56th Reconnaissance Corps

Paul

Many thanks for giving me a fresh link to Ron Tee's excellent website.

I was so pleased to see the map of his travels that so closely followed my own (we were in the same Div) that I wrote to the site and asked permission to use the map, slightly modified, on my own Blog.

I get a charming letter back giving me permission to do so and the result can be seen below.

 

Ron Tee actually had a book publish in 2001 detailing his memories. I managed to get a second hand copy via Abebooks. It's an interesting read.

A British Solidier Remembers -The World War II Reminiscences of Ronald Arthur Tee ISBN 1 55306 277 9

 

I'm actually re-reading the book at the moment. I bought it direct from Ron when it first came out.

Cheers
Paul

 

Paul

End Oct to Dec 1942 and Jan to June 1943 now available to you to access.

Cheers - Rob

 

Copied this to tie in with the decorations won.



I have just obtained This Band of Brothers by Jeremy Taylor. This is from the appendix.



THE 56TH RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT



The Regiment was formed in January, 1941, from the 167th, 168th and 169th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies. The 56th was the first Regiment of the Corps to land in Tunisia. The Regiment fought through that campaign, in Sicily, and throughout the cam­paign in Italy.

Commanding Officers of the Regiment were: Lt-Col. N. F. V. Hamilton, Lt-Col. K. G. F. Chavasse, D.S.O.,
Lt-Col. R. W. M. R. Hartland-Mahon, M.C.

Other Ranks of the Regiment gained the following Decorations and Awards:-


Cpl D. W. Allen, M.M.
Tpr J. Allsop, M.M.
Tpr M. Anderson, M.I.D.
Sgt C. F. Anthony, M.I.D.
Sgt R. G. Attenburrow, M.M.
Sgt F. Backhurst, M.M.
Cpl K. Bacon, M.M.
Sgt E. G. Barnes, M.I.D.
Tpr F. E. Barratt, M.I.D.
Cpl T. A. Blease, M.M.
Sgt L. Borlotti, M.M.
Sgt V. V. Bowhay, M.M.
Sgt H. F. Bradby, M.I.D.
Tpr R. Brighton, M.I.D.
L/C R. Brown, M.I.D.
L/C R. W. Brown, M.I.D.
Cpl A. Buchanan, M.M.
Sgt D. Carter, M.I.D.
Tpr A. T. Cripps, M.I.D.
Sgt P. Cronin, M.M.
Tpr A. J. L. Crutch, M.M.
SQMS J. E. Curtis, B.E.M.
Sgt H. Dean, D.C.M.
Tpr J. Donovan, M.M.
Sgt F. R. E. Double, M.LD.
Sgt D. Dow, M.I.D.
L/C G. Duffy, M.M.
Tpr R. H. Edwards, M.I.D.
Sgt W. Falconer, M.M.
Cpl H. Ferguson, M.M.
Sgt B. Finn, D.C.M.
Sgt G. F. Fisher, M.I.D.
L/C D. J. E. Grant, M.M.
Tpr J. T. Griffiths, M.I.D.
Cpl A. G. Harden, M.LD.
Cpl D. G. Harris, M.M.
Cpl T. Henderson, M.I.D.
Cpl E. Hennigan, M.M.
Tpr J. Hollow, M.I.D.
Tpr H. Howard, M.M.
Tpr J. Jansen, M.I.D.
Cpl E. J. Jackson, M.I.D.
WO 1 H. King, M.I.D.
Sgt W. Kitching, M.M.
Tpr H. S. Longman, M.I.D.
L/C H. C. Lonnon, M.I.D.
L/C E. Marney, M.I.D.
Cpl J. W. Mason, M.I.D.
Sgt V. O. Mayne, M.M.
Sgt H. McLeod, M.I.D.
Tpr W. Mowatt, M.I.D.
Sgt T. E. Moyle, M.M.
Tpr A. F. Newlands, M.I.D.
WO 11 F. Paynter, M.I.D.
Sgt R. Pemberton, M.I.D.
WO 11 A. E. Phillips, M.I.D.
Tpr L. Pickering, M.I.D.
L/C C. H. Prien, M.M.
Sgt L. Pritchard, M.I.D.
SQMS J. C. Reader, M.I.D.
Tpr C. Reid, M.M.
WO 11 J. G. Richards,
M.I.D.Sgt D. C. Rollings, M.I.D.
Tpr J. M. Scorgie M.M.
Cpl C. Smith, M.M.
Sgt H. Strong, M.I.D.
Tpr A. Taylor, M.I.D.
Sgt R. C. Thornton, M.I.D.
Sgt J. W. Tilbury, M.I.D.
Sgt R. J. Twomey, M.M.
Cpl T. E. Wainwright, M.M.
Sgt L. E. Whatley, M.M.
Tpr D. Wishart, M.M.
SQMS J. E. G. Wolledge, M.I.D.

Cheers
Paul

 

Robert and Andy thanks for your additional information and help.

Cheers
Paul

 

I have digitised This Band of Brothers by Jeremy Taylor and if anyone would like a copy please PM me with your EMail address

Cheers
Paul

 

Yes please Paul. You already know my e-mail address.

 

Hi, just came across this fantastic forum while looking for details on 56 Recce and a soldier who served in it. Can't believe the amount of info on this unit posted, which gives me a great idea of its movements and composition. Wondering if anyone has anything on the soldier I'm looking at:

2698717 Cpl Albert Buchanan , he won the MM sometime in 1943. I could find the listing of the Award in the London Gazette for 23rd Sept 1943 but no citation, however I note that another 7 members of 56 Recce are mentioned here.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

JD

 

jager1, Welcome to the forum. Here is the citation.

Cheers
Paul

 

Dear recce mitch, I think we are kindred spirits having seen your recce posts and superb research material - I would be hugely grateful for a digitised copy of BofB. Have you got anything on Lt John Macgregor Morrison B Sqn, 46 Recce, KinA 18 Sep 1944 and MinD 24 Aug 1944?? Perhaps we should communicate off-line but being new to WW2 Talk am not sure how we do this yet?? Thanks.

 

Wow, many thanks Paul!

Must admit of knowing almost nothing of the Recce units work and history. I know there are various mentions of publications on this thread. As a single reference could you recommend a single book worth reading concerning the 56th or even the 78th as a whole?

Thanks
JD

 

jager1, I would recommend all the books listed in this thread as I have them all.

jawan, The only information I have on Lt John Macgregor Morrison is what is on the ROH I have posted. I have sent a PM regarding Band of Brothers.

Cheers
Paul

 

My father served in the army reconnaisance corps. He was in the REME. He enlisted on 5/3/1940 and was discharged on 2oth may 1946. He was in France, North Africa, scicily and Italy. He was born in Scotland. All my attempts to trace his service have come to nothing. I do not know which recce unit he was in. All I know is that he had a very bad war and saw a great deal of active service that he didn't want to discuss. His army number was 3320650 William Boyle. Did anyone out there know him?

 

My father served in the army reconnaisance corps. He was in the REME. He enlisted on 5/3/1940 and was discharged on 2oth may 1946. He was in France, North Africa, scicily and Italy. He was born in Scotland. All my attempts to trace his service have come to nothing. I do not know which recce unit he was in. All I know is that he had a very bad war and saw a great deal of active service that he didn't want to discuss. His army number was 3320650 William Boyle. Did anyone out there know him?
Hi,

Armed with your fathers full name and service number I suggest in the first instance you obtain his service record from the Army Personnel Centre (Historic Disclosures), Kentigern House, Glasgow (see the MOD veterans website for application form and charges etc). Hopefully this will narrow down which Recce Unit he served with - from what you say he was attached from the REME hence without more clues (ie from his service record) it is really not possible to positively pin down his unit from the theatres in which he served. It could be one of a number of Recce regiments which served in N Africa, Italy and F&G - quite likely 5 Recce?? Once you have this information then come back to us and we will do what we can. Good luck, Jawan

 

My father served in the army reconnaisance corps. He was in the REME. He enlisted on 5/3/1940 and was discharged on 2oth may 1946. He was in France, North Africa, scicily and Italy. He was born in Scotland. All my attempts to trace his service have come to nothing. I do not know which recce unit he was in. All I know is that he had a very bad war and saw a great deal of active service that he didn't want to discuss. His army number was 3320650 William Boyle. Did anyone out there know him?

Try this link to assist your search for your Fathers records
Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

 

Hi,

My Uncle Harold Benjamin "Ben" Mather, (5383110) was killed in Action on the 14th april 1945

I've attached three documents, two with photos in the hope someone will recognise him or can provide more information about him.

I am drawing up the family tree, more details on Ben and what action he would have been involved in, at the time he was killed.

Hope someone can help

Regards

Ray Petty

 

CWGC :: Certificate

 

Hi,

My Uncle Harold Benjamin "Ben" Mather, (5383110) was killed in Action on the 14th april 1945

I've attached three documents, two with photos in the hope someone will recognise him or can provide more information about him.

I am drawing up the family tree, more details on Ben and what action he would have been involved in, at the time he was killed.

Hope someone can help

Regards

Ray Petty
Ray,

I am away from my records at the moment but I will check in a week on return,

Best regards, Jawan

 

Ray, Welcome to the forum. Here are the War Diary entries for 13-15 April 1945

Cheers
Paul