Dear all, I'm doing some research on B Sqn 13/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) for the period November 1940 - 1943. Specifically I'm trying to find out information regarding their stay at the Northamptonshire village of Litchborough. Their subsequent role in the D-Day landings is relatively well known but I'm interested in the effect they had on the local community during what seems to be a very poorly documented period (and I have consulted all the usual suspects Regimental history, local records offices, Historic Environment Records, Regimental Museum etc.). Hoping that the experts here can help, Regards, Johnny
Have you looked at their war diary for this period at the National Archives? In WW2 home based units also kept diaries. Welcome to the forum!
Hi Paul, I have looked at the National Archives - nothing for 13th/18th but their is one for 27th Armoured Bde of which they were a part from Nov 1940 to just after D Day. I'm hoping to go to Kew at some stage to look at it. There is also one for the Bde RASC unit so it may have some clues in the form of supplies moved, accommodation stores etc. but I don't know if the period concerned was just so chaotic that no records have survived. Cheers and thanks for the welcome! Johnny
Hi - I have found the following diaries for 13/18 Hussars in the TNA Catalogue. It is not easy to search for WW2 diaries, unless you use the (odd) terminology they use for units. Hope this helps. These are all UK based diaries, WO166: WO 166/1377 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1940 July- 1941 Dec. WO 166/6891 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/11073 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1943 Jan.-Dec.
Fantastic - thanks very much Paul! I thought I had looked properly but clearly I missed bits. Trip to Kew is on! Johnny
Hi Capt. S No I'm not - I have been trying to get in contact with the organisers to see what they have in the village - no replies as yet but the festival was in 2004 so they may have moved on, which is a pain because one of the things I want to look at is the effect the presence of the Squadron had on the local community - there is clearly some sort of 'folk memory' of them in the village (Cricket club based in Old Tank Park and the fact they had the Litchborough 44 event). As an aside whilst I am doing a serious piece of academic research I also have a strong family connection as my grandfather was a pre-war career soldier with the Regiment and was a SNCO in B Squadron (No information though as he died in 1991) during the time they were in Litchborough. Johnny
Giving this thread a bump simply because I am at the present reveling in a new book that is very much about the 13/18th Royal Hussars. The book in question is "Trooper - Barnard Castle to Berlin" compiled by Arthur Beardsley and is all about Trooper Ronald Henderson. I bought it as a Kindle file from Amazon at the ridiculous price of £1.99 and now I just can't put it down. The latest addition to "Grandpa' toys" has been the Kindle Paperwhite and, through the wonders of technology, whichever unit I am using out of 2 iPads and the new Kindle I am automatically taken to whatever page I have reached on any unit.. Does that make sense ? Ain't the internet wonderful Ron
And just in case anyone wants any of the diaries...I have at least two of these already so happy to do a deal if any of the others are ordered WO 166/1377 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1940 July- 1941 Dec. WO 166/6891 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/11073 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1943 Jan.-Dec. WO 167/453 13/18 Royal Hussars 1939 Sept.-1940 June WO 171/845 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/4691 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) 1945 Jan.- Dec. Cheers Andy
New here and just happened across this page whilst doing some research. I've been trying to trace my Grandfathers ancestry back but it comes to a dead end. After my Grandparents died I kept anything historic and I do remember him speaking fondly of his Uncle who was a Captain in the army. I have a historic regimental photo still framed which shows '4th Troop C Squadron 18th Royal Hussars (QMO)' and on the back is written 1922, and a couple of letters one dated 8th September 1945 where he was Captain Jack Parker, Darjeeling, Bengal India. In that letter he states he intended to stay in India for another couple of years before retiring so I am assuming he was in service between 1922 to 1947. I'm not sure when he died but I remember meeting his wife who lived in Kent when I was young and died in the early 70's. I've got loads of military photos from that time and I'd be happy to share them with anyone interested if perhaps somebody could point me in the right direction? I was hoping to find his military record so as to have his correct DOB to use on ancestry sites. Any help is appreciated TIA
