Hi I am doing research on my family and came across my great-uncle who died on the 23rd November 1941 during operation crusader Egypt. He was a trooper in the south african tank corps: 3rd Recce Battalion his name was Kenneth Murray Moffat His name is on the Alamein memorial for the missing! He had a brother Ronald Murray Moffat that was part of the south african 2nd anti-tank regiment. Would anyone out there perhaps have any information about those regiments and maybe these people? Regards Leslie Murray Moffat
Hi all Definitely would love to know anything about my great-uncle Kenneth Murray Moffat. He was part of 3rd Recce Battalion, South African Tank regiment. Was killed in action on 23/11/1941. How would I obtain information on how he was killed or any info of who he was? Kind regards Leslie Murray Moffat
Leslie, Hello and welcome to the forum. Your options are to contact family members who may hold some records or other information that will be of use to you. As thay were soldiers from the South African Commonwealth their records I believe will be kept by the Military in South Africa, I would hazard a guess, that it is similar to the UK, but do stand to be corrected. When you have exhaused all your family connections, then apply to the correct authorities for the personal records. You do not say if you are a resident of South Africa, but if so, I think it should be easier for you to obtain the records. There are other members that may be able to answer your questions better than I and wish you well with your research. Regards Tom
Thanks Tom No I am living in Ireland, but have now contacted a war veteran that does military research in SA so hopefully that will dig something up...family no good as my grand-father when he came back from the war never spoke of absolutely nothing of what he went through. With my research from like minded people I have come up with amazing facts that our family has never known so we have to keep searching and remembering our fallen heroes hey? Thanks for your help Tom Regards Leslie
Leslie, some background info here http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units-general/10129-7th-south-african-recce.html In essence he was killed in what was likely to have been his 1st action, as the SA brigades where summoned to support the 7th Armoured division on the 23rd Nov. MOre info on the battle can be seen here. The 5th South African Brigade and 22nd Armoured Brigade had borne the brunt of the enemy attack and by nightfall on the 23rd the 5th South African Brigade had been virtually annihilated and 22nd Armoured Brigade was down to its last twenty tanks, leaving at least ten on the battlefield. However, 30 to 40 enemy tanks had also been destroyed. As the days battle had raged the Technical Adjutant, from 4th CLY had been in the process of salvaging what tanks he could and he continued to do so as the battle raged. At the end of the battle he had remained on the field and salvaged 150 lorries for which he then found drivers before conducting them through the infantry lines to 1st South African Brigade. He then returned to try and recover more tanks! Battles 1941
Leslie, There are members of this forum with strong interests in the North African Campaigns and at least one or more are veterans who were actually there. Any information that you may wish to share would be greatefully received and may result in you also receiving more information. Regards Tom
Welcome to the forum. [FONT="]Trooper K M MOFFAT[/FONT] 135092, 3rd Recce. Bn., South African Tank Corps Who died age 31on 23 November 1941 Son of Margaret E. Moffat, of Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. Remembered with honour ALAMEIN MEMORIAL Column 137. Cheers Paul
Leslie, some background info here http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units-general/10129-7th-south-african-recce.html In essence he was killed in what was likely to have been his 1st action, as the SA brigades where summoned to support the 7th Armoured division on the 23rd Nov. MOre info on the battle can be seen here. The 5th South African Brigade and 22nd Armoured Brigade had borne the brunt of the enemy attack and by nightfall on the 23rd the 5th South African Brigade had been virtually annihilated and 22nd Armoured Brigade was down to its last twenty tanks, leaving at least ten on the battlefield. However, 30 to 40 enemy tanks had also been destroyed. As the days battle had raged the Technical Adjutant, from 4th CLY had been in the process of salvaging what tanks he could and he continued to do so as the battle raged. At the end of the battle he had remained on the field and salvaged 150 lorries for which he then found drivers before conducting them through the infantry lines to 1st South African Brigade. He then returned to try and recover more tanks! Battles 1941 Thanks for that EnglandPhil sobering thought, that in one day so much could be lost!! Cheers Leslie
Thanks Tom Yeah I am getting some photos of my Grand Dad that was in 2nd anti-tank regiment in East and North Africa and will post them and anything else I have will put it together and post it on here. Cheers Leslie
Thanks Paul Thanks for the work and research of CWWG that I found that information only a month ago I was so thrilled and emotional about it. Cheers Leslie
Leslie, if you contact Mick McCann at British War Graves, he will send you a photo of Ken's name on the Alamein memorial http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/page31.htm
Yeah I got in touch with Ralph Mclean and he sent me the pictures of column 137 with Ken's name, but thanks for that. It was actually so amazing to see that after so many years...
EnglandPhil What job would the 3rd recce's actually have done on that fateful day? Would they have been in armoured cars? Leslie