Looking for any information on my grandfather who fought at Monte Cassino 56 Recce

Victoria.

Recce Mitch has pinned him down to Headquarters Squadron which is good. That Sqn did no fighting but had a vital role in keeping the rest of the unit on the road.

Life expectancy in the very dangerous Sabre Sqns was not high so him being in HQ Sqn was a blessing. Sniffing about in front of the Division looking for Germans, minefields and passable routes was no picnic.

Regards

Frank

 

Wow thank you so much for this information Frank. It's good to be able to have an idea of what he might have done.

Would he have also worn the symbol I have seen for the 56 Recce corps?

Thanks again

Victoria

 

Do you mean the Battleaxe sign Vicgtoria? Like this one
badge formation 78th Infantry Division 11th Infantry Brigade (INS 5487)

If you are interested, I typed up an IWM interview with John Gowan, a 56 Recce Veteran. Although he was in C Squadron with my father it does give a good insight what the Troopers did. Maybe you would like to read it.
Trooper John Gowan, 56 Recce - IWM Interview transcription

Lesley

 

Victoria.

Recce Regts had a badge on their beret and on their tunic jacket, if they were in 56 Recce Regt, they would have had the badge of 78 Infantry Division which, as Lesley explained, was a yellow battle axe on a black background.

Regards

Frank

 

Victoria, as you have found out there is a great deal of interest in 56 Recce here, my father was Troop Sergeant Gilbert (Tony) Anthony and served throughout from North Africa to Austria. If you haven't come across them yet you can find the regiment's history here:

http://daimler-fighting-vehicles.co.uk/DFV-File Part D007h- Infantry 56 Infantry Recce.pdf

Some time ago I posted their short History:

56 Recce Short History

You may also like the Reconnaissance Journals:

Reconnaissance Journal

Best of luck with your research.

 

Hi Victoria

Your Grandfather is also on Africa Star list WD Dec 1943. These are to be found in my albums, link here http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/users/recce_mitch.7031/albums

It looks like I have 6 albums that didn't transfer correctly, 3 of which are 56 Recce. I will fix these in the near future. I have 24 pages in my album, just go to page 17 on for 56 Recce ones. If you are interested I can send you a digital copy of This Band of Brothers which is a history of Recce Regts, just pm me your email.


Cheers
Paul

 

Thank you all for all your help so far. I am starting to read all the links you have provided. You have no idea how much this means to me to finally know that lost part of my grandfathers life.

Paul - I will look through your albums right now to have a look. I will PM you not about This Band Of Brothers as I would love to have a read.

Thank you

Victoria

 

Hi Victoria have sent you the link, please let me know when you have received them.

Cheers
Paul