Hello we are Sheila and Richard, inspired by your interesting post has prompted us to sign the line, with the help of Owen to us newbies here we are. We are interested in B squadron 3 RTR Operation Goodwood on the morning of the 18th July 1944 village of Hubert Folie on the Bourguebus Ridge Normandy.
Welcome to the forum , theres some 3RTR 35mm here (may be of interest?) THE 3RD ROYAL TANK REGIMENT GOES INTO ACTION ON THE FIRST DAY OF OPERATION 'GOODWOOD' [Allocated Title] Kyle
Thank you much for the information you have given us Kyle, we will check it out. We are totally new and uncertain of procedure but we will give it a go. My Uncle Eric was known as Jack Turner Driver Sherman Firefly Kia 18th July 1944. On Operation Goodwood. His crew mates were injured names Titch Everett and Harry Palmer, troop sergeant Eric Whittaker. I am hoping to find info on the crew so all views welcome. We have the War Diaries. Thank you for replying to me Sheila
Thank you your welcome I look forward to familiarising myself with the site, this is my first time on any site. kind regards Sheila
Thank you your warm welcome, we have never done this before, newbies, so please excuse us if we make some mistakes. regards sheila
Sorry Shiela, The offer didnt come from me? Just the IWM link? From The Pendulum of Battle Operation Goodwood July 1944 Sergeant Eric Whittaker, a troop sergeant in B Squadron, was in a Sherman Firefly heading for Hubert-Folie: As we got near the village we suddenly started losing tanks from 88s and tanks well concealed on the ridge. To my immediate left Sergeant Dickson was brewed-up by a gun hidden in a haystack, which I immediately eliminated. To my rear Corporal Taffy Richardson was also hit. On getting to the ridge I was hit twice. On baling out I found that my driver, Jack Turner, had been killed, the operator/loader, Harry Palmer, badly wounded in the leg, and the gunner, Titch Everett, had his foot blown off Nearby Sergeant Bob Lawton's Firefly had been struck on the gun mantiet, which had put his elevating gear out of order, so we got my two wounded men on bedding rolls on the back of his tank and got them back to the MO, Captain Macmillan.' Kyle
you just carry on and dont worry about mistakes just make sure you dont go onto the internet and join sites that request money for service records etc from WW2 they dont have them.
Thank you so much, your advice is very sound, in fact we purchased service records from Glasgow and we have the war diaries from Bovington. we have all documents from CWGC. archive stuff, also got photograph from War Graves photographic project. numerous books on the subject We have a photo which I will learn to upload. Thank you for time Sheila
Thank you so much Kyle for the info, yes indeed that is interesting, we have bought eight copies of that particular book for various family members for the future and Richard has been adding photo of Eric into each book together with photo of poppies from the area, and we are in the process of writing an account of his family background. We have a photo of 3 troopers, Eric/Jack Turner is on the extreme right and we are hoping to find the names of the other 2 are Palmer and Everett. I have got to learn how to upload this photo. As we are new to a site and unsure of what we are doing, you have beaten us to it, because we were going to post your quote ourselves, we are so pleased that you have responded thank you are that you are aware what we are on about. Also to add Kyle, we have written to Brigadier Christopher Dunphie MC and he has replied saying he is going to Ranville War Cemetery Normandy this year and will pay his respects to Eric/Jack/Albert. Trooper 6920682 Albert HenryTurner kia 18th July 1944. Known in family as Eric. Thank you for your time and interest Sheila and Richard
Thank you for all your help and advice Owen, all very kind gentlemen. I will certainly give the photo a go. kind regards Sheila and Richard
Thank you for your warm welcome, so far we have received a warm welcome from other members in addition to some useful information and a great deal of help with our photo from Owen, a gem, and Mr Jinks swift off the mark with "pendulum of Battle" reference, Sergeant Whittaker, all gratefully received. best wishes sheila and richard
Thank you Owen for your help. Apologies, yes, Mr Jinks recommendation for the book Pendulum of Battle. Help is much appreciated. Thank you Sheila