Desert Rats At "chatsworth Barracks" ?

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by ClémentH, Aug 14, 2016.

  1. ClémentH

    ClémentH Member

    Hello,

    I have bought this Italian flag a while ago, which is supposed to have been brought back as a souvenir from North Africa by a Desert Rats veteran. It is stenciled on one side "93 CHATSWORTH", and according to the previous owner, it refers to army barracks. However, I could not find anything about this...

    Has anyone ever heard of Army Barracks by that name where the 7th Armoured Division was stationned at ? Could it be a soldier's name and a unit number ?

    Here are some pictures :

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    Thank you for you help,

    Clément
     
  2. ClémentH

    ClémentH Member

    No idea ? The only thing I could find about Chatsworth barracks is from a novel on Google Books... (In the Bear Cave)

    I hope someone will help solve the mystery :)

    Thank you !

    Clément
     
  3. ClémentH

    ClémentH Member

    I feel a little bit like I'm talking to myself here ;) but just so you know, I may have found something. Apparently Chatsworth house was home to the Derbyshire Yeomanry (Wartime stories from Chatsworth House - BBC News), and a quick search (wikipedia) told me the 2nd battalion WAS actually in the 7th armored division. Even more interesting, they fought at Alam el Halfa and the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942, which validates the story.

    They got home in 1943 (one of the guys taking that flag with him), and were assigned to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. They landed in France and fought all the way to Germany.

    Now, it kinda makes sense, but Chatsworth used to be a girls school too and I couldn't find much about the Derbyshire Yeomanry stay in Chatsworth. I'll keep digging, but if someone knows something, I'd appreciate some help. Also, I have no idea what that "93" is referring to... :unsure:

    Clément
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    There's an 'R' after the 'CHATSWORTH' - could it be 'RD'? If it's 93 Chatsworth Road it may have nothing to do with a Chatsworth Barracks.
    On the plus side, I may be able to check the 2 Derby Yeo theory if I can find their history...
     
  5. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    Chatsworth House is also the ancestral home of the Cavendish family/Dukes of Devonshire in the Peak District. This might also indicate a link with the Derbyshire Yeomanry.
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Cavendish family WW2 connections were to Coldstream Guards.

    Andrew Cavendish won MC in Italy as per below link and his elder brother William was KIA with 5th CG in NWE.

    Good Luck

    Steve Y

    Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
  7. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    www.madrecce.moonfruit.com is an excellent little site which sets out to record the experiences of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in World War Two

    It contains a synopsis of the Regimental War Diaries from 1940 till December 1944. No mention of a Chatsworth Barracks but the then Duke of Devonshire did make a formal visit to the Regiment in Norfolk in April 1944 after the they had returned from Palestine to reorganise/retrain as the Armoured Recce Regiment in support of 51st Highland Division.

    Trawl of the internet reveals that both the 9th and 10th Dukes of Devonshire took an active interest in the Derbyshire Yeomanry.
     
  8. ClémentH

    ClémentH Member

    Hi,

    Thank you for your thoughts ! It's true, there's something after Chatsworth, but it's not readable. It does look like an R, but it could be an error when they stenciled it, as it's really really faint and it seems like there is nothing afterwards.

    The previous owner said it came from Chatsworth Barracks, and as it seems it's not a very famous place as far as WWII is concerned, he must have had that information from somewhere.

    The 93 looks like the number they put on military vehicules, a code for units in a division. But I don't what the desert rats used...

    Thank you for your help, and sorry for the english mistakes.

    Have a nice day,

    Clément
     

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