276993 Capt Henry 'Buck' Buchanan, RA, 1 (Airlanding) Forward Observation Unit: 19/9/44, Arnhem

I am new to the forum and I am trying to find out more about my grandfather's movements in 1944.

I have a copy of his service record but the information it contains is very limited:

31.01.44 – 13.02.1944 - successfully completed glider training and parachute training at RAF Ringway
16.02.44 – ceased to be attached to unit Airfield Detachment Airbourne Forces on completion of parachute training
27.06.44 – posted to 1 Forward Observation Unit & appointed Acting Captain
20.09.44 – killed by a German hand grenade while defending the bridge at Arnhem

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2658828/henry-sydney-buchanan/

Army Number: 810088

DOB: 13.01.14

He received the 1939/45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal.

I would be grateful if anyone is able to advise me how and where I can find out more detail about where he went in 1944. I believe he was in France at some point as he sent a letter to his younger sister enclosing a 10 franc note and some shells from a beach.

 

Might be worth looking a these, not had time to read them.

1 Forward (Airborne) Observation Unit, RA

1 Forward (Airborne) Observation Unit, RA | ParaData

1 Forward Observation Unit (Airborne) RA - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

https://www.britishmilitaryhistory....tes/124/2019/10/Staff-1-Airborne-Division.pdf

53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, RA

 

Best plan is to post his Service Record so that members can transcribe it, look for clues and advise further.
A/F B103 Casualty and Service Forms usually suffice.

 

Thank you very much for sharing those links. I will have a closer look.

In the meantime I attach Henry's service record. I am most interested in his movements in 1944 but as I said in my earlier message there is very little information to go on.

 

Hello Lucy df.

Should you not have seen it before, extract from Paradata page:

"Captain Buchanan successfully completed glider training and parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 101, from 31 January to 13 February 1944. His course report stated ‘A first class all round performer, good leader and most enthusiastic, has done very well.’ He was posted to 1 Forward Observer Unit (Airborne), Royal Artillery, attached to 2 Battalion Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).
Capt. Buchanan was killed in action on 19 September 1944, aged 30, by a shell near the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Groesbeek memorial to the missing."

The complete entry can be found here:

Henry S Buchanan | ParaData

Good luck with your searching.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

#4 Looks like an old MoD record when they used to type them.
Later records show the original pages.
You could try applying for newer ones.

However I don't think that you will improve on the Para Data info that Jim has kindly provided.

 

Dear Jim

Thank you very much for sharing the information. I had seen it before when doing some research.

I am hoping to just find out what he did in the 6 months after finishing his glider and parachute training.

If I could find out which unit he was attached and where they were fighting then maybe I could find their war diaries?

Best wishes, Lucy

 

I do have the handwritten particulars of service on A3 pages but they contain the same information as they typewritten summary sheet. My mother obtained these in 2012. Is there likely to be anything new if I apply again?

Best regards, Lucy

 

Being an officer he would be listed in the Monthly Return of Officers found in the War Diary Appendix.
From there you would know where to look in the appropriate War Diary
It might be worth trying
1 Forward Observer Unit (Airborne), Royal Artillery War Diary.
or alternatively 2 Battalion Parachute Regiment
where he might be listed in the Attached section of the Return.

The Infantry paperwork is often slightly different to RA.

( RA Example below)



If no one on the forum currently has the required War Diaries you might have to purchase them from the National Archives or if you can get there, photograph the required page(s) yourself.

The way that The National Archives are now sending redacted copies of the Service Records, it might not be in your interest to reapply.
The Old MoD and now TNA have different rules guiding what you get when applying.

Still no guarantee that there is anything to learn from whichever paperwork that you use.

 

Hello Lucy,

I think it highly likely (as may be inferred from the Paradata piece) that Captain Buchanan spent those months with The 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Their 1944 Diary would be the one to try and get hold of, covering the months from February '44 up to and including August '44.

I very much think his attachment/arrival would be listed in February. Twixt then and Arnhem the Battalion (as was the rest of the 1st Airborne Division) spent much of it's time in training/on exercise ("Mush" comes to mind but the battalion may not have been involved in that one - can't remember, will have to look!). They also of course had the "stand to" and "stand down" two-step for no less than 16 operations in the months prior to Arnhem. Most of those proposed Ops being cancelled due to the advances being made by the forces already on the continent since D-Day.

War diaries for the period likely in The National Archives, but Airborne Assault Museum (still currently at Duxford) may be able to help out - for a fee though.

Good luck with all.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

The Pegasus Archive might be favourite for the '44 War Diary Lucy.

Have a look at the link, have a read, and if you scroll down their web page you will find the 2nd Battalion's listed (as per the screenshot below)

The Pegasus Archive War Diary Collection



Kind regards, always,

Jim.

EDIT: It is not the only one listed that may be useful! E.g.
"No.1 Forward Observation Unit, RA 1944 - June to December (43)" (43 being the page count)

 

Had a dig through a spare room book box Lucy. Mostly old(er) stuff that I haven't read in years.

From "Without Tradition", Bob Peatling's good work. A brief overview of 2nd Battalion in 1944, up until Arnhem.









Unfortunately, no mention of your grandfather in the book.

Also got out the Martin Middlebrook. Page 296, your grandfather.







Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Courtesy of Paradata; extract from: A short history of the Airborne Forward Observer Units, Royal Artillery, during the Second World War | ParaData

"In June 1944 it was decided to form those O.P. parties in 1st Airborne Division into 1st Forward Observer Unit R.A. (Airborne) under Major D.R. Wight-Boycott, Irish Guard Officer from 123 O.C.T.U. at Catterick."

"1st Forward Observer Unit R.A. (Airborne)

The original establishment of a F.O.U. was in itself eccentric: 20 Officers and 60 Other Ranks approximately, the officers being 1 x Major, 18 x Captains and 1 x Subaltern. It was intended to have one O.P. party with each battalion, with control and rear link sets at Brigades, an overall control at H.Q, R.A., and liaison officers at supporting regiments. The main net became well known as the Airborne Support Net.
Any independent battery will to some degree show signs of that madness which makes a good unit, and in 1st F.O.U. this was accentuated by the airborne spirit, the independence of the many parties to which it broke down, and above all to the fact that it was formed from a loose collection of O.P. parties from different regiments. Certainly it had madness coupled with a strong unit pride.
1st F.O.U. had hardly found its feet as a unit when there began the series of abortive operations which culminated in the Arnhem landings. The unit was split up on different airfields over East Anglia and the West of England for weeks and eventually arrived [by air] at Arnhem. It must be confessed that the basic design for the F.O.U. did not work in this battle. The 68 set used by [the] parachute O.P. parties did not function in the town of Arnhem, and by the time supporting artillery came within gun and wireless range, many who should have observed its fire were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. However, a shrunken version of the net was established by the survivors, and the most remembered shoot (fired by a medium artillery battery of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry who now wear a Pegasus on their forearm as a sign of their services at Arnhem) was taken by the C.R.A. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Loder-Symonds. Standing on the steps of the H.Q, R.A. dugout, directly plus of the target, he called for fire on the middle of the small airborne perimeter. The mediums were at maximum range but shot perfectly together and a large German infiltration was broken up with no British casualties.
Despite the partial failure of the principal purpose of the F.O.U., the O.P. parties served their battalions, ‘shooting’ [for] the Light Regiment when possible and acting as infantry officers when required. The writer himself met in the battle a F.O.U. Captain commanding a parachute battalion reduced to some 50 men, he being the sole officer.
After the battle, those few who had returned began to rebuild 1st F.O.U. and in the six months following achieved a unique reputation for ‘shooting’ and signalling. Their wireless nets had no rival in 1st Airborne Division; three and sometimes four shoots might be taken on one frequency by rotation procedure. And it was during this time that a walking stick became the mark of the Airborne Gunner Officer.
An expansion also took place in this period of rebuilding. The Normandy battles had shown the urgent need for some type of Counter-Mortar organisation and this, beginning with stop watches for Mortreps, ended with the addition of two locating sections, each armed with a 4-pen recorder for some sound ranging and a primitive (but airportable) radar set for radar-location.
In the Spring of 1945, 1st Airborne Division flew in to occupy Norway as German resistance collapsed, and the F.O.U., with its many resourceful officers, but few men found many responsible and enjoyable tasks! These halcyon days however ended in September 1945: the Division returned to England and began the break up procedure, demobilizing some and sending its younger members to 6th Airborne Division, and before the end of the year 1st F.O.U. was disbanded."

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Extract from a diary kept by Captain Arthur Edward O'Grady, 1 FOU RA (AIRBORNE), at Arnhem, courtesy of: Captain Arthur Edgar O'Grady

"The heroes in this battle are numerous. Truly was it said in the papers a while back that every airborne man should get the V.C. after this show if we can hold out a few more days we shall be proud of the impossible task we have done. It has been absolute hell diving in & out of trenches, eating fighting & sleeping in trenches not knowing whether we shall be alive in an hours time. By jove I have been lucky so far just being able to dive from my wireless set into the slit trench each time just making it & being blown in with the blast. I wonder who invented the mortar, little did he know he would be responsible for the loss of so many young lives. I shall never forget this battle now [?] & old as long as I live."

Also:

"The following notes were compiled by Captain O'Grady concerning the establishment of No.1 Forward Observation Unit and his role in the war.

1. Salisbury Plain. [Major] Reg [Wight-Boycott] and I formed 1st FOU RA Apr. 1944. Hand picked officers & men.

2. Unit billeted in Lady [Vander Elst's?] Harlaxton Castle Grantham where I had dual role of Adj[utant] & Q.M. [Quartermaster] & we equipped the unit - there about 3 months.

3. June/Jly moved unit to old Farm House just outside Swindon Wilts 'WROUGHTON' almost adjoining 'D' Day Hospital where we did our training.

4. When the various airborne ops were muted we were dispersed, i.e. OP [Observation Post] Officers & signallers to join their various Para Bns & others under canvas.

 

Dear Jim

I do apologise for my belated reply but I have been away for the weekend without my laptop. I really appreciate all the information which you have shared with me. It is so kind of you to have done so much research. It really helps me work out a timeline of what my grandfather's movements were in the months before he died.

It is a great shame that I am unable to share them with my mother as she died in 2018. She was only 2 years old when he was killed and she spent a lot of time trying to find out about his life. She was unsure if he took part in D Day but the helpful record from Robert Peatling confirms that he did not but must have travelled to France in August 1944 which is when I presume he collected the shells from a beach and had the 10 franc note.

There was a letter enclosed with his service file which was written by one of the soldiers who was with him when he was killed but it was written nearly a year after the event. It must have been an awful time for my grandmother who did not know if he had been killed or was a POW. I will post a copy of it here.

I have yet to visit Arnhem myself but plan to in the near future. My son, now aged 24, is called Henry Buchanan de Ferrars.

Best wishes, Lucy

 

Hello Lucy.
I was looking for some help researching my great uncle, Ernest Acton, who was a part of the 1 FOU and Jim Herriot kindly linked me to this thread. I believe that Ernest and your grandfather, Captain H Buchanan would have spent time together in the lead up to being deployed for Operation Market Garden.
The dates and whereabouts of the unit, given by Captain O’Grady, seem to tally with letters from Ernest. I was wondering if it was possible that your grandfather was with the FOU from its formation in April, as the gap in his record and the late posting to the unit seemed strange, especially when compared to Cpt O’Gradys record. In my digging today I found this John L Brown | ParaData
Your grandfather was indeed with the unit from April, part of the ‘original seven’ no less! I’m delighted to have found this, it’s by far the best account of the 1 FOU I’ve found so far. The moto that they created for the unit certainly shows some of their character!

I’ve attached a few images. It seems they flew in with their assigned units, you may be able to work out which company he was with which should be of help when looking at war diaries. The other image I think is quite special, I found it when looking in to Harlaxton Castle.

I’m going to Arnhem this September for the 80th anniversary. I’m happy to look on the roll at the museum there if you’d like me to, I believe it holds more detailed information.

Good luck with your research and best wishes.

Laura

 

Excellent work Laura! The link to Captain John L Brown's story on Paradata that you've put up is a cracker; Well found you!

To both of you ladies (Laura and Lucy), good luck with your future research, and please post up any findings (if you wish to, and are happy to of course). Anything you can add will be of great interest.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

P.S. And the unit motto; priceless

 

Hello Laura, I hope this isn't too much of an imposition, was your great uncle, Gunner Ernest Acton, killed at Arnhem?

And please, if my question is a step too far for you please do not be worried or concerned about replying.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

May be of use -
A few from the Forward Obs Unit can be seen amongst these listed on -British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945
Archive reference WO 417/83