262671 Lt Alan Ford, 20 AT Regt, Royal Artillery: KIA 28th June Normandy

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Robert Wimpenny, Jun 21, 2020.

  1. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    I have a distant relation killed whilst a officer of the 20th Anti Tank rgt, would like to find out more about what his units movements prior to this, I know very little about his Army career, training. postings etc.
    any help / advice would be very welcomed by myself especially at this time of year.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    For record - CWGC details
    Casualty
    Lieutenant FORD, ALAN
    Service Number 262671
    Died 28/06/1944
    Aged 21
    20 Anti-Tank Regt. Royal Artillery
    Son of Harvey and Alice Winifred Ford, of Wheatley, Yorkshire.
    INSCRIPTION: ALWAYS TO BE BEST, AND DISTINGUISHED ABOVE THE REST >>> ILIAD OF HOMER
    Buried at LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
    Location: Calvados, France
    Number of casualties: 1025
    Cemetery/memorial reference: IV. B. 11.
    See cemetery plan


    For his full service history apply to MOD for copy service records.
    Print off a copy of CWGC certificate for application
    See details: Request records of deceased service personnel

    Good luck with research
     
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  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  4. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

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  5. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

  6. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    thanks for this - didn't know i could apply not being close family
     
  7. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    Rob aka Buteman - thanks for sharing this, just discovered that you were responsable for putting this together - wow, what an undertaking Indeed, i guess must have been appreciated by so many forum members and certainly by me, thank you
     
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  8. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I may have started this thread, but many others have contributed.
     
  9. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I've tried to enhance the photo.

    upload_2020-6-21_16-59-35.jpeg

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    From the early days (Not my photo)

    upload_2020-6-21_16-58-35.jpeg
     
  10. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    From The London Gazette:-

    SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 19 MARCH, 1943
    Commissioned into The Royal Regiment of Artillery
    13th February 1943
    Alan FORD (262671)
     
  11. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    20 Anti-Tank Regiment were 3rd British Division Troops. This was their insignia. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of their war diary.

    upload_2020-6-21_17-28-48.png

    upload_2020-6-21_17-27-11.jpeg
     
  12. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    3rd Division were fighting north of Caen 26-29th June. La Bijude, Epron, Château de la Londe. Remonter le temps
     
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  13. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    Last edited: Jun 21, 2020
  14. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    I realised the contributions of others as i scrolled down - guess thats what this forum is all about
     
  15. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    Buteman and M Kenny great Information that I didn't know, the enhanced photo, the map, diary i will study, i attach a couple of things of Interest
     

    Attached Files:

  16. DannyM

    DannyM Member

    Hi,
    Lt. Ford was probably in 67 Battery.

    67 Battery had two SP M10s put out of action on the 27th. One burnt out. There were some casualties.

    This happened during the advance of the 1st Bn South Lancashire Regiment from Le Landel(Le Londel) to the Chateau de la Londe.

    The SPs moved forward at 16.25 to occupy Le Londe.

    In April 1944 the unit moved from Munlochy to Creech Walk.

    On the 6th June the Battery landed at 08.10 in support of 8 British Infantry Brigade.

    Regards

    Danny
     
  17. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    Thanks Danny, must admit had to google both Munlochy and Creech Walk to figure where they were. all the Info gathered today gives me a much wider picture to what i previously knew, i will share with the wider family.

    He never married (no idea if he had fiancee or girlfriend) he had one sister who married but had no kids,
    i have more work to do on Ancestry to see if he has any living relations who may be Interested in his medals and a few other bits that were passed down to me - i am not a "blood relation" so to speak.

    Am Interested in his Army service and will apply for his records, also Interested In learning more about his units actions and who they fought against ? need to read in more detail some of the items that have been posted today as may have missed something.
     
  18. Robert Wimpenny

    Robert Wimpenny Active Member

    Hi Danny,
    appears that you are correct re 67 Battery from looking at CWGC it says " 67/20 A TK RA
     
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  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Robert-I have a copy of the 1944 regimental diary WO 171/913 20 Anti-Tank Regiment Jan-Dec 1944. Send me a private message if you'd like a copy. I charge 10p per page and it's under £10 with my fee going to charity during lockdown.
     
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  20. Riviera

    Riviera New Member

    Hi Robert, here is the certificate my family received after my uncle Jack was KIA on the 12th of August 1944.
    As you can see Alan ford is on the list.
    Jack (John) was initially buried near Roullers then in 1946 he was reinterred in Bayeux war cemetery.
    I dont suppose anyone knows what action Jack was in on the day he died ?
     

    Attached Files:

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