Lt. Ronald Bishop Grey and Private Horace Hubert Leach POWs

Hello everybody,

Pte. Leach, 7 OBLI, died in Rieti, Italy in a German hospital whilst a POW on 24 February 1944.

Lt. Grey, 1 Derbyshire Yeomanry, also died in Rieti in a German hospital whilst a POW - probably the same one - on 6 June 1944.

Lt Grey, originally listed as an unknown, was concentrated into Assisi War Cemetery and Pte. Leach into Bolsena War Cemetery.

Does anyone have the missing men reports for either 1 Derbyshire Yeomanry or 7 OBLI as I would like to know where these two men were taken prisoner.

Thanks in anticipation,

Vitellino

 

Your query on Leach was answered here.
Missing Men Ox and Bucks

 

Janet,
Is this your other man - R B Grey 180470 Acting Lieutenant, Royal Armoured Corps - 1 Derby Yeo?
Cheers
Geoff

 

Yes , that's him, Geoff, thank you. He died on the same day he was declared missing - I now need the war diary to find exactly where.

Thank you too., Owen, I've just picked up the other response,

Vitellino

 

Lt. RB Grey was my wife's father. Is there any information available as to where he was arrested?

Graham Chambers

 

Hello Graham,

We need the war diary for 1 Derbyshire Yeomanry or 6 British Armoured Division to find out in which action he was involved when he was wounded and taken prisoner. He wouldn't have been arrested as such - he would have been picked up where he had fallen by German stretcher bearers and taken first to a first aid post and then, given the severity of his wounds, to a German field hospital in or near the town of Rieti in upper Lazio. Perhaps Gary Tankard on the forum has these war diaries - I will send him a private message.

Best wishes,

Vitellino

 

Hello Vitellino,
Thank you for your information.

Best Wishes
Graham

 

I don't have the war diaries but I did have a very quick look today on 5th-7th June and Lt. Grey isn't mentioned, suggesting he was captured/wounded earlier.

 

Thanks Gary.

I am now wondering about the accuracy of the date. If he was admitted to a German hospital in Rieti the date could well have been after the 7th but some time before 6th Armoured Division there on 15 June.

 

It has occurred to me that Lt. Grey may not have been serving with the Derbyshire Yeomanry but was attached to another unit. I dug out the 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry history, and he isn't on the list of officer casualties - there are only three listed for Italy.

 

Good thinking, Gary.

If not with 6 Armoured Division, how about the 78th?