61st recce members

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Ganger04, Jun 14, 2014.

  1. thrudd

    thrudd Member

    a few more snaps sorry it took so long, I believe one shows German pows in the bren carrier
     

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  2. thrudd

    thrudd Member

    ok this is a long shot but has any one thought about writing to the P.M about the 61st war diary's as his grand father was lt col William mount just a thought
     
  3. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Good idea,

    I will send something out today and keep you informed.

    Regards,

    Nick
     
  4. thrudd

    thrudd Member

    Cheers Nick,
    it was just one of those silly early morning sparks were you go I wonder,

    John
     
  5. Ganger04

    Ganger04 Junior Member

    Thrudd sent you a PM
     
  6. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Sorry Guys,

    If you are referring to me, nothing has come through.

    regards,

    Nick
     
  7. Chotie's Daughter

    Chotie's Daughter Chotie's Daughter

    Just catching up on the Forum a bit after a very busy time trying to keep pace with the war seventy years ago on my blog http://www.chotiedarling.co.uk. I am in touch with Anthony Rampling of 61st Recce's B Squadron and have corresponded with Don Aiken, also of B Squadron so there are a few 61sts still with us thankfully. I've also had very helpful correspondence and chat with Derek Brewer, Eric Brewer's son - so the 2nd generation are remembering together. :poppy:

    Chotie's Daughter
     
  8. Ganger04

    Ganger04 Junior Member

    Sorry to resurrect an old thread but.
    I recently met up with Mark Howard son of Roy Howard (Beaten Paths are Safest) and he says he has a letter from Lieutenant Colonel P.H.A Brownrigg, DSO, stating the diary's for the period that the Regiment was attached to the 50th Division, were never written up.
     
  9. idler

    idler GeneralList

    That's an interesting bit of information - thanks. And don't worry about bumping an old thread, that's what they're for.
     
  10. Walter van de Laar

    Walter van de Laar New Member

    Hello everybody,

    Since I've hiked the Airbonetrail (Lommel, Belgium->Arnhem, The Netherlands) a couple of years ago. I've been looking more into the history of my hometown during WW2.

    and came across the name of Major Stanley Alexander on the monument at the town square of Gemert.
    Gemert, herdenkingsmonument - Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei : Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei

    This started my search and came across several history books about my hometown Gemert during the war that mentioned Major Alexander. I was surprised to even see a mention in "Kampfgrupp Walter And Panzerbrigade 107", This is the unit that tried to severe the corridor at Son and later at Veghel. It was stationed for a short period in Gemert and retreated back to it after the failed attack at Veghel.

    I'll work on a translation of the Dutch text in the upcoming days. I hope this will help in the search for information about Major Alexander and the 61st recc's movement during Operation Market Garden.

    Sincerely,

    Walter van de Laar

    Source info:
    -Gemert Bezet - Gemert Bevrijd 1940-1944 Hoe een Brabants dorp de oorlog doorkwam // by Anny van Kimmenade-Beekmans // ISBN 90-73621-07-0 // page 219
    - Gemerts Heem - Jaargang 52 juni 2010 nr2 - article by Toon Verbakel and Ruud Wildekamp // ISSN 0166-2473 // page 27
    (online page GH-2010-02 Oorlogsgraven in Gemert (2) - Heemkundekring Gemert)
    - Kasteel Bezet - Kasteel Bevrijd 1939-1945 Hoe de kasteelbewoners de oorlog doorkwamen // Drs. J.M. van de Kimmenade-Beekmans // ISBN 90-73621-26-7 // page 102
    - Kampfgrupp Walther and Panzerbrigade 107 // Jack Didden and Maarten Swarts // ISBN 978-90-800393-9-1 // page 231
     

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  11. Walter van de Laar

    Walter van de Laar New Member

    Translations of the bookscans in message #50

    Gemert Bezet - Gemert Bevrijd 1940-1944 (page 219)
    That same day, British Major Stanley G. Alexander was killed. Together with two passengers, he drove an armored car from Boekel to Gemert, which had just been liberated, to explore the road. Near the Verrehei they drove on one of the land mines, which had been laid by German SS troops shortly before. It was not possible to determine afterwards whether Alexander had been killed as a result of the explosion or by German gunfire. The other two occupants managed to escape.

    Gemerts Heem - Jaargang 52 juni 2010 nr 2 (page 27)
    Major Stanley George Alexander of the 61st Regiment Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armored Corps.

    Born 19-03-1910 in Westonbirt - died 24-09-1944 in Gemert.

    He carried out a reconnaissance patrol in a reconnaissance vehicle in the eve of Sunday 24 September 1944 from the newly liberated Boekel towards Gemert and drove on the Verrehei into a German ambush in the form of mines, laid by an SS unit in the past afternoon. An exploding mine killed Alexander - the other occupant of the light reconnaissance car survived and managed to escape. His remains were found the next day in a ditch, about forty meters from the wreckage of his car.

    The residents of the town, chief of guard Schell, chaplain van Haeren and A. Corstens, together with a few local residents, buried him wrapped in an overcoat, in a foxhole, along the road (well available at that time and built on the orders of the Germans). A few weeks later he was transferred by the British to a temporary cemetery in Geldrop (presumably Stationsstraat near Monastery St. Anna) and from there in 1945 to the British War Cemetery in Mierlo, where he rests in grave section 1, row B, no. 13.

    Kasteel Bezet - Kasteel Bevrijd 1939-1945 (page 102)
    Around 11:30 in the morning the last German troops withdrew from the "Gruun Steeg", located between the Falie and Deelse Kampen. Not long afterwards, chaplain Van Haeren and group commander Willem Schell went to the Verre Hei to bury the English Major Alexander. In the late afternoon, the day before, he had come from Boekel to scout in a battle car with two more occupants. Just on Gemert's territory, he had hit two mines, and the fighting car had ended up in a ditch further on. The other passengers managed to escape. Major Alexander was struck in the neck outside the car by a German rapid-fire cannon positioned behind the tree-lined roadblock.

    Fearing even more explosives, Van Haeren and Schell were afraid to approach the vehicle and the victim. Arguing that Van Haeren "had no children" and Van Schell did, the former allowed himself to be the first to step into the danger zone. There were no further explosions and, as mentioned, Alexander's body was buried on the spot.

    Kampfgrupp Walther and Panzerbrigade 107 (page 231)
    See the image as the bookscan is in english.
     
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