RH/1095786 Ernest Joseph HENDERSON, Royal Artillery & Long Range Desert Group: A Rhodesian

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Captainhobb, Jun 20, 2013.

  1. Captainhobb

    Captainhobb Member

    Hi All

    I am trying to trace the service records of a relative Ernest Joseph Henderson who died 15th January 1943 and on the CWGC it gives him as gunner, service no.RH/1095786, regiment Royal Artillery and Long Range Desert Group., buried Tripoli.
    I am wondering if he might have been with the Rhodesian forces (as he was living in Salisbury prior to joining up) and then have volunteered for the Long Range Desert Group? I don't know if his number gives any clues? The reason I am asking is whether his service record is likely to be in the National Archives or in Rhodesia?

    Also does his date of death give any clues as to what might have been happening at that point?

    Any help or suggestions would be most gratefully received.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Casualty
    HENDERSON, ERNEST JOSEPH

    Rank: Gunner
    Service No: RH/1095786
    Date of Death: 15/01/1943
    Age: 32
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery and Long Range Desert Group
    Grave Reference: 11. G. 10.
    Cemetery: TRIPOLI WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Henderson; husband of Marion Hutton Henderson, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.


    Hello and welcome.

    National Archives (TNA) do not hold any Army WW2 service records.
    Applications need to be made to MOD, see link.
    https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records


    As CWGC have RA as his parent corps, I don't see why you shouldn't apply to MOD in Glasgow, enclosing copy of CWGC certificate along with application and fee. His records may, or may not make mention of any previous service with Rhodesian forces.

    Am unaware of the significance of Army No. prefix RH/ but using Geoff's search engine, there are 26 others so listed in UK CWGC records. Maybe someone else can advise.

    The forum has a few threads for LRDG which you might find interesting, this one has quite a few links
    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/8325-the-lrdg/?hl=+long++range++desert++group
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2020
  3. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

  4. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum, Captainhobb - enjoy!

    I have found an entry in the Roll of Honour for a Gunner EJ Hendersen, KIA Western Desert on 15 January 1943, in the regimental history of the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment; known as the 'Noodles'. No reference to him is made in the Index. The history is called 'History of the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949' (Bright).

    This is not as unlikely as it first appears, as after their losses in Greece and Crete, the 'Noodles' were enhanced in mid-August 1941 by the remnants of a Southern Rhodesian Battery - the 4th Rhodesian Anti-Tank Bty. Four officers and forty nine men were absorbed and formed the mainstay of 'D' Bty for nearly two years - two Rhodesian troops and one British. They were all attested as a soldier in the Imperial Army and wore the Northumberland Hussars badges and titles with 'Rhodesia' on their shoulders

    Following on from what Diane said about the 'RH' prefixing the service number, I believe this indicates that he was Rhodesian.

    The 4th Rhodesian Anti-Tank Bty had previously fought as an independent troop of four guns in the Eritrean campaign and in the Western Desert in the Buq Buq area.

    The Noodles nicknamed them 'Rhodeos'. They were very highly thought of.

    Their fortunes followed those of the 8th Army therafter and includes fighting with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, the Noodles historical parent division, from circa 9 October 1942 until after the Tunisian campaign - indeed the North African campaign - was over.

    They left the Noodles on circa 2 May 1943, whilst at Amariya and moved to the Union Defence Force base at Helwan.

    Around the end of May 1943 they sailed for a months leave at home, before joining the 1st/11th Anti-Tank Regiment, South African Army, for operations in Italy.

    Because of the foregoing, I believe his service records will be held in Glasgow. However, it looks likley that he was serving with the LRDG when killed.

    Hope this assists.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
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  5. Captainhobb

    Captainhobb Member

    Thank you all so much - far more information and help than I had dared hope for and I am really most grateful. . I will certainly apply to Glasgow. I have looked up his death notice in Zimbabwe but it simply gave his name, date of death and' killed in action Libya'. Joseph was born in Armagh, grew up in Durban South Africa and then moved to Salisbury Rhodesia where he had married.

    all best

    Pauline
     
  6. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Pauline

    According to Desert Raiders: Axis And Allied Special Forces 1940-43, By Andrea Molinari. The LRDG HQ was at Zella http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zella,_Libya between 28 December 42 and 16 Jan 43.

    The Rhodesians in LDRG were known as Patrols S1 and S2. According to The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945: On 13 December 1942, S1 patrol was watching the road between Gheddahia and Tauorga as the enemy withdrew from El Agheila. They stayed there for a week. T1 Patrol (New Zealanders) were the first allied troops into Tunisia on 12 Jan 43.

    Hope this helps.

    Gus
     
  7. Captainhobb

    Captainhobb Member

    Yes Gus that does help thank you very much. All the details help so much to build up a picture. If only I had asked more questions when growing up but no one really wanted to talk about the war then.

    very many thanks
    Pauline
     
  8. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Hello, Pauline and welcome to the forum.

    I've started a transcription thread on the LRDG as I have the war diaries and appendices for the unit over the period you are looking at:

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/47499-not-by-strength-by-guile-the-lrdg-1941-45/?hl=bagnold

    I'm currently very busy with some studies at the moment hence the lack of activity on the above but will be returning to it later this summer. In the meantime I'm more than happy to take a look for you and see what I can discover about Ernest. Splendidly, the LRDG kept a nominal role of all members of the Unit on a month by month basis so I'm hoping his name will be there.

    I'm at work at the moment so will have a look this evening. If I find anything I'll let you know.

    Jonathan
     
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  9. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Pauline - I have just sent you a private message.

    Best regards

    Skip
     
  10. Captainhobb

    Captainhobb Member

    Hi Jonathan

    I have just been reading through the war diaries you have posted - really interesting and a lot of work! Thank you so much for responding and I would be interested in anything you find.

    very best
    Pauline
     
  11. LRDGEgypt

    LRDGEgypt Member

    Hi Pauline
    it is correct that he was at the time of his death with the LRDG. Actually he was the navigator of the S1 Patrol. They were surprised in Wadi ZemZem in Libya and Henderson was the only casualty in that fight. Hope that helps you further. If you would like more informations you are free to ask
    best regards
    LRDG EGYPT
     

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