To crosspost: War Diary is sketchy: "Small pockets of resistance were encountered and patrols were frequently held up by mines and tree obstacles." I may have an account referring to it, but the names do not tally, sometimes memory issues - occasional deliberate changes. Welsh Spearhead is somewhere hear... but hiding. Also I can confirm that this incident does not crop up in my forthcoming 53rd Division through Normandy history as... it is just a few days on the wrong cut off side. Shall post once I've dug WS out. No Squadron WDs are known to exist. Just checked, there is no further info (of any use that I can see) in Welsh Spearhead regarding these casualties. It tends to be very good, but there are the odd exception.
Hi Oldleg, as swiper this is the exact passage from the war diary, not too much information I'm afraid. Although I do recall seeing a missing person report in regards to this incident. I would need to trawl through my records to see. Regards Dave
Dave, that would be great! There should hopefully be an article in the local paper tomorrow concerning the story of these guys. I will scan and post it.
Has anyone had any more luck? I wish I could spend more time in the UK looking at the archives in Kew but alas I am way too far! Thanks so far though for all the help.
Currently this is as good as it'll get. I suggest you currently shelve any 53 Recce thoughts, instead focus on other units in the area. I suspect this will prove a dead end, or one that may solve itself in a matter of months or even years, depending on a small key piece of info to crop up.
Swiper, the guys from 53rd, I understnd they may not be the ones I am looking for but as a member of the Souvenir Français who look after all that died for France, I would like to find out where they were killed exactly as I would like to see some form of memorial mounted. I know that they were stationed at Vandrimare which is about 6 miles from here.
Hi this is my grandad. if u have any information about my grandad would be much appreciated trying to find out as much as possible so can pass it on to my children
Hi Snolan welcome to the forum, great to have another Recce on board. While I don't have any more information about your Grandad maybe you might like to post any thing you have about your Grandad. Cheers Paul
Patrick is our Granddad. We would appreciate any information anyone has please. Stories. Photos. Anything.
Sounds to me as if Kim & Snolan need to talk to each other - try using the conversation option within your profile settings, that way personal details (email address's etc) stay out of public and bots view. TD
We in constant contact as we are cousins. We both trying to find out what we can and then we share the info with each other after. Just sometimes it difficult for either one to be to track enquiries so we can both do it. Thank you for replying.
Hi Kim welcome to the forum, great to have another Recce on board. While I don't have any more information about your Grandad maybe you might like to post any thing you have about your Grandad. Cheers Paul
Hello Kim and Nolan, It would appear from the War Diary that your grandad joined the unit 53rd Reconnaissance in November 1943, his name does not appear before this date on the Roll of Offices Serving. This war diary is available as a download on page 9 of this topic thread. There are a number of other references within the War Diary which you need to check out as they are very interesting. It appears that he was troop commander of A Squadrons Assault Troop! It appears that you have already found the MC citation on page 6 of this thread
Hi Snolan, Your grandad is mentioned a few times in the regimental history "Welsh Spearhead". Here's some quotes that may be of interest. I've added the locations and dates to put the incidents into context. Le Bon Repos, Normandy, July/August 1944 - "At night during the next few days Lieut P.J. Nolan of A Squadron and Lieut K.C.Y. Wilson of C Squadron with two or three companions from their respective Assault Troops patrolled forward towards the cross roads by the ill-named hamlet of Le Bon Repos. The first patrol to go out was from A Squadron and consisted of Lieut Nolan (later to win the M.C.), Cpl J. Hills (later to win the M.M.), Cpl Briddon, and L/Cpl Hartley. Early in August a particularly spirited patrol again led by Lieut Nolan reached the crossroads and was able to prove that the enemy had not pulled out. But though the mortaring gradually decreased small parties of the enemy remained until the night of the 3rd" Moorseele, Belgium, September 1944 - "Towards teatime Moorseele was finally cleared by the combined Assault Troops of A and B Squadrons under Lieut Nolan, for Lieut Chapelhow had been wounded." Wilreit/Postel, Holland, September 1944 - "We must not pass on to the next stage of our history without recalling the A Squadron episode between Wilreit and Postel that first night in Holland which had its funny side - afterwards. The War Diary records it as a spirited attack by 7 Troop leading to the certain infliction of 20 casualties on the enemy and the capture of three prisoners. But that was not all that happened. Lieut Nolan, who freely admits that map-reading is not his strong point, says that he was ordered to take two sections of his Troop and follow up the armoured cars which were in difficulties in Wilreit village. In the dark they took the wrong turning and were milling around in the woods trying to get in touch with the Recce Troops when there was a flash and one of the half-tracks was knocked out. The third section of the Troop was then sent forward in carriers. Later the Troop was succeeding in driving the enemy back when Lieut Nolan was alarmed to find that the carrier he was in was being shot at by what sounded like a Bren gun: but his horror changed to indignation a few minutes later when he realised that he was being shot at by his own wireless operator and a whole section who were then near one of the half-tracks. However this was not a sudden case of grave insubordination, for L/Cpl Keeping was not shooting up his officer but some Germans who were hanging on to the back of the carrier."
Thank you Dave3164. I will definitely have a look into that. So much is unknown. The man I knew was not a soldier. He was a kind caring loving man. Who would do anything for his family. Loved his wife and children immensely and adored us grandkids. Liked his garden and his Pyreanean Mountain dog. And liked being in the countryside or by the sea. Anywhere in open space.
Oh wow this is amazing thank you for sharing so nice to find things about grandad amazing they were not hurt while they was shooting at Germans sounds like a terrifying ordeal very proud of him, wish I had met him in life. I can only but imagine he had so many amazing stories to tell.
Hi everybody, been on this website before, but just come across this thread and read virtually every post since it was started. I'm researching my ancestors service in WW2 and currently, among 9 siblings, is my great uncle, Wilfred James Hall (4077201) from Cwmbran, South Wales. He was sadly KIA age 23 on 20/09/44 at Luyksgestel during Operation Market Garden whilst with the 53rd Regt., Recce Corps, RAC and is buried at the CWGC cemetery in Mierlo, Netherlands. I've only got a few of photos of him, his grave, last letter, plus one other info too and was just wondering if anybody on here could add anything else to it or point me in the right direction. Amazed how many people are on this thread and the assistance given by those more in the know and want to help out. I'll post up what I have soon and see if it sparks any response. Many thanks in advance. ATB. Darren.
Hi Darren There is a family tree on Ancestry that includes him , and it has some links that you may or may not have so here they are: (Lance Serjeant) Wilfred James Hall 1921–1944 BIRTH DEC 1921 • Pontypool, Glamorganshire DEATH 20 SEPTEMBER 1944 Thomas Hall - this is actually for his brother Tom but does include certain items/articles re Wilfred Reference link to family tree - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/69098519/person/48240842554/facts TD