A couple of questions re: 'A' Squadron, 1st Special Air Service Regiment. 1) Does anyone know how I can find a list of members of 'A' Squadron, 1st Special Air Service that participated in Operation Houndsworth? 2) Does anyone know how I can find service details of a specific member of 'A' Squadron, 1st Special Air Service Regiment? 3) Does anyone have any photographs relating to 'A' Squadron, 1st Special Air Service Regiment? Any thoughts, suggestions, and/or advise would be gratefully received.
Hi bruckmann, Best place if your in the uk would be Kew for the records PRO and for the photos most good SAS books have a few in... You can always look online at The National Archives Hope this helps Tom
Hello and welcome to the forum. If you know the individual you are looking for info on-I would consider his service records held by the MoD. This file may also be of interest held at the National Archives: WO 218/192 Reports on operations in Central France: Operations Houndsworth, Gain, Haggard, Kipling, Rupert, Hardy, Robey 1944 June-Sept Regards Andy
Many thanks for the suggestions. Just in case my questions were overly vague - my father served in A Squadron. Service Nr. is available upon request.
Any idea of the regiments in the RHA/RA and the Para Battalion? I'm always interested in anyone who went to France in 39/40
Unfortunately my father was never very forthcoming - I don't think he saw his service as any big deal - but I do know he served in India (RHA), Egypt (RA), and France, Belgium Norway, and German (01SAS). And memory for all the other sons of SAS veterans, I remember getting stuck every damned year for the SAS Regiment Christmas Raffle Tickets
Here is one of 28 pics relating to A Sqn 1 SAS. SAS - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour Select Gallery from drop down menu top right put 1 SAS in search and rest of pics will come up, I would link to page with pics but its not letting me.
Jase, I see Alec Le Vernoy is in that search criteria. His book No drums No Trumpets is excellent. It sure is Andy, I have it on my shelf that guy was everthing you would imagine a SAS guy to be!
In regards to Norway I suspect you are looking at, OP. Apostle - HQ SAS Brigade, 1 and 2 SAS deployed to disarm the 300,000 German soldiers remaining in Norway at the end of WW2. (May-August 1945), And Germany would be, OP. Archway - 1 and 2 SAS tasked with crossing the Rhine to support the advance of the British 21st Army Group, eventually reached Kiel following numerous engagements with enemy forces. (Germany, March-May 1945) And a link here with ref to OP Houdsworth etc, BBC - WW2 People's War - Stories from the men of Phantom-Operation Houndsworth
Brukmann see what I have said to Jonathan in post 6 here might be of help to you as well. The SAS in Normandy
Do you know Bill Fraser, OC Op Houndsworth, was with the BEF? He was serving with the Gordon Highlanders. In July 1940 Bill joined the newly formed 11 (Scottish) Commando
This document (40 pages) contains the transcribed reports for: Operation Houndsworth - SAS Brigade Operation Instruction No. 15 Summary of damage inflicted on enemy by Operation 'Houndsworth' - 6th June - 6th September 1944 Diary (as original above) Report of Advance Recce Party 2nd - 14th June by Lieutenant I.G. Wellsted. Report of Phantom Section's Journey 10th - 17th June by Lieutenant Moore Report on Operation Houndsworth 102 by Captain A.D. Muirhead, 2 Troop Ambushed at Montigney - 7th August 1944 Report on the Second Mortaring of the Synthetic Oil Plant at Autun 12K 492228 on night 10/11th August 1944 by Captain A.D. Muirhead Report on Action at Vermot 12J 2356 26/27th June 1944 by Captain Wiseman, M.C. Report on Operation carried out on Bicycles 18/25th July 1944 by No. 2888910 Sergeant J. Duvivier, M.M. An account of Events leading to the Death of Captain Bradford 19/21st July 1944 by No. 2888389 Sergeant Mcguinn, C Report on attack on Attack by 6-pounder Anti-Tank gun with Maquis Column 5th August 1944 by No. 889974 Corporal Burgess, H Operations of Wellsted's Troop in area Beaune 29th August/2nd September 1944 Operations on road Nevers - Chateau Chinon, Nevers - Luzy ated 29th August to 3rd September 1944 by Major Fraser, M.C. Report on attack on Maquis positions in area (MR 1862, 2062, 1860, 2060), on August 14th 1944 by No. 889974 Corporal Burgess, H Ambush at Billy by Major Fraser, M.C. These place marks i put on google earth are approximate:
There are quite a number of threads relating to the SAS in Burgundy...here is one where Chalky White and Ian Wellsted are mentioned. Captain Roy Bradford and the REME mechanic, Craftsman William Devine are buried at Crain Communal Cemetery. Chalky White 1st SAS The two obsolete 6 pounder anti tank guns dropped to the SAS were very effective against the Germans who had no similar weapon or tanks in the Morvan.
There are many threads here on the operation and this has been chosen as it appears to be non-specific and has the most replies. Attached is a recent press article on touring the operational area, minus the photos. It refers to a few books:
