41136 Lieutenant Hon. Gustavus Lascelles HAMILTON-RUSSELL, Grenadier Guards: 02/06/1940

Hi, can anyone with a knowledge on the Grenadiers at Dunkirk help provide some information on 41136, Lt The Hon Gustavus Lascelles Hamilton- Russell. Died 2/6/1940 of wounds recieved at Dunkirk, whilst on board a ship returning to the UK.

Would really love to have a picture of him if there is any in a roll of honour publication or shcoll memorial book.

Many thanks,
Alan

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f.../the-hon-gustavus-lascelles-hamilton-russell/
LIEUTENANT The Hon. GUSTAVUS LASCELLES HAMILTON-RUSSELL
Service Number: 41136
Regiment & Unit: Grenadier Guards
Date of Death: 02 June 1940
Age 33 years old
Buried or commemorated at BURWARTON (ST. LAWRENCE) OLD CHURCHYARD
Grave Reference: North part of churchyard.
Location: United Kingdom
Country of Service United Kingdom
Additional Info Son of Gustavus William Hamilton-Russell, J.P., D.L., 9th Viscount Boyne and of Viscountess Boyne, C.B.E. (nee Lascelles), of Bridgnorth.
His brother, the Hon. Desmond Claud Hamilton-Russell, also died on service.

 

A link to the Shropshire War Memorial website.

Burwarton War Graves

 

Here's his entry on CWGC:

CWGC :: Certificate

I have all the Guards War Diaries for 1940 France upto Brigade level. If you tell me what battaion he was in I'll go through the diary unless Diane beats me to it.

A

 

Just checked the 3rd Bn's diary and he's not listed on the Officer Field Return for May and no mention of him in a list of officers in a written summary for June.

 

Found him and then lost him:

He joined the Bn at Aldershot on 1st Sept 1939 at 1200 hrs.

And then slips off the radar. He's not on any of the officer field returns. I'll need to have a closer look at the diary over the w/end.

 

Looking at the social columns of The Times in the 1930s, I'd be pretty certain he was at Eton and probably Cambridge. Not a happy family history though:
May 1937




April 1938



He was also a hunting man:

 

Hi all,
Many thanks for the help offered so far.
The family had a very tragic time during the war as shown by the deaths of 3 brothers and 1 cousin.
It seems strange how there is not much info on this Grenadier officer and about when his wounds were recieved or his death.
As a new Officer in 1939, would he have been posted to a Staff role by 1940 or likely to remain in the Batt ?
Not tried the Guards HQ, but may give them a go.
Is it easier to write a letter or email them ? Also any charge for them doing this search as I know service paper requests come with a £30 charge.
Rgds,
Alan

 

As a new Officer in 1939, would he have been posted to a Staff role by 1940 or likely to remain in the Batt ?

He was far from being a 'new' officer. He had attained his Lieutenancy as far back as 18th January 1932. A reserve officer at the outbreak of war, he was mobilised as a Lieutenant (27th in seniority) on 24th August 1939.

Dave

 

Just for a change I'm not much help......

 

Thanks Dave, that explain that then.
Not aware he had his commission in 1932.
Will see what response I get from the Grenadier RHQ.

 

Not aware he had his commission in 1932..

he was actually commissioned earlier than that (1930/31 at a guess). Jan 1932 is when he was promoted to full Lt.

 

Whilst searching found this on under Pathe news site - 1931'S FIRST BIG SOCIETY WEDDING - British Pathe

Old short film of G L Hamilton-Russell's wedding in Westminster. Grenadier Guard of honour outside .
Full title reads: "London. 1931's First Big Society Wedding. Big crowds brave cold and damp to get glimpse of Miss Joan Verney and Hon G Hamilton Russell at St. Margaret's, Westminster."

The happy couple come out of Church. Their way is lined by guardsmen in bearskins / hats. The couple are followed by a host of bridesmaids.

Dark shots as photographers get pictures of the couple. A large crowd have come out to see them.

Intertitle reads: "Lord Lascelles - the King's Grandson - made his first public appearance."

Presumably one of the several pageboys we see is Lord George Henry Hubert Harewood, Earl of Lascelles. He is the son of the Princess Royal.

 

Di,

Do you have any idea who he was with in France? I'll check again (Perhaps he's on the Bde staff) but I'm sure he's not listed on the AT Coy or Bn field returns.

Cheers
Andy

 

Found him again !

He's in 1st Guards Bde and in the field return for the 5th May he was on leave.

He was wounded on the Mole and died in the UK according to the diary. I suspect the wounds were received by either German bombers or German artillery-The Mole was subjected to both quite considerably at the end of May/begining of June.

Cheers
Andy