Warwickshire Yeomanry

Well Dad was in the Warwickshire because I've got his little bear badje and he was also 2Bn RTR.

 

Glyn

Do you have his Service Records or Bovington Tracer Card? Would be interesting to know how/when he moved between WY and 2RTR....or has he told you anyway?

Excellent photo collection by the way.

 

I have his service records so I'll see what happened. Is it possible he was RTR attached to WY. He was 7th Armoured Division 8th Army.

 

The tank on the transporter was Dad's tank and Minnesota was recognised as a WY tank by someone on the net.

 

Glyn

Ref your question about whether he was 'attached', its more likely he was transferred...hence why you need to check his Records. His Tracer Card (you can get a copy from The Tank Museum at Bovington for the princely sum of a fiver) might also shed light on this.

 

O.k. Thanks, I'll see what I can turn up.

 

Warwickshire Yeomanry war diaries have them in North Africa from 1939 and Italy until Dec 1944 when they are back in the UK. 2 RTR are in North Africa from 1940 after a short spell in France and then ended the war in Italy until June 1946.

 

I've found my Father's records and his Warwickshire Yeomanry Old Comrades Association card dated 18/10/45 and signed by W.C. Daniel.
Dad's service number was 7957042 and he is listed in "B" Squadron on page 12 of the members booklet as R. Evans, 4 Ashley Avenue, Bath. According to records he was training in Warminster 3/4/42, posted 52 T.R. ON 5/9/42. Sent to Egypt Jan '43 and posted to W.Y. 16/3/43. Later posted to 2RTR on 25/9/44 and served with them the rest of the war.
Hope this throws some light on it.
I never found a WY cap badge in his things only the small bronze brooch.

 

Glyn

52TR = 52nd Training Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (based at Bovington).

Looks like he was first posted to WY and then transferred to 2RTR.

Possible that his WY badge was handed in when he transferred to 2RTR. The 'small bronze' WY badge could be a Sweetheart badge or a Collar Badge if it's got two round lugs on the back.

 

Here is why he was transferred from the Warwickshire Yeomanry to the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment:

The Warwickshire Yeomanry continued in operations with the 9th Armoured Brigade through August 25th. On that date, while planning for the advance north of Subbiano, orders were received that all men with four and a half years of service would be repatriated to the United Kingdom. There was some thought of disbanding the regiment, but on September 9th it was announced that the regiment would return to England. The ‘Python’ men would return to England with the regiment while the rest were send to other formations. During the rest of September, the regiment disposed of all of its equipment and left the brigade on October 8th for southern Italy.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry arrived at Naples on October 11th and embarked on the Monarch of Bermuda. It sailed on October 14th, 1944.

 

No, Dad's was black.