Hello I'm Tom from Berlin. I am a retired Police Officer (Lancashire Constabulary) residing now in Berlin. My late father, Thomas Smith (Smudger), served in the Reconnaissance corps in Italy. He was on overseas training near Morecambe when he was injured and burned by a misdirected phospherous grenade, which landed in the back of his truck. There was at least one killed who was sitting next to my father and as a result my father was transfered to the RAF burns hospital, the converted Midland Hotel at Morecambe, where he stayed until recovered. He missed out on North Africa as a result of the injuries, but fought in Italy, before being transfered in January of 1945 to Greece. I have gained a lot of information from Trooper Tom Canning and it would appear that my father was with the 4th recce Corps, 4th Division. Which Tom Canning says supported his tanks on occassions. Transferred to 17/21 Lancers. My fathers pay and discharge papers have been lost in the post and did not arrive in Berlin. (Airsure postage with insurance, delivery against signature and with tracking!!!!!!!) I am still awaiting the Deutsche Post investigation, before I apply for his official records. My father I think was typical of ex WW2 veterens as he kept most of his experiences locked inside himself. Only before he passed away did he mention some of his experiences, some of which were life threatening and others funny. If by any chance there is any one out there that can supply me with any details of 4th Recces Corps movements I would be very grateful. I have to mention Tom Canning, as he has been absolutely marvellous in supplying me with web links about the Italian campaign and also how to display my fathers medals in the correct order. Smudger Jnr
Welcome to the forum Smudger Jnr. Sorry to hear about the post going missing I hope that wasn't Royal Mail's fault. Afraid the 4th Div history is one I've yet to get. Did see a few 4 Recce graves at Cassino earlier this year. Cheers O
Welcome - there is a very good general history of the Recce Corps. Available here: Amazon.co.uk: Only the Enemy in Front: History of the Reconnaissance Corps, 1941-46: Richard Doherty: Books
Welcome Tom - You will find that - strangely - many on this forum have more knowledge of many campaigns - than I but thanks for the kudo's - with that and two dollars - I can buy a cup of coffee ! Keep pushing Deutches Mail for your Father's stuff - it's their fault ! Cheers
Owen, Thankyou for the confirmation that my father was at cassino. I only asked my father once about cassino and his reply was very short and to the point. He simply said that there was not much left - and that was the end of the subject. He never said that he had fought there and his answer could be taken that he had just passed through. Having now read much more about the Italian campaign, I can now well understand my fathers reluctance to go back into his past memories. Paul Reed, The book you mention is on my Christmas wish list! Sounds like a very good read. My fathers catch word was always 'Bash on Recce'. Regards to all veterans, we all owe you so much. Tom
Just looked on Geoff's Search Engine for 4th Recce casualties. 102 of them. Geoff's Search Engine 001 AKINS, A 3773023 24/06/1944 002 ALLEN, AH 14299608 24/06/1944 003 ALLEN, A 5884481 30/06/1944 004 ASHTON, A 3456837 30/03/1943 005 BAINES, A 3248607 18/04/1943 006 BALL, J 6144578 06/05/1943 007 BARCLAY, F 3316703 16/09/1941 008 BASTARD, RE 6472629 02/08/1944 009 BERRY, K 10600836 06/05/1943 010 BIRT, DJ 251894 23/07/1944 011 BLOOR, J 14309381 12/01/1945 012 BRADBURY, AG 5955214 24/04/1942 013 BRIERWOOD, RG 14553050 23/09/1944 014 BROUGHTON, CF 5886089 06/05/1943 015 BROWN, HE 5439164 06/05/1943 016 BRUCE, HT 2755584 24/06/1944 017 BURRELL, CH 6408865 29/10/1944 018 BURROWS, H 3775985 30/04/1944 019 CAREY, T 3319838 15/10/1942 020 CARR, PB 210342 24/06/1944 Page 2 of 6 021 CHESHIRE, SJ 5955765 24/04/1942 022 CLARK, S 5947408 08/03/1942 023 COLLINS, EJ 4807221 06/05/1943 024 COTTRILL, R 59287 30/06/1944 025 COULSON, EA 6138136 31/01/1942 026 COWLING, WJ 14318081 12/08/1943 027 CREASEY, RE 6018026 24/06/1944 028 CROMBET, PJ 14399422 30/04/1944 029 CROOK, J 4970135 27/06/1944 030 DAY, W 5948530 30/06/1944 031 DE GERNIER, J 10603106 31/07/1944 032 DENNY, TJ 5681706 30/03/1943 033 DENTON, JJ 14208828 13/07/1944 034 DICKINSON, A 4799920 30/06/1944 035 EARL, NF 6465114 27/06/1944 036 EARNSHAW, E 14507133 30/06/1944 037 EASTWELL, WG 5886265 25/06/1944 038 ERLEBACH, RK 6143535 03/06/1941 039 FOSTER, HA 6340439 23/04/1943 040 GERRETT, EH 5949941 11/05/1943 Page 3 of 6 041 GILCHRIST, W 6144144 02/08/1944 042 GILLVRAY, EK 14367612 12/07/1944 043 GOY, CH 5891757 14/11/1944 044 GRANT, D 2926340 20/10/1942 045 HARPHAM, J 210331 25/05/1943 046 HARRIS, AC 14201772 30/06/1944 047 HICKINBOTHAM, JW 14399117 22/09/1944 048 HIGGS, S 420485 18/11/1944 049 HOLMES, CF 14269050 04/05/1944 050 HOPKINS, B 3452221 06/05/1943 051 JACKSON, K 6093710 14/07/1942 052 JENKINS, JH 6103404 06/05/1943 053 JOHNSON, SO 14268653 24/06/1944 054 JONES, WJR 4920188 06/05/1943 055 KITCHENER, MA 10602953 02/08/1944 056 LANCASTER, JW 5947238 31/07/1944 057 LOVE, GH 14517205 01/05/1944 058 MAHONEY, HW 6144810 27/07/1944 059 MANN, H 4126666 30/04/1944 060 MARTIN, K 4104903 02/12/1944 Page 4 of 6 061 MIDDLETON, JW 4276300 24/06/1944 062 MOORE, HG 6145923 23/04/1943 063 MUNRO, W 14239870 12/11/1946 064 MYERS, PN 262954 07/11/1944 065 NEARY, F 14323058 18/12/1943 066 NICHOLLS, WS 3056318 14/10/1943 067 O'NEILL, CE 4271273 11/05/1943 068 PARKER, DR 14566963 30/08/1944 069 PAUL, SW 2573024 06/05/1943 070 PENNY, LKD 6914920 23/09/1944 071 PENSOTTI, RW 4920350 02/08/1944 072 PHILLIBAN, P 2565451 16/05/1944 073 PORTFLEET, LA 14522973 04/01/1945 074 PYE, H 7046716 16/09/1944 075 RENNLES, EL 6141115 17/01/1943 076 RENTOUL, LM 245256 25/06/1944 077 RICHARDS, JA 5435527 16/04/1942 078 RICHMOND, R 3135011 24/06/1944 079 SCHREIBER, E 6347523 04/01/1945 080 SHARPE, CJM 130722 12/11/1944 Page 5 of 6 081 SHAYLE, H 14506743 03/04/1944 082 SHINKINS, CF 6472040 30/10/1944 083 SMITH, T 7668832 11/07/1944 084 SMITH, TJ 10600133 02/05/1943 - 03/05/1943 085 SMITH, RS 129638 17/07/1942 086 SMITH, LN 14394449 26/07/1944 087 SOUTH, LW 6353141 12/07/1944 088 STRADLING, A 10600579 11/05/1943 089 SULLIVAN, CE 14208930 05/09/1942 090 SWAINSON, EA 5948567 29/10/1944 091 TAYLOR, F 5436508 27/04/1943 092 THOMPSON, AR 6460541 11/05/1943 093 TURNER, J 14322856 13/11/1944 094 UPTON, PJ 6400089 03/08/1944 095 WADDINGTON, F 10603617 30/04/1944 096 WARREN, FC 5947209 12/07/1944 097 WEATHERSTONE, TG 14240175 21/02/1944 098 WENMAN, AA 6399602 03/11/1942 099 WHIFFEN, HE 5835071 12/04/1943 100 WILCOX, CB 5619863 30/06/1944 Page 6 of 6 101 WILLIAMS, FG 6346406 23/09/1944 102 WOOD, AE 6143709 23/04/1943
if you ever get to TNA at Kew, the 4 RECCE war Diaries are, WO 166/6208 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/8704 1943 July- Dec. WO 170/419 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 175/141 1943 Mar.- June WO 179/1884 1943 Jan.-Dec. >> Detecting your browser settings
Owen, Again many thanks for the information. Kew is a long way from my new habitat, but I have friends that live at New Malden and it is not too far from their house. Do you know if it is possible to to purchase copies from Kew? or is is it for reference purposes only? I have found it hard to find references to the 4th Division in the books that I have read on Italy, let alone the reconnaissance aspect. But I hope to purchase a couple of books for christmas, one relating to the 4th Division and the other to the Reconnaissance Corps. Regards Tom
Tom, If your friends can get to Kew they can take a digital camera with them. I'm afraid I haven't been there for a long time but other members of the site can tell you more. You might like to buy this book then. The Fourth Division 1939 to 1945 Hugh Williamson Softcover 378 pages 23 photos & 22 maps. Reprint Book Code: ML0160 Our Price:£34.95 The Fourth Division 1939 to 1945 - British Army WW2 Books - World War Two Books – Military History Books online - Ceredigion - Wales UK An original 1951 edition here. The Fourth Division 1939-1945.: Williamson, Hugh.
Owen, Thankyou for the information about Kew. You must be a mind reader. The Fourth Division 1939 to 1945 together with, Only the enemy in front. History of the reconnaissance Corps, are on my wish list for Christmas. Regards Tom
4 Recce get a mention here too. The British Reconnaissance Corps in ... - Google Book Search Osprey Publishing - The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II Same author as one Paul mentions.
Hello I'm Tom from Berlin. I am a retired Police Officer (Lancashire Constabulary) residing now in Berlin. My late father, Thomas Smith (Smudger), served in the Reconnaissance corps in Italy. He was on overseas training near Morecambe when he was injured and burned by a misdirected phospherous grenade, which landed in the back of his truck. There was at least one killed who was sitting next to my father and as a result my father was transfered to the RAF burns hospital, the converted Midland Hotel at Morecambe, where he stayed until recovered. He missed out on North Africa as a result of the injuries, but fought in Italy, before being transfered in January of 1945 to Greece. I have gained a lot of information from Trooper Tom Canning and it would appear that my father was with the 4th recce Corps, 4th Division. Which Tom Canning says supported his tanks on occassions. Transferred to 17/21 Lancers. My fathers pay and discharge papers have been lost in the post and did not arrive in Berlin. (Airsure postage with insurance, delivery against signature and with tracking!!!!!!!) I am still awaiting the Deutsche Post investigation, before I apply for his official records. My father I think was typical of ex WW2 veterens as he kept most of his experiences locked inside himself. Only before he passed away did he mention some of his experiences, some of which were life threatening and others funny. If by any chance there is any one out there that can supply me with any details of 4th Recces Corps movements I would be very grateful. I have to mention Tom Canning, as he has been absolutely marvellous in supplying me with web links about the Italian campaign and also how to display my fathers medals in the correct order. Smudger Jnr Hi Smudger Jnr, Smudger senior wasn't origonaly from Redcar yorkshire by any chance? Beanie
Hi Smudger Jnr, Smudger senior wasn't origonaly from Redcar yorkshire by any chance? Beanie Beanie, First welcome to the forum and the answer to your question is a resounding NO! My father was from the other side of the Pennines and was Born and Bred, as we say, in Preston, Lancashire. My Grandfather who served in the 1st World War originally came from Hull. Sorry that it is perhaps not the answer that you were looking for. Regards Tom