Irish Guards, Other Ranks: unofficial Nominal Roll by Army Number order

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Mar 12, 2013.

  1. Chris Bent

    Chris Bent Member

    What a great picture of your Dad's squad. I only have the photo of my Dad and his troop sitting in front of the tank. Today I contacted a member of the Kenwright family (Sgt Harry Kenwright was his great uncle). He has a box of items from Harry (letters, etc) that his grandfather kept (Harry's brother).I am meeting up with him tomorrow.
     
  2. Anita O'Keeffe

    Anita O'Keeffe New Member

    Hello! this information is amazing!! My Father is listed here, O'Keeffe, A, 2719017! Do you know where I can get any additional information about him online? I believe he was with Giles Vandeleur, during the war, he was wounded 2/4/1945. Any help would be wonderful! He died in 1982, I was young and don't know a lot about his time during the war. My Grandfather, Michael O'Keeffe, was also an Irish Guard, service number 8220, any information about him would be great!
    Thank you!
    Anita
     
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  3. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Anita O'Keeffe and dbf like this.
  4. Anita O'Keeffe

    Anita O'Keeffe New Member

    Thank you so much Steve
    I did send away a few weeks ago for my dad's records, I can't wait to see them. I was hoping there were places online as well, that I could find more information. Thanks for your advice!
    Anita
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Anita
    Hello and welcome to the forum
    Your father is mentioned on the pre-embarkation list for the 2nd armoured battalion as above. It was filed in the war diary for May 1944, but I've transcribed it separately in this link 2nd Armoured Battalion Irish Guards: Pre-embarkation List, May 1944
    It would be reasonable to assume then that he was in Giles Vandeleur's tank crew at the time they were preparing for Normandy.

    Here is part of the 1944 war diary for the battalion
    War Diary: 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944

    and for 1945
    War Diary: 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, Jan - Dec 1945

    There are also Tank Casualty details for 1945 which include 2nd April. Unfortunately no crews were named.
    2nd Armoured Battalion Irish Guards, GAD, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Hope that's of some interest
    Regards
    Diane
     
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  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Here is the WW1 Medal Index Card for Michael O’Keefe.

    I’d presume he was discharged due to wounds. He went overseas after 31st December 1915.

    There may be more information on Ancestry and or FMP but the free access weekend has ended so I can’t look any further as I don’t have a subscription.

    Steve A8AA32B5-41E7-45B8-A288-0C134717F312.jpeg
     
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  7. Anita O'Keeffe

    Anita O'Keeffe New Member

    Diane, thank you so very much for this information, this is wonderful!!
     
  8. Anita O'Keeffe

    Anita O'Keeffe New Member

    Steve thank you, yes that is my grandfather. He was shot, and discharged. This is amazing thank you all for your help!!
     
  9. Barty Walsh

    Barty Walsh New Member

    Please would you add 2717039 Guardsman Bartley Walsh. Ist Battn. Served 3 years in the Colours prior to WW2 and was then recalled from Reserve upon outbreak of War. Thanks for running this great valuable site.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 14, 2019
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Duly added. Thanks for taking time to post. Do you have any further details you'd care to share?
     
  11. MCGrb

    MCGrb New Member

    Some friends in the Netherlands would very much like to know what happened with 2714747 JOHNSON C Guardsman 1st Bn. Irish Guards ?
    Can you help?
     
  12. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Welcome to the forum.

    A quick search of the forum turns up this separate topic on this man and his subsequent lengthy peace time Army career - via this link

    2714747 Charles JOHNSON, BEM, 1 Irish Guards

    Steve
     
  13. MCGrb

    MCGrb New Member

    Hi Steve,
    Sorry I did mention the wrong name. I'm new :huh:
    It is a WW2 soldier
    2719294 JOHNSON E Guardsman 3rd Bn. Irish Guards

    Thanks.

    Marco
     
  14. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    I did wonder at the Netherlands connection as 1st IG didn't serve in NWE 1944/45.

    Hopefully Diane may have some information on him but I can’t turn him up on an internet search.

    Steve
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Sorry I've nothing more to add.
     
  16. MCGrb

    MCGrb New Member

    no problem, thanks anyhow.
     
  17. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    List now updated and broken links fixed
     
  18. Chris Bent

    Chris Bent Member

    Long time since I added to this post. Thought that you might like to know that I trailed my father's story regarding his friend Harry Kenwright and we found family members who had some great photos of Harry. The school that Harry went to has been incredibly inspired by the story and there is a touching YouTube film showing how special the Irish Guards and school have become. It is called Oakwood Ave's Irish Guards Adventure. This is Harry's crew in Holland around 44/45. Harry and the driver George Doudes were killed on 2nd April, 1945 at Gildehaus.
    Sgt Kenwright (2).jpg
     
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  19. Chris Bent

    Chris Bent Member

    In the film we visit Harry's grave at Rheinberg and the exact location of his death, including the small hill where my Dad had to bury him. We were filming live to the children back at Harry's school. Incredibly emotional moments for everyone concerned.

     
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  20. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Chris, thanks for coming back and posting the update. I've added in the YouTube link you mentioned.

    Took the time to watch the whole video and I'm impressed with how you, the school staff and the Micks put together Harry and John's story for the children. So often on here - and elsewhere - sweeping comments are made about "kids nowadays" and how they know nothing of the WWs. Great example of making the subject of history relatable and relevant.

    My Dad also buried a close comrade, one who had trained in his squad, and he was immensely relieved to discover that his friend from 3rd Bn, as well as others from 2nd Armd Bn he'd buried that same day, had been re-located to a Commonwealth war cemetery.

    I think Dad gave me an account of some of what he'd heard happen at Gildehaus. One of his earlier trainees, a Guardsman, died on 2 April and is buried at Rheinberg. Luckily for Dad his platoon had been 'left out of battle' that day. Some of his friends - from both the 2nd Armd and 3rd Battalions - were taken prisoner and were lucky to survive not only the battle but also their capture by Volkssturm.
    Casualty Details | CWGC

    Mervyn Beattie from my father's training squad was taken POW on 2/4/45
    CPL P DOOGAN’S SQUAD, OCTOBER 1943
    as was this other friend of his who is featured in a film clip being liberated by Coldstream Guards
    2721063 Samuel McCOMISH, MM, 2 Irish Guards
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2021

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