War Diary - 2nd Lincs Bn, December 1944

Hi All!

I hope all is well.

I've been doing some research on my Great Grandfather John N. Taylor, and luckily have been able to get my hands on many of his original service related documents. If possible, I'm trying to find more information regarding what the unit was doing at the time of him recieving a gunshot wound to the left thigh.

As I understand, he served in the home guard, until joining the Army upon meeting the age requirements in 1943. He transferred to 2nd Bn Lincolns on 11.12.44, and according to his records recieved the gunshot wound on the 30.12.44 . He spent most of 1945 recovering, finishing his army career with the RASC in India and Burma in 1947 as a Staff Sgt before transferring to the reserves.

Any assistance to shed some light on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

Per War Diary: 2 Lincs were in and around Broekhuizen on the 30th December, at which point the enemy were just the other side of the River Maas in a long winter stand off punctuated by regular patrolling...

Hope this helps...

 

Do you mean his official service records? Might be worth posting his full name and service number as, at first glance, he doesn't seem to appear in the casualty lists.

 

I've talked to family members who talked to him while he was alive, and apparently he never spoke much of the war, however they told me he was shot by a 'German sniper' whilst on a motorcycle - the bullet apparently passed through a cigarette tin in his pocket before hitting his leg.

They seemed to think the location was Arnhem, but the service records from what I can tell would say it is Broekhuizen (thank you Quis Separabit!)

I've attached the relevant page of his records - Full name is John Noel Taylor, D.O.B 9/8/25, Army Number S/14666090

 

as Tony56 suggests do you have his official service records Get a copy of military service records

Forum member Buteman has an interest in the Lincolns
His info below

2nd Battalion

UK
BEF – France, Belgium
BLA – France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany & Palestine

6 Battalions of the Lincolns served during WW2, 4 of which served as Infantry throughout. Overall, the Lincolns served in most Theatres of Operations. The 7th & 8th Battalions existed for a short time in the UK, before being converted to serve with the Royal Artillery. Other smaller units will also be mentioned in due course.

When war broke out on 3rd September 1939, the battalions were in the following places:-

1st Battalion – Nasiribad in Rajputana with one Company detached at Ahmedabad in the Bombay Presidency, India.
2nd Battalion – Portland in Dorset, UK
4th Battalion – Lincoln, UK
6th Battalion – Grantham, UK

1st Battalion

North West Frontier of India, Burma, Malaya & Netherlands East Indies.

2nd Battalion

UK
BEF – France, Belgium
BLA – France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany & Palestine

4th Battalion

UK
NWEF – Norway
Iceland (Garrison)
BLA - France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany

6th Battalion

UK
BEF – France
MEF - North Africa
CMF – Italy
Germany

7th Battalion

UK
(Converted to 102 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment on 1 December 1941)
BLA – France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany

8th Battalion

UK
(Converted to 101 Anti-Tank Regiment on 22 December 1942, Disbanded August 1943)

 

Many Thanks for your Replies!

I do have a copy of his Army records - The documents included in the packet are as follows:
1947 Statement of Service since 3rd September 1939
Unknown partial document stamped with release information
1947 Notification of Impending Release
Unknown document with details of postings from enlistment to 1947 - attached to my reply further up (A more detailed copy of this for 1946-1947 is also included in the records sent)
Second document with details of postings - appears to have less detail than attached form
Incomplete Service and Casualty Form (Undated), Complete Service and Casualty Form 5/9/47, Complete Service and Casualty Form 4.10.46 (1946 and 1947 form contain inconsistencies, 1946 form potentially only partly filled in)
B.102/1 Paramount Card
TA Record Of Service Paper (B200D) - Second page and partial page attached to this message - This has a few bits I don't understand on (Mostly why he had so many cancelled tranfers, but also does the 2nd 4/45 in brackets next to the GSW injury refer to medical status, or a second injury perhaps?)

The other documents I have (Originals) include:
Army Book 64 Soldier's Service and Pay Book (Very worn, I believe some pages are missing. Certificate Of Transfer to Army Reserve tucked in back)
Soldier's Release Book Class "A" (Appears to have deliberate removal of pages)
2x Thank You Letter upon Reorganisation of 2nd Division in Malaya 1947 from Major General J.B Churcher, Commander 2nd Division (One addressed to CQMS J.N. Taylor, the other to CQMS Taylor J.N.)
Letter from King George for service in The Home Guard
1947 Release Leave Certificate
Letter from Queen Elizabeth adressed to Mrs. J.N Taylor for sharing their home with strangers in 1939
Photo Album - 31x Photos from RASC in Malaya/Poona 1945/1946 (Many of these have handwritten descriptions on the back and include other soldiers, one or two with names or towns written on - I would be happy to digitize all of these when i have some time if there is interest)
1946 2nd Division Christmas Card - "It wont need a card for me to wish you a "Happy Xmas" next year"
Original War Medal 1939-45, Original Medal Ribbons France & Germany Star and 1939-45 Star with reproduction medals (Original medals for these and the cigarette tin in his pocket the time he was shot may be with distant family)

So, from my research so far, I believe after landing at Gold as part of 5th Bn East Yorkshires, he stayed with the unit until (either 5.12.44 or 11.12.44 - 2 different dates given on different documents) at which point he transferred to 2nd Lincs. I've found a lot about 5th East Yorkshire's involvement at D-Day and the war diaries for June 1944, however beyond this I'm struggling (especially as there seems to be no record of his service online, and very very little about his service is known by family). If anyone would please be able to point me in the direction on the war diaries for the 5th East Yorks from July to December, and the war diary for the 2nd Lincs for December this would be greatly appreciated for my research!

 

Hi there - any idea where 2nd Battalion were in 1944 or their movements?
My uncle died aged 19, 8th Sept 1944 and on his grave it has Egypt as part of the insignia.
But apparently he died in Basingstoke.

 

Hello Gregory

welcome to the forum
I have sent a private message to buteman who is out Lincolns expert
He will be along shortly to offer advice

regards
Clive

 

He was wounded in NW Europe and died of wounds at 'Home' i.e. not abroad. He was reported wounded on 22 July 44 so the incident wound have been prior to that. Presumably evacuated back to the UK.

Other casualties on the same list were wounded 17/18 June 44 so you may have to look around then. Advice is to get his official service records, these should show the date he was first sent to a hospital or casualty clearing station.

 

I'll check tomorrow.