Sorry it's a few years after original post but new to site. I understand my great uncle was in 4th dorsets in ww2, his name was Tom streeting. Does anyone have any info on this as I would like to look up his records. Also did this book get published? Thanks M
Hi - In short I would get a copy of his service records to confirm his unit(s) first then if he was indeed 4 Dorsets for the duration look or get copies of the following war diaries: WO 166/4208 4 Dorsetshire Regiment. 1939 Sept.- 1941 Dec WO 166/8651 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/12523 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1943 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/1286 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/5174 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1945 Jan.- Nov WO 170/5001 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1945 Dec. WO 170/7991 4 Dorsetshire Regiment 1946 Jan.- June Andy
Hi all, I'm researching for my Grandad. He is Roy Smith, or "Smudger Smith" Private 14702357. He's 88 and very well, living in Kent, me and his other grandson are taking him to visit Arnhem this year. He rarely talks about the war but his eyes light up when he does. I'd love to find any photos or documents about the 4th Battalion please? He spent 15 weeks training in Canterbury (Buffs) He moved through Bayeraux - Caen - Belgium and onto Arnhem where they were meant to link up with the Airborne. He was captured and spent 8 months in Stalag 12A POW camp. If you know of anyone who would like to find out any information from him please email me, i show him pictures/names but he always says it was abit of a mess and no one really knew each other or even knew what was going on. He has a document that says all 4th Battalion were volunteers and knew it was a suicide mission.......according to him thats not true, no one knew anything! I would really appreciate any help you can offer please, he's a true hero in war, life and his families eyes. Thank you Mattxiii@hotmail.com
Hi, I realise this post isn't recent but I would like to add my fathers name to the list. His name was Thomas Alfred Moore; army number 6138508; enlisted 01/03/40 previously in TA division from 1928. His leave certificate says 'trustworthy, conscientious and capable NCO' however I do not know his rank. Acting sergeant comes to mind though. I do have some small photos taken at Arnhem that I could scan for you if they would be of interest to you.
Here are the photo's that I have - I did say they were small! The man in the photo is my Dad. I hope they are of interest to you.
Hi , My father was at Arnhem with the 4th Dorsets. Pte John Paradise. He was injured by mortar fire after crossing the Rhine, ( He always called it the Lek). He was casevaced back across the river at some stage during the early hours with two Engineers, one with shrannel in the ankle and the other with shranel in the knee. My father was the human crutch as he had been hit in the face/ jaw. Ended up back in the uk but then back to the Battalion some time during Jan or Feb. Was on the 4th Dorset tour party that followed the battalion route back across to Normandy in Sept 1945. I would guess the first ever ww2 battlefield tour. Not been on these forums before. what other information do you need. I did have an article published in After the Battle a few years ago after myself and few friends followed my fathers route though France.
Hi, my great uncle was sadly killed in 1945 Serving for Dorsetshire Regiment . This is a pic of his grave in France, would anyone know how to find out more about him? How to point me in the right direction? My Nan ( Roy’s sister) is still alive and she is keen to know more
Gloria - The operations of the 4th Dorsets on 15 Feb 45 are described here: VERITABLE 1945: 15th Scottish & 43rd Wessex Divisions in the Reichswald battle The location of the grave is not France, but the Reichswald Cemetery at Cleve, Germany. The 4th Dorsets were fighting with the 43rd Wessex Division and at the time were involved in Operation Veritable or the Fight for the Rhineland, the final push of the 21st Army Group to the banks of the Rhine River inside Germany. The operation was launched on Feb 8th, 1945, from the Dutch/German border east of Nijmegen, opposite the enemy held Reichswald Forest. The battle for that reason is often remembered as the Reichswald Battle, but the hardest fighting actually took place to the east of this Forest; the Battle for the Rhineland therefore would be a more appropriate indication. 15 Feb 45 was a day of hard fighting for the 43rd Wessex Division in the area to the SE of Cleve, Germany. On that day the division tried to move forward from the Eselsberg, a recently captured terrain elevation that commanded a stretch of open arable ground between two forests, the Cleve Forest to the south and Moyland Wood to the north. The Wessex Division ran into stubborn resistance. The War Diary of the 4th Dorsets reported a loss of 70 casualties for that day of which 25 killed in action. Only after two days and nights of continuous fighting by the 130 Bde and the 214 Bde of the 43rd Wessex Division was the enemy defense in this area finally overcome.
Germany, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Name: Roy Alfred Marvin Maiden Name: Death Date: 15 Feb 1945 Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Kleve, Klever Landkreis, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Has Bio?: N URL: https://www.findagrave.com/mem... UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Roy Marvin Given Initials: R A Rank: Private Death Date: 15 Feb 1945 Number: 14404286 Birth Place: London E Residence: London E Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Dorsetshire Regiment Branch at Death: Infantry You can apply for his service records from the MOD - link to forms is - Request records of deceased service personnel TD
Hi Philip, I just came across your book about the 4th Dorsets at Arnhem and would love to get a copy. Where would I be able to purchase it please? My Dad went across the Nederrijn with the 4th and got back! His name is Lance "Ginger" Pearce and I see he is listed in your book. We have published his memories of the war and it contains a description of that night which may be of interest?
