146624 Major Rowland Maurice COLE, MC, MiD*, Royal Tank Regiment

Personal Number: 146624
Rank: Major
Name: Rowland Maurice COLE, MC, MiD*
Unit: Royal Tank Regiment


London Gazette : 30 December 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35396/page/7341/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk) during the period February, 1941, to July, 1941:—
R.T.R.
2nd. Lt. (actg. Capt.) R. M. Cole (146624).

London Gazette : 15 December 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35821/supplement/5438/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941, to April, 1942: —
R.T.R.
Capt. (temp. Mai.) R M. Cole (146624).

London Gazette : 25 September 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38079/supplement/4516/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Field (prior to September, 1945):—
The Military Cross.
Lieutenant Rowland Maurice COLE (146624), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

 

London Gazette : 30 December 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35396/page/7339/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35396/page/7341/data.pdf

 

London Gazette : 15 December 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35821/supplement/5437/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35821/supplement/5438/data.pdf

 

Recommendation for Award for Cole, Rowland Maurice Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/104/48
Name Cole, Rowland Maurice
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 146624
Regiment: 4 Royal Tank Regiment
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List for Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 25 September 1947


Recce officer 'C' Squadron 4 RTR, 15/16 June 1941

 

Name: Rowland Cole . Date of Birth: 4/11/1906 . Place of Birth: London . Service:... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/71/471
Name: Rowland Cole.
Date of Birth: 4/11/1906.
Place of Birth: London.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Major.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: Royal Armoured Corps.
Service Number: 146624.
Date of Capture: 06 November 1941.
Theatre of Capture: Libya.
Camp Name/Number: Stalag VII A Moosburg.
PoW number: 133903.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 2.
Date: [1939-1945]

 

This is a really weird one. There was a DLI company patrol 'D' Coy night 6/7 trying to raid strongpoint PLONK in the Italian line to gain unit identification information. It went badly, 8 OR missing and 16 OR and one Off wounded, for no gain. 1 Tp 4 RTR in support, but in the rear, in case enemy tanks appeared, to back up the .

But there's an explicit statement that tanks never went forward, and that while the tanks were engaged by guns, no tanks or crew were lost. There also isn't a report about an officer capture, and there was no arrangement about a tank officer to be with the infantry to liaise that I can see.

Map of PLONK (named SNOWHITE on this map): Making Sense of the Tobruk Breakout

He also isn't on the casualty list of the regiment for November/December 1941

All the best

Andreas

 

I've just downloaded WO 373/104 in order to get copy of MC recommendation. Now edited into 146624 Major Rowland Maurice COLE, MC, MiD*, Royal Tank Regiment

There's quite a bit of correspondence relating to Cole, his crew, others of 4RTR including recommendations, some of which now attached in this post.

 

Extraordinary, never knew any of this. Speaks well for Carroll, who was also suffering from TB at the time.

All the best

Andreas

 

Excellent work dbf! And with the great contributions of Andreas some highly informative threads. Thank you both!

Kind regards, always,

Jim.