13782 Brigadier Gerard Herbert MOLE, DSO*, MC, Cdg. 129th Infantry Brigade: 14/11/1944

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by La-de-da-Gunner Graham, Nov 14, 2012.

  1. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Remembering today:

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    BRIGADIER GERARD HERBERT LEO MOLE
    Service Number: 13782
    Awards: Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Military Cross
    Regiment & Unit/Ship: General Staff, Cdg. 129th Inf. Bde.
    Date of Death: Died 14 November 1944
    Age 47 years old
    Buried or commemorated at BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY
    Grave Reference: II. 82.
    Location: Netherlands
    Additional Info: Son of Philip and Annie Kathleen Mole; husband of Claire Marie Mole, of Worth, Kent.
    Personal Inscription: THERE'S SOME CORNER OF A FOREIGN FIELD THAT IS FOR EVER ENGLAND


    :poppy: Remembered with honour.
     
  2. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Brig. Mole's grave in Brunssum.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    From 43rd Div History. page 166.

    ..the minefields laid by 84th US Division would cause a certain amount of difficulty. At that time, little was know as to their exact location. Brigade commanders were therefore ordered to decide where they would debouch and to lift the mines. In this task the RE were to give all the help they could. Altogether it was eventually found that no less than fourteen hundred mines would have to be lifted to enable 214 Brigade to break out.
    By the morning of 14th Novenber, 204 Field Company had picked up a considerable number of these American mines and loaded them on lorries. Major Evill, the Company Commander, decided to dump them near the Custom House on the German border, where 129 Brigade Headquarters was established. The lorries arrived here soon after and No 1 Platoon started unloading them. During the morning Brigadier Mole had a tour of his line. On returning he noticed this unusual activity going on close to his Headquarters and walked over to find out why this particular site had been chosen. As he approached seven hundred mines spontaneously detonated. There was an appalling explosion which blew a crater thirty feet across and five feet deep. No fewer than fourteen men of No1 Platoon were instantaneously killed and Brigadier Mole and six sappers seriously wounded. Brigadier Mole......died the same evening.
     
  4. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Thanks for your update, Owen.
    Brigadier Mole was my next door neighbour's brigade commander. He said the explosion could be heard for miles.
    Also remembering, of course, the others who perished in this explosion.

    Keith
     
  5. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    From Brunssum last Sunday. He's alongside the Sappers who were killed when the mines detonated.

    Captain Harry Peace, Adjutant 5th Wiltshire’s wrote:

    He was a big man in every sense of the word, above average height, thickset with black hair and bushy black eyebrows. His manner was naturally relaxed and his expression friendly –but his ‘black looks’ were very black indeed. A fighting soldier with a MC from the First World War and a DSO for leading his Royal Ulster Rifles at Dunkirk in 1940. He went as far to the seat of action as was possible for a Brigadier. He had a great understanding of soldiers and what they were expected to do, and the cost involved. He inspired loyalty – a great loss.

    Incidentally, as commander of 129 Infantry brigade he was replaced by a certain J.O.E Vandeleur.

    Capture.JPG

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    Capture.JPG
     
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  6. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

  7. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    There's a further 47 men buried at Brunssum who were killed when an estimated 2400 Anti-Tank grenades detonated on 7th January 1945. This happened just to the south of Tripsrath Wood near Geilenkirchen. The men, 30 of whom were sappers and the other 17 from the KOSB where in a column when the detonation occurred near the front of that column which spread along it as a chain reaction. For the men dug in at Tripsrath the pressure wave from the explosion was like one they'd never experienced before or would since. A truly terrible accident.
     
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  8. smdarby

    smdarby Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the info Jonathan. Your message reminded me that I posted this a couple of years ago and didn't get a reply.

    Brunssum War Cemetery Graves 7/1/45

    Better late than never to learn new information! (probably my own fault - I should have searched "Brunssum" before starting a new thread).
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2019
  9. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Shaun

    The second incident you refer to was Sgt Alex McAllan and three men, again all of 4/KOSB who were killed in a blast whilst lifting a Riegel Mine. This incident happened after the earlier blast and both are recorded in Peter White's superb memoir With the Jocks.
     
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  10. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Further details on the explosion mentioned above on 7 January 1945 from the War Diary of 4/KOSB. Of those killed in the blast only the body parts of 14 men were identifiable. Note that the power of the blast also blew a previously knocked out Sherman Tank clean off the road and onto its side in a ditch.

    7 January.jpg
     
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  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Personal Number: 13782
    Rank: Brigadier
    Name: Gerard Herbert Leo MOLE, DSO & Bar, MC
    Units: Royal Ulster Rifles; Commander 129 Infantry Brigade


    London Gazette : 6 April 1916
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29537/supplement/3685/data.pdf
    The undermentioned Gentleman Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 7th April, 1916:—
    The Royal Irish Rifles.
    Gerard Herbert Leo Mole.

    London Gazette : 21 December 1916
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29874/supplement/12454/data.pdf
    The undermentioned are seed, for service with Machine-Gun Corps:—
    R. Irish Rif.—23rd Oct. 1916: —
    2nd Lt. G. H. L. Mole.

    London Gazette : 6 May 1918
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30670/supplement/5446/data.pdf
    The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts.
    R. Ir. Rif.—G. H. L. Mole, and to remain secd. 7th Oct. 1917.

    London Gazette : 3 February 1920
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31764/supplement/1375/data.pdf
    AWARDED THE MILITARY CBOSS.
    Lt. Gerard Herbert Leo Mole, R. Ir. Rif., attd. 8th Bn., M.G. Corps.

    London Gazette : 29 April 1924
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32931/page/3424/data.pdf
    R. U. Rif.—
    Lt. G. H. L. Mole, M.C., is restd. to the estabt. 24th Mar. 1924.

    London Gazette : 13 October 1925
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33092/page/6615/data.pdf
    R.U. Rif.—
    Lt. G. H. L. Mole, M.C., to be Capt. 17th Sept. 1925.

    London Gazette : 15 March 1935
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34142/page/1808/data.pdf
    6th C. of Lond. R.—
    Capt. G. H. L. Mole, M.C., R.U.Rif.,to be Adjt. 1st Mar.1935.

    London Gazette : 22 March 1935
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34144/page/1981/data.pdf
    R.U. Rif.—
    Capt..G. H. L. Mole, M.C., is secd, for serv. as an Adjt., T.A. 1st Mar. 1935.

    London Gazette : 14 February 1936
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34255/page/976/data.pdf
    R.U. Rif.—Capt. G. H. L. Mole, M.C., is secd, whilst holding the appt. of Garr. Adjt., Bordon. 1st Feb. 1936.

    London Gazette : 20 August 1940
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34926/supplement/5076/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the! undermentioned awards for gallant and distinguished services in action in connection with recent operations:—
    The Distinguished Service Order.
    Major (acting Lieutenant-Colonel) Gerard Herbert Leo Mole, M.C., The Royal Ulster Rifles.

    London Gazette : 20 June 1944
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36576/supplement/2977/data.pdf
    R.U. Rif.
    Maj. (War Subs. Lt.-Col.) G. H. L. Mole, D.S.O., M.C. (13782), to be Lt.-Col. 24th May 1944.

    London Gazette : 19 October 1944
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36753/supplement/4785/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe: —
    Bar to the Distinguished Service Order.
    Brigadier (temporary) Gerard Herbert Leo Mole, D.S.O., M.C. (13782), The Royal Ulster Rifles (Taunton).
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

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