3 RTR B Squadron

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by Frank Flattery, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    Frank, I’m trying to come up with a date for a Dutch chap, do you know when B Sqn were in Oploo ,Holland in Autumn 1944, I reckon Sept/October. It’s in regard to a Panther being knocked out.
     
  2. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Something to do with this FB post? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1273687546088264/user/100001341004883
    WD has it they passed through Oploo on 25th Sept '44 and took up position in St Antonis (just to the north) that night, and remained in the general area till 16th Oct. No specific mention of KO-ing a Panther, just a couple of (in one case, possibly) Mk IVs. Need to check the books. I haven't started doing the maps for that period yet, still thinking about it!
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2020
  3. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    Thanks Frank, yes it was that thread, I started it on the Bovvy Museum Facebook page and I think Thijs shared it as shown on your link. Thanks for the time bracket.
     
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  4. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Just been going over the maps and books, the only Panther mention I can find is in Delaforce's book, where he mentions 'a Panther & two 88s' KO-ed on the Liesel road, about 25km south of Oploo, which would make it 23rd-24th Sept. Aaahh, just read the text in the newspaper cutting re. Woolf and the Panther (sounds like a brothers Grimm fable), which situates the action in Overloon, on Sept 29th. They sent out a recce from Oploo towards the woods north of Overloon, comprising 1 Tp A Sq, 1 Tp B Sq and 1 company 3 Bn Monmouth Reg. WD states 1600; 1 tk (Mk IV?) brewed up. Notice the question mark. Anything with a long barrel was usually called 'Tiger', even Panthers at times, and the powers that be often dismissed such claims saying they were probably MK IV Specials, but maybe in this case it was the Panther. They sent out patrols, recces, etc, every day till they left the area (at the same time sending troops to Helmond for rest, etc) but there's no mention of Panthers or any other tanks, for that matter.
     
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  5. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Talking abbout maps, etc, I've been trying to locate the 'Divisional Concentration Area' near Juno beach circa 16th June. There's plenty of info out there about D-Day, but I can't see anything for when 3RTR disembarked... and they were there for awhile. The WD doesn't mention town names nor map refs... grrr.... Delaforce mentions the area around the villages of Cully & Lantheuil, is that right?
     
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  6. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    That was great Frank regarding Overloon
    I asked Len about maps and he said the only map he had was his DDay map with the 3rd !
    My Dad didn’t join the 3rd until late August 1944. I’ll follow up that map with Len!
     
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  7. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    Len said he landed “at a little beach at Courseulles”(sur Mer)
     
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  8. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Have you seen the new conversation I've started? He may be interested in it, Normandy and all...
     
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  9. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    I spotted that Frank, I screen shot your landing “area” and hope Len can be more specific. My feelings are that the 3rd beach was to the East of the inlet /waterway. I’ll report back.
     
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  10. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

  11. Cass Jones

    Cass Jones Member

    Len says it's not a 3rd tank tank unless it was one they had after the war in Flensburg.
     
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  12. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

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  13. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Thanks, that's really helpful!
     
  14. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Does Len mean that that particular Comet was from another regiment? What struck me about the display caption was that it stated '1944', when I didn't think 3RTR had got their hands on the Comets till after they returned from the Ardennes in January '45. The WD mentions training sessions 16-19th December '44, just after they arrived in Poperinghe, but the impresion I got was that it was more theoretical.
     
  15. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Nice short chat about the Comet here, if you haven't seen it already:



    There's 'CESTUS' again, wish I could get in touch with whoever's involved with the runabout.... :(
     
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  16. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I thought it was a Tank Museum runner, so you could get in touch with them?
     
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  17. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Hi Chris, long time no see/chat! How are things where you are? Unfortunately, the Museum archive has been closed since April (I think?) and I've not had any replies to the emails I've sent (except one to the general email, who replied that once the archive re-opened, they would get back to me). In other words, as Bluebottle would say, "Not a sausage!" Actually, I think it was you who gave me the name of a contact there. Strangely enough, I'd have thought the musem would have cashed in on archive/research activities during lockdown, albeit via online queries and so on. They have the shop up and running quite well online it seems, not sure ewhy they can't do something similar with archive inquiries. :(
     
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  18. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    As Mr Crun said in one episode, "You've got to have the documents you know. You've got to have the documents!" Yes, I see your point. It's a real shame that they decided they couldn't have just one person working in the archives - why not? I would have been happy to have given them licensing money for all the archive photos I might use for my Archer book. I am dreading that when they reopen they will increase those prices
     
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  19. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Not to mention the time it'll take them to reply with the backlog of enquiries they'll have...
     
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  20. Michael Nikov

    Michael Nikov Member

    Hello everyone. I wanted to share a composite image of a Comet from B Squadron of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment named "Cobra-Therese" (side image sourced from this 3RTR thread). The tank commander in the photograph has been identified as Captain Freddy Munro Dingwall, 2IC of B Squadron 3 RTR by his son, but upon closer inspection, it looks more like the CO Major William "Bill" Close, no? I am curious to see what others think about this.
     

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