141 Regt R.A.C (The Buffs)

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by junkyard, Dec 8, 2013.

  1. junkyard

    junkyard Member

    I am currently looking for any/all information on this regiment, my grandfather served with this unit and I am trying to find out which Sqn he was in and any other information be it pictures, docs, stories etc. Any help is and will be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

    Cheers Steve
     
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I've put some of the War Diaries from 1945 on my Flickr account:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/battlefield_historian/sets/72157622989742665/
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    See your other thread ;)
     
  4. junkyard

    junkyard Member

    Fellas this is great, thank you both so much, would either of you know how to find out how to find what Sqn a soldier was in from his number, name and rank?
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Very unlikely you will ever know unless you have a personal letter with his address on. Occasionally there is a nominal roll in the war diaries but I treat these as a Brucie Bonus as they are nearly as rare as hens teeth.
     
  6. junkyard

    junkyard Member

    Is there anywhere that would have a copy of a nominal roll/orbat etc of the unit or tank crews?
     
  7. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Junkyard

    Unless someone has written about the 141 RAC in detail - you will not find any nominal roll of each squadron fare less that of a particular Tank crew - your only hope would be a letter as Drew points out - otherwise you are flogging a dead horse…TRY WIKI as they were in 79th Div as an Hobo's funny with crocodiles

    Cheers
     
  8. junkyard

    junkyard Member

    Thanks for the info gents, best I start digging and see what I can turn up! And thanks again ,Hobos funny's/79 Div seems like as good as place as any to get stuck in.

    Cheers junkyard
     
  9. sandistar

    sandistar New Member

    Hello

    I believe my Grandad was tank commander during WWII with this regiment. He had a crocodile tank and followed behind the D-Day landings 2/3 days later.

    He liberated a Dutch family in 1945. I have telegrams from the family thanking him 25 and 30 years later.

    His name was James Ackrill. He survived the war and lived to the age of 91 but I have no information about his war days - we were four grand daughters and he was reluctant to talk about the war in any detail to girls as it was not 'suitable for our ears'.

    Is there any way I can find out any more - this regiment doesn't seem very well documented at all.
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi,

    I would apply for a copy of his service records to confirm you have the correct unit. He may have even served with other units during the war. Once you know for 100% the unit he was with you can get a fairly accurate and detailed account of what the units were doing by looking at the units war diary. 99.9% of units in WW2 had one.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  11. idler

    idler GeneralList

    There is a famous (in our world) account by a troop commander in 141 RAC: Flame Thrower by Andrew Wilson. Although it is a memoir, not a history of the unit, it will give you an idea of what the Crocodiles got up to.
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've just checked the 19944 Regimental War Diary and he wasn't a officer in the regiment as he's not listed in the Officers Field Returns.
     
  13. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    141 RAC is fairly well documented, lots of details regarding their employment and a good number of crew accounts kicking around.

    I'll compile a list and pop it up here. I'm especially interested in A Squadron's employment in Normandy.

    One issue is often they are described in other WDs as 'two Troops of Crocodiles participated' and you need to dig around a bit to find who/what was exactly employed.
     
  14. Tiflo 62

    Tiflo 62 Member

    Hello,

    Sorry to reopen this topic few years but I am interested in the war diary for the month of September.
    Does someone can help me?

    Thanks in advance.
    Florent.
     
  15. Granite Sheep

    Granite Sheep New Member

    image.jpeg Hi,
    My father served with this regiment and according to the War Diary he was in HQ Squadron when the regiment was disbanded. I have recently come across the attached photograph that was in the family. I hope it may be of interest to some and I would be very interested if anyone can identify anyone else in the picture. My father, Trooper Walter Morrison, is second from the left on the second row.
     
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