After the disbandment of the 24th Lancers, at the end of July 1944, a number of ex-24th Lancers went to the 5RTR. Refs. i.e. 24th Lancers Regimental Nominal Roll and Postings August 1944 Albeit in the case of 24th Lancer transfers to the 5RTR these seem to have been somewhat different - with evidence of direct transfer from 24th to 5RTR lacking, and cases of individuals being transferred to 5RTR subsequently. Editing in progress... Will be similar in format to... 24th Lancer transfers to the 2nd Fife and Forfars Some 5RTR links... 5th Royal Tank Regiment - Wikipedia Mark Urban - The Tank War BBC Two - Tankies: Tank Heroes of World War II - 5th Royal Tank Regiment... the perfect choice The Diary of Sgt. J.R. Wardrop-Jake-of 5th Royal Tank Regiment, Nov. 1940-Jan. 1944. (Edited by Jack Garnett.) [With Plates and a Map.]. Google - preview - Jake Wardrop's Diary 5RTR - Armour Regiments Page IWM - audio - Smith, Eric (Oral history) Example of 5RTR on Fb... https://m.facebook.com/groups/1439427672936446/ And 5RTR ww2 post(s)... https://m.facebook.com/groups/1439427672936446/permalink/1928485364030672/
For example... (Nb. Editing in progress) NCO's... Sergeant John Charles Leonard Hovells Military Medal... 20th April 1945 - with 5RTR... http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9298998 Nb. As a Corporal / Acting Lance Sergeant with the 24th Lancers John Charles Leonard Hovells, MM - 4537030 An unposted reinforcement attached to 266FDS on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers. Military medal with 5RTR. Lance Corporal J.E. Lewis - 3961781 Driver / wireless operator in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Transferred to the 1RTR on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers. Shown later however as having been wounded later with the 5RTR - 14d4m1945. Also he was later MID... Notices | All Notices | The Gazette... War Office, 4th April, 1946. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe: — Royal Armoured Corps. 3961781 Tpr. J. E. LEWIS. Corporal (later Sergeant) Ronald/Ronnie (Titch) Roper - 7897123 Driver/mechanic in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Transferred to 1RTR on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers and thereafter to the 5RTR. Uncertain - Corporal / Lance Sergeant A.F.C. Mills - 6200230 Driver / wireless operator in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Transferred to 1RTR on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers, possibly then (as some others did) went to 5RTR. Troopers... Trooper Stanley (Stan) A. Goodman - 7948764 Gunner/ mechanic in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers Transferred to the 1RTR on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers and thereafter, almost immediately on to 5RTR. Trooper E. Pearce - 7887986 Driver / mechanic in "HQ" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. An unposted reinforcement attached to 270 FDS on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers. - Later possibly 5RTR. Trooper F.W. "Bill" Stebbing... see... Overview of armoured vehicle delivery? Forward Delivery Squadrons, etc Trooper Frederick Peter "Pete" Ward - 7904761 Driver / wireless operator in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Transferred to 1RTR on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers and thereafter to 5RTR. Trooper F.W. Webb - 14370278 Gunner/Wireless operator in "HQ" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. An unposted reinforcement attached to 37 RHU on the disbandment of the 24th Lancers. - Later possibly 5RTR. (Overall the number of former 24th Lancers that were subsequently transferred in to the 5RTR is currently unknown - at least to me ;-) hence the editing in progress etc )
Some events... 20th April 1945 - Sergeant John Charles Leonard Hovells Military Medal... 20th April 1945 - with 5RTR... http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9298998 (Editing in progress)
Possibly 5RTR... There may be former 24th Lancers in this picture. The officer at the head of the table is perhaps 5RTR, but unlikely himself to be ex24th L. There's a half dozen 5RTR pictures here... Men of the Desert Rats ...So I didn't expect to find any matches, however, I guess that there may be a small chance, perhaps, of a possibility of a match with the individual at the top on the right with the seated individual, second from the right in the lower picture... Of course, not a great leap forward as the top picture merely says... "Sherman Fireflies and some crews, Germany 1945" - Men of the Desert Rats
While I don't have copies of the 5 RTR war diary for Jul/Aug 44 I checked out Edward Wilson's 'Press on Regardless - Story of 5 RTR in WW2' as this has entries from the diary at the end of each chapter. For Aug 44 I note the entry for the 17th which states that '40 fresh reinforcements arrive to replace personnel unsuitable in the unit'. Perhaps the 24L men were among the 40.
There is mention here... Ronald Ryder's active service in the 5th RTR - C Squadron Also, of 40 Men joining the 5RTR on August 17th 1944 - and recounting thereafter the experience of one of them.
Re. Sergeant Robert Cecil Thomas Hicks - 7883390 Prior to D-Day he served in "B" Squadron of the 24th Lancers He then seems to have been transferred to the 5 RTR - just prior to D-Day... Recommendation for Award for Hicks, Robert Cecil Thomas Rank: Serjeant ... | The National Archives 8th June 1944 - Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star - 5 RTR -