Hello I am currently looking at operations of 1st Polish Armoured Division in August 1944, operations Totalize, Tractable and the closing of Falaise gap. Information seems to be a bit scarce or in Polish - funny that... I have General Maczek's operational report for the month and a copy of Mcgilvray's 'The Black Devils March - A Doomed Odyssey' but both are short on details and tank loss statistics. I have found a reference to a regimental history for the 10th Mounted Rifles (10PSK) which was one of regiments in the PAD but this was published in Nuremburg in 1947 and could be in Polish... If anyone has any war diaries or information on tank losses, etc that would be much appreciated. Cheers
From the Black Devils: 10 PSK Losses 8 -27 August 1944 Cromwells 16 des, 12 damaged = 28 Stuarts.......4 des, 2 damaged = 6 Other.........1 des, 2 damaged = 3 Other regiments were: 24th Uhlans (Lancers) 1st Tank Regiment 2nd tank Regiment But no more info on these 3 regiments... Cheers
Hi Pak 75 These may not be the specific tanks you are looking for but they are census numbers seen on 1st Polish Armoured Division tanks in the UK and NWE. Cromwells T187897, T187914, T187921, T187930, T187935, T187942, T187949, T187964, T187998, T189685 Stuarts T224229, T224267, T224268, T224273, T271169, T271200, T271222, T271234, T271240, T271325, T271347, T271353, T271383, T271434, T271450, T271529, T271530 10th Mounted Rifles Cromwells T187427, T187905, T187924, T188057, T188451, T188476 Hope it is of some use. Cheers Kevin
Hi Attached is a more recent transcript of Maczek's report Cheers Edit - to big to upload. Report is on website Canadian Military History Journal Vol 15 issue 2 http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol15/iss2/7
Armoured Hussars - 1st Polish Armoured Division "Armoured Hussars Images of the 1st Polish Armoured Division 1939-47"
The IWM have a film clip (A70 116-1) that shows the 1st Polish Armoured moving up through the 51 HD during Op Totalise. I have a copy only because the first 20 seconds have my father, centre stage, briefing his men. The (apparently) endless line of Polish tanks that constitute most of the film are non the less impressive.
I'd love to see that, who knows perhaps my grandfather may be there! 24th Lancers Regiment (53), 1st Polish Armoured