Missing Personnel & Casualties, Norway, N.W.E.F. : Selected Extracts from War Diaries

File sent to me some time ago by ADM199

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11430081

.Extracts from the following war diaries relate to casualties and location:
1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS
1st Battalion THE GREEN HOWARDS
1st Battalion YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT
No. 1 INDEPENDENT COMPANY
No. 2 INDEPENDENT COMPANY

 

THE WAR OFFICE CASUALTY BRANCH, BLUE COAT SCHOOL, CHURCH ROAD, WAVERTREE, LIVERPOOL, 15.
19th February, 1941.

Dear Colonel EVANS,

We have a small number of cases of N.W.E.F. (NORWAY) not yet cleared; have you anything regarding that Campaign?

If so, we would be extremely grateful for information on the following:-

1st Battalion WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS
1st Battalion GREEN HOWARDS
1st Battalion YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT
Nos. 1 and 2 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES.


These are all we need for the NORWAY Campaign.

Yours sincerely,
signed V. HARVEY


Lieutenant-Colonel Ll. EVANS, CMG, DSO,
The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

 

HISTORICAL SECTION, THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES, ABERYSTWYTH.
24th February, 1942.

Dear Mr. HARVEY,

1st Battalion WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS
1st Battalion GREEN HOWARDS
1st Battalion YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT
Nos. 1 and 2 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES
-----------------------------------


Herewith the answers to the queries relating to the above Units.

Yours sincerely

signed W. EVANS



V. HARVEY, Esq, The War Office Casualty Branch, Blue Coat School, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, 15.

 

HISTORICAL SECTION, THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES, ABERYSTWYTH
25th February, 1942.

Dear Mr. HARVEY,

With reference to your letter of the 19th February:-

"1st WORCESTERSHIRES were in the SUDAN on the outbreak of the war, and according to Order of Battle, MIDDLE EAST, were still there in December, 1941."

Yours Sincerely,

signed W. EVANS

 

1st WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

We have no records of this Regiment her but I think it is safe to say that neither Bn. was in NORWAY.

 

1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS

[Extract from War Diary]

1940

ANKENES April 30 Brigadier the Honourable W. FRAZER wounded.

BREITSTRAND May 2 Battalion H.Q. at Breitstrand near Harstad.

MO May 12 Battalion disembarked.

MO May 17 Battalion retiring north towards Mo had a considerable number of casualties. Lieutenant RAMSAY and Lord GARNOCK wounded.

MO May 18 Up to this date Battalion had had about 70 casualties.

BODO May 18 to 31 A considerable amount of fighting took place during this period but there are no details of wounded, etc. There is only the general statement that from 17-31 May Battalion had 97 casualties (2 Officers and 95 Other Ranks).

BODO May 31 Battalion embarked in destroyers.

BORKENES June 1 Battalion arrived Borkenes near Harstad.

BORKENES June 6 Battalion embarked.

BORKENES June 11 Arrived off GOUROCK.

 

1st Battalion THE GREEN HOWARDS

[Extract from War Diary]

1940

AANDALSNES April 25 Battalion disembarked.

DOMBAAS April 26 Enemy incendiary bombs in afternoon. In the afternoon Battalion was outflanked and No. 15 Platoon sent to stop this movement was never seen again. Lance-Corporal WHITE and Private BELLIS were the only two who returned.

DOMBAAS April 28 During whole day aerial bombardment and machine gunning from the air was almost continuous. Very few casualties.

AANDALSNES May 1 Battalion embarked.

The casualties during these operations were:-
Officers Missing & Wounded -
Captain G.R. LIDWILL
Lieutenant E.C.P. HARRISON
2/Lieutenant A.R.M. TANNER

Officers Missing -
Lieutenant A.E. McKENZIE (ROYAL SCOTS attached 1/GREEN HOWARDS)
Lieutenant J.H. RAWSON

Other Ranks -
Killed - 4
Wounded - 11
Missing - 136

AANDALSNES April 26 B Company ordered up in support of Y & L. REGIMENT

AANDALSNES April 27 3 Other Ranks, Privates WILLIAMS, HAMMOND and CHARLTON were missing.
Captain LIDWILL's party were retiring along the road when suddenly they were machine gunned by an armoured car: it was difficult to get off the road and only 5 men succeeded in doing so. They were Sergeant DENNISS, Corporal HORNER, Private SMITH and 2 others, names unknown. It was now that Captain LIDWILL was wounded. Sergeant DENNISS was also wounded and nothing further was seen of Private SMITH. Corporal HORNER was the only one to return of this party.

AANDALSNES May 1 Train carrying 15th INFANTRY BRIGADE was derailed and destroyed near VERMA on the way to AANDALSNES, several killed and injured.
Battalion embarked.

 

1st Battalion YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT

[Extract from War Diary]

1940

QUESNOY-SUR-DEULE April 17 Battalion entrained. 3 Absentees reported Lance-Corporal SMALLWOOD, Private McDERMOTT and POXON (since found drowned in River ?)

OTTA April 26 Occasional shell fire, one man missing from a patrol.
C Company subjected to heavy M.G. and Artillery fire and was eventually nearly surrounded.
There were several casualties included 2/LieutenantsV.X. FRENCH and KELSO.
A and B Companies were subjected to M.G. and mortar fire and sustained some casualties. An A.F.V. on the road enfiladed the position and caused many casualties. Throughout the action these Companies had about 70 casualties.
D Company were also heavily engaged.
Major R.V. de S. WALTERS was reported missing after leading a patrol.

OTTA April 28 After the engagement of 26th and 27th Battalion was reorganised and the following Officers were missing -
Major D.C. TENNENT, Captain S.E. WILSON, 2/Lieutenant V.X. KELSO, 2/Lieutenant FRENCH (Wounded), 2/Lieutenant H.D. WARD, 2/Lieutenant KELSO, 2/Lieutenant DAVISON, 2/Lieutenant MARKS, 2/Lieutenant A.D. AVELING (R.A.M.C.), R.S.M. HAGGERTY, Lieutenant GREGORY (DWR) had been evacuated to R.A.P. and 2/Lieutenant J.A.G. WILLIAMS had been killed at LIEN.

AANDALSNES April 30 Battalion embarked.

AT SEA May 4 In addition to those mentioned above the following Officers were missing or otherwise casualties:-
Captain C.B. CARR and Captain GREGORY admitted to hospital.
Captain P. ARKWRIGHT missing.
2/Lieutenant M.C. WILLIS missing.
R.Q.M.S. G. PARKIN missing.
Lieutenant MITCHELL sick.


Total casualties:-
Officers -
killed and missing 10
wounded and sick 4

Other Ranks -
Killed 6
Wounded 21
Missing 180

 

No. 1 INDEPENDENT COMPANY

[Extract from War Diary]

1940

FINNEID May 11 One British Officer wounded (no name given).

FINNEID May 14 One British solider Killed.

FINNEID May 15 Rear guard action and heavy mustering fire but only 1 Other Rank Killed.

STEIN May 18 During engagement here 1 Other Rank was killed and 1 Officer and 2 Other Ranks wounded by mortar fire.
MO 1 Other Rank wounded

ROGNAN May 25 -

ROGNAN May 29 -

HOPEN May 30 Company embarked in H.M.S. VINDICTIVE and were taken to SCAPA FLOW.

 

No. 2 INDEPENDENT COMPANY

[Extract from War Diary]


1940

BODO May 22 Company H.Q. bombed. 2 Other Ranks killed. 8 Other Ranks wounded.

POTHUS May 25 "Straffed" by German plane: 1 Other Rank wounded.

POTHUS May 26 2 sections cut off in this engagement - "a number killed and missing". Later in another brush Lance-Corporal WINTLE (5th WELCH) killed and 4 Other Ranks wounded.

BODO May 30 Company embarked.

BODO May 31 Company landed near Harstad.

LIST OF CASUALTIES ATTACHED.

No. 2 Independent Company.

NOMINAL ROLL OF CASUALTIES AT BODO - 22 MAY 1940

Killed - 22 May 1940
4035114 Acting Corporal VINCENT, D.G.W.
2068257 Sapper THOMAS, L.

Wounded - 22 May 1940
4076248 Private HALL, T. (2 MONS)
3959708 Private THOMAS, A.J.
3960992 Lance-Corporal EVANS, J.
839459 Lance-Corporal ROBERTS, R.G.
2757039 Lance-Corporal McGILL, D.
2073288 Sapper JONES, H.
6461894 Sapper MAYO, J.W.
150788 Fusilier MORRIS, W.

All evacuated to BODO Hospital, 22 May 1940

NOMINAL ROLL OF CASUALTIES AT POTHUS.

Killed in Action - 26 May 1940
2/Lieutenant LLEWELYN, G.W.V, 53RD DIVISION ROYAL ENGINEERS
1183553 Sergeant BALDWIN, C.W., 2nd MONS. REGIMENT
3964212 Lance-Corporal WINTLE, J.H., 5th Battalion WELSH REGIMENT
4013530 Sergeant JONES, R.W., 4th Battalion R.W.F.
4178299 Fusilier ROBERTS, E.J., 4th Battalion R.W.F.
4191932 Lance-Corporal MICHAEL, A., 6th Battalion R.W.F.

Died of Wounds - 26 May 1940
4105644 Private BATH, W.M.B., 1st HEREFORDS

Missing, believed Killed - 26 May 1940
2/Lieutenant FITTON, J., 6th R.W.F.
2/Lieutenant DAVIES, T.H., 7th R.W.F.
2202727 C.Q.M.S. LAVENDER, I.W., 4th R.W.F.
4193819 Lance-Corporal VEREKER, N., 7th R.W.F.

Wounded, believed taken Prisoner - 26 May 1940
4032418 Private BAKER, E., 4th Battalion K.S.L.I.

Missing - 26 May 1940
3961042 Private BERRIMEN, C., 3rd Battalion MONMOUTHS.
4105659 Private CAPES, R.E., 3rd Battalion MONMOUTHS.
4193263 Corporal GODSELL, E., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4193131 Fusilier ALLEN, R.E., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4195399 Fusilier DAVIS, E., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4191020 Fusilier PHILLIPS, T.C., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4193225 Fusilier MORRIS, J.R., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4193976 Fusilier DAVIES, V.D., 7th Battalion R.W.F.
4178647 Fusilier SMITH, W., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
1500713 Fusilier DUNCAN, M.S., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
UNDATED 4193813 Fusilier BLACK, G.L., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
1500908 Fusilier McLELLAND, E., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
4192400 Fusilier WALKER, W.H., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
4192911 Fusilier TRAYLOR, G.L., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
3958507 Private EVANS, C., 4th Battalion WELCH REGIMENT
4033903 Private ALLEN, C.E., 4th Battalion WELCH REGIMENT
3964629 Private PREECE, C.E., 4th Battalion WELCH REGIMENT


NOMINAL ROLL OF CASUALTIES AT MJONES

Missing at MJONES - 29 May 1940
4193840 Fusilier LOVELL, J., 6th Battalion R.W.F.
4191722 Fusilier RICKETTS, T.H., 7th Battalion R.W.F.

Wounded
4035317 Private DOWNES, J.E., 4th Battalion K.S.L.I.
433987 Private WILLIAMS, L.B. 4th Battalion K.S.L.I.
4079098 Private SIMMONDS, J., 2nd MONS. REGIMENT

Evacuated to Hospital at FAUSKE
23 May 1940
4187067 Corporal HUGHES, N., 6th Battalion R.W.F (Acute Arthritis)

26 May 1940
1500958 Fusilier NIMMON, J.L., 6th Battalion R.W.F. (Physical Exhaustion)

 

Hi Darren

For a general overview of the campaign in Norway, see this link
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/

4076248 falls within the Army Number block allocation for Monmouthshire Regiment 4070001 - 4103000
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/4837-army-number-block-allocations/

.

I could be wrong but from what you said, I'm assuming you haven't seen a copy of his service records? If that is the case they you can apply for them to get a more complete idea of with which units and in which theatres he served.
See this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#service-records-of-deceased-service-personnel