12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by lineman, Feb 13, 2011.

  1. lineman

    lineman Junior Member

    Hi All
    My father-in-law served with the 12th Devons in Normandy and Germany as part of 6 Airlanding Brigade and came in on the 6th of June 44 by glider. I am looking for any info or photo's on the Devons for this period.
    We still have his beret and battledress and we have spoken to the Pegasus Museum in Normandy about donating them and other items to the museum. They have said that they will put them in a display case and add them to the museum's collection, which will be quite something for the family.

    Any help will be appreciated.

    Bob
     
  2. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  3. lineman

    lineman Junior Member

    Hi wtid45
    Blimey that was quick. Yes I have seen these sites and both contain some good info, particularly the copy of the Devon's war diary. I have a copy of a battalion photo sent by the Pegasus Museum but, of course, it does not contain the names of the men and although there are two possible id's in the group that could be my Father-in-Law.

    Bob
     
  4. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Bob, a good 89 year old friend of mine was a Corporal with 'A' Company, who where the only company to go in by Glider. PM me your fathers details and next time I see him (Could be weeks) I will ask him if the name rings any bells

    P
     
  5. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Hi wtid45
    Blimey that was quick. Yes I have seen these sites and both contain some good info, particularly the copy of the Devon's war diary. I have a copy of a battalion photo sent by the Pegasus Museum but, of course, it does not contain the names of the men and although there are two possible id's in the group that could be my Father-in-Law.

    Bob
    Ok Bob, what about this :D BBC - WW2 People's War - A Solitary Walk or this! Go To It Gunners - 12th Devons
     
  6. lineman

    lineman Junior Member

    Thanks guys I will take a look.
     
  7. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  8. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I've just been walking their battlefield between Amfrieville and Breville today, which will feature in my new book 'Walking D Day'. Do you have any pictures of the 12th Devons?
     
  9. Zimmerframe

    Zimmerframe Junior Member

    Hi,

    I've been researching my uncle who was in the 12th Devons. He was KIA on the 24th March 1945 at the start of Operation Varsity and is buried in the Riechwold cemetary in Kleive. I have the grave details. I also have copies of his service records. These show he first went into Europe on D Day. He was shot and injured 21st August 1944 and was sent back to hospital in England. He returned to NW Europe on 15th Oct 1944.

    My dad always said that he was killed while parachuting down. However, I believe the Devons were sent in using gliders. Is there any way I can find out more detailed information.
     
  10. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Hi ZF and welcome to the forum. You can try here

    The Rhine Crossing

    Look under war diaries. And yes, you're right ... 12th Devons was airlanding battalion which means that it was transported by gliders.
     
  11. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Zimmer,

    Welcome to the forum.....do you have your father's servcie recrord? This will tell you who he served with.....the 12th Devons otherwsie known as the Swedebashers in the Division were airlanding and went by glider..unlikely he would have parachuted in......

    If you give me a name and number I can ask Duxford to see if he went on a parachuting course.....

    Also if you don't have his service record you can apply to the MoD at Glasgow for it but it costs money and takes a while as I understand it.....
     
  12. Zimmerframe

    Zimmerframe Junior Member

    Zimmer,

    Welcome to the forum.....do you have your father's servcie recrord? This will tell you who he served with.....the 12th Devons otherwsie known as the Swedebashers in the Division were airlanding and went by glider..unlikely he would have parachuted in......

    If you give me a name and number I can ask Duxford to see if he went on a parachuting course.....

    Also if you don't have his service record you can apply to the MoD at Glasgow for it but it costs money and takes a while as I understand it.....

    Many thanks Airborne medic. I have sent you a pm with the details.
     
  13. Zimmerframe

    Zimmerframe Junior Member

    Hi ZF and welcome to the forum. You can try here

    The Rhine Crossing

    Look under war diaries. And yes, you're right ... 12th Devons was airlanding battalion which means that it was transported by gliders.

    Many thanks. Yes, it was definately gliders, it all fits.
     
  14. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    There's a book on 6th Airborne Division (of which the Devonshires were a part) called "Go to it" by Peter Harclerode (ISBN 1-84067-136-X).It will probably help you understand how they fitted in to the Airborne Division and their role in the relevant actions that they fought.

    John
     
  15. Jon Black

    Jon Black Junior Member

    Bob, a good 89 year old friend of mine was a Corporal with 'A' Company, who where the only company to go in by Glider. PM me your fathers details and next time I see him (Could be weeks) I will ask him if the name rings any bells

    P
    My father was in a company, harold black, he was a runner, still alive, any info would be good
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here's the battalions war diaries for WW2 held at the National Archives:

    WO 166/4205 INFANTRY: 12 Devonshire Regiment. 1940 Nov.- 1941 Oct.

    WO 166/8648 12 Devonshire Regiment 1941 Nov.- 1942 Dec.

    WO 166/12516 12 Devonshire Regiment 1943 Jan.-Dec.

    WO 171/1279 12 Devonshire Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 171/5172 12 Devonshire Regiment 1945 Jan.- May

    WO 166/17151 12 Devonshire Regiment 1945 June-Sept.
     
  17. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Anybody looking to research the 12th Devonshire Battalion, 6th Airborne Division. The Airborne Museum at Duxford has an archive which holds some bits and pieces on the 12th Devonshire Regiment, there is a small list of what they hold on 12th Dev’s below. I am sure they might have a photo album for the battalion too.

    NORMANDY - 5 Para Bde Report action at Breville by 'D' coy 12th Devons
    NORMANDY - Account by Capt J. Warwick-Pengelly 12 Devons
    NORMANDY - Account by Maj E. Warren 12 Devons
    NORMANDY - Account by Pte Shaw, JW 12 Devons
    RHINE - 12 DEVONS Bn Report
    12 Bn DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT - HISTORICAL NOTES
    12 Bn DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT - JOURNAL 'SWEDE BASHER' 1970 -1992
    12 Bn DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT - NOMINAL ROLL NORMANDY 1944

    And there is The Keep Museum too which has an archive too

    History of the 12th Battalion (Airborne) The Devonshire Regiment - The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset

    Brithm
     
  18. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    i have also been looking for photos of the 12th Devons, i have managed to find a fewbut not many.
     
  19. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    14610179 Pte Harold Black
    [​IMG]
     
  20. 3battalion

    3battalion Junior Member

    Did anyone manage to get a hold of the 12th Bn nominal roll as I'm researching a soldier who served with the Bn and would like to know if he's on the roll?

    Thanks

    Paul
     

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