Tracing Henry Thomas Christopher Frank Elliott

My name's David Hathaway, I'm a member of Portsmouth Model Boat Club Display Team - Armoured Division...one of our members is trying to trace his Grandfather (the above gentleman), I have found information about him from the memorial in Hawkley, Hampshire, which gave his rank, Trouper, his number 7904334, his regiment 10th Royal Hussars, previously 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomary, he was born on the 20th October 1909 and died on the 5th October 1943, we believe in Africa but not sure... we are looking to model the tank (Crusader) he may have have been associated with,, any help would be most gratefully received..
Regards
David

 

His service record transcript has 1905 rather than 1909

Name: H T C F Elliott . Service number: 7904334 . Date of birth: 20 October 1905 . | The National Archives

Death is given as result of accident - registered Buckrose, Yorkshire.
Trooper Henry Thomas Christopher Frank Elliott | War Casualty Details 2438869 | CWGC

Ross

 

Wiki indicates the 10th Royal Hussars were in North Africa and Italy from November 1941 to the end of WW2. See: 10th Royal Hussars - Wikipedia

After June 1940 Wiki indicates both Fife and Forfar Yeomanry regiments remained in the UK before going to France after D-Day.

An online search with: "2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry" site:ww2talk.com id'd a large number of threads here.

I read one and you need to carefully read Post 9 which provides a location for 2 F&F at / near Bridlington, Yorkshire; it puts them @ RA Combined Trng Camp, Butterworth, 26th July to Aug 11th 1943. It appears they were part of the 29th Armoured Brigade, part of the 11th Armoured Division. See: Bridlington, Yorkshire, UK

Hurrah the division did initially have Crusader tanks!

Context in: 29th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia and 11th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia

Probably a coincidence another soldier from the division, an attached Signaller Driver died on 7/10/1943. The date of death is not necessarily when the injury / wound happened. See: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2718268/howard-byron-evans/ He too was buried near his home town, Swansea.

No-one else readily id'd from the division died between 1-7/10/1943.

We always recommend applying for the subject's full service record. Yes, it may take a year to arrive - either from the MoD or National Archives (TNA). It is not available online and is the definitive record. There is nothing you can do about the wait. The records were never intended to be read today. See: Get a copy of military records of service Get in soon, the price goes up 2/2/2026.

Hope that all helps and good luck.

 

Birth registered Q4 1909, Petersfield and he was baptised 28 November 1909, dob in 1939 20 Oct 1909. Looks like error with TNA or his service records. Medal card shows that the 1939/45 Star, Africa Star (8 Army), and War medal were applied for.

View details | Roll Search | Scottish National War Memorial

Trp Henry Thomas Christopher Frank ELLIOT (unknown-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial

 

Yup - everything points to transcript error for Discovery.

I hate to think how many Army service records at TNA are being rejected from opening because Discovery search on name and known dob has a null return - all due to lack of due care in creating the searchable entry.

Ross

 

Best take your mobile number off the forum

 

David David Hathaway, here's his WW2 medal index card, courtesy of FWR.

 

His entry on casualty list. Accidentally killed in UK. from Find my past.