As some of you are aware I am trying to local the names of two or may be three soldiers who died in the forest of Lyons which surrounds the village of Lyons La Forêt, Normandy, France on August 29th 1944. I have no information indicating the regiment etc and so I am now trawling through all Common Wealth Grave records for all the local cemetaries. Trooper Robert William Lawson 13030906 of the RAC Tank Regiment was killed on the same date and is burried in Mainneville cemetary which is not far. Does anyone know how he died and where?
The CWGC has him with 3 RTR, confirmed in 11th Armd div history roll of honour. I suggest asking someone to look at 3 RTR war diary. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2320853/LAWSON,%20ROBERT%20WILLIAM edit : page 49 of Taurus Pursuant says.. By 1330 Etrepagny was reached , on the right route, and entered against some opposition by 3 R Tks, who then pushed on to meet stronger resistance around Manneville. Here the enemy occupied an awkward reverse slope position , with infantry , anti-tank and self-propelled guns .This position was, however , defeated by an outflanking movement , and 3 R Tks succeeded in establishing themselves to the north-east of the village.
As some of you are aware I am trying to local the names of two or may be three soldiers who died in the forest of Lyons which surrounds the village of Lyons La Forêt, Normandy, France on August 29th 1944. I have no information indicating the regiment etc and so I am now trawling through all Common Wealth Grave records for all the local cemetaries. Lance corporal William Dan Oliver 7663382 of the RAC Tank Regiment was killed on the same date and is burried in Mainneville cemetary which is not far. Does anyone know how he died and where?
As some of you are aware I am trying to local the names of two or may be three soldiers who died in the forest of Lyons which surrounds the village of Lyons La Forêt, Normandy, France on August 29th 1944. I have no information indicating the regiment etc and so I am now trawling through all Common Wealth Grave records for all the local cemetaries. Sergeant Chares Clifford Remane 7928067 of the RAC Tank Regiment was killed on the same date and is burried in Mainneville cemetary which is not far. Does anyone know how he died and where?
merged 3 threads on 3 RTR men in same cemetery all 3 men listed here. http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2031858/MAINNEVILLE%20COMMUNAL%20CEMETERY makes sense having all 3 men in same thread instead of separate ones that will lead to duplication of effort.
Owen, point taken, I did as three different posts as although there a chance they were all killed the same way I thought their deaths may have been due to seperate incidents.
lots about him here. http://www.bansteadhistory.com/Memorial/2_R.html including photo of original graves of all 3
The Banstead site mentioned in Owens post #7 gives a quite precise account of what happened and I (Dr Stephen Pannell) contributed to that article. My father was in the same Troop as was the Harry Dews mentioned in the article. I had the privilege of knowing Harry and am also still in contact with the Eric Clayton mentioned in the Banstead article. All these guys were ex 24th Lancers who had been transferred as a Troop to 3RTR when the 24L were disbanded in July 1944. Other details of the incident are known to me and, of those publishable on a public forum, include the fact that the offending tank was a Panther and, after knocking out Remanes tank, Harry's gunner managed to hit the Panther with a round of AP but the Panther managed to withdraw, fortunately before it could do more damage. This incident was very distressing to Harry (who died a few years ago) because Remane was his best friend. I was fortunate in being able to visit Mainneville a few years ago, now a lovely peaceful place. I was also in contact with Remanes daughter Faith Bedford (again mentioned in the Banstead article) until a few years ago: I could try to reestablish contact if you wish.
It would be interesting to know more about the crew, so yes please, I would love to speak to her. I live not far from that village and I am fascinated by what happened here.
I forgot to mention that although I am a British expat I am a member of the Souvenir Français and I think that that cemetary may come under our local area so to speak, I need to consult my list and if it is I will be visiting the area to see what the state of the graves are like. I hear it is about to strike midnight here in London so Happy New Year to all!!!!
I've got all the Armoured NWE Diaries for 1944 at home. I'm at work at the mo so I'll post the page(s) from the diary up when I get home.