audited and closed down.

    (Signed) V.J. Habberfield, Major, R. Signals
     
  2. Post Script

    50 (Northumbrian) Division played a pivotal role in the B.E.F.in 1940 at Arras and during the retreat to Dunkirk. In 1941 it saw service in Cyprus, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Libya. The following year saw it lose 150 Brigade, captured during Gazala, and a final turn of fortune at Alamein. 1943 saw action on the Mareth line and as an assault Division for the Sicily landings. Asked to perform one last task to gain a toe-hold in Normandy they were again the assault Division, on D-Day. After fighting through France, Belgium and Holland the Div was effectively dismembered during December. The Royal Signals War Diary for December 1944 is a reflection of one part of the Division being split up. The monthly roll of Officers show no names from the early days and the service numbers of enlisted men on returns in December show few of the original 1, 2 and 3 Coy North-East in-takes. If this change in structure and make-up is reflected in the Brigades; 151, 231 and later 69th, then it serves as a reminder of how much this Division gave.
    Thank-you to Andy for planting the seed to continue his thread and for all the advice about Kew.

    I need to reference the W.O. documents (as a courtesy to the National Archives copywrite) and will do this as soon as time permits.

    As a final post script, while researching the list of casualties of the Unit, I was puzzled by the last fatality:

    Cpl Harry Cambage: 2577035 from Darlington, who died aged 25 on 31 March 1945 and is buried in Berlin.
    A little googling took me to the AVIVA (General Accident) web-site which had some details on their former employee as follows: ‘Reported POW by May 1943, in Italy and wounded. Transferred to Germany, to Stalag IV-B Muhlberg/Elbe, Brandenburg. News received from him up to January 1945, presumed to have lost his life in an air raid on Germany.
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Mel,

    I've followed this thread, especially your dad's personal recollections, with great inetrest. Thank you for the time and effort you and your dad have put into this 'project'.

    From the War Diary entry for 30 November 1944: "During the day all Bdes were informed of the reason for this move to BELGIUM. The Div was to be reduced in establishment to a training Div., and sent to U.K. to train infantry riflemen reinforcements.

    This came as a sad blow to all units of the Division, who had been fighting together in many campaigns throughout the war. Considerable discussion took place amongst the men as to the ultimate fate of the unit. There was no definite news as to what Div Sig’s’ fate would be."

    There is further comment in the entry for the 8 December 1944 that Monty spoke to all Officers and informed them of the reason for breaking up 50 Div.

    Does you dad recall what the troops were told, what filtered through from the Monty visit and what your dad's (and his friends) feelings were about the whole episode?

    In addition, I noticed a smilie next to the entry about 15 Div signals at message #101 above. Is this where your dad was posted? The 15 Div had a good reputation, albeit their 'fighting' war only lasted about 11 months! What did your dad think about the 15 Div - this may be a separate thread?!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. Don't know how the smile appeared Steve.
    Dad was posted to GHQ Liaison (Phantom Regt) in Jan 45 and served in Germany (Baddenhasen) until Feb 46.

    As to what they were told; he says there were rumours around while they were on the Island that the Div was being broken up because there were not enough experienced men left to form a cadre for reinforcements. Also that all those that had served from the start of the War were not to go into action again.

    Don't think he was around for the 8 December talk - but will check.

    I have the War Diaries for some of the Divisional Arty units and have included the following extract from an appendix of 102 (Northumbrian Hussars) Anti-Tank Regt diary, from Nov ‘44

    “THE REORGANISATION OF50 (NORTHUMBRIAN) DIVISION. During the whole of November while the Division was holding positions on the ‘Island’, there was a feeling everywhere that something was in the air. The rumours were as many and as varied as they were at any time in the Western Desert, Tunisia or Sicily. Anyone who served in the Division during those periods will realize what that means!! For a change however none of them turned out to be anywhere near the mark and when finally everyone was told what was happening it came as a complete shock. A fresh lease of life was given to all the rumours when on 21 November advance parties from the Division were called forward to recce areas in BELGIUM in the area of DIXMUNDE. By this time however it had come to be generally accepted that the Division was pulling right out of the battle area for rest, re-fit and much needed maintenance, re-drilling and training.

    Eventually on 29 November the official news was out-the re-organisation entailed the breaking up of the Division. The name of the Division however was to be kept in being and small cadres of the Inf bns with the exception of 9 DLI and 2 Devons were to go back to England to form training establishments to covert personnel from other arms of the Service into infantry reinforcements.

    The Regt received the honour, after its long years of active service, of not being broken up and was to proceed forthwith to join 15 (Scottish) Division...to take the place of 97 A Tk Regt..who were being broken up. 25 LAARegt...were to proceed to 53 (W) Division.

    124 Fd Regt are being reduced to a Trg Regt and are going home.74 Fd Regt have gone to 49 Div...
    90 Fd Regt are keeping their SPs and have gone to 1 Corps tps. 2 Cheshires with whom we have had a long association since before ALAMEIN are also being broken up. 9 DLI and 2 Devons have gone to 131 Bde (7 Armd Div) to replace two bns of the Queens who are being broken up”



    His opinion of Montgomery may set the 'cat amongst the pigeons’- the general feeling was that Monty was given all the resources he asked for in North Africa and was lorded for the results he achieved. Up until then we had been retreating quite a lot, and someone who turned it around was obviously going to see their star rise.

    What was felt amongst the ‘old hands’ was that they didn’t much care for Monty or him for them. There was respect, but the men felt they were being continually used in a ‘first in and last out’ manner, when other Units were trained and sitting in England. While this could be seen as a mark of confidence and an honour, it started to wear thin after a time. To tired men it became a case of – not us again!
     
  5. After speaking with Dad it seems the ill feeling with Montgomery was fairly deep seated and seems to have started in France in 1940.
    The Territorial units in France with the B.E.F. were looked down upon by members of the Regular Army and referred to as ‘Saturday –night soldiers’
    In the opinion of the men of 50 Div – they gave a better showing of themselves during May 1940 than the regular troops. These included the Third Division, commanded by Monty.
    (I do not want to provoke a’ were-they, weren’t they’ debate – that was the general feeling)
    Once back in England the Division was placed on Invasion watch along the South coast. Montgomery had command of this area and. as the threat was more probable here there was a feeling that Monty had ‘put them in the frame’ because they out-shone his Division in France. This may be doing the man a disservice, but he was certainly flawed in some areas of his character.
    In England prior to the Invasion dad was present at two ‘gatherings’. At one Eisenhower stood on a jeep in the middle of a field and gestured the crowd to come in around. At a second meeting it was Montgomery standing on the jeep, and the men crowded in as they had done before. Monty was a little taken aback and Officers were calling ‘Stand firm, stand firm’
    During this talk Monty spoke about the Division being his most experienced troops. Get me a foothold, he said, and then you’re finished. I guess that kind of reverberated with them all the way up into Holland.
     
  6. National Archive References
    The thread was put together from the following War Diary files sourced at Kew.
    Much appreciation for the help and guidance received there.
    Jan –June 1940: WO 167/304
    May –Oct 1941: WO 169/1201
    Jan –Dec 1942: WO 169/4150
    Jan- Oct 1943: WO 169/8784
    November 1943: WO166/10617
    Feb- Dec 1944: WO 171/521
     
  7. Kev1

    Kev1 Member

    Mel. I wonder if your dad can help me. I live in Italy now and an Italian friend has a personal diary 'found' during the war. It is of the Adjutant of 50th Div. Signals (23rd Regiment?) but there is no name. It starts on 11th Jan in Kirkuk and ends on 8th April '42 when he just says " Realizing now that my Adjutant days are over ". He was promoted to Major a short time earlier. I know he was with the 50th because he mentions Norman Norcross and Basil ( Major Minor ?). Was he Hopkins, Adjutant in 1940? Thanks Kev1
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Mel. I wonder if your dad can help me. I live in Italy now and an Italian friend has a personal diary 'found' during the war. It is of the Adjutant of 50th Div. Signals (23rd Regiment?) but there is no name. It starts on 11th Jan in Kirkuk and ends on 8th April '42 when he just says " Realizing now that my Adjutant days are over ". He was promoted to Major a short time earlier. I know he was with the 50th because he mentions Norman Norcross and Basil ( Major Minor ?). Was he Hopkins, Adjutant in 1940? Thanks Kev1

    For what its worth, I can't really help passed 1940, Norcross was QM when they were in France with the BEF.
     
  9. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Mel. I wonder if your dad can help me. I live in Italy now and an Italian friend has a personal diary 'found' during the war. It is of the Adjutant of 50th Div. Signals (23rd Regiment?) but there is no name. It starts on 11th Jan in Kirkuk and ends on 8th April '42 when he just says " Realizing now that my Adjutant days are over ". He was promoted to Major a short time earlier. I know he was with the 50th because he mentions Norman Norcross and Basil ( Major Minor ?). Was he Hopkins, Adjutant in 1940? Thanks Kev1

    Hello Kev1,

    Captain GJ Hopkins was the adjutant in 50 Div Signals in Flanders in May/June 1940, but I have no infomation on him after that time.

    I would send a PM - personal message - to Mel, as otherwise he may not know you have posted. Ask him if he has the Officer Rolls covering 11th January to 8 April 1942 and then your question - at the latter date the 50 Div would have been situated in the Gazala line (actually 'boxes'), N Africa.

    Please do post the result of your search.

    NB. I have no idea what the reference to 23rd Regiment is!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  10. Kev1

    Kev1 Member

  11. At Kew last week and identified some gaps in the history.
    The War Diary covering August - December 1939 and July 1940 to April 1941 had been mis-catalogued. They can be found under WO166/609.

    In the next week or so I will transcribe this missing period.
     
  12. War Diary commences 22 August 1939 at Darlington
    22/08/39 18:25 Telephone to 50th Divisional Signals “Hastings” – Area.
     
  13. 22/08/39 18:25 Telephone to 50th Divisional Signals “Hastings” – Area.
    23:20 Phone message from Area – BYNG less para 3.

    23/08/39 09:00 Telephone:- To 50th Divl Signals “BYNG” less para 3.
    17:00 Telephone:-To Commanding 50 Div Sigs TA Drill Hall Darlington
    “Cash requirements for key parties shall be obtained from Command Cashier
    + confirmed by N1487... Accounting instructions to follow by letter"
    17:00 Telephone message from Area. All leave cancelled. Inform assigned and duplicate
    units.
    24/08/39 02:00 Telephone message from Area: Ref S for Sammy (4533) G dated 21.4.38.
    Instructions laid down in W.O. letter 19/G/9032 (SD6) dated 14.4.39 will be put in
     
  14. put into force immediately. Area. Darlington

    10:20 Telephone sent to Lt Norcross 23 Div Signals Racecourse Scarborough “ Return Darlington
    together with your Office. Transport arriving 13:00 hrs. 50 Div Sigs.
    19:40 Telephone 50 Div Sigs. Drill Hall Darlington “PLUMER” less paras 4 & 6. Area
    Telephone to Coys “SPOON & SOAP-ACK”
    23:30 ALLENBY received – Key parties called up. Lt Col Sheffield, Major Percival, Major Fairweather, Lt & QM Norcross, 2Lt Himsworth, Captain Minor & all Home Security Personnel & their personnel embodied.

    27/08/39 13:00 150 Inf Bde & 151 Inf Bde Dets to MALTON & DURHAM respectively. WITSEL (?) is HQ
    50 Div & FENHAM BKS. Despatched in telephone message from HQ Northern Command.

    28/08/39 20:30 PLUMER Para 4 received. OC Coys informed. Signals Office established at DURHAM & MALTON.
    31/08/39 18:45 253 LAA Regt Signal Section ordered by phone message to embody.

    01/09/39 15:00 CLIVE received J U G to Coys -2 days.
    21:00 MOBILIZE – poster displayed. Unit commenced to embody.

    03/09/39 11:11 Prime Minister declared a State of War with Germany.
    11:20 Air Raid message YELLOW
    12:07 Air Raid message WHITE
    21:40 W/T Sec at YORK. Unit almost completely embodied.
    23:59 21 Officers & 402 O.R. embodied.

    04/09/39 11:00 Sigmn HINNIGAN, CASE & TRESLOVE killed by a fall of sand whilst filling sandbags.

    07/09/39 06:08 4 O.R. of 253 LAA Regt Signal Section to ALDERSHOT on advance party.
    16:46 2Lt HIMSWORTH and 21 O.R. proceed to BORDON to join 53 LAA Regt.

    12/09/39 17:00 Capt ROBINSON relieved at DARLINGTON SIGNAL Office by Lt HEWETT.

    15/09/39 19:00 Capt J. G. HOPKINS TARO reported for duty.

    25/09/39 09:00 Lt K.A. WAUGH & 30 O.R. returned from 14 days Anti-Gas Course.

    30/09/39 13:30 15 OR reported from 18 S/L Militia Depot BIRKENHEAD for duty.

    01/10/39 15 Militia men reported from 18 S/L Militia Depot BIRKENHEAD
    03/10/39 Capt J B Stephens proceeded on Recce of B Concentration Area.
    2Lt Stewart & 9 OR returned Gateshead after ? with H/S Duty.
    08/10/39 23 Div take over H/S Duty
    10/10.39 35 O.Rs reported for duty from S.T.C.
    17/10/39 16:13 Air Raid warning YELLOW
    17:13 Air Raid warning WHITE
    20/10/39 08:00 Road transport & 51 O.Rs proceed to B concentration area.
    21/10/39 22:00 Main body proceed by rail to B concentration area.

    BAMPTON
    22/10/39 07:30 Main body arrives in B Area
    31/10/39 18:00 Lt W.A.R. Howie reported Unit from Gas Course.

    BAMPTON GRANGE
    13/11/39 Capt J G Hopkins assumed duties as Adjutant

    15/11/39 0730 8 O.Rs to Catterick OCTU on Emergency Commissions.

    16/11/39 1740 2 D.R.s (Special Establishment) reported.

    19/11/39 1800 2 O.R.s from Gateshead after 2 months of Civil employment.

    20/11/39 1810 2Lt McLeod & 4 O.R.s returned from W/T course Catterick.
    0800 1 D.R.s (Special Establishment) reported.

    21/11/39 0730 2 ..?.. posted to 87 Training Battn Prestatyn.
    Segt Jones B returned from Gateshead after 2 months civil employment.

    22/11/39 1900 1 D.R.s (Special Establishment) reported.
    Sigmn Wilson S D released for civil employment indefinitely.

    24/11/39 0730 2...?..posted to OCTU Aldershot.

    27/11/39 0730 Sergt Jones B released to civil employment indefinitely.

    28/11/39 1400 30 i/c Drivers to Bournmouth on T. Course.

    29/11/39 0730 1 D.R.s (Special Establishment) reported for duty.

    04/12/39 0730 Individual training completed.
    05/12/39 0730 Collective training completed.



    1940 Langton House
    Blandford, Dorset


    July 1-31 Individual training with limited stores.
    P.T. and Arms Drill by Section, route marching by Companies.

    August 1-31 Individual and collective training.

    Langton Long Camp

    September 1-21 Section Training.

    September 22 0830 No 1. Company and Unit Headquarters moved into Winter Billets etc at Blandford
    Forum.

    Blandford Forum

    September 23-30 Section Training.

    October 1-26 Section Training
    Unit concentrated at Blandford for Winter Training.

    October 26-31 Individual Training

    November 1-16 Individual Training

    16 Nov 2/Lieut D.A. Smith & advance party left for BRIDGEWATER.

    18 Nov 0830 74 Field Regt. Signal Section returned to Regiment
    65 Anti-Tank Regt. Signal Section returned to Regiment

    19 Nov 69 & 150 Inf. Bde Signal Sections returned to Brigades

    20 Nov 72 & 124 Field Regt Signal Sections returned to Regiments.

    21 Nov 151 Inf Bde Signal Section returned to Brigade.

    22 Nov 1100 No.1 Company and Unit H.Q. moved to BRIDGEWATER, taking over from
    3rd Div Signals – command passed 2359 hours.
    Bridgewater

    23 Nov Now under command 8 Corps.
    23 – 30 Nov Section training.

    1-11 Dec 1940 Section Training.
    12 Dec Received Warning Orders for Mobilisation.

    15 Dec ‘E’ & ‘K’ Sections ordered to mobilize by 1 Jan. Remainder of Unit ordered to
    Be Mobilized by 2 Jan in all respects except that leave of drivers i.c. may continueuntil 14 Jan and leave for remainder until 21 Jan.
    20 Dec Embarkation leave begins.
    30 Dec Lieut W.A.R. Howie is graded ‘D’ and sent on 6 months Sick Leave.
     
  15. WO 361/12 Evacuation of Dunkirk: losses on hospital carrier Gracie Fields

    Following list of 50 Div. Signal personnel included in the above file:

    2573358 Sgm. COUTTS, L.G. Missing 29/5/40. Presumed K.I.A. (Cat. C.) at sea. 29/30/5/40 ex P/S “Gracie Fields”

    2360953 Sgm. GREGORY, A. Missing 24/5/40. Dead and buried 29/5/40 at BAILLEUL –AIR BERTHOULD-POCQUEUR field place called ”LES II” towards ATHIES. U.P. 250. (Wounded at Vimy)

    2569950 Sgm, HEATHWAITE, J Missing believed killed on “Gracie Fields” when the boat was struck by a bomb on 29/5/40. Acc. K.I.A. at sea ex S.S. “Gracie Fields” 29./30/5/40 Cat. C.

    2571934 L/Cpl HECKMAN, D Missing 29/5/40. Presumed K.I.A. at sea (Cat. C.) 29./30/5/40. ex P/S. Gracie Fields which was struck by a bomb.

    5570789 Sgm HULLYER, W.J.H. Missing D.N.R. Burial Report U.P. 222 burried in the Military Cemetery at ZUDYCOOTE Grave No. 681 district of Dunkirk.

    2325515 Sgm JONES, H. Missing 28/5/40. Died (Bat. Cas.) on or since 12/5/40 burried at VOORMEZEELE U.P. 255.

    4337984 L/Cpl NICHOLSON, A.C. Missing 4/6/40. Acc: Died of wounds on or since 26/5/40. Cat.C. buried in Commune of LILLE-NORD. U.P. 315.

    2584208 Sgm. RAW, W.G. Missing 4/6/40.Acc: Died of wounds20/5/40. Cat A, buried in Communal Cemetery at STEENVOORDE. U.P. 450.

    2571007 Cpl REED, J.T. Missing believed killed on Gracie Fields when struck by bomb 29/5/40. Presumed K.I.A. at sea ex S.S “Gracie Fields” bet:29/30/5/40.

    2577051 Dvr i/c WAITON,T. Missing 17/6/40. Presumed K.I.A. at sea on 29/30 May 1940 ex P/S “Gracie Fields”. Cat. C.

    2577050 Sgm WATSON, J.E. Missing 29/5/40. Acc: K.I.A. at sea 29/30 May. Cat. C. Seen on board P.S. “Gracie Fields” which was struck by a bomb.
     
  16. SignalsJimmy

    SignalsJimmy Junior Member

    NB. I have no idea what the reference to 23rd Regiment is!

    Best,

    Steve.

    23 Signal Regiment was 50 Signal Regiment's second line unit established 9th May 1939.
     
  17. SignalsJimmy

    SignalsJimmy Junior Member

    Hello all, by way of an introduction I'm the Unit History Officer for 50 (N) Signal Squadron, the modern day descendents from 50 (N) Signal Regiment. I stumbled upon this page whilst research the Squadron's history and am in a position to add some more information. I've created a wikipedia page but am waiting for it to be approved, which should hopefully only take a couple of days.

    If you come accross any difficult question I may have the answers in the Squadron history accounts failing that there is the 345 Club comprised of former officers of 50 Signal Regiment.

    I've been able to trace the Squadron's history back to the 11th of September 1860 with the formation of the Newcastle Engineer Corps, 3rd Newcastle Telegraph Company. Following the Haldrane reforms of 1908 the unit was renamed the 3rd Northumbrian Divisional Telegraph Company RE, then in 1911 it was renamed again to the Northumbrian Divisional Signals Company RE, in 1914 they were designated the 1st Northumbrian Divisional Signals Company RE, finally in 1915 they were renamed 50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Signal Company RE.

    A Well Camel, if Mel senior isn't known to the Squadron (we're still based in Darlington) I'd love to meet him and add his accounts to the Unit's history. We have a number of Annual camp photos from 1929 onwards which may even feature your father.
     
  18. Attached are a number of photographs of members of the Unit which were loaned to us by the family of Sgmn Stan Towers. Many thanks for allowing us to publish them here.

    Maurice & Stan 1939.JPG

    Stan and brother Maurice in 1939

    Maurice & Stan 1940.JPG

    A picture taken in 1940/41

    View attachment 86377

    2571016 Stan Towers was a member of 'M' Section for the duration.
    2574992 Maurice Towers served a a driver with UHQ until his death 11 August 1944.

    1940.JPG

    Cpl Pringle/ Sgt Marshall/ unknown/ Stan

    View attachment 86379

    Sentiments from France 1940.JPG

    Gifts sent home from France 1940

    Farm in France 1940.JPG

    M Section France 1940

    Seated; Cpl Pringle/WOII Furniss/Major Mascall/Sgt Marshall
     
  19. Bridgewater 1941

    Bridgewater 1941.JPG

    Top Row from left: 1) 2582896 Sgmn L V Jacopi

    Mid Row from left; 2) 2588097 L/Cpl C W Wright (KIA 09/08/44)
    4) 2577043 L/Sgt J W Corps 5) WOII Furniss 6) TMO Widgery

    Bottom Row; 2391351 Sgmn J Yates/2582890 Dvr A M Ridley/Stan/2577037 Sgmn Mickey Spence/2583403 Sgmn G E Dean M.M./unidentified/2583401 Sgmn Grocott/2574234 Sgmn Pearson

    Signatures on the reverse

    Signatures to Bridgewater Group.JPG


    Cyprus 1941.JPG

    Cyprus ? 1941
    Stan/Maurice

    Jimmy Yates/Tommy Hornby


    Iraq 1941.JPG

    View attachment 86386

    Iraq 1941


    Baalbeck 1942.JPG

    Baalbeck 1942

    View attachment 86388

    Reverse of above photo -note comment about Japanese

    Newspaper cuttings.JPG

    Newspaper cuttings from 1940 and 1944.
     
  20. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Enjoyed that last message, Mel.

    TOWERS, MAURICE
    Rank: Driver
    Service No: 2574992
    Date of Death: 11/08/1944
    Age: 24
    Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals, 50th Div. Sigs.
    Grave Reference: V. D. 3.
    Cemetery: TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Henry and Harriet Towers; husband of Lilian Towers, of Bridgwater, Somerset.

    WRIGHT, CECIL WOODWARD
    Rank: Serjeant
    Service No: 2588097
    Date of Death: 09/08/1944
    Age: 29
    Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals, 50th Div. Sigs.
    Grave Reference: IX. C. 4.
    Cemetery: TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Henry Herbert and Evelyn Bertha Wright, of Nunthorpe, Yorkshire.

    Even though Maurice Towers was from Darlington, his wife lived in Bridgewater, Somerset. So, she either followed him there when 50 Div was stationed there in 1940/1, or he possibly met and married her whilst stationed there. Either way, they didn't have very long together.

    RIP Maurice Towers and Cecil Wright. :poppy::poppy:

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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