1st & 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Hi Graham,

Please forgive my chiming in on your post from (of just over 8 years ago) which I came across whilst doing my own research. I was wondering whether both you and Andrew (Trooper Harold Sykes' grand nephew) were ever able to locate the initial/temporary resting place of your ancestors near the church at Cheux? before their remains were re-interred elsewhere? I hope you were.

No doubt Andrew's friend, who from his post around that time (lived near Cheux) was also able to take you and your family to the site down the road, where your great uncle's Sherman tank (which as you know, along with the other crew members - was commanded by Sgt Greenfield from 'A' Squadron, 4 troop - who along with Trooper Martin, had
survived albeit badly burned) had succeeded in dispatching one, if not possibly two, of the Pz Mk IV's of the 4-5 such tanks present, that had lain in ambush positions in the trees, as your ancestors troop advanced on their objectives.

These 12th SS panzers (from 8th Kompanie) had until the time of the intervention of your ancestor's Sherman, which position had caused so much trouble for the brigade advance since the previous day, and up to the point, had managed to hold up the entire advance along that route, blocking them from their objectives of Granville, Coleville & Tourville on that fateful day. Your ancestor and his crew mates, through their bold advance, and by taking out Hans Siegel's Mk IV (the Kompanie commanders tank) resulting in their own tank being brewed up, helped turn the tide of battle that day, albeit with such tragic consequences for all the crew.

Lest we not forget.

Best wishes

R

 

hello
My grandfather was badly wounded 18/10/44 near veulen, he told me about his tank being hit by a shell and having to climb out under fire. He was very lucky to survive this and went on to have a great life despite his injuries. he marked the incident in his book.
happy to share anything else with you.
Ryan

 

One of my favourite old soldiers was the same. Some tight spots in a Honey then a full and happy life after. Very sadly missed from his spot at the end of the bar in the Royal Oak. What's your Granddad's book?

 

2nd fife and Forfar yeomanry book.

 

Lovely stuff. Thanks for sharing. Those maps with the twirly routes always remind me of the start of Dad's Army.

 

Hello. Thanks for posting these photos. My Grandfather was in the 1stFFY and bears a striking resemblance to the trooper standing directly behind the 5th officer from the left. Would the surname Smith possibly be a match. The handwriting is hard to decipher in places.

 

Where is the attachment now? I cannot find it. Kind regards Chris

 

This is the photo I think. I recognise a few of the names as being ex 2FFY. The must have moved across during the exchanges between the 1st & 2nd FFY at the end of the war in Europe.

 

Hi,
I'm just finding this site & had a few questions as to how to get war diaries? If you're still around could you let me know?
Thanks!

 

Digging up this old post. I've seen this wall chart before, for A and C Sqn's it says they were briefly at Liezele in Oct '44. Our new museum at Fort Liezele is opening a new 'post WWI' section. So more information about their stay is very much welcomed. Anybody got an idea where I can find a copy of the War Diary from that period (Bovington?) or the wall chart itself?

Cheers
Tim
www.fortliezele.be

 

If you're on FB, have a look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/11th.Armoured.Division

 

Hi, thanks for the reply.
Forgot to mention, the wall chart is about 1FFY in NW Europe. So we're looking for more information on them, not 2FFY.

Tim

 

Hi Tim
I was given the wall chart by a 1FFY veteran, Tom Carmichael, who was Troop Sgt in RHQ. It's the only copy of it I've seen. I have it in storage in the garage somewhere but I'll dig it out and try and do a large scale scan of it.
1FFY Ward diary for October 1944 attached.

Rob

 

I am unsure if this is the right way to ask (at the end of a long thread), but I am looking for the 2FFY 'A' Squadron diary for 1-2 May 1945 for further information on the liberation of the Trenthorst/Wulmenau POW camp.

I have the 2FFY War Diary for these days, but get from different sources that the squadron's diary (at the regimental museum?) holds further information. I also have the information from the Thomas R. 'Tom' Heald and Gordon Fidler interviews at the IWM.

There are many somewhat different accounts of these events. This is why I am now hunting the specific diary.

Kind regards

Mikkel

 

Hi Mikkel.

A transcript of the A Sqn 2FFY War Diary 1944-45 is available from the Bovington Tank Museum. Entries for 1-2 May 1945 are below but unfortunately the liberation of the POW camp is only mentioned briefly. The transcript of the letter from a former POW to Tom Heald, which I posted on another thread you were involved in, was included as an appendix.

1st May:
The Regt moved at 0700 hrs through Lauenberg and crossed the Elbe behind 23 H8 RB group. A long halt was made at Schwarzenbeck due to opposition in front of 23 H. Eventually the Regt were ordered to move round the left and take the lead. 4 Tp made a recce for the Regt, which followed, 'A' Sqn leading. The Sqn moved up to Lanken and finding enemy in the area, waited for a Coy to come up before clearing. A few prisoners were taken, 3 and 4 Tps conducted this little operation, and on completion, 2 Tp went through and with the inf, captured Faulenhagen. 'C' Sqn then passed through; meanwhile 'B' Sqn on the right were meeting more opposition. When 'C' Sqn had completed clearing Borsdorf, 'A' Sqn passed through them and went on at a good pace as far as Wentorf, 3 Tp leading. Many prisoners were taken, but little organised opposition encountered. The Sqn moved on beyond Wentorf, but were called back to leaguer there with 'C' Sqn 'at last light.

Order Commanders 1st May 1945

HQ.F
Capt Hotblack
Capt Samson
Lt Henderson

1 Tp
Lt Featonby
Sgt Robinson
Sgt Swann

2 Tp
Lt Heald
Sgt Collis
Cpl Hobson

3 Tp
Lt Miller
Sgt Hopkins
Cpl Dunmore

4 Tp
Lt Porter
Sgt Vallance
Sgt Collins
Lt Spittal

2nd May:
The Regt continued to advance 2 up,' C' right, 'A' left. The Sqn moved through Kastorf to Siebenbaurnen, 4 Tp leading; here a halt was called until A Echelon could come up to refuel us. They had not been able to get up the previous night. During this halt 2 Tp went forward with Cpt Samson and liberated a POW camp with some 1500 RAF officers. At midday orders to capture Lubeck were received and at 1415 the Regt moved off with 'B' Sqn leading. The route was onto the Hamburg autobahn and then into the city from the south west. The pace was fast, and opposition negligible and by 1500 hrs the Regt were on their objective, the Sqn, moving behind RHQ, passed through them on the west bridge near the twin towers and went on up to the north and towards the dock area. A little sniping was encountered, but that was soon subdued. 4 Tp going on into the dock area engaged and put out of action a ship trying to escape from the harbour.
Prisoners were taken in vast numbers, and totalled approximately 5000 for the day.

 

Did you have any luck getting war diaries? If you are looking for 1st or 2nd F&FY diaries you can get transcripts of them from the Bovington Tank Museum. If you want photographic copies which include all the available appendices then if you PM Andrew he will be able to help.

Rob

 

Firefly44, that is absolutely bloody brilliant! Very very helpful for my project.

Just to make sure that I understand it correctly: When Heald states that he went forward with three tanks that is 2FFY, 'A' Squadron, No. 2 Troop consisting of three tanks commanded by Heald, Collis and Hobson respectively. Is that correct?

Mikkel

 

Yes that is correct. Lt Tom Heald was the 2 Troop Leader. It would have been Cpl Hobson's tank that was used to try and knock down the camps perimeter fence.

 

Hi Rob.

Thanks for the war diary scans. These are exactly what we need to put the puzzle together of wat happened at our fort in late '44. Thank you very much!
One of our members saw one of those charts at a dealer/collecter once so that is how I knew they excisted. Unfortunaly up until now he's not willing to part with his copy. Guessing no, considering the history behind it, but if you ever decide to part with it, our museum would be most interested...

Again thanks a lot!
Tim
www.fortliezele.be