Award Bronze Star 14384786 Tpr. Alan LYNN, 141st Regiment, (The Buffs) RAC (Brest, France)

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by brithm, Dec 11, 2022.

  1. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Award Bronze Star Trooper Alan Lynn, Squadron E, 141st Regiment, (The Buffs). Royal Armoured Corps,


    WO 373/147/40

    upload_2022-12-11_5-32-20.png
    IWM B 13376 General Simpson speaks to Tpr. Lynn after decorating him with the Bronze Star Enkereind, Holland 3rd January 1945
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2022
    Ken Lynn likes this.
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  3. Great Pictures. Next year will be 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Brest. We can expect quite a few commemorations. Keen to ensure that the British contribution is not overlooked. We know the 141 RAC took casualties ( we have seen pictures sadly) but are struggling to discover where they are buried. Any help much appreciated
     
  4. A brief halt on the way into Brest 141 RAC outside Brest 1944.jpeg
     
  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    The CWGC database has the following three regiment members; you have to use the Royal Armoured Corps not 141 RAC (even in full).

    They are: Service Number: buried at Bayeux: 2764220 FRUDD; Service Number: 7951476 MOORE; and Service Number: 14403324 GUY (commemorated at Groesbeek, Holland).

    I can only assume for Frudd and Moore as they were from an attached British unit with the US Army, "we" claimed our own, hence the 'concentration' or movement to Bayeux from the American St. James Cemetery, Normandy (near the eastern edge of Brittany). The CWGC records do not show specifically show this 'concentration', instead there is blank column i.e no ditto.

    I cannot think of a reason why Guy - who died on 14/9/1944 - is buried at Groesbeek; which is mainly a Canadian cemetery dating from Operation Market Garden 17–27 September 1944 and Operation Veritable. Looking more he is commemorated, not buried; so his body was lost or not recovered in Brittany.

    There are no other men buried there from his regiment, although there thirty-two from the RAC.

    Hopes this helps!
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
  6. Bedee

    Bedee Well-Known Member

    Correct, as mentioned at CWGC website "Groesbeek Memorial" a part of "Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery" probably missing.
     
  7. Many thanks to both of you. We rather suspect that any 141 fatalities were moved to the American St. James Cemetery near Avranches. But we need to try at get to the bottom of it. Unlike much of France, Brittany has a large number of, often individual CWGC graves in local communal cemeteries. There appears not to have been a major concentration/reburial apart from the Americans.
     
  8. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    The only CWGC graves or memorials to 141 RAC for the dates of the assault in 1944 are these three soldiers. The CWGC does record graves etc in local cemeteries; I have two in the church near where I drink in the pub.
     
  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Found this website by a military researcher, which incudes 141 RAC, for Brest opens with:
    One of the photos above is from this site!

    From: 141 RAC Regiment Crocodiles

    Now a mystery , not a death shown on: Lt. Hubert Anthony Ward British Army 141st (The Buffs) Regiment Royal Armoured Corps The Wartime Memories Project and very briefly mentioned on the previous link.

    upload_2023-1-28_20-14-3.png

    The London Gazette of 7/12/1944 records his Silver Star and has his Service Number 299727. From: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36828/supplement/5616/data.pdf

    He is no trace on CWGC, nor when using just Hubert Ward or Anthony Ward. So he must have survived.

    A second officer was in action at Brest, Reginald Roy Moss, taking the Fort Montbarey was awarded by the USA The Bronze Star. From his 2009 obituary: Colonel Roy Moss and as the Daily Telegraph is behind a £ paywall, his obituary is within: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Journal-No-18-Summer-2009.pdf

    Oddly the Brest action is not in The Buffs magazine, December 1944, although taking Le Havre and clearing the Scheldt are. See: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dragon-No-541-December-1944.pdf

    The bold text amidst this may be of note:
    From: Independent Brigades - British Friends of Normandy
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
    BrittanyRemembers likes this.
  10. Thanks David
    Yes there is a local Facebook group (in French) which has published a map of all of them in our region. Working my way through. At least you guys have narrowed the field. Seems extraordinary that so few were lost from 141 RAC. Liberation of Brest was a very brutal affair.
     
  11. Silver Star Now that is impressive! As we honour the dead, it will be good to pay tribute to the "Heroes". TVM for the links
     
  12. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    The IWM has a manuscript by a 141 RAC soldier, not available, which refers to Brest. See: Private Papers of J W Howes

    With my bold:
    From Niel's obituary: HARE, Niel Lewis

    The Bronze Star awards also appear on a US 29th Division website, with my bold:
    From: https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/US/Baltimore/280086829390/29th-Infantry-Division-Archives

    This would suggest the opening post photo shows one of the 141 RAC being awarded that day, presumably if they had survived till January 1945 they were there too.

    There is a book by a 141 RAC officer, published in 1974; note it does not state clearly he was at Brest. See: https://www.paulmeekins.co.uk/product/65867/FLAME-THROWER

    Lt. Ward's award is available from TNA for £3.50p via: Recommendation for Award for Ward, Hubert A Rank: Lieutenant Service No: ... | The National Archives
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
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  13. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
  14. Great! Thats really helpful. TVM
     
  15. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    There is a two-post thread for another soldier given the Bronze Star, with a photo: Award Bronze Star Tpr. T. Parry, 141st Regiment, (The Buffs), RAC (Brest)

    I have converted the List shown in Post 13 to Word so it can be searched for (as below). Checked all names on CWGC and they all survived WW2.

    DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    Silver Star Medal.

    Lieutenant Hubert Anthony Ward ( 299727 )

    Bronze Star Medal.

    Captain (temporary Major) Ian Nigel Ryle ( 151573 )
    Lieut. (temporary Captain) Reginald Roy Moss ( 261944 ). RIP DT Obit.
    Second Lieutenant Neil Lewis Hare ( 232515 )

    No. 6294232 Sergeant Leonard Henry Morley
    No. 7919115 Lance-Sergeant Arthur Strachan Cowe
    No. 14399498 Lance-Corporal Stanley Harris
    No. 6292339 Lance-Corporal Joseph Albert Rayman
    No. 6293221 Trooper Henry Adams
    No. 6300090 Trooper George Edward Clare
    No. 14384786 Trooper Alan Lynn
    No. 14528208 Trooper Thomas Parry
    No. 14324905 Trooper Peter Guy Thorne
    No. 14399742 Trooper Leslie George Richard Worthy
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2023
  16. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  17. Ken Lynn

    Ken Lynn New Member

    Good to see the old man in a picture I haven't seen before. Cheers Ken
     
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