Trooper Kenneth Murray Moffat

Discussion in 'Recce' started by leemorph, Oct 25, 2010.

  1. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  2. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    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
     
  4. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  5. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    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
     
  6. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    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
     
  7. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum.

    [FONT=&quot]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
     
  8. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  9. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  10. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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
     
  11. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  12. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    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...
     
  13. leemorph

    leemorph Junior Member

    EnglandPhil
    What job would the 3rd recce's actually have done on that fateful day? Would they have been in armoured cars?

    Leslie
     

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