43rd recce

Discussion in 'Recce' started by mariner1, Jun 6, 2010.

  1. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    morning all,
    i am new to this,my dad was a Guernseyman who came over just before they were invaded.My sister has found some pictures that cover the period 41-46.My dad had put dates and titles on them.There is a picture that says qwhat looks to be "7th Devons" but i am told there was no unit of that name?
    the other pictures are snaps taken and sent back to mum,some are not of great clarity but go from Polony in France right through to the last unit picture before being disbanded in Feb 46.
    Gloucester museum have been very helpful but the books theysay would be useful are all out of print.Is there any where i can find out more about the 43rd recce?
    thanks
    keith
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Kieth and welcome to the forum.

    There was a Devonshire Regiment during WW2, They became the Devon and Dorsets after the war. Not sure if there was a 7th Battalion though. Any chance you can post the pictures with the captions-They may hold some clues.

    Abebooks is always a good place to start looking for out of print books.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Welcome to the forum, I'm sure there was a 7th Bn as there were 4th, 6th, 8th & 9th Battalions in 45th Wessex Division.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    The 12th was AIRBORNE !
     
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  5. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum.

    Looks there was a 7th (Haytor) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment but it existed only between 1939-1941 when it was, probably disbanded.
     
  6. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    thanks for that ,i will be posting the pictures,i have them on disc but i have to wait until i can get hold of my sister as i have lost my copy of what my dad had written on them.
    keith
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Kieth, do you know what the books are called?
     
  8. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

    Hello Keith and welcome to the forum
     
  9. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum. Below is a very brief history of 43 Recce

    October 1941: Formed mainly from the 5th Battalion of the Gloucesters.
    14th October 1941 – 48th Reconnaissance Battalion
    8th January 1942 - Renumbered 43rd Reconnaissance Battalion
    6th June 1942 – Renamed 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment
    1st January 1944 – Renamed 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment RAC
    31st August 1945: Disbanded

    To replace the men lost on the Derrycunihy, a squadron was moved from 161st Recce - Green Howards. They sailed across to Normandy with a Canadian built Liberty Ship named Fort Kaskaskia. 30th June 1944


    LOCATIONS SERVED

    United Kingdom: 1.1.41 - 17.6.44
    At Sea: 17.6.44 - 24.6.44
    NW Europe: 24.6.44 - 31.8.45

    Cheers
    Paul
     
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  10. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    dad was on the derry cuhiny and the picture from polony in france states he "got wet in the crossing" and that he was well except"he has tasted fuel oil"
     
  11. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    i am looking for a copy of the band of brothers from about 1947
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    i am looking for a copy of the band of brothers from about 1947

    Do you know the author? I suspect searching for just that by title will return quite a few Stephen E Ambrose books ;)
     
  13. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Your Dad was lucky as of the 600 men of the Regiment, 189 died and 150 were injured. 25 of the crew, including a number of army gunners, also lost their lives when the ship's movement triggered a German acoustic mine, which split the Derrycunihy in two. The forward section remained afloat, but the stern section, though still attached by the keel plates, sank within 20 seconds. To make matters worse, an ammunition truck on the ship exploded, igniting the spilled oil on the surface of the surrounding water. Most of the men who died had been trapped in the sunken stern section. It was the heaviest single British loss of life off the invasion beaches.

    From the 43 Recce War Diary

    June 19
    19.30 set sail for Southend
    June 20
    Anchored off SWORD Beach
    June 21
    Still anchored. Sea rough with some shelling
    June 22
    As above. Enemy air activity at night. Minelaying.
    June 23
    As above
    June 24
    Move to JUNO Beach. Div HQ Fuminchon Acoustic Mine explodes aft. 2 aft holds full of sleeping troops flooded. 3 Ton Ammunition wagon catches fire and sets oil on water alight. Rescue by landing craft, SS Cap Tourain and HM Gunboat Locust. Wounded returned to GB. "Great gallantry by all troops in 2 aft holds". Great confusion as to who is where! 180 killed and 150 wounded from A & HQ Sqns
    June 25
    Better weather. Div HQ Brecy Fit troops concentrate Pouligny 804828 Sheet 7E/5 (N of Bayeaux nearVaux-sur-Aure) Vehicles unloaded. Visit by Major General Thomas. Div O Group down to Lt Cols.
    June 26
    Refitting and reforming Lts Charlton and Cammell wounded



    Cheers
    Paul
     
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  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Full detials of book.
    Jeremy L. Taylor
    This band of brothers : a history of the Reconnaissance Corps of the British Army
    Bristol : White Swan Press, 1947
     
  15. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    I have digitised This Band of Brothers by Jeremy Taylor and if you would like a copy please PM me
    Cheers
    Paul
     
  16. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    I bought my copy of this band of brothers from eBay, it may take a while for another copy to come up and may cost you a fair bit but it is well worth it!!

    The glosters museum has a good collection of 43rd stuff

    Gloucestershire Regiment - war museum collection
     
  17. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    i hope this is of interest;
    picture 1 should be of the unit dated 7/2/46 and was sent to my mum,on the back dad had put"Darling this was taken 12 days ago and i think this will be the last picture i have taken with the troop"
    picture3 the full regiment was dated May 45 at Immensen Germany
    Picture2 Weeze Germany 1945.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Thanks for sharing photos. In the group photos which is your father?

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  19. mariner1

    mariner1 Member

    hi again,
    dad is the 2end from the right on the front row in the unit picture and 3rd from the right in the middle row in the larger picture.I will be posting a few more later when i get time.
     
  20. Car_Commander

    Car_Commander Junior Member

    Mariner1,

    From the last photo, it looks like 11 Troop, C Squadron. Troop Leader was Lt (later Captain) John Groves. What was your Father's name?

    Regards,

    Les.
     

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