53rd Reconnaissance Regiment

Name John Henry Pitts
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 117619
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: Foreign to British: Belgium
Award: Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with palm and Croix de Guerre 1940 with palm
London Gazette: 08 December 1945
ReferenceWO 373/111

 

Name James Evans Reynolds
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 94972
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Cross
London Gazette: 01 March 1945
Reference WO 373/51

 

Name Francis William Stratford
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 1508040
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: Foreign to British: Belgium
Award: Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm
London Gazette: 08 December 1945
Reference WO 373/111

 

Name Arthur Tranter
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 4191699
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre : Foreign to British: Netherlands
Award: Order of the Bronze Lion or Medal of the Bronze Cross
London Gazette: 15 October 1945
ReferenceWO 373/144

 

Name John William Richmond Wells
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 7962563
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Medal
London Gazette: 02 August 1945
Reference WO 373/55

 

Name Leoline Williams
Rank: Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 6095
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Distinguished Service Order
London Gazette: 01 March 1945
Reference WO 373/51




Name Leo Williams
Rank: Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 6095
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Order of the British Empire
London Gazette: 24 January 1946
Reference WO 373/86

 

Name Horace Rollo Squarey Pain
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 262929
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Cross
London Gazette: 12 July 1945
Reference WO 373/54

 

Name Walter Henry Pentland
Rank: Warrant Officer Class 1
Service No: 6975627
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Member of the British Empire
London Gazette: 24 January 1946
Reference: WO 373/86

 

Name Joseph Hugh Peter Upton
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 245240
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Member of the British Empire
London Gazette: 24 January 1946
ReferenceWO 373/86

 

Name Leonard Whitehouse
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 4036402
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Medal
London Gazette: 21 June 1945
ReferenceWO 373/54

 

Name Roderick Trevor Williams
Rank: Captain
Service No: 130989
Regiment: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Theatre: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Cross
London Gazette: 21 June 1945
ReferenceWO 373/54

 

Paul,

Just catching up after a couple of weeks holiday.

I have really enjoyed reading the reports. They make fascinating reading.

Regards
Tom

 

Thanks Dave3164 now that i know what squadron they were in it really ties some loose ends in my research.

 

Does anyone know the names of the members of the Recce Troop led by Lt McDonnell in C Squadron?
Thanks

 

Not off the top of my head Mikey, will dig through Welsh Spearhead for you later.

Also for those interested the first part of my 'toned down' 53rd Recce history is up...
53rd Recce Regiment - 53rd Welsh

I've not yet included the results of the Catering Competitions in 1942... sometimes I think the Recce Officers had too much time on their hands to think up these sort of competitions!

 

Mikey,

I have looked but to no avail, there is a couple of mentions of Lt. McDonnell in the war diaries and in Welsh Spearhead but nothing about other members of his troop, there is a mention in both about his troop winning the Regiments Recce Troop competition though!!

Dave

 

Thanks Swiper and thanks Dave for looking anyway. I will keep trying!

 

Does anyone know what a trade group is and why you got bonus pay for being in it? A query from my granddad's papers. Cheers.

 

Trade groups were, and still exist, for career management (promotion and postings) and pay reasons. The more skilled the trade, generally the higher the pay band. Artisan trades typically are a lower band than an artificer or technical trade. Every soldier was and still is in a trade band. For example, a soldier with a primary trade of driver could not replace a technician nor be promoted into a technical vacancy. Do ask specific questions if you want to.

 

Jawan, did you know when Tpr Paul Rockfield, whom i asked about before, joined 53 Recce? Thanks.