R JOHNSON possibly 2615656 Sjt Robert JOHNSON, 1st Grenadier Guards, DOW 3/9/1944

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by Mavis Williams, Apr 2, 2018.

  1. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Apologies dbf, I was rushing out but saw that there was another post, so quickly looked. Thanks TD for putting me right, not knowingly done. Owen, I have looked and cannot see from the Casualty Form, where he was wounded. I'd like to learn how to 'read' these Casualty Forms, to get as much information as I can, so can you explain please. Another learning curve!! Many thanks to all. Kind regards, Mavis
     
  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi Mavis,

    I’ll try and answer your query - Owen may add more when he next visits the forum.

    Diane has posted an edited version of a likely very long casualty list from FMP site. The lists are split into Theatres of War so the list posted would have had the title North West Europe on the header at the top of the list. They then list Casualties by Regiment followed by Battalion order so you know he was serving in 1st (Motorised) Battalion Grenadier Guards in Normandy at the time of his death.

    You can then research what a particular Battalion was doing on the date the casualty was recorded either via the Regimental History or War Diary or other on online resources such as the CWGC records that Owen has mentioned. CWGC records often give an initial “battlefield” burial location ( map reference) and then a later, usually post war, concentration report of reburial in a CWGC Cemetery. You can pinpoint the “precise” burial place by examination of the wartime military issue map if required.

    Here is a link to the online Regimental History - use the search facility to browse the book as you can’t download it.

    The Grenadier Guards in the war of 1939-1945, by ... v.1. - Full View | HathiTrust Digital Library | HathiTrust Digital Library

    Regards

    Steve
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2018
    4jonboy and Owen like this.
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Sorry my post was rushed & didn't explain things properly.
    Steve , above , has added further.
    I know where 1GG was fighting when our man was wounded (from what I know anyway about the Normandy campaign plus what the regimental history says, good link Steve.)
    From the concentration report , here
    Casualty
    concentration report fresnoy.JPG

    we can see that is nowhere near where they were fighting a month earlier.
    Here is the map mentioned in that concentration report.
    Amiens-Mons
    Here is Fresnoy grid ref 5607
    fresnoy.JPG

    I know 1 GG were in that area early September .
    Maybe he was back with the battalion then but I doubt it - if he was that badly wounded to die of his wounds - he wouldn't still be with them.
    He should have been in a British hospital back in Normandy & then evacuated back to the UK.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  4. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Thank you so much for the explanation, it looks as though I will have to learn map-reading and lots more. Very interesting and adding so much more to Robert's story. Thanks again, Mavis
     

Share This Page