Cpl Harry Rogal, 6898415, my great uncle. 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment

Discussion in 'Recce' started by MikeSou, Feb 3, 2017.

  1. MikeSou

    MikeSou Member

    I've been wanting to make a post about my great uncle Harry Rogal for a while now, finally got around to doing it. He was killed in action on 11th April 1945 whilst with the 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment moving through Celle. Recce_Mitch very kindly pointed me in the direction of a book that had details of his death, so I'll paste that quote again here.

    "Next day, 11 April, the regiment again went into the forests around Celle, but this time with the infantry of the Scottish Division hurrying behind to join in the advance. On the road from Fuhrberg A Squadron met demolitions and enemy at the same place as on the previous evening. This was work for the infantry and sappers, and at one o’clock 227 Brigade took over. On the right B Squadron advanced swiftly through the woods to Ramlingen, but the enemy held the important road junction and railway crossing on the main Celle-Hanover road at Ehlershausen. Lieut Jellinek had a car patrol here. Only a civilian was to be seen—until a man jumped out of a ditch with a bazooka which hit Lieut Jellinek’s car at two yards’ range, wounding him and the driver. The German was killed, either by his own panzerfaust or by a grenade thrown from the turret of the car. The scout car was hit almost simultaneously, and Cpl H. Rogal and Tpr L. A. Ward, MM, were killed. Lieut Jock Browne was behind with the carriers of 4 Troop, which fired forward and themselves came under fire. During these exchanges Tpr J. Moffat, Lieut Jellinek’s gunner and wireless operator, scrambled into the driver’s seat, turned the damaged Daimler round in the narrow road and drove it back through the carriers. The Germans were SS troops with guns. After going north and south without finding a way round them, B Squadron kept them under observation until relieved by 46 Brigade late in the afternoon."


    Chamberlin, Tim; Kemsley, W (2012-07-12). Scottish Lion on Patrol: 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment (Kindle Locations 4117-4124). Casemate Publishers. Kindle Edition."

    I plan to visit Celle over the next few years, and to visit his grave in Hanover War Cemetary. I've attached some of the photos I have of him below:

    Photo of him in uniform. I do not have a date for this photo.
    IMG_0988.jpg

    Harry is here on the right. I'm not sure who the other two chaps are and I don't have a date for this photo either. Writing below says "Our Harry".
    recce 2.JPG

    Harry's grave in Hanover War Cemetary after WW2.
    scan0024 (2).jpg
    His grave photographed more recently.
    Rogal H [1].JPG

    This is the wedding of Christopher Dudley South, my grandfather, who was in GHQ Liaison Regiment "Phantom" (I'll do a separate post about him) and Vera Bertha Rogal, Harry's sister. They were married on September 7th 1940, the day the London Blitz started. You can see Harry here in the background between the two on the left. The two on the left are Harry and Vera's parents, my great-grandfather also called Harry and his wife Martha. Harry Sr was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant to England who lived in the East End of London. He served in the London Rifles in WW1 and was hit in the head by a shrapnel airburst shell and left for dead. As you can see he survived after someone saw him moving and took him to an aid station.
    wedding group.JPG

    I think this is a photo of Harry at his own wedding, but I don't currently know the name of his wife.
    I'll try to find out more. As you can see it was torn in two at some point in the past.
    wedding group 2.JPG

    These two photos are of Chris and Vera South and Harry Rogal and his wife. Text says "The Foursome". I do not have dates for these photos, nor am I sure who the third woman and the child are in the second photo.

    Holiday group 01.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2017
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  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks for posting :)
     
  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Just out of interest - Harry Rogal Sr

    Harry Rogal in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
    Name: Harry Rogal
    Regiment or Corps: Rifle Brigade 12th Battalion
    Regimental Number: S/24126
    30850_A001337-00910.jpg

    TD
     
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  4. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Mike thanks for posting photos of your Great Uncle Harry Rogal

    Cheers
    Paul
     
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  5. MikeSou

    MikeSou Member

    Hi Tricky Dicky, thanks for that medal roll, did you get that from the National Archives website? I couldn't find anything last time I looked, perhaps I wasn't using it correctly!
     
  6. MikeSou

    MikeSou Member

  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Mike

    The info comes via Ancestry who have the TNA records in their system

    TD
     
  8. adbw

    adbw Active Member


    Mike
    There's a mention of the incident in 15 Recce's war diaries (Divisional Troops Group) here: 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division / War Diaries (June 1944 - May 1945)
    Adam
     
  9. MikeSou

    MikeSou Member

    Thanks for that link adbw, I'll add it to the collection.
     
  10. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    By the sound of it you know a great deal about your family, although you mention that you do not know Harry’s wife. Some of the following my be interesting.

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2100877/ROGAL,%20HARRY

    GRO Birth record
    Q4 1915
    Rogal, Harry
    Mother’s maiden name Bruce
    District Islington
    Volume 1b
    Page 512

    GRO Marriage record
    Q2 1943
    Rogal, Harry
    Spouse Lawlor, Edith R
    District Southwark
    Volume 1b
    Page 82

    GRO Marriage record
    Q4 1910
    Rogal, Harry (presumably senior)
    District Islington
    Volume 1b
    Page 700
    Spouse Martha Bruce

    1911 Census, 4 Daleview Road, South Tottenham
    Harry Rogal age 26, cabinet maker born Russia
    Martha Rogal age 27 born Kings Cross
    Married for 1 year with no children

    1939 Register
    73a Streatfield Road, Harrow
    Ely, Kenneth G, DOB 14 July 1915, Married, Ambulance driver
    Ely, Sarah R, DOB 13 July 1913, Married
    Ely, Patricia, DOB 20 June 1938, Single
    Boulton, Wilfred, DOB 20 Oct 1918, Single, Bread baker
    Rogal, Harry, DOB 15 Oct 1884, Married, Cabinet maker
    Rogal, Martha, DOB 1 Dec 1883, Married
    Rogal, Bertha V, DOB 2 Jun 1921, Single, Shop asst
    Ely, Sarah R, DOB 13 July 1913, married
    Maybe others

    GRO Death record
    Q1 1949
    Rogal, Harry
    Age 64
    District Islington
    Volume 5c
    Page 1311

    Probate
    Rogal, Harry of 136 Highbury Hill, London NE died 22 March 1949. Administration London 20 June to Martha Rogal, widow

    GRO Death record
    Q4 1950
    Rogal, Martha
    Age 66
    District Kensington
    Volume 5c
    Page 1069

    Probate
    Martha Rogal of 136 Highbury Hill, Hoghbury, widow, died 8 Novemeber 1950 at St Charles Hospital, London W1, Administration London 23 November to Sadie Ely married woman
     
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  11. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Hello Mike,

    You do not mention that your great uncle, like your grandfather was also in Queen Victoria's Rifles. I have the attached extract of 2QVR Part II Orders dated 3 Nov 1939 which shows 6898415 Rfn Rogal, H, C Coy. I was looking for your grandfather, CD South, who may be on another page. I only took a copy of this page as my father is on the list (Rfn Lewis, WL, who later went on to serve in 3 Recce Regt).

    Regards,

    Richard.

    2QVR.jpg
     
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  12. MikeSou

    MikeSou Member

    Thanks for that Richard Lewis , that's great! My Dad told me that as he understood it Harry Rogal had some kind of falling out with a senior officer, which resulted him being transferred to the 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment. I don't really have any more details than that yet.
     

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