11th Armoured Division: From Normandy to the Baltic

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by Bleblond, Aug 21, 2020.

  1. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    This thread is dedicated to the British 11th Armoured Division. I've set it up so people who were in the Division, their relatives and anyone else who's interested, can share information, memories and photos in parallel with the facebook group: Facebook Groups
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    Here is some news on the Facebook Group: 11th Armoured Division: From Normandy to the Baltic as well as the site I created inspired by adam's excellent work
    I just finished copying the 1945 War Diary for 1st Herefordshire and 1944 for 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
    Many thanks to Danny Rees and Andy Taylor from Herefordshire Regimental Museum and Jeroen Koppes from tracesofwar.com for sharing them.
    11th Armoured Division - WAR DIARIES
     
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  3. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    I worked on the "roll of Honour" of 11th armoured today 11th Armoured Division - ROLL OF HONOUR
    Following Robert's advice to get the book "Taurus Pursuant: A History of 11th Armoured Division" I was able to compare with the CGWC files.
    Here is a list of the names recorded by the cgwc as part of a regiment of the 11th armoured but which do not appear in taurus pursuant.
    What is your opinion?
    Are they members of the division, transferred to another (in this case I registered them as a veteran) or people forgotten on the division's honor roll.
    11TH ARMOURED DIVISION
    • Trooper 7890862 MARLING JAMES 11/08/1946
    11TH ARMOURED DIVISION SIGNALS
    • Signalman 10576679 BROWN HAROLD WALTER WOODROW 23/02/1945
    • Driver 2363707 BRADY JOHN 10/08/1945
    • Serjeant 2363773' CLAXTON EDWARD GEORGE FREDERICK 17/01/1946
    • Serjeant 2327579' GITTINGS RONALD WILLIAM 09/04/1946
    • Signalman 2341664' CARTER FRANK WILLIAM 26/04/1946
    13TH (HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY) ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
    • Lance Bombardier 981872' BLACKITH ARNOLD 01/05/1945
    151ST (THE AYRSHIRE YEOMANRY) FIELD REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
    • Lance Bombardier 977185' McKINLAY SAMUEL 31/07/1944
    • Gunner 322108' WHITE JOHN 01/08/1944
    • Gunner 1089044' GOULD WILLIAM EDGAR 31/08/1944
    • Lance Bombardier 980390' INKERSOLE PETER WILLIAM 05/10/1944
    • Gunner 14319592' FEWSTER EDWARD JAMES WILLIAM 14/02/1945
    • Gunner 4752354' POWER MICHAEL 14/02/1945
    • Serjeant 977364' HARROWER JOHN 28/07/1945
    15TH/19TH THE KING'S ROYAL HUSSARS
    • Trooper 14290041' FURNESS ALBERT MARSHALL 25/11/1944
    • Trooper 321299' WRAY IRVING HALLSWORTH 14/12/1944
    • Trooper 4626874' MALLEY LESLIE 02/03/1945
    • Trooper 557147' SMITH BASIL FRANK 03/03/1945
    • Lance Corporal 554784' LIVETT ROLAND ERIC 14/03/1945
    • Trooper 14416296' LEIGH THOMAS HEYS 06/04/1945
    • Trooper 4758067' GREEN JAMES LAURENCE 10/12/1945
    1ST CHESHIRE
    • Private 14707335' KANE DONALD 15/04/1945
    • Private 4122751' VAUGHAN CHARLES 01/05/1945
    • Private 4130656' HODKINSON WILLIAM 09/08/1945
    1ST HEREFORDSHIRE
    • Private 5127545' LITTLE JOHN PATRICK 29/06/1944
    • Corporal 4037817' WILLIAMSON THOMAS JEFFREY 03/07/1944
    • Corporal 4105735' BATEMAN GEORGE 05/07/1944
    • Private 4036209' TAYLOR HARRY 30/07/1944
    • Private 4027918' STRINGER GEORGE 14/08/1944
    • Private 14438587' SHELTON THOMAS JOHN 04/09/1944
    • Private 2050972' QUINCEY ERIC LEIGH 29/09/1944
    • Private 3911826' CASTREE RONALD GEORGE 17/10/1944
    • Private 4104366' HERBERT THOMAS WILLIAM 17/10/1944
    • Private 3663831' STOPFORTH ROBERT 17/10/1944
    • Private 4105646' LEWIS WILLIAM 27/01/1945
    • Lance Corporal 980589' GIBSON REGINALD 01/03/1945
    • Private 14576892' KEMP CECIL EDWARD JOHN 31/03/1945
    • Private 14645799' MOLONEY JOHN LESLIE 01/04/1945
    • Private 14801646' WELLS JOHN STANLEY 07/04/1945
    • Private 14808730' BOWDEN CHRISTOPHER BYRON 15/04/1945
    • Private 14846157' MARRIOTT STANLEY 21/04/1945
    • Private 14814163' GODDARD EDWARD JOHN 26/05/1945
    • Corporal 5436834' ALLINSON ALBERT WILLIAM 21/07/1945
    • Private 978874' GOODWIN FREDERICK CHARLES VICTOR 04/10/1945
    • Private 4038468' POWELL ARTHUR WILLIAM 31/12/1945
    • Private 1828715' CLARKSON HERBERT 09/03/1946
    23RD HUSSARS
    • Trooper 14287368' POPE WILLIAM ARTHUR 27/06/1944
    • Trooper 14293097' ROBINSON FRANK LAWRENCE 23/07/1944
    • Lieutenant 269461' WALKER ALAN MICHAEL 26/07/1944
    • Trooper 7960920' SARSON CHARLES TERENCE 09/09/1944
    • Trooper 14224319' NEWTON EDWARD GRAHAM 04/11/1944
    • Trooper 13051589' WEIL MEINHARD RONALD 04/11/1944
    • Corporal 7929750' POOLER CHARLES 06/04/1945
    2ND FIFE AND FORFAR YEOMANRY
    • Trooper 410451' LUDLOW KENNETH REGINALD 01/04/1945
    • Trooper 14407933' WOOD CLEMENT JOHN 19/05/1945
    • Trooper 7939740' SYMONDS HERBERT FREDERICK 05/10/1945
    • Trooper 7943071' THOMSON ADAM ALEXANDER 05/10/1945
    • Warrant Officer Class II 7879681' MARCHANT EDWARD FRANCIS 27/01/1946
    2ND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE YEOMANRY
    • Serjeant 14290042' GARDNER DENNIS 08/06/1944
    • Lance Corporal 7912015' BURNELL FREDERICK HENRY 18/08/1944
    • Lance Corporal 7952150' ROBERTS DAVID EDWARD 18/08/1944
    3RD MONMOUTHSHIRE
    • Private 14281104' HOLDER CLIFFORD 28/06/1944
    • Private 4081424' OWEN IVOR PRICE 28/06/1944
    • Private 3915314' WILLMETTS EDWIN JOHN 19/07/1944
    • Private 3912061' WILLIAMS TREVOR 05/08/1944
    • Private 1398133' HARPER WALTER MIDDLETON 20/08/1944
    • Private 5118355' HARBONE WILLIAM REGINALD 30/08/1944
    • Private 13011249' BARBER GEORGE FRANCIS 05/09/1944
    • Private 14200830' HARRIS JOHN ALLUN 21/09/1944
    • Private 3913971' EVANS LEONARD 17/10/1944
    • Private 14682320' MIRFIELD RAYMOND HARRIS 12/11/1944
    • Corporal 5956585' BAYNES GEORGE ALFRED 03/02/1945
    • Private 4918401' HARRISON NOEL PERCY 16/02/1945
    • Corporal 14651992' STONE WILLIAM (BILL) 25/02/1945
    • Private 14772816' BURGESS GEOFFREY PETER 01/03/1945
    • Private 5114350' HARDWICK KENNETH ARTHUR 06/03/1945
    • Serjeant 4079913' PARRY DAVID THOMAS 21/03/1945
    • Private 14374255' MATTHEWS ARTHUR ALBERT 02/04/1945
    • Private 14716136' REEVES MAURICE HAMILTON 02/04/1945
    • Private 14660109' KNIGHT CHARLES REGINALD 03/04/1945
    3RD ROYAL TANK
    • Trooper 7931634' CONNELLY HENRY 29/06/1944
    • Trooper 14416992' WADLEY THOMAS OSCAR 29/06/1944
    • Trooper 2824994' FAULDS WILLIAM 30/06/1944
    • Trooper 14356587' HOLWILL LESLIE EDWARD 18/07/1944
    • Corporal 7893700' READ HERBERT 18/07/1944
    • Trooper 4623841' WOODWARD GEORGE 18/07/1944
    • Trooper 7934363' TAYLOR SIDNEY WILLIAM 19/07/1944
    • Trooper 3456702' EATOCK ALFRED 23/07/1944
    • Trooper 4621014' HARDING GEORGE PERCY FRANK 20/08/1944
    • Trooper 14425636' MITCHELL HENRY JOHN 23/08/1944
    • Lance Corporal 3653388' GRIFFIN DONALD 17/10/1944
    • Lance Corporal 7948424' BLAIR ARCHIBALD GOURLAY 16/12/1944
    • Trooper 14423878' ROGERS WILLIAM THOMAS 18/12/1944
    • Trooper 7877835' EVANS TREVOR WILLIAM 19/01/1945
    • Trooper 3446230' McCANN PETER 19/02/1945
    • Trooper 14403904' VARTY STANLEY 01/04/1945
    • Trooper 7889795' FORSTER JAMES HERBERT 12/04/1945
    • Lieutenant 311833' DEWICK HENRY BERNARD 18/04/1945
    • Trooper 558697' MOORE WILLIAM 26/04/1945
    • Trooper 3780853' BURKE JOHN 07/05/1945
    • Lance Corporal 5053514' RENSHAW LESLIE MILES 20/06/1945
    • Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant 7901537' BAKER DOUGLAS 15/01/1946
    4TH KING'S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
    • Private 4036464' THORLEY FREDERICK WILLIAM 30/06/1944
    • Lance Corporal 4105854' MATTHEWS EDWARD FRANCIS GEORGE 09/07/1944
    • Private 4036979' JONES ALBERT HENRY 21/07/1944
    • Private 13045954' WILLIAMS FREDERICK GLYNDWR 04/08/1944
    • Private 4035554' ROGERS PERCY 07/08/1944
    • Private 4041990' MASON ERNEST THOMAS 17/08/1944
    • Private 5341858' LAZARUS VICTOR ERNEST 12/09/1944
    • Private 4040369' CLAYBROOK JOHN EDWARD 05/10/1944
    • Private 4039262' HODGETTS BERTRAM RICHARD 28/12/1944
    • Private 4035332' GREENHOUSE GEORGE CHARLES 30/12/1944
    • Corporal 4036361' HARPER WILFRED CLIFFORD 04/01/1945
    • Private 14341459' GRIFFIN THOMAS ROBERT 29/01/1945
    • Lance Corporal 3776389' McCARTHY LAWRENCE 26/02/1945
    • Private 1769823' GITTINGS RONALD 01/03/1945
    • Private 14801471' WOODS FRED 02/04/1945
    • Captain 109553' MILLER DENIS BASIL 23/04/1945
    • Private 2081027' BENNETT WILLIAM EDWARD 02/05/1945
    • Private 14410754' LEANEY WILLIAM BURNETT 11/05/1945
    • Corporal 14727791' MABBLEY RONALD 13/09/1945
    • Private 4037492' BASKEYFIELD WILLIAM 23/09/1945
    • Private 5508501' McDOUGALL DOUGLAS ALEXANDER 30/12/1945
    58TH LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT (ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS) ROYAL ARTILLERY
    • Gunner 1701512' DEATHRIDGE WALTER RICHARD 21/10/1944
    • Gunner 1824302' BURROWS JOSEPH 25/12/1944
    • Gunner 1833433' BUDD ERIC HENRY 18/07/1945
    65TH (THE NORFOLK YEOMANRY) ANTI-TANK ROYAL ARTILLERY
    • Gunner 11005309' SIMPKINS EDWIN JOSEPH 21/11/1945
    75TH ANTI-TANK ROYAL ARTILLERY
    • Lance Serjeant 950724' THOMPSON ARNOLD 28/05/1945
    • Lance Bombardier 14262427' SAUNDERS KENNETH ALBERT 04/06/1945
    8TH RIFLE BRIGADE
    • Lance Corporal 6208086' ROSS ALAN JOHN 27/06/1944
    • Rifleman 6925041' ROOKE JOSEPH HENRY 29/06/1944
    • Lieutenant 232597' LANE MICHAEL 01/07/1944
    • Captain 207520' BORTHWICK PETER GEORGE ALEXANDER 15/11/1944
    • Rifleman 14416730' BARTLETT WILSON CLIFFORD GEORGE 19/05/1945
    • Rifleman 14497417' HARBOTT GEORGE 23/06/1945
    • Rifleman 6917008' COWLING WILLIAM GEORGE 18/12/1945
    • Rifleman 6852387' HOLT FRANCIS GEORGE JAMES 18/12/1945
    INNS OF COURT REGIMENT
    • Corporal 7934216' PUTNAM JOHN HENRY 14/06/1945
    • Corporal 7909267' BARNES JAMES 23/06/1945
    • Trooper 7910261' DOUGAN THOMAS 08/11/1945
    • Corporal 7959252' CRAIG JOHN HERBERT 16/01/1946
    • Trooper 14616246' SEARLE 23/09/1946
    ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
    • Private 7396236' HANKE WILLIAM EDWARD (7 Field Dressing Station)
    • Driver T/150231' JONES GWILYM CLWYD 03/08/1944 (179 Field Amb.)
    • Driver T/14735406' BARRETT JOHN 14/03/1945 (179 Field Amb.)
    ROYAL ENGINEERS
    • Sapper 14258030' WEBB RONALD SYDNEY 10/03/1944
    • Sapper 14258919' LYON HUGH 31/08/1945
    • Sapper 2070984' FREE EDWARD 16/02/1946
     
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  4. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    I can confirm that all the 23rd Hussars men listed above were indeed members of the Regiment. Charlie Pooler is missing from some sources as he committed suicide. Meinhard Weil also used the surname Winster.
     
  5. adbw

    adbw Active Member


    Billy
    I’ve only just seen this now - congratulations on your excellent site! I know how much work goes into transcribing war diaries. A great contribution! Somebody might eventually get round to doing the rest of VIII Corps in the Normandy campaign ..
    Adam
     
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  6. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    BBR (Black Bull Research) team.

    *****CALLING ALL MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP WITH ACCESS TO GENEALOGY SITES*****
    We have reached the milestone of locating 200 of the potential 1915 photographs of the Fallen of The 11th Armoured Division.

    Always seeking alternative methods of locating more photographs.
    Recently, Cheryl Stannard, a supporter of my ongoing project, quickly located 3 photographs, with only limited research time, using one of the major genealogy sites.
    She did so by searching for soldiers (hopefully with photographs attached) within existing family trees.

    I AM SEEKING GROUP MEMBERS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO CARRY OUT FURTHER SEARCHES.
    PERHAPS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEARCH A REGIMENT THAT YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN?

    If you declare an interest to me I could ensure that there is no overlap in the research.

    You can work at your own pace, devoting whatever time you can spare. No pressure whatsoever.

    The 11th Armoured Division Roll of Honour, compiled by Billy LEBLOND, contains details of all 1915 men who died from D-Day 6-6-1944 to 8-5-1945. Individual Regiments / Battalions / Corps / Squadrons etc can be viewed in date of death order.
    The link to the Roll of Honour is 11th Armoured Division - ROLL OF HONOUR
    With regard to the photographs already found, my latest posts within our group will always carry up to date lists. I split them into 2 groups: Normandy Campaign 6-6-44 to 31-8-44 and post Normandy Campaign 1-9-44 to 8-5-45.

    PLEASE CONSIDER THIS REQUEST SERIOUSLY AND MESSAGE ME IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO HELP, DECLARING A PREFERENCE TO A PARTICULAR REGIMENT IF YOU HAVE ONE.

    I am very committed to this ongoing project. Photograph No.1 out of the 200 is of my uncle Joseph Alfred Curtis (attached).
    77 years after the event I find it very fitting and worthwhile to be able to reveal the human faces behind the statistics, and to ensure that the photographs of these heroes are contained in a collection that can be viewed by all of us.

    I HOPE THAT THERE ARE GROUP MEMBERS WHO SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM, AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SERIOUS INROADS INTO FINDING THE POTENTIAL 1715 PHOTOGRAPHS NOT YET FOUND.

    THANK YOU.
    Post FACEBOOK from ROBERT CURTIS on Saturday October 9th
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1273687546088264/user/100053007229188
     
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  7. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    11th Armoured Division - ISSUE NO. 45 THURSDAY 31st AUGUST 1944
    I just added a new section on the 11th Armoured website.
    "THE BULLETIN" the Division newspaper produced from July 1944 to May 1945 .
    As suggested I created a test page for those who would like to participate in the transcription with the help of google's OCR it is possible to have a text base that must be corrected in google doc.
    If you are interested I plan to start with the August 1944 issues.
     
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  8. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

    THE BULLETIN
    Issue No. 300 Monday 14th May 1945
    NORMANDY - LUBECK, June 13th. 1944 - May 2nd. 1945
    Today is the 300th and final number of "The Bulletin". Its columns have always carried what, at the time, could be told of the Division achievements, but now it becomes possible to give a broader and more detailed picture of the events in which this formation has played so distinguished a part.
    Landing in Normandy on the 13th of June,(D+7) the Division was blooded at the crossing of the Odon and in the fighting around Hill 112. Here was the first test of years of training, of exercises innumerable and of the men who had prepared themselves for such a day. The results of that battle showed that both the material and the way in which it had been fashioned were proof against all that the enemy could master either in experience or in fighting skill. But this was not the real opening for a hard hitting, mobile formation. That chance came in mid-July when the two brigades, with supporting arms, crossed the Lower Orne to give battle in the Caen plain to the east of that much-battered city. At first the day went well but many factors, not least amongst these being the enemy's desperate resolution backed by numerous and well-served 88mm guns, conspired to prevent the unfolding of a plan which was to carry us, and similar formation down the road to Falaise. Bridge-trouble and mud fought hard against us on that day when the 'Tank State' at midnight showed 115 AFVs as being unfit to do further battle. July 18 was a rude blow but recovery, replacement and the resilience of all concerned soon countered what might have been not only a rude but also a crippling blow.
    At the end of July the Division turned westwards and striking south by Caumont, through country which normally must have been the despair of both tankman and infanteer alike, it reached the shade of Le Beny Bocage. There was a brief pause "to coil the spring", which, once released, sent the brigades bounding forward through Flers, Briouze, Ecouche and Argentan to the narrow streets of Laigle. Here took place what "The Times" Special Correspondent called "the strangest dance in my experience". In an article which did not reach Printing House Square until the end of August he told how "On this hot summer night il all made a memorable spectacle of sleeves, who not long ago were engaged in the bitter fighting, or swaying to the familiar fox-trot and tango tunes they knew for so long in Great Britain, but this time whith French partners.
    In the meantime, ifantry had gone forward to force and secure a crossing of the Seine and on the 29th August began the greatest armoured dash ever attempted. From the Seine at Vernon to Antwerp is 340 miles, it was covered in six days. That bald statement embraces a wealth of outstanding achievements - men and machines crashing their way forward to the impossible, sleeping little, eating less, but that time 'getting on'.
    There was the night ride to Amiens, the swift strike across the battlefield of the last war, through Souches to reach the haggard but frantically happy crowds of Lens.
    And then, the greatest leap forward of all - 90 miles in 26 hours from Lens to Antwerp. Here the Correspondent of "Het Handelsblad van Antwerpen" takes up the story :-
    " But even while we stood here, already in the distance the columns of the irresistable British Armoured Division were approching. When I was told on Monday morning "they are in Malines and Boom", I could harly believe my own ears and yet it was true. The broad river Rupel was crossed without any obstacles, thanks to the courage of a civilian, whose name has been given to me. This man extiguished the burning fuse and the bridge was saved. By 11 o'clock the tanks were already in front of the defences of Antwerp.
    The shouts of joy, the scenes of wild enthusiasm - these will never be forgotten, and served as first proof of our gratitude to the heroes of the 11th Armoured Division who covered with dust half dead with fatigue brought us the liberation which had been so long avaited, and was yet entirely unexpected."
    While some then spoke hopefully of Utrecht, the centre line swung inland through Louvain to the approaches of the Albert Canal. There followed the swift and bitter scraps at Hechtel cross roads and another frontier drew near. While the eyes of the world were focussed on Arnhem and on the desperate attempts of the Guards Armoured Division with infantry of the 43rd to break through and jouin up with the gallant First Airborne, this Division was steadily pushing forward to protect the right flank of that glorious but fated enterprise. The infamours 'Poel' country was then to be scene of our endeavours for some time to come. What cold and wet and mud rise from the memory from names like Overloon, Venraij, Meijel, Ijsselstein and Amerika. Winter came and with it began the cold vigil along the banks of the Maas.
    As Christmas drew near the armoured brigade withdrew to re-equip and many an envious glance followed the departing Shermans as they pulled out from Helmond bound for the delights of 'Pop'. Envy was soon turned into admiration as it became known that the brigade had, overnight, been flung into the Battle of the Ardennes. Here, the enemy was striving hard to reach the line of the Meuse but as his spearhead probed forward to reach Dinant they received a hefty crack on the nose from a formation which, according to the book, ought never to have been there. The Sixth Panzer Army never made another yard towards its objective after that smart blow from the 29th.
    At last, the watch on the Maas came to an end and after a brief spell spread out from Boxtel to Borgen on Zoom the Division, with 4th Armoured Brigade under command, was inserted on a narrow front, into the battle beyond the Reichwald. Here, mud and bad going were the real victors but the Division broke all square in a match whith a desperate defence and a vicious terrain. The followed the idyllic fortnight around Louvain and then, as at Aldershot last June, the planes and gliders of 6th Airborne Division flying over were once more the signal to "get cracking". What followed is recent history, still fresh in the minds of all of us and once more the Correspondent of "Het Handelsblad van Antwerpen" comes up with his story :-
    " And the 11th British Armoured Division started again on her glorious march to Munster, to Osnabruck, perhaps to Berlin, to... everywhere where happiness and glory lead to. "
    Like most correspondant who forecast future operations he was a bit out on Berlin for the centre line curved north eastwards and having run a length of some 2,400 miles like that famous 'weary river' it reached the sea, the Baltic, at Lubeck. The long trip brought its losses as well as its triumphs and 10,000 men of the Division fell or were wounded in the battles which brought 100,000 of the enemy into the prisoner of war cages. Now as lineal successors of the hereditary Dukes of Schleswig Helstein the Division sees a new phase in which the compilers of 'The Bulletin' drop the journalist's pen to take up the academic robes of office and to help prepare those men whose feats it has described for their return to civil life.
    11th Armoured Division - ISSUE NO. 300 MONDAY 14th MAY 1945
     
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  9. Bleblond

    Bleblond Active Member

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