Hello All and especially Diane I am trying to research Lt Michael George Ralph Nevill 1st Bn. Scots Guards I have the details from the CWGC - he was killed in action 28 April 1943 during the action for [FONT="]Jebel Bou Aoukaz [/FONT] NEVILL, MICHAEL GEORGE RALPH Lieutenant (132233) 1st Bn. Scots Guards Killed in action 28/04/1943 aged 26 years old Son of Percy Llewelyn and Marjorie Nevill; husband of Maureen Ethne David Nevill, of West Malling, Kent. Grave/Memorial Reference: V. N. 19. Massicault War Cemetery Lt. Michael George Ralph Nevill was born on 19 June 1917. He was the son of Percy Llewelyn Nevill and Marjorie Nevill. Lt. Michael George Ralph Nevill married Maureen Ethné David Rhodes on 27 July 1940. Lt. Michael George Ralph Nevill died on 28 April 1943 at North Africa at age 25; killed in action. Children of Lt. Michael George Ralph Nevill and Maureen Ethné David Rhodes * David Michael Ralph Nevill1 b. 20 Jun 1941 * Michael George Rathmore Nevill1 b. 14 Jul 1943 London Gazette 31 May 1940 p.3261 – Gazette No. 34861 published 28 May 1940 The undermentioned Cadets, from 162nd, 164th, 165th, 166th, and Sandhurst Officer Cadet Training Units, to be 2nd Lts. 25th May 1940:— S. G'ds. Sir Francis Henry Rivers ASTLEY-CORBETT, Bt. (132224). Henry John Alexander DUMSMURE (132228). Harold Thomas Brash MORISON (132232). Alexander Henry Moncaster THAVENOT (132237). David Henry BUTTER (132225). Archibald James COATS (132159). Reginald Arthur Charles GORDON-LENNOX (132229). William John GUNTHER (132230). Rupert Iain Kay MONCREIFFE (132231). Thomas Charles David -RUSSELL (132235). John Samuel STOCKTON (132236). Ian Melville CALVOCORESSI (132226). Bertram Dudley CARRIS (132227). Michael George Ralph NEVILL (132233). John Charles Abercromby ROPER (132234). [FONT="] Thanks to earlier posting I have the details from TNA document DO35/1211 giving an overview of the Guards in Tunisia and then more detail from the Times 26 June 1943 - both are excellent. Diane - is there any mention of him in the history of the Scots Guards? Also the [/FONT]THE GUARDS AT MARETH by Brigadier J. A. GASCOIGNE gives a wonderful description of this part of the Guards Brigade action - does it go on to cover the later battles? I am not a family member and therefore cannot apply for Lt Nevill's service record. Does anyone have any further avenues to explore? All the best Andrew
Hi Andrew and welcome to the forum. I'll check the History for you and come back later if I find anything. Generally speaking Officers, esp those who were KIA etc are mentioned by name if only briefly. I'm afraid The Guards at Mareth is a small pamphlet, and I believe I transcribed the entire text. Due to the MOD 25 year rule, you can apply for copy of service records. See the link below for the MOD's terms: Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel If you don't wish to apply for records, you might like to contact Scots Guards Archivist and see if there is anything that they might be able to share. They are very busy but generally their response rate is much quicker than the MOD in Glasgow. See also Post no. 7 of the thread I linked to as it has Cat. No details for War Diaries held at Kew. Regards Diane
The Scots Guards 1919 - 1955, David Erskine: Orbat, page 544: FIRST BATTALION, SCOTS GUARDS 26th February 1943 On Embarkation for North Africa Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel The Viscount DALRYMPLE RIGHT FLANK Company Commander Captain T.F.R. BULKELEY Second-in-Command Captain F.G. MANN Platoon Commanders Lieutenant M.R.G. NEVILL Lieutenant J.L. SINCLAIR Lieutenant H.A.W. SMITH page 148: In the meantime to the west Right Flank had almost reached the top of the Bou, but was held up by very heavy point-blank fire from the summit and the flanks; fifty yards from the top snipers took a very heavy toll; Lieutenant M.G.R. NEVILL and his servant Guardsman GREEN, two well-known characters in the Battalion, were among those killed. Guardsman ALEXANDER MCKAY GREEN 2693126, 1st Bn., Scots Guards who died age 37 on 29 April 1943 Son of William Green and of Mary Green (nee McKay); husband of Ethel Mary Green (nee Drysdale), of Poulton, Wallasey, Cheshire. Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY Grave/Memorial Reference: V. N. 11. CWGC :: Casualty Details Lieutenant Nevill's grave ref is Grave/Memorial Reference: V. N. 19. Using Geoff's Search Engine, those from the 1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS who died on 29th April '43 (some may have DoW received previous to that date): 001 Link ADAM J 2697069 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. K. 12. 002 Link BARRETT DA 2698832 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS III. D. 5. 003 Link BATCHELOR CGC 2699885 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. H. 14. 004 Link BROWNE HC 2696377 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS I. D. 20. 005 Link BUCHANAN T 2697200 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 14. 006 Link COCKBURN RL 2696991 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. F. 9. 007 Link CROYDON EV 2694224 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. H. 8. 008 Link DONALD J 2974474 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS IV. C. 20. 009 Link FREEMAN FE 2693831 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. H. 9. 010 Link GREEN AM 2693126 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 11. 011 Link HENDERSON WJ 2699050 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS COLL. GRAVE V. N. 2. 012 Link HUNT W 2697348 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. F. 1. 013 Link LANCASHIRE C 2699810 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 12. 014 Link LITTLEFAIR J 2696009 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS JOINT GRAVE V. N. 2. 015 Link MACDONALD AB 2697463 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. M. 17. 016 Link MACKENZIE D 2697830 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS 1. D. 12. 017 Link MACNEIL JA 2697296 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 18. 018 Link MCCLURE A 2699969 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. L. 9. 019 Link MCEACHEN R 2697464 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 8. 020 Link MUNRO K 2697068 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. L. 15. 021 Link MURRAY L 2698837 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 7. 022 Link NICOL T 2694474 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. M. 14. 023 Link PORTER J 2701003 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS III. C. 17. 024 Link SANDBACH R 2696471 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 10. 025 Link SCOTT KBR 829113 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. C. 13. 026 Link TERRELL CEJ 2696038 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. F. 3. 027 Link WALL FG 2691643 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 9. 028 Link WELLS AB 844178 1ST BN 29/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS IV. E. 20.
Thank you Diane I have already started my letter to the Guards archivist and will persue that route for the personnel records. The NA for the battalion diary is also on the list and thanks for the references. The small snippet of information at least provides some detail of Lt Nevill and his Guardsman's fate and by the looks of the results from Geoff's engine a very hard fought battle it was too, - 28 KIA. I will probably spend a bit of time at Kew and look at the other Battalions in the Brigade and get a larger overview of the action. Does the history of the Scots Guards give much detail of the fighting? Right flank was one company? Is there an identifying number or letter for this company and I presume that there was a Left flank? Were there any gallantry awards for this action so that I might look up the citations. Thanks for your help Andrew
Hello Andrew/Diane, Just a note that Lt Nevill was KIA on the 28 April 1943, not the 29th. Those that were, or appear to have been, KIA on the 28th were: 001 BRYDON J 2697375 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS III. G. 14. 002 DOHERTY MH 2700306 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS 3. D. 20. 003 KENNEDY SC 2695405 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. H. 12. 004 NEVILL MGR 132233 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 19. 005 PORTER W 2697572 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. F. 18. 006 ROBSON RG 2697530 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 1. 007 WILKINSON HJ 2699824 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. N. 17. 008 YOUNG L 2693074 1ST BN 28/04/1943 SCOTS GUARDS V. K. 14. It looks like Guardsman Green died of wounds on the 29th. I trust this assists. Best, Steve.
2 of the rifle Coys were denoted Right Flank and Left Flank, the others being B and C. This thread lists gallantry awards for the Regiment as per TNA documentsonline. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/scots-guards/37973-gallantry-awards-honours-scots-guards.html I am in the process of adding each image and a transcription of the citation. I'm afraid owing to the volume of work for all 5 regiments, I have not yet completed my spreadsheet and so cannot yet offer you a breakdown of anything relating the a specific action. I intend to add a full index which will include dates for actions. Also the list in the thread has not yet been cross referenced with any ROH - there are bound to be omissions, esp in the case of MiDs, few of which survive in the archives. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/geoffs-search-engine/30372-tna-wo-373-recommendations-honours-awards.html Geoff has compiled lists by theatre and if you search for the bn within that you could narrow your search down and then keep checking my thread or look them up from free yourself, using instructions and spreadsheet here http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/14038-national-archives-kew%3B-recommendations-medals-2.html The SG goes into some detail of the action, unfortunately too much for me to transcribe. N&M Press offer a p/b reprint of the History. Scots Guards 1919-1955 - Naval & Military Press 2nd hand DAVID ERSKINE - SCOTS GUARDS - AbeBooks Can I ask what your interest is in Lt. Nevill? Thanks for adding the 28th Steve. I can't speculate on the status of Gdsm Green's death. There may be a ref published in The Times Army casualty to KIA/DOW status (the SG ROH does supply this information). Variations of a day for the same action do happen simply by how the information was processed by the regiment, and when. It can simply be the date the body was discovered therefore death confirmed. Missing personnel reports would also contain info supplied by POWs. The History does mention that the wounded were left on the slopes longer than was to be expected, as the following day 29th when the MO and bearers went out to tend them (30), they were taken prisoner by the Germans.
Thanks again Diane A friend of mine has taken over the Nevill Bull pub in Birling - this was renamed after Lt Nevill in 1954 (it was previously just the Bull). I thought I might do some kind of write up for the pub to commemorate Lt Nevill. best Andrew
