Honour The Armies, Honours & Awards to the British & Dominion Armies During WW2

I thought I would treat myself to the following book: Honour The Armies, Honours & Awards to the British & Dominion Armies During WW2. By Michael Maton

The book gives the following details - Name, Rank, Number, Regiment, Award, Theatre it was won, Date Gazetted and page number

I'm happy to do look ups!

 

52nd
I have a few who I may ask you to look up! Can I email you them off forum?

Andy

 

52nd
I have a few who I may ask you to look up! Can I email you them off forum?

Andy

No Problem Andy!

 

Lyndon,
Can you look up the chap in Paul's 1940 thread?
R.G. WATSON, D S O, M C
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-battlefields-today/14406-some-1940-sites.html#post139494
post #12.

Job Done! I will also post it in the above thread.

Army Number - Blank.
T/Major Rodney George Watson, Royal Scots
Award - DSO, Theatre - Not stated
Gazetted - 22/10/1940 page 6114

 

52 Airborne

Hi, and many thanks for your over generous offer to look up names in the gazette.

I have a long standing problem that I will try to keep to a few paragraphs.

My tank commander in the 4th QOH was an SSM "Busty" Thomas.

When I joined the regiment I spotted that he wore the MM and I would dearly like to know the origin of his award.

He subsequently became a warder in the Tower of London and I later wrote to the Tower but they were unable to help me other than giving basic facts about him. I have also been able to establish the following facts about him, as shown below.
Thomas William T MBE MM Enrolled 1954 Retired 1973 (as a warder)
Name Thomas, W T
Rank: Serjeant Major
Service No: 7340821
Regiment: 4 Hussars
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List For Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Military Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 15 June 1944
16 May-3 Aug 1944

This is the letter I wrote to the Tower of London:

Dear Sir/Madam
I wonder if you can assist me in the following matter.

I am a veteran of WW2 and my tank commander in action was SSM."Busty" Thomas of "A" Sdrn. 4th Queen's Own Hussars.
I have previously written about him here (see link immediately below ) and there is a photo showing him during his service as a Warder at the Tower of London (In fact I visited him with my family on one occasion).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/67/a2612567.shtml
<HTTP: target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk"
I am currently carrying out some further research and need to know if the person listed below was the same SSM Thomas and also whether or not his records at the Tower of London included details of his award of the MM
Thomas, William
Warrant Officer Class 2
7340821
Royal Armoured Corps, 4 Queen's Own Hussars
Foreign to British: USA
Bronze Star
With many thanks for any help that you can offer
Ron Goldstein

<HTTP: target="_blank" href="http://www.blogger.com" www.blogger.com profile 17035008>
I received the following reply:

Dear Mr Goldstein,

Your email to the Tower of London education service has been passed to me to answer.

I can confirm that WO1 (RSM) William T Thomas MBE MM ex 4th Q.O.H. was a Yeoman Warder here at the Tower from 1954 until 1973.

I am unable to confirm the details you have quoted of his military
number as the only number we have for him is his Yeoman Warder warrant no which is 255.

I will pass your email request to our YW Archivist to see if we do have any more details on William Thomas. If we do I will ask him to contact you by email and let you know.

Regards,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chief Yeoman Warder
HM Tower of London

 

52 Airborne

Hi, and many thanks for your over generous offer to look up names in the gazette.

I have a long standing problem that I will try to keep to a few paragraphs.

My tank commander in the 4th QOH was an SSM "Busty" Thomas.

When I joined the regiment I spotted that he wore the MM and I would dearly like to know the origin of his award.

He subsequently became a warder in the Tower of London and I later wrote to the Tower but they were unable to help me other than giving basic facts about him. I have also been able to establish the following facts about him, as shown below.
Thomas William T MBE MM Enrolled 1954 Retired 1973 (as a warder)
Name Thomas, W T
Rank: Serjeant Major
Service No: 7340821
Regiment: 4 Hussars
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List For Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Military Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 15 June 1944
16 May-3 Aug 1944


Ron,

His announcement is on page 2855, http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=36563&geotype=London&gpn=2855&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=William%20Thomas&exact=&atleast=&similar== Your man is the 5th one listed, I hope this helps.

 

Hi 52nd,

I have about a dozen men, some with no Regt. nos, for whom I can trace no record on TNA docsonline. As you know the Gazette search engine is a pain ...

Wondering if you would have time to look them up for me?

Does the book list men in alphabetical order or by Regiment first?

Regards,
Diane

Hi Diane,

The names are listed alphabetically. Post the names and I'll have a look.

 

Ron,

His announcement is on page 2855, http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=36563&geotype=London&gpn=2855&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=William%20Thomas&exact=&atleast=&similar== Your man is the 5th one listed, I hope this helps.



Many thanks !

You Sir, are a gentleman and a man of your word

Can I beg a further favour, if not from your good self, perhaps from another forum member ?

The London Gazette does not detail the actual act that prompted the award,
e.g. "SSM Thomas tackled 500 enemy troops and took them all prisoner " etc. etc. etc.

Where could I get that sort of information

Ron

 

52nd,
Appreciate this kind offer.

May I PM you the details?


Regards,
Diane

Yes, no problem Diane.

 

dbf

Many thanks !!!!

Thanks to you & 52nd Airborne I have been able (for the modest sum of £3.50) to download a PDF file which contains ALL of the info I wanted.

I have found it so fascinating that I intend to post it on this forum.

The PDF file itself (as an image) is strictly copyright to I will have to transcribe the info it contains but I am happy to do so in honour of a very brave man who I was privileged to serve under.

Thanks again to all concerned !

Ron

 

It's me again

Thanks to the good offices of 52nd Airborne & DBF I was, for the first time, finally able to get the full story of how my old tank commander won his MM.

The story is shown below, untouched by yours truly and is a masterpiece of understatement.

I never was told this story during the whole of my service with the 4th QOH and certainly not a single word from Busty himself.

Two bloody escapes..... fighting with the partisans.......

Enjoy !!!!


Register No. DDMI (P/W) BM/329
Recommended for awards Minute Sheet No. One
M.S.
Escapes from Campo 70 (Monturano) Italy



<DIR>1. After the Armistice with Italy the Senior British Officer forbade escapes by P/W and posted armed British pickets to support the Italian guards. He stated that if the Germans approached the camp, P/W would be marched out and dispersed in parties of 50 while the Italians held up the Germans. On 15 & 16 Sep 43 the Italian guards deserted and the situation in the camp became somewhat confused. A number of P/W escaped having been told by the Senior British Officer that it was no longer a court martial offence to get away, but a large majority remained and were captured by the Hermans when they arrived. A number of P/W escaped by jumping from the trains in which they were being transported to Germany.
2. I recommend the following O.Rs for the awards shown, brief particulars being given in the enclosures stated opposite their names.



</DIR>Then follows a list of names recommended for the M.M & "Mentions" including:
7340821 Sgt.Maj.Thomas, W.T. 4<SUP>th H 1E
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1E 256
7340821 Sgt.Major W.T.Thomas, 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. A-10135
7937449 Tpr. Pugh.T. 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. A- 10136

Captured at Knightsbridge on the 12 June 1942.
Finally sent to Campo 70 (Monturano). While in a transit camp in Africa, Thomas escaped alone by cutting through the wire at night. He took a motor truck, but ran out of petrol after going over 100 miles on the first night and went on on foot. He was recaptured by Germans after being at large for a week and having travelled about 200 miles.
After the armistice P/W on Campo 70 were not liberated but Thomas, Pugh and three other P?W escaped on 16 Set 43 when the sentries were sheltering in their boxes from the rain. On their way South they met an Italian patriot band and took part with them in an action against the Germans. The Italians made off without telling them and as their ammunition was exhausted, Thomas and Pugh made off into the hills. They finally met Allied troops on 6 Oct 43 and were able to give information regarding German gun posts they had passed on the way.

</SUP>

 

I've just had a look on Abe and Amazon with no joy. Is this a rare book and any ideas where I can obtain a copy?

Cheers
A

 

Start raiding your piggy bank Andy, I got it from here!
Honour the Armies, Medal Books - Token Publishing Online shop. Collectors' items, books, dvds, accessories for coin and medal collecting. Numismatic supplies

 

Note to self...Order a copy when Andrea goes to bed

 

I just went there to order the book and I see they do a Navy and Air Force one too-I want all three now

The Air Force one is sold out and again can't find a copy online so I've emailed them to see if they are running a second edition.