14353457, 2nd Bn., South Wales Borderers

Hi i have recently been researching my family history and found that a relative of mine was in the 2nd battalion South wales borderers. He was killed on 10th sept 1944 and is buried at Rouen.

A family member told me that he was at Dunkirk and went back on D-Day. I know that his battalion were evacuated from Norway 1940 and were in the D-day invasion and put the Dunkirk story down to confusion of where he was evacuated from.

However after looking at the following thread:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/8564-army-number-block-allocations.html?highlight=south+wales+borderers

It became clear that the Army block allocation numbers meant he was in a different unit before the South wales borderers.

His details are:

[FONT=&quot]Private DONALD HENRY FRANK CROOK
14353457,
2nd Bn., [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
South Wales[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Borderers

Any help on what unit he was in before hand would be of help as this may mean he was in fact a Dunkirk.

Thanks

Scott
[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

Hi - and welcome.

Attached are his details from the Army Roll of Honour which don't show a different unit.

I have copies of 2nd SWB's War Diary up to 31st August 1944 (!) but I also know a veteran of this battalion (he was the Intel Officer) and I have his account, which I will fish out over the next few days and see what it says.

Many of the men buried at Rouen died of wounds in the hospital there, or were killed after the Seine Crossing in the operations from the Seine up to the Somme. There was also intense fighting along the channel ports from le Havre up to Dunkirk, so he may also have been involved in that.

 

Hi - and welcome.

Attached are his details from the Army Roll of Honour which don't show a different unit.

I have copies of 2nd SWB's War Diary up to 31st August 1944 (!) but I also know a veteran of this battalion (he was the Intel Officer) and I have his account, which I will fish out over the next few days and see what it says.

Many of the men buried at Rouen died of wounds in the hospital there, or were killed after the Seine Crossing in the operations from the Seine up to the Somme. There was also intense fighting along the channel ports from le Havre up to Dunkirk, so he may also have been involved in that.

Any help would be brilliant. I was planning on going up to the national archives to have a look at the war diaries.

So do you think it would be more likely he died of wounds? A history of the battalion says it was taking Le harve on the 10th -12th September, so i assumed he died on first day of fighting. Could be interesting to look into what you have have mentioned.

Thanks for your help so far, any more help would be brilliant

cheers

scott

 

Ok that helps, well in that case maybe he was in Norway.

Thanks Owen

scott

 

Scott - haven't forgotten your request. I am still looking for the material; will hopefully have found it over the next couple of days.

 

Thanks Paul whenever you get a chance.

Thank you for your time, much appreciated

scott

 

Hi Owen,

I contacted them last night by email.

I do know of his sister, however I have never spoken to her as that side of the family do not have much contact. She would be the closest living relative of him.

Maybe I will have to try and contact her. Would be useful.

Thanks

scott

 

Will try to, would be interesting just to meet her and her family but she probably has some stuff on him that would be good to see, as well as find out more about him. There still living in Bath were most of my family are from.

Once again Owen thanks for your help and Happy New Year

Scott

 

I agree with Owen-his GSC number says he was conscripted after 1942-I had an uncle who was conscripted in late 42/3 and his number started 143-----and he was posted to the 7th black watch. I don't doubt that he went ashore on D Day with 50th Divisio's 56 Brigade to whom 2nd SWB belonged

jainso31

 

Scott - that GSC number of 143 indicates that he was called up late summer - early fall of 1942 as both myself and Ron have similar numbers starting 143*****
and thus precludes any service in Norway which was in 1940....
Cheers

 

The GSC 14 million series of numbers were just that. I also thought that 3,4,or 5 were indicative of the year of conscription-not so- I have seen Nos up to 149----- who were late 1944 conscripts.This series ended in 1945.I accept entirely that anyone who was called up in latter half of 1942 did have 143----- No's

jainso31

 

My Grandfather was in this Battalion. (1939-1947 i Believe)
Robert Ernest Howells
3910199
Survivor who died 8 Years ago.

 

Scott
in your search for the truth you might run into a few posters who might be - in all innocence - give you what is known in North America as a "Bum Steer" which can throw you off your track - but the facts don't change - and you can take it to the bank as he was called up in the latter half of 1942 at about the time of El Alamein which would preclude all actions prior to that time of October 1942 - did his six weeks with the General Service Corps for two main reasons 1) to introduce him to army life - build up his fitness with exercise and good food - teach him to handle weapons and live in a team - and 2) to test him as to his best place in the Army whether it be Infantry - Armour - Artillery- Signals or the Service units- so he qualified for the Infantry. Just in time to be fully trained for D Day
and beyond....
Cheers

 

Scott,

You posted:
A family member told me that he was at Dunkirk and went back on D-Day. I know that his battalion were evacuated from Norway 1940 and were in the D-day invasion and put the Dunkirk story down to confusion of where he was evacuated from.

I think it is unlikely he could have been at Dunkirk as the 2nd SWB was in Norway in April/May 1940.....just starting to look at this campaign and the 2nd SWB were in Ulster before going to Norway if it helps.....

 

No South Wales Borderers battalion went to France in 39/40. Some individuals may have gone attached to another Bn (It happened more than you would think) to make up a units Orbat. The only way you will know for sure is to apply for a copy of his docs.