ENSOR, Charles Nephi, Private, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, Died 24 March 1945 - Looking for more info

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Buteman, May 28, 2015.

  1. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Whilst visiting the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery earlier this month, a group of people approached myself and another guy I was talking to. They were looking for the grave of a relative and we were able to direct them to the place they were seeking.

    They were two nephews, a niece and a great niece, paying their respects to a man none had ever met or whose grave they had ever seen. Whilst chatting, they had no information and were trying to find out more. I told them how to apply for the service records and offered to look at the war diary for the days leading up to the date of death.

    I would assume he took part in Operation Varsity and if anyone can add anything else, such as the plane or glider he flew in, this would be much appreciated.

    Cheers

    Rob

    PS - Here is the grave and his medals. I took photos using their own camera and cine camera, so only got this one shot of the relatives hands holding his medals.

    [​IMG]
     

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  2. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Can't add much but definitely a Varsity casualty.....The 2nd OBLI suffered quite badly on 24th March 1945.....I am going to Hamminkeln in just over a week's time on a tour with a British Army parachute unit - the current airborne medics and have been doing a bit of research on the fighting.....From my notes: flew in 850 killed 24 and 25 March 107 Wounded and Missing not recorded but the WD says at 1600 around 50% casualties had been sustained......

    One glider from 17 Platoon of B Company received a direct hit in mid-air and broke up killing all on board....

    Hope this helps in some small way...
     
    Cee likes this.
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Thanks Airborne Medic. That's very interesting information to pass on to the relatives. I got the impression they thought their relative had fallen in the Reichswald area, but the word "airborne" on the headstone along with the date 24 March 1945 made me think "Operation Varsity". You have confirmed my initial thoughts.

    Cheers

    Rob
     
  4. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    I couldn't find much on Pte. Ensor. He is listed at the SOFO Museum site. Ancestry has him born in Germany.

    http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/charles-nephi-ensor/163987706

    "Charles Nephi Ensor (1919 - 1945) was born in ca. 1919 in Germany. He was born into the Ensor family."

    Nephi is an unusual name with roots in Egyptian and Jewish history. In more modern times it's strongly associated with the Mormon religion.

    Regards ...
     
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Cee

    I think its ancientfaces website (http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/charles-nephi-ensor/163987706) that has him born in Germany, which is often the case, they assume as he is buried in Germany he must have been born there. There are several other website of a genealogical nature that do exactly the same.

    I am trying to find him on Ancestry

    TD

    edited to add:

    Just shows how rubbish some of these sites are - checking Ancestry for this person and nothing comes up, not even his CWGC details - :ewink:
     
    Cee likes this.
  6. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    TD,

    Thanks for the correction. I didn't realize sites made unfounded claims like that. I noticed his name is inscribed on what appears to be a family stone in Cinderford. Unfortunately the photo is too poor quality to make out the details.

    http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=2905434

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2022
  7. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Cee, TD,

    There is a Charles N Ensor born 3Q 1919 at Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire.

    Guy
     
    Buteman, Tricky Dicky and Cee like this.
  8. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Thanks Guy,

    Westbury on Severn is also close by to Cinderford according to Google Maps. I'm glad you guys straightened that out ... :)

    Regards ...
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Name: Charles N Ensor
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Parry
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1919
    Registration district: Westbury S
    Inferred County: Shropshire
    Volume Number: 6a
    Page Number: 437

    Thats crazy - I've been searching for a Charles Ensor born 1919 in the UK, - nothing. Following Guys comment searched just for Ensor born 1919 in the UK and wham up he comes - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    TD
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    We also now know he had older siblings:

    Harold Ensor
    Birth: 1910 - Gloucestershire, England

    Harold according to a family tree had 2 children (I off each - male was Ronald 1923 - 2008)

    Irene P M Ensor
    1912 Jul-Aug-Sep Westbury on Severn Gloucestershire

    Albert F B Ensor
    1915 Jul-Aug-Sep Westbury on Severn Gloucestershire

    TD

    edited to add:
    See extra comment in red above
     
  11. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    The family I met at the Reichswald come from the same area as Charles Ensor, namely the Forest of Dean. Thanks for the extra input.
     
  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    A couple of other hits that may or may not add to this thread:

    Name: Charles Nephi Ensor
    Death Date: 24 Mar 1945
    Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
    Burial or Cremation Place: Kleve, Klever Landkreis, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
    Has Bio?: N

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945

    Name: Charles Ensor
    Given Initials: C N
    Rank: Private
    Death Date: 24 Mar 1945
    Number: 5189000
    Birth Place: Gloucestershire
    Residence: Gloucestershire
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
    Regiment at Death: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    TD
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  14. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Thanks to all who contributed. That's brilliant. I'll send this info to the family.
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    and thanks to Guy :salut:

    TD
     
  16. VarsityGlider305

    VarsityGlider305 Well-Known Member

  17. David Woods

    David Woods Active Member

    Charles Nephi Ensor,
    75 St. Whites Road,
    Cinderford, Gloucestershire.

    1939 England and Wales Register.
    Born : 24th July, 1919.
    Master Butcher.

    TNA_R39_5097_5097G_011.jpg
    5189000 Pte. Charles Nephi Ensor
    Enlisted Gloucestershire Regiment 05.03.1940 (educated guess).
    Transferred to 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
    Wounded Normandy (probably between 7/10th June, 1944).

    GBM_WO417_077_0467.jpg
     

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