12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment

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

  1. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    yep i have a copy of that photo, i also have a few more from D-Company

    L/cpl Victor Drewett
    [​IMG]

    Dudley Anderson (who wrote the book "Three Chears For The Next Man To Die"
    [​IMG]

    Leonard Forman, (before they became Airborne)
    [​IMG]

    NCOs from D-Company.
    L/cpl Drewett. second row fourth from left.
    Leonard Forman. third row far right (circled)
    [​IMG]

    have a good look and see if you can identify Victor Drewett, Dudley Anderson and Leonard Forman in the big D-Company photo.

    Tony
     
  2. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    Here are a couple more pics with thanks to Lofty1 from this forum.
    [​IMG]
    Harold (Bill) Britten, not sure why he is wearing 12th Devons Beret with South Wales Borders insignea, pic is very late war or just after. Anybody got any ideas?

    [​IMG]
    As title says, not sure but i think Harold (Bill) Britten is fourth from left front row.

    [​IMG]
    Last photo is from ' Go To It ' 6th Airborne Division, can anybody match the faces with the middle pic. I believe the chap standing in the above pic may be the last chap on the right middle row in the middle pic.
    Hope you like them.
    Tony
     
  3. snoops08

    snoops08 New Member

    hi, im looking for imformation on my great uncle herbert george littllejohns, he was in the 12th battalion the devonshire regiment 6th airborne battalion. kia 24 march 1945. service number 5628457.
     
  4. Mordread

    Mordread New Member

    Hi Guys I'm looking for details of my Grand Uncle, an Irishman called Michael (Mick) Daly who served with D coy 12th Devonshire during the normandy landing. I've seen the Group photo of D coy taken in Bulford 1944 and have a sneaking suspicion I see him, 4th row 16th from the left. I may be wrong so I'd love to find either a list of the names in that photo or a roll call for the landings. I unfortunately do not have his service No. or any other details but i do have his diary and medals.

    I also have in my possession a photo of him in with a bunch of guys from 12th Devons at a reunion dated 1953 if anyone is interested in a look I'll upload it for you.
     
  5. Billbrownx

    Billbrownx Member

    I just found this site and could not believe the wealth of knowledge that forum members have. I am therefore hoping that someone out there can help a newbie to all this.

    I lost my Father in a car accident when I was a child and have spent the last few years trying to find out about his military service. It is not helped by the fact that there are no family members left who were around at that time.

    My Father was William (Bill) John BROWN, He was called up on 1st July 1940 to the 50th Battalion of The Devonshire Regiment at Newton Abbott, his Army number was 5628379. He left the army on 30th August 1946 after being in Palestine (Possibly attached to the Kings Own Hussars) and at demob was a Sgt (AU/SGT & PA/SGT what ever that is) in the Catering Corps (Not sure how that happened?).

    I also found a document saying he did an Army Catering Corps course at Topsham in 1942. Did the Devons have ACC attached to them ?

    He was however in the 12th Bat Devons and I still have his Pegasus and 'DEVON' flashes. As I child I remember my mother telling me that he spent most of the War in the UK and on the Isle of Wight doing some sort of protection duties and then was eventually deployed at D Day. The family said that he went into Normandy by Glider on the night of D Day (A Coy???) but I have no other information about that, whether he did or did not, or what he did from then until being posted to Palestine.

    I also had an Uncle - Cyril (known as Cliff) Richards who he met in the Devons (Cliff was a local from Dawlish) - Cliff eventually married my Mothers sister so 'joined the family'. He apparently went into Normandy by boat (Not sure how that happens to an Airborne soldier?)

    If anyone has any information about what my Father (or Uncle) did in the war and especially in Normandy and thereafter I would be eternally grateful
     
  6. Billbrownx

    Billbrownx Member

    I just found this site and could not believe the wealth of knowledge that forum members have. I am therefore hoping that someone out there can help a newbie to all this.

    I lost my Father in a car accident when I was a child and have spent the last few years trying to find out about his military service. It is not helped by the fact that there are no family members left who were around at that time.

    My Father was William (Bill) John BROWN, He was called up on 1st July 1940 to the 50th Battalion of The Devonshire Regiment at Newton Abbott, his Army number was 5628379. He left the army on 30th August 1946 after being in Palestine (Possibly attached to the Kings Own Hussars) and at demob was a Sgt (AU/SGT & PA/SGT what ever that is) in the Catering Corps (Not sure how that happened?).

    I also found a document saying he did an Army Catering Corps course at Topsham in 1942. Did the Devons have ACC attached to them ?

    He was however in the 12th Bat Devons and I still have his Pegasus and 'DEVON' flashes. As I child I remember my mother telling me that he spent most of the War in the UK and on the Isle of Wight doing some sort of protection duties and then was eventually deployed at D Day. The family said that he went into Normandy by Glider on the night of D Day (A Coy???) but I have no other information about that, whether he did or did not, or what he did from then until being posted to Palestine.

    I also had an Uncle - Cyril (known as Cliff) Richards who he met in the Devons (Cliff was a local from Dawlish) - Cliff eventually married my Mothers sister so 'joined the family'. He apparently went into Normandy by boat (Not sure how that happens to an Airborne soldier?)

    If anyone has any information about what my Father (or Uncle) did in the war and especially in Normandy and thereafter I would be eternally grateful
     
  7. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

  8. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

  9. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    I have had a look for William John Brown on the nominal roll call for the 12th Battalion that i have but unfortunately i can not find his name and number on my list or on the Pegasus Archive list.

    the 50th Battalion was formed in 1939 from the 12th Holding Battalion and from personell from the Regimental Depot at Higher Barracks in Exeter. After a short stay at Bypass Camp on the outskirts of Exeter they moved to Denbury Camp (now HMP Channing Wood) on the outskirts of Newton Abbot. 1940 retitled 12th Devons and were assigned the role of beach defence in the Dawlish area. 1941 moved to Littleham camp just outside Exmouth. 1942 and attached to 214 Inf Bde and moved to the Isle of White. 1943 moved to Treliske Camp near Truro in Cornwall but after a short stay, October they moved to Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain and were attached to 6th Airlanding Brigade.

    A Coy commanded by Maj John Rogerswere the only Coy from the 12th Devons to land by glider on D-Day and were attached to Parker Force commanded by Col.R.G.Parker deputy brigade commander. As all the rest under the command of Lt.Col R.G.Stevens came by sea (apparently there were not enough gliders to accomodate the rest of the Battalion) and landed near Quiesteram and marched inland to rejoin A Coy.

    Do you have a picture of your Father in uniform?


    14421439 L/Cpl Michael Daly was wounded in action (but when i do not know) as mentioned by brithm check the list on the Pegasus Archive site.
    Tony
     
  10. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    The following is a copy of the Nominal role of Officers who proceeded with the Battalion on D-day.

    Service No Rank Name initials Remarks unit

    50997 T/Major Bampfylde J.A.F.W. Killed in Action D- Coy
    165078 T/Major Barrow W.F. wounded in action, remained with unit B- Coy
    122717 WS/Capt Binning J.S. Medical Officer
    234050 T/Capt Bowman T.D.D. Wounded in action, remained with unit Mortar platoon
    202108 T/Capt Bridgeman T. MMG Platoon
    252117 WS/Lt Brokenshire E.E.L. QM
    129895 T/Major Carey B.D. A- Coy
    177573 T/Capt Carroll J.D. Support Coy
    66442 T/Major Dobbin P.R. CO E- Coy
    295433 WS/Lt Drake J.A.C.
    296700 WS/Lt Eve E.G.
    113367 T/Capt Fawkes-Underwood J.R.H. 2 IC B- Coy
    285362 WS/Lt Germain A.E killed in Action 2 IC E- Coy
    47571 T/Lt/Col Gleadell P. 2 IC Battalion
    277585 WS/Lt Grange D.C.L. Killed in Action
    280396 Revd Hall J.W. Chaplin
    137464 T/Capt Harding E.J. Motor Transport Officer
    109482 T/Major Hartland R.W. C- Coy
    67162 T/Major Haythornthwait J.P. Evacuated sick - rejoined unit OC C- Coy
    295853 WS/Lt Hobbs A.J. Wounded in Action - rejoined unit A - Coy, CO Platoon
    295436 WS/Lt Horwood B.F. Wounded in Action - Evacuated A - Coy, CO 10 Platoon
    262438 WS/Lt Hutchinson C.J.
    184467 WS/Lt Kittow J.B.E. Killed in Action Brigade Liason Officer
    300339 WS/Lt Lewis D.E. Killed in Action B -Coy, OC 13 Platoon
    295582 WS/Lt Nuttall E.D. Wounded in Action, remained with unit B - Coy
    again wounded, evacuated
    240272 WS/Lt Ogden F.E. OC Recce Platoon
    149241 T/Capt Pengelly J.H.W. Wounded in action, evacuated, 2 IC D - Coy
    returned to unit
    249190 WS/Lt Pengelly J. Evacuated - battle exhaustion
    520079 WS/Lt Reaks G.G. D - Coy, 19 Platoon
    249197 WS/Lt Robinson W.F. B - Coy
    71109 T/Major Rogers J. Wounded in action - evacuated OC A - Coy
    105032 T.Capt Salt L.A.
    295658 WS/Lt Saunders A.C.T. Evacuated, battle exhaustion,
    returned to unit
    300344 WS/Lt Sneezum G.C. A - Coy, OC 9 Platoon
    129893 T/Capt Snell C.J.
    41437 T/Lt.Col Stevens G.R. wounded in action, remained with unit OC Battalion
    151606 T.Major Stoneman K.J.T. Adjutant
    266337 A/Capt Strawbridge E.C. C - Coy
    249189 WS/Lt Taylor P. Wounded in action, evacuated, D - Coy, OC 20 Platoon
    returned to unit
    229750 WS/Lt Trapnell L.J. Wounded in action - evacuated A/T Platoon
    249194 WS/Lt Tucker R.L. Killed in action pioneer Platoon
    284570 WS/Lt Turner D.W.
    296687 WS/Lt Turner N.P. D - Coy
    253941 WS/Lt Vickery R.A. Wounded in action - evacuated
    295676 WS/Lt Walker V.W.L. Evacuated - battle exhaustion Battalion HQ
    58099 T/major Warren E.J. D - Coy
    159358 WS/Capt Wright W.A.R. D - Coy
    180093 WS/LT Whiteway W.H. A - Coy, OC 7 Platoon
    295629 WS/LT Young G.A.

    Nominal role of Officers who joined the battalion as first reinforcements

    224705 WS/Lt Brixley R.F.
    249012 WS/Lt Henderson J.H.S.
    273313 WS/Lt Triggs D.H.
    277910 WS/Lt Wild E.H.




    I hope to attempt to get NCO's and OR put up as well, all info was taken from a booklet by Rock Cornwall
     
  11. Jon Black

    Jon Black Junior Member

    hope you dont mind me adding this here, i,m not sure where it originated crash landing clipping.jpg Right click and save pic, then reopen to view better.
     
    brithm likes this.
  12. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi Jon,

    Any chance of getting that in a bigger size, can't quite make the text out?

    Regards ...
     
  13. Jon Black

    Jon Black Junior Member

    New chap, the devons went over to Normandy by sea and air as there were not enough planes and gliders. A company, went over over by air at approx 7pm on d-day. (My father was in A company). They met up later, and went over the Pegasus bridge.

    Briefly they went to Normandy-Operation Mallard.

    Went to the Ardennes by sea to support the americans in The Battle of hte Bulge
    (War diaries are on this site somewhere. I have copies if you would like them emailed to you. I cant find too much else about that operation).

    The Devons also went to Germany-operation Varsity , A co.landed at Hammekeln railway station ( not sure of that spelling),

    The Devons also went to Palestine after the war, depending on their age. My father was too young to go.

    Recommended reading; Go to it by Peter Harclecote, and, The last drop by Stephen l. Wright. and a bit pricey With the sixth Airborne in Normandy by Lt Gen. LN Gale (their CO).

    Look at these websites, Pegasus archive and Keep military museum.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just in case anyone is interested I've listed the War Diary refs below and I'm offering 25% discount on all WO 171 war diaries ordered in October ;)


    WO 166/4205 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 Regimen t1945 June-Sept.
     
  15. reddevon

    reddevon Member

    it would be nice to get the complete set, the early ones might even shed light on a funeral held in Budleigh Salterton for two members of the Battalion as seen here forums/topic/42068-12th-battalion-devonshire-regiment-funeral
     
  16. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Hi.
    Have just joined this forum after looking at other various ways to trace my uncles details.
    You may have seen my uncle already.
    His name is Victor Drewett (14332879.)
    He was with A company 12th Devons for the D-Day ops and other battles until he was injured. He was caught by a Mortar round and sustained a serious head wound which caused his evacuation back to England and a possible stay in a hospital in Banbury.
    Not sure where he was injured, I think it was during the Rhine crossing but never ever found out. Victor made a full recovery and went on to lead a full life. He only started to go to reunions towards the end of his life and it was then that he started to open up to us about his past. His wife survives him but will not talk much about him and so I am unable to pursue my research through the normal channels.
    Does anyone have any information about Victor that would allow me to understand his tour during D-Day and afterwards especially where and when he was wounded.
    My Mother recently visited Normandy and Pegasus Bridge and also chatted to Madame Gaundree but as the years amount I fear we will not be able to fulfil our goal.
    Any information however small will be very very welcome.
     
  17. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    I am trying to locate which Airfield the "12th's" took off from, Diary lists Faringdon airfield which there is no records of. Devon's were taken from Brize Norton to Faringdon by truck and I believe that the airfield was actually RAF Down Ampney, records list evening take-off's at the time of the Devons departure.
    Can anyone confirm this or supply any more information.
     
  18. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi Pegasus2075,

    There's an account by Noel Chaffey of the glider that went into the sea in the Dennis Williams' book "Stirlings in Action with the Airborne Forces". It was being towed by a Stirling from 620 squadron out of Fairford during Operation Mallard. Chaffey was a wireless operator and an avid photographer. He even managed to capture a photo of the Horsa just before the tow rope broke.

    "Noel Chaffey recalled:
    When it came to our turn to ‘join the party’, we had containers in the bomb-bay, a full load of fuel and were towing a Horsa, No.189, with two glider pilots, Staff Sergeant Turvey and Sergeant Stanley, and five soldiers of the 12th (Airborne) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, equipped with a jeep and trailer..."


    So perhaps in the case of the war diary Fairford has been mistaken for "Farringdon"...?

    Regards ...
     
  19. Pegasus2075

    Pegasus2075 Active Member

    Awesome, that's brilliant news. Thanks for that. I have just returned from Aldershot Library with a copy of "One Night in June". The book by Kevin Shannon lists all Gliders on the Normandy ops including serial No, DZ location and departure information, looks like another long nights reading ahead....
    Also took out a copy of "The Glider Soldiers" by Alan Wood. There are frequent "Devon's" listings so it may be of some help.
    Thanks Again Cee.
     
  20. Sussex by the Sea

    Sussex by the Sea Senior Member

    Pegasus,
    Is that Alan Wood the Daily Express journalist?

    Steve
     

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