Hi there I'm currently trying to do some research on my great uncle Richard John Hine who died in Italy on 30 June 1944. All I really know is what is on his CWGC headstone: Rank: Trooper SN: 6459401 Age: 23 Recce, RAC "A" Sqn, 4th Regt. I saw there was mention of Royal Fusilers and also "HQ" Sqn on this site actually in the roll of honour. (Whatever all this means) So I'm hoping I'm in the right place. I have applied from the MOD for his service records, I'm told it could be months before these arrive. So in the meantime, I was hoping to be able to trace his movements from start to finish by sighting documents, diaries and maybe seeing some photographs if I'm lucky. I don't know when he entered service - only when it all ended - sadly. If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated. Chris ps. Apologies if there is a lot of info already around/posted elsewhere... just starting the process
Christopher, Hello and welcome to the Forum. If you search the site for 4th Recce War Diaries you will see that I have posted 4th recce Diaries per month for 1944 and 1945. I have just returned from a trip to Italy where I plotted some of my Late fathers route with "B" Squadron from Lake Trasemino to Florence. I hope they may be of help to you. Regards Tom
Thanks - you just beat me to it. I've located them and downloaded them. Trawling through them at moment... Are there some pages missing on some months? some of the dates seem to jump... and do we have 1943 on hand at all? Many thanks - this is great stuff! re: your trip, that sounds like that would have been something. Chris
reason there is mention of the Royal Fusiliers is that was the Regiment he originally enlisted into as can be worked out by his army number 6459401 http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/4837-army-number-block-allocations/ Royal Fusiliers 6446001 - 6515000
Richard Hine in the UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Richard Hine Given Initials: R Rank: Trooper Death Date: 30 Jun 1944 Number: 6459401 Birth Place: London W Residence: Middlesex Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) As Owen mentions above Branch at Enlistment: Royal Armoured Corps Theatre of War: Italy Regiment at Death: Reconnaissance Corps Branch at Death: Royal Armoured Corps http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21402686&ref=acom Name: Trooper Richard J. Hine Birth Date: 1921 Birth Place: England Death Date: 30 Jun 1944 Death Place: Italy Cemetery: Assisi War Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Santa Maria degli Angeli, Provincia di Perugia, Umbria, Italy TD
Christopher welcome toi the forum. Great to have another Recce on board. Below photo of your Great Uncles Headstone. Cheers Paul
Chris, I only have 1944 and 1945. Several members regularly attend NA at kew and will copy files at bargain prices for members. Unfortunately some files on the forum were corrupted when the computer programme was updated. I have reinstated some but PM me with any queries and I will check my hard drive. Regards Tom
Hi everyone Thanks for the replies and info. Starting to put some things together. I've often wondered what actually happened/how he was killed. I'm starting to strongly suspect that he was actually killed by that 500kg timed bomb the Germans left in Villa Paolozzi (exploded June 30,'44). Which to me is staggering... as I've never really considered this sort of cunning tactic before to inflict damage (I honestly thought he was shot or something in battle). Looking forward to seeing his Service Record - which I'll post. Hopefully I can connect with other 4 Recce decendants, and score some photos! Chris
I also found a Grave Concentration document, lists his previous burial at: GR / 22 / WHGW / 2149 MR 372861 Was almost a year until buried at Assisi (25/4/1945) Does anyone know what those numbers mean? Thanks
There is also another thread on here for 4 Recce and 30 Jun 1944 - http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/59358-4-recce-missing-men-italy-30-june-1944/ TD
If you scroll down this link - http://assisiwarcemetery.weebly.com/the-trasimene-line.html I think you will find that perhaps the reference MR 372861 refers to a temporary cemetery at Cimbano - I could be totally wrong of course TD edited to add: From the link above: "4 Recce Regiment buried the nine men killed between 24 and 26 June to the east of Lake Chiusi in a temporary cemetery at nearby Cimbano, and then brought in to the same place six of the seven men killed during the explosion of a German time bomb at Villa Paolozzi on 30 June. There is no concentration report form for the seventh man, Trooper Arthur ALLEN, hence he was transferred from an unknown burial place to Assisi." assisiwarcemetery.weebly.com/the-trasimene-line.html Cached
Here's a photo of Villa Paolozzi and a very poor copy of a map sent to me by a sergeant in 78 Division - fighting to the east of 4 Division along the lake shore. I've marked both the villa and the temporary cemetery at Cimbano on the map. I'm the owner of the website referred to above and used to live about a mile away from the villa. More details and a testimony from Australian airman Jack Doyle who was on Rover David service in the villa when it blew up are in my book the Trasimene Line.June-July 1944 obtainable from fondazioneranieri.org. Regards, Vitellino
Hi Wow - Thank you everyone for all the bits and pieces - more info, links and photos... I'll take a good look. Chris
Chris, I have sent you a PM as I have located the files on my separate HD and are now on my PC ready for sending. Regards Tom
Thanks Tom - I'll sort through them and let you know how I get on and will post them to your original thread.
Chris, Glad to be of help. Do not be too disappointed if there are black holes in the Records, as there were in my fathers records. I requested a re check and was informed that I had a copy of everything held. That was the reason for looking at the Diaries as when the Sqd is mentioned you can piece together where your relative was. Good luck with your research and if you require any more help just post away and if I or others can help, we will. That is what is so good about this forum. Regards Tom
Cheers Tom I'll order any missing ones and will probably need to order other earlier ones too to get the whole story straight. What would actually be awesome - and if it exists - please someone let me know - is a map of Italy showing all the 4 Recce movements from the beginning when they landed in Naples. One could put it together I suppose using war diaries and marking each point and sort of draw them up...hmmmm.
