53rd Reconnaissance Regiment

Discussion in 'Recce' started by dave3164, Dec 7, 2009.

  1. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hartley E.JPG Ernest Hartley
     
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  2. Edmund Wilkinson

    Edmund Wilkinson New Member

    I found Ernest's grave at the Bergen-Op-Zoom cemetery, he was next to four other Recce soldiers:
    Tpr P R Tierney (53rd), Tpr A Waddington (53rd), Sjt W G Jenkins (53rd), and L/Sjt J W Collins (49th).
    I have obtained a copy of Welsh Spearhead, and photographed the whole book - there are 98 files. I've put the first 29 into the gallery (general area) but I have run out of space - each member is only allowed 50 MB. It would be great if someone else (probably need two people) could put the remaining files onto the gallery area - I have put files 30 to 98 on my Dropbox storage, so they can be downloaded and re-saved onto the gallery. The link for them is below. If anyone plans to do this, let everyone know so they aren't duplicated.

    Link is: Dropbox - Welsh Spearhead - Simplify your life
     
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  3. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Edmund thanks for posting Welsh Spearhead

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I've asked fellow admin to up your limit. I can't get into admin area on my phone.
    I'm not turning my laptop on this close to bedtime.
     
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  5. Edmund Wilkinson

    Edmund Wilkinson New Member

    I've now completed uploading the whole of "Welsh Spearhead" to the gallery (thanks for increasing my storage limit Owen). Here's a photo showing the entrance to Bergen-Op-Zoom cemetery. The sun had briefly come out, I did 700 miles in mostly rain (and some hail).
    Bergen-Op-Zoom 2019_ (2).JPG
     
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  6. Edmund Wilkinson

    Edmund Wilkinson New Member

    I've now received copies of Ernest Hartley's service records (attached) which only took a few months rather than the year I was expecting. The information has caused me to revise my idea of Ernest's progress - he was not posted to the 53rd Recce until 10th August 1944, which means that there was a second unrelated Hartley in "A" Squadron who was involved in the Le Bon Repos patrols in early August.
    Here is my interpretation of his records:

    18th Feb 1943 Enlisted and posted to Number 54 Primary Training Wing (PTW) at Number 4 Infantry Training Centre at Brancepeth near Durham. This belonged to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment of the Northumberland Light Infantry.

    19th March 1943 Sent to No 1 Recce Training Centre at Halleaths Camp, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire (this RTC was moved to Catterick in August 1943)

    31st March 1943 Transferred to Recce Corps

    17th Sept 1943 Transferred to 47th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron. This squadron was merged with the 38th Independent Recce Squadron and the 55th Independent Recce Squadron in October 1943 to form the 38th Recce Regiment, which never saw service and was disbanded in October 1944.

    30th Oct 1943 Transferred to the new 38th Recce Regiment. From 38th Recce War Diary: In November 1943 the HQ and “A” Squadrons were at Workington, “B” Squadron at Egremont and “C” Squadron at Whitehaven (all Cumberland) on training and exercises. In December they were training at Felton Park and Morpeth. In January 1944 they moved to Allerston High Moor Range near Scarborough, until March 1944 when they were split between Neston Camp (Wirrral), Southsea (Portsmouth) and Monkton Farleigh (Bath). In May the Regiment were all at Southsea. In June 1944 the Regiment was advised of its impending disbandment and remained at Southsea until it was disbanded with effect from 1st October 1944.

    10th August 1944 Ernest was one of 185 other ranks posted to the No 43 Reinforcement Holding Unit (RHU). RHU’s held troops to be used for replacing casualties. The location is unknown, although by 6th August 1945 it was in Gennep, Holland.

    3rd October 1944 Killed in Action

    9th October 1944 Next of Kin advised

    If anyone can add to or correct anything that would be most welcome!
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Edmund, a grand example of why service records are the only way to go when researching a serviceman. Elsewhere on this site I have posted copies of the Reconnaissance Journals and they contain a few references to 53 Recce, have a look here:
    Reconnaissance Journal
     
  8. Brin Davies

    Brin Davies Member

    Hello everyone, My Father finished the war as SSM D.T.Davies (Dai twice) of C Squadron. 53 Recce. Living in Merthyr Tydfil, every year in September, would see a gathering of lots of regiment veterans living in the South Wales area. Ready for the pilgrimage to Birmingham for the annual reunion. as a young lad it was amazing to see a group of what seemed to me old men, behaving like a bunch of excited schoolboys.
     
  9. oscar pip

    oscar pip Junior Member

    Jack and his mates.jpg Hi Brin . My dad to was in C Squadron 53Recce . I have attached dads picture of C Sq. Maybe your dads on it . Dont know where it was taken , dad passed before we found it . regards Oscar
     
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  10. oscar pip

    oscar pip Junior Member

    My dads the one the right , the only one with a beret on.
     
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  11. Brin Davies

    Brin Davies Member

    Oscar marvellous photo, thanks for sharing this. can't make out my dad at first look. What was your fathers surname?
     
  12. oscar pip

    oscar pip Junior Member

    Hi Brin . Dads name was John Mumby . He was a bren gunner . He served with the Recce from 05/12/41 to 01/06/46
     
  13. Brin Davies

    Brin Davies Member

    Hi Oscar, Sorry not a name I can remember coming up in conversations in our house. I don't know how many men where in C squadron, but as an SSM I imagine my dad would have known them all. He started out as a carrier driver, but with promotion came more responsibility and a move to the back seat. At some stage of the war his new troop commander became a certain raw Lieutenant Called Lovell of the sweet manufacturing family, needles to say to the rest of the men he was known as "Toffee Rex". Being the families most famous confection.
     
  14. oscar pip

    oscar pip Junior Member

    They no doubt would have known each other as dad was a bren gunner in a carrier.
     
  15. oscar pip

    oscar pip Junior Member

    Forgot to say he was also known as "Jack" or "Pip"
     
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  16.  
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  17. Addition to the List of Honours and Awards 53rd Reconnaissance

    Dutch Bronze Lion (Royal Decree No.29, April 24th. 1946 / supplement to the London Gazette, July 18th. 1947)

    Major Jack Beal (originally: Bielski) 68089
    53rd. Reconnaissance Regiment (Royal Armoured Corps)
     

    Attached Files:

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  18. Loopyliz66

    Loopyliz66 Junior Member

    My father SQMS C.G.Jones, as mentioned above was awarded Commander in Chief's Certificate however when it arrived there was some kind of typo, my father returned it to be put right and he never received it back so although I have a letter to say he had been awarded it, we don’t have the certificate which is a pity. Liz x
     
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  19. drumaneen

    drumaneen Senior Member

    See Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland
     
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  20. Stumpy82

    Stumpy82 New Member

    Hello all,

    I’ve just learned that my grandfather was in 53rd Recconnaissance Regiment (no idea which squadron) from its formation until he was transferred into the North Irish Horse in 1946. I’d be very grateful for any information on John Albert Joseph Jones. He was later a Lance Corporal in the RAC but I believe his rank may have “varied” previously as my Nan often talked about him being in trouble and losing his stripes. I was wondering if he featured in any of the histories of 53rd Recce anywhere?

    I’ve added a couple of pictures that I have of his records. I’d also be interested to know if anyone has any idea what the “Water Course” was that he attended in May 1941?
     

    Attached Files:

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