14660730 George GROOME-LAXTON, 9 DLI: 19/07/1944, Normandy

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by robcunningham, Jan 18, 2020.

  1. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    hi there, I have been researching a family member who was killed in normandy 19.07.44, he was my mums older cousin, she has often mentioned the impact his death had on all the family, especially her mother.I have visited his grave in normandy, photographed it, I have found and purchased his scroll , copies of his war records, and copies of two medals that it states he would have been entitled to.
    very little is known about the circumstances surrounding his death, other than the date, sadly 3 days after his 19th birthday, his record states western theatre of operations.

    private 14660730 George Groome-laxton

    the visit to the cemetery was very humbling, god bless them all
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Casualty
    Private GROOME-LAXTON, GEORGE
    Service Number 14660730
    Died 19/07/1944
    Aged 19
    9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
    Son of Dixon and Kathleen Groome-Laxton, of Comholme, Todmorden, Yorkshire.
    INSCRIPTION: HE HAS GONE TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER HIS DUTY DONE R.I.P.
    Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
    Location: Calvados, France
    Number of casualties: 4258
    Cemetery/memorial reference: XXVII. D. 7.
    See cemetery plan

    Killed in Action. :poppy:


    Hopefully you'll get some pointers about circumstances.
     
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  3. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    dbf many thanks for your quick reply, my mother always says he was in a vehicle that was blown up, other than that the information is very limited, having read some of the threads, its hardly surprising
    that details were scarce.

    thanks again
    robin
     
  4. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    At the time of his death the Bn were in the area of the Hottot road , south of Tilly sur Seulles around Les Le Gallois . They advanced towards the German positions on the afternoon of the 18th July and by evening occupied positions on the high ground on the line Le Feugret . Many casualties were caused by mines and booby traps . Unfortunately even as a result of my research and archive on DLI Casualties in Normandy i have no more info re the specific circumstances surrounding the death of George .

    Do you have any photos of him ?

    Regards

    Paul
     
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  5. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    hi paul, thanks for your information, sadly there are no known photos of George, at least now we have a better understanding of where George was, and was he was involved in

    best regards

    robin
     
  6. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hello Robin,

    Theres a few alarm bells ringing with the text I have highlighted above. Just for clarification the Scroll,Records and medal entitlement werent sourced from an `online` site were they? The only place service records are held is the MoD?

    Best

    Kyle
     
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  7. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    good evening Kyle, yes I purchased the memorial scroll from forces war records site, also on there was a link to a company called big bury mint, who I purchased the copy medals from

    cheers

    robin
     
  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  10. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    really?? that's bloody scandalous!! thanks for the heads up guys, really appreciate it, there are some low life scum about eh??
     
  11. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hello Robin,
    Unfortunately they do not have any personal records as Clive states you need to follow the link,unfortunately the `scroll` is a `souvenir` and not remotely like the one issued to the family.Sorry.
    Medals are wrong too Robin for the service in Normandy (curtailed by death) War Medal ,1939-45 Star,France and Germany Star . Maybe more if he served in sicily but only the `real` records can tell you that.

    Kyle
     
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  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Sorry Robin my words you have been done its a pet hate of mine on the internet sites promising you stuff but do not have the full picture

    but lesson learned

    just apply for the records in the link supplied £30 full records will give you his service
    make sure you stick on here and forum members will assist you


    regards
    Clive
     
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  13. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    lessons learned, much appreciated
     
  14. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    I’d concur with the critical comments re FWR.:reallymad:

    If you’ve signed up for a monthly subscription best make sure you have cancelled it.

    Steve
     
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  15. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    good morning Steve, no monthly subscriptions, just one off payments for 2 x medals I was assured George would have been awarded ,and a nice looking memorial scroll, that I am having mounted and framed as a gift for my mother. am a bit narked about being ripped off, but life goes on, many thanks to all for your support and wisdom

    regards

    robin
     
  16. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Robin stick on here and do not pay for any site on the internet that promises you records/details etc on WW2 they are a con and I know with the interest in WW2 starting to take off the vermin will score again

    Anyway get those records as advised and report back here if you so wish and forum members will help you interpret them

    Regards
    Clive
     
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  17. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    George is only mentioned in the Roll of Honour in the battalion history: ‘The Gateshead Gurkhas - A History of the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry 1859-1967’.

    The position the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry were in that day is as mentioned at message no. 4. He was the only man KIA on that date, which suggests that he either died of wounds received previously or there was an incident like that described at message no. 3, for example, a mine, shelling, mortaring... to which he succumbed.
     
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  18. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Sadly the certificate available online and free to download via CWGC is easily overlooked. Can't get anything more 'official' online than theirs, since they actually look after war graves as well as the online commemoration. (Printed copies also accepted by MOD as proof of death for applications of copy service records relating to personnel who died in service.)

    Go to George's commemorative page, linked in post 2, click on their link "Download commemorative certificate (PDF)" which can be found just above the cemetery details.
     
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  19. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    many thanks to you all, for your understanding, patience, professionalism, and great advice, you are all a credit to your groups and the memories of our fallen ones, hope you all have a great Sunday

    regards

    robin
     
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  20. robcunningham

    robcunningham Member

    hi all. am back again, I have seen a post on a thread from a gent advertising war diaries, I downloaded the list, then sadly I closed it, and now can't find the thread again, I did however take a note of the number
    it was W/O 171/1291, and relates specifically to the 9th dli, in 1944, how easy will it be to obtain this copy?

    regards

    robin
     

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