The Tales of two Warrant Officers

Discussion in 'General' started by redtop, Jul 27, 2019.

  1. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Two tales involving Warrant Officers in the follow up after Alamein

    One from my fathers notes with G Battery the other from G Battery (Mercers Troop) War Diaries not sure if RSM survived or if the bombed Wo11 was from Dads unit.



    From Fathers notes

    We were moving

    down the Moon track towards El Birka, we were amazed to see an

    Italian Bi Plane (I think it was a 1914/18 vintage) appear, and at about

    200 feet the pilot dropped a bomb over the side of his cockpit and if it

    had not killed an officer (W011) in a jeep it would have been comic.

    The Wellington bombers of our lot gave the Ities and Jerry's a good

    pasting.



    G Battery (Mercers Troop) 5 RHA war Diaries Oct. 42



    Enemy prisoners were taken and numerous Anti /Tank Guns.

    RSM of 1 RHA was shot by a prisoner after he had surrendered ,the remainder were dealt with.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 results for Warrant Officer

    searching this database for Warrant Officer, died in Oct 1942 thetare North Africa gives 9 results but only 1 of those is in the Royal Artillery, so your man might be:

    Casualty

    Name: Fred Carruthers
    Given Initials: F
    Rank: Warrant Officer Class II
    Death Date: 27 Nov 1942
    Number: 835589
    Birth Place: Cumberland
    Residence: Cumberland
    Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Artillery
    Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery
    Theatre of War: North Africa
    Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery
    Branch at Death: Royal Artillery

    He appears on a panel so presume his body was not recoverd

    TD
     
  3. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Taking the latter first:

    Casualty

    Warrant Officer Class I (R.S.M.)CLARKE, ARTHUR LEONARD
    Service Number 1060781

    Died 25/10/1942

    Aged 35

    1 Regt.
    Royal Horse Artillery

    M B E, D C M

    Son of William and Edith Isabella Clarke; husband of Adele Clarke, of Andover, Hampshire.
     
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  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    For the former: was 4 RHA in the area? This is from a search of RHA casualties in Oct 42 which, of course, might be the wrong assumption.

    Is there a date in your dad's notes?

    Casualty

    Warrant Officer Class II (B.S.M.)MACCORQUODALE, DUGALD
    Service Number 837501

    Died 29/10/1942

    Aged 26

    "C" Bty., 4 Regt.
    Royal Horse Artillery

    M M, Mentioned in Despatches

    Son of Maj. D. MacCorquodale, M.C., and Flora MacCorquodale, of Oban, Argyllshire.
     
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  5. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Unfortunately my fathers notes contain few dates..
    To tie down date of bombing it comes some time between.
    On the 9th or 10th day we moved out..... (after 23rd Oct)
    and
    .....and then the rains came.... (7th Nov.)
    But his notes were written retrospectively so might be inaccurate.

    There is a comment in Diaries that 1,2 4 and 5 RHA were in this area
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  6. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Sorry above is incorrect Diaries note that 1,2,3,and 5 RHA were operating within a few miles of each other.
     
  7. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    I wonder if this was a white flag incident or a deliberate act .I imagine the RSM would have come in touch with prisoners at a later stage.
     
    Rich Payne likes this.

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