12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

Yo,

I tried to sort out the 12 Devon Varsity gliders in the past, but still ended up with gaps.

Bn HQ - 5 - 188-192
HQ Coy - 5 -
SP Coy - 24 - 203-215, 219-226, 139-141
A Coy - 7 - 183-187, 141, 148
B Coy - 7 -
C Coy - 7 - 146-152
D Coy - 7 - 132 -138



Regards ...

 

Hi Cee
I know that this is an old post, but I was wondering if you were able to confirm something for me? I am trying to identify the glider that my grandfather CSM Lewis was on during operation Mallard. I had given up until my brother found these photos that you uploaded.
From what I can deduce, the CSMs for A company would most likely have travelled with Company HQ in the first two gliders of B11. Are you aware if there are any records of the names of those who were on gliders 132 and 133?

Kind Regards
Russ Lewis

 

Hi,

I assume you mean Operation Varsity rather than Mallard and that your Grandfather was with the 12 Devons ... ?

Regards ..

 

Hi Cee

Were these lists for Operation Varsity? I saw the Pegasus Bridge Museum mentioned and made the assumption that landing zone R was Ranville. My Grandfather was indeed with A coy of 12 Devons and landed at Ranville in a Horsa where they later reunited with the rest of the battalion who arrived by sea.

Kind Regards
Russ

 

War Diary

6th June 1944

0445 - Ships sailed in convoy. Convoy shelled in STRAITS OF DOVER. A Coy under comd Major J. Rogers emplaned in gliders at FARRINGDON aerodrome and flew to area of operation. One glider crashed in sea 8 miles off French coast. 6 O.Rs missing. Gliders landed in FRANCE in area F/7 1273 assembled and moved to HEROUVILLETTE. Village held until arrival of Bn on 7 June. No casualties.

Here's the War Diary Appendix for 'A' Coy. They left from RAF Fairford, not Farringdon.

Sorry only names I have are of those men whose glider went into sea. Looks like 8 gliders total - CNs 186-193.



There might be a bit more info under 6AARR in PDF.

Regards ..

 

Russell,
There was only one C.S.M. per company.

I only know of one photograph of A Coy, 12th Devons.
Taken in 1944 and most probably before Normandy.

Can you identify the C.S.M. from that photograph as being C.S.M. G. Lewis.

 

Hi
This is fantastic, thank you. I will see if I can find any more information on the individual gliders in the 620 Squadron RAF archives.

Many Thanks

 

Hi
Yes, I believe that is him. The G is for George, Albert. I was just looking at this photo with my Dad yesterday. I have just been given the trunk with all my Grandad's photos and memorabilia so, when I have had a chance to organise it, I will upload any more photos I find of A Coy here. I believe a lot of it is from his time in India though. A really interesting album of the 1000 mile march that I have been flicking through, as well as some rather harrowing one's from Belsen, and lots in between.

Kind Regards
Russ

 

Yo,

Is he in this group photo - 7th from left, seated front row?



The 'A' Coy gliders landed on LZ 'W', west of the Caen Canal, not on LZ 'N' by Ranville. The attached PDF contains a few excerpts from the book "Stirlings in Action with the Airborne Forces".

Regards ...

 

Hi
It is hard to tell, but I think I have a framed copy of that photo so I can check.
My Grandad never spoke much to my Dad about his time in the army and we originally thought he was in the first gliders to land and take Pegasus Bridge. It is only after I visited Ranville again last year and got inspired to start researching that I have been finding out where he actually was. The National Archives and Para museum were quite helpful, but finding nominal roles for the gliders seems to be near impossible. He did end up in Ranville after A coy helped clear Herouvillette and he spoke about meeting Madame Gondree from the cafe. I have a lot of pictures of the reunions at Pegasus Bridge but I only know that one of his friends was a chap called Buster, which I assume was a nickname. I will share everything I have and hopefully other people will be able to put names to faces.

R

 

Hi,

Attached is a slightly better version of the spreadsheet portion showing takeoffs from RAF Fairford during Op Mallard. I'm uncertain of the glider pilots for CNs 186 and 187. Reports for 23 and 10 Flights, 'G' Sqn can be read here:

No.1 Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment

They arrived on LZ 'W' at about 9 P.M., 6.6.1944.

Regards ...

 

Hi Everyone,

According to a thread on WW2talk Army Number Block Allocations | WW2Talk, the soldier below would have enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals 2303001 - 2604000. Is that correct?

I am reseaching him and want to be correct, but cannot find any service information on him other than his casualty lists and Roll of Honour. which doesn't mention any other Regiment. Can anyone help please?

I have found his family.

Private
MONS FREDERICK WILLIAM WEIGHT
Service Number: 2568569
Regiment & Unit/Ship - Devonshire Regiment - 12th (Airborne) Bn.
Date of Death - Died 13 August 1944
Age 29 years old
Buried or commemorated at CORYTON (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Headstone Placeholder
Country of Service - United Kingdom
Additional Info - Son of Frederick William and Alice Beatrice Weight, of Coryton.
Personal Inscription
HE WILL LIVE IN OUR MEMORY UNTIL THE END OF TIME. AT REST, BELOVED. MUM AND DAD

Kindest regards, Mavis Williams

 

Mavis,

CMP shows him joining the Royal Signals. Army Number Search

He appears ever so slightly in a 2008 thread asking for information re his cemetery. See: War Graves in UK - Devon

His TNA record is closed, presumably as they are not aware of his death in 1944. The file shows his DoB as 15/3/1915. From: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C19253096

Local commemoration site has slim details and a colour photo: Coryton's Roll of Honour 1939 to 1946

No trace on Paradata.

There is a small, private FB group for his battalion: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10164170869081348&set=p.10164170869081348&type=3 Who in 2025 were trying to build a database of their WW2 losses.

 

2568569 Pte. Mons Frederick William Weight (from R. Sigs)
W.I.A. Late July, 1944. (Probably 28/29th)
Le Mesnil X roads, Normandy
D.O.W. 13th August, 1944. Swansea, Wales

1921 Census - Living in Fulham, London

 

Many thanks David of davidbfpo,

I though it was strange that his number didn't correspond with the Devonshire Regiment, but needed to make sure when writing his story.

I did find the website Coryton's Roll of Honour 1939 to 1946 and have the photograph, but thanks anyway. I also found his baptism, which agrees with the date of birth you gave.

Perhaps now his name is on the British Normandy Memorial, they may open his records, that would be good.

He and his father Frederick William WEIGHT are not on the 1939 National Register, or at least I cannot find them, but wondered if they had both enlisted a few years before, when war was looking likely as his father had enlisted in 1907 in the 5th Bn. Middlesex Regiment and served in India in 1911. He came home to civvy street and I have no knowledge if he was in the TA. I am thinking that Mons Frederick William WEIGHT was a regular soldier.

Thank you David Woods! So much information, which is wonderful, so much I couldn't find! War Diary and the possible date of him getting wounded and where too! The Medals information as well as all the rest. Much obliged.

Thank you both so much, you are always very kind answering my questions, of which there are always many!

Kindest regards,
Mavis