I am currently trying to find as much information as I can regarding a Training Accident involving the Monmouthshire Regiment at Rostrevor, County Down on 11th July 1941. I believe 16 members of 2nd or 3rd Battalion (Not Sure which) the Monmouthshire Regiment were to practice a river crossing and they were in a boat approx. 75 yards from the shore. They had been sitting for a long time waiting for a Senior Officer to arrive and watch the exercise. - He may have been a Colonel Cooper. Wearing full kit and carrying their rifles the soldiers finally entered the water on a signal from the C.O. The water was approx. 8 feet deep and the first man into the sea was Private Poole. The soldiers soon got into difficulties. In full kit and boots with no Life Preservers 6 of the soldiers died and a few days later they were transported on ceremonial gun carrages draped in the Union Flag for burial. As with other accidents this appears to have been kept quiet. Private Poole may have been Leo Patrick Poole 3rd Battalion, buried in Greenbank Cemetery Bristol. ANY help regarding this would be much appreciated.
Just seen this. When I last read 2 Mons history there was no mention of this, and it does not get a mention in 53 Div History. That said, the other accidents are fairly well recorded. Will check next time at Kew (Tues).
POOLE, LEO PATRICK Rank: Private Service No: 4079026 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 37 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference N. 266. Cemetery BRISTOL (GREENBANK) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Patrick Joseph and Mary Ellen Poole. JONES, HAYDON THOMAS Rank: Private Service No: 4080020 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference Row D. 2nd Extn. Grave 32. Cemetery MYNYDD BACH CONGREGATIONAL CHAPELYARD Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Susan Jones, of Treboeth, Swansea. MORT, RAYMOND Rank: Corporal Service No: 3910702 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference Sec. P. Grave 170. Cemetery SWANSEA (DANYGRAIG) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Margaret Ann Mort, of Swansea; husband of Elizabeth Eileen Mort, of Swansea. MORRIS, WILLIAM ALDEN Rank: Private Service No: 4080347 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 31 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference Cemetery GROESWEN WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHAPELYARD CANNON, FRANCIS JOSEPH Rank: Lance Corporal Service No: 4080398 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference Plot L. Grave 314. Cemetery PONTYPRIDD (GLYNTAFF) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Francis Joseph and Maria Cannon, of Pontypridd. LAMB, CLIVE Rank: Private Service No: 3909965 Date of Death: 11/07/1941 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Monmouthshire Regiment 3rd Bn. Grave Reference Plot U.U. Grave 8. Cemetery PENYGARN BAPTIST BURIAL GROUND Additional Information: Son of William and Florence Lamb; husband of Doris Winifred Lamb, of Pontypool.
It was the 3rd Mons they were posted there in 1941. I will attach screen shots of Hedley J Bunces history of the 3rd Mons
