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
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
Welcome to the forum, I'm sure there was a 7th Bn as there were 4th, 6th, 8th & 9th Battalions in 45th Wessex Division.
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.
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
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
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"
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
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
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
I have digitised This Band of Brothers by Jeremy Taylor and if you would like a copy please PM me Cheers Paul
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
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.
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.
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.