hi i am new to this site, my uncle daniel regan was with[ 2/4 bn.the south lancashire regt.] 13th bn. parachute regt,aac. He was killed in action 3 jan 1945. he is buried at Hotton War Cemetery Luxenbourg, Belgium Could anyone help me find out where his unit was on 3Jan 1945 and what battle /action was going on on this date What does A.A.C stand for is this the glider pilot regt? Thank You for any information. Dave Morley
bullet welcome to the forum im sure a forum member will be along shortly to assist you Private DANIEL REGAN 14746006, 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn., The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. who died age 19 on 03 January 1945 Son of Peter and Rose A. Regan, of Bradford, Yorkshire. Remembered with honour HOTTON WAR CEMETERY CWGC :: Casualty Details
Welcome to the forum Bullet. A.A.C. stands for Army Air Corps. From Wikipedia: The first Army Air Corps The British Army first took to the sky during the 19th century with the use of observation balloons.[1] In 1911 the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers was the first heavier-than-air British military aviation unit.[2] The following year, the Battalion was expanded into the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps which saw action throughout most of the First World War until 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force.[3] Between the wars, the Army used RAF co-operation squadrons,[4] though a true army presence did not occur until the Second World War. At the beginning of the Second World War, Royal Artillery officers, with the assistance of RAF technicians, flew Auster observation aircraft under RAF-owned Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. Twelve such squadrons were raised[5][6][7] —three of which belonged to the RCAF— and each performed vital duties in a wide array of missions in many theatres. Early in the war, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced the establishment of a new branch of army aviation, the Army Air Corps, formed in 1942. The corps initially comprised the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Parachute Battalions (subsequently the Parachute Regiment), and the Air Observation Post Squadrons. In 1944, the SAS Regiment was added to the Corps. One of their most successful exploits during the war was Operation Deadstick the attack on Pegasus Bridge, which occurred on 6 June 1944, prior to the landings on Normandy. Once the three gliders landed, some roughly which incurred casualties, the pilots joined the glider-borne troops (Ox's & Bucks Light Infantry) to act as infantry. The Bridge was taken within ten minutes of the battle commencing and the men there withstood numerous attempts by the Germans to re-capture the location. They were soon reinforced and relieved by soldiers from Lord Lovat's 1 Special Service Brigade, famously led by piper Bill Millin. It was subsequently further reinforced by units of the British 3rd Division. The AAC was broken up in 1949, with the SAS returning to its independent status, while the Parachute Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment came under the umbrella of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps. The pilots who had once flown the gliders soon had to transfer to flying powered aircraft, becoming part of the Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Air_Corps_(United_Kingdom) I would suggest, as a possibility contacting the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, for information. As well as possibly getting the War diary from the National Archives. Mark
Welcome to the forum. If you need a photo of his grave ask member called andybaldeagle. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/members/andybaldeagle.html I know he has a photo cos I took it.
Welcome Bullett, here is a link to the 13th Battalion's WD for 3-6 Jan 45, which covers the Batle for Bure, which I would suspect is when your Uncle, was killed. ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Also a link to some group pics of the Battalion. ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces And here is a link to a thread on the battle it may be useful to contact Roodymiller, who started the thread. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/20625-wanted-battle-bure-accounts.html
Welcome to the forum. If you need a photo of his grave ask member called andybaldeagle. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/members/andybaldeagle.html I know he has a photo cos I took it. thankyou mate
