3 RTR B Squadron

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by Frank Flattery, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    The soldier bottom left looks like Sid Woolf who was a Loader/Wireless operator B Sqn.
     
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  2. Just a small adjustment: COBRA was the name of the tank, and THERESE was likely the name of the driver's girlfriend/wife.
    Writing the name of one's sweetheart next to one's position on a tank was a common British (and not only British) practice.
    Thid has led a not a few misinterpretations and misidentifications of tanks as supposedly named after female names.
     
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  3. Michael Nikov

    Michael Nikov Member

    Thanks Michel. I did find a page from a book showing the names of 3RTR tanks and it appears that "COBRA" was the B Squadron commanding officer's tank. Gives more ammo that this was in fact Major Bill Close's vehicle.
     

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  4. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    Dad was B, his was Coquette
     
  5. Michael Nikov

    Michael Nikov Member

    Very cool.
     
  6. S54

    S54 Junior Member

    Quite possible seeing as the OOM on the 29th Mar through the town of Brunen was A, RHQ, B, C! But here's the big but you wouldn't normally see the OC of a Sqn leading, it of course might well be one the RHQ tanks but it also could well be the B Sqn 2i/c's tank, given that the son of Freddy Dingwall recognised him! Don't get hung up on the names as the list of tank names you posted was from just before we amalgamated with 2RTR back in 92! Going back even further, to sometime in the sixties the name 'Cobra' was allocated to a tank (Centurion) in 3 Tp A Sqn, c/s 13A.
     
  7. Michael Nikov

    Michael Nikov Member

    Fair enough. I think we can establish that Comet T335042 was with B Squadron and was following the Humber scout car (F196184) of Lt. Campbell Crockett, intelligence officer 3RTR. Don't see any reference that these were leading the regiment into Brunen.
     
  8. S54

    S54 Junior Member

    If you go back to page 10 of this thread you’ll see that the town has been identified as Brunen, well done to Frank Flattery!
     
  9. Michael Nikov

    Michael Nikov Member

    Yes, very clear that it was Brunen, but I was responding to your post saying "you wouldn't normally see the OC of a Sqn leading" - which I agree with. Based on the relaxed poses and the presence of supply lorries, Brunen appears to have been occupied for some time, which would have given other squadrons time to pass through the town. According to Mr. Flatterly's post on p.10 of this thread, the "order of March [was] A, RHQ, B, C". This, combined with the composite shot I showed showing the square on the turret side show that COBRA was a B Squadron tank, which makes sense as B Squadron was following the HQ squadron.
     

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  10. Frank Flattery

    Frank Flattery Well-Known Member

    Did I hear the name Brunen???!!! Yes!! I remember as a kid my grandfather showing me some of the pics, which, alas I no longer have, maybe this was one of them:

    bf0d88dc5c82a9e60d6193d2bb0b9771.jpg

    I remember him saying that his tank was the third one along, him being in B Squadron.....

    I still haven't found out why the tanks are going south-west, when the CL was north-east to Velen, apart from the WD reference to a recce going to Velen via the south... (unless the pics were taken the day before when they arrived at Brünen, and they entered via the north :wacko:????)
     
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  11. S54

    S54 Junior Member

    l get your drift now as l hadn’t realised the hull numbers were the same in your composite pic, well spotted!
     
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  12. S54

    S54 Junior Member

    l think l remember Adam saying that his dad was in the second one and was in 6 Tp! I’ve mentioned it before but the Regt probably had to make a detour to get back onto the CL and then advance NE! Thinking back to some of the Div FTX’s l did as a young lad we quite often did that and l did wonder where the hell are we heading now!‍♂️
     
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  13. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    I also have a photo of my father taking tea with the Vanhouche family along with a comrade who I think must be called Hermitage. My father George Brooks.
     
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  14. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    George Brooks is my late father. He was a gunner in the 3RTR along with Lt Ricketts, Griggs, Bri
    View attachment 323330
     

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  15. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

    61EB7EA1-8838-4220-BBF1-6A50426581BE.jpeg This as prepared by Len Brererton last year. Len is 97 this June, I hope to see him soon at a Veterans Day at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. Len said Ricketts was a bit shy so not in this photo!
     
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  16. AdamEdward

    AdamEdward Well-Known Member

     
  17. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    Back of tea with Vanhoucke family_001.jpg
    [ Back of tea with Vanhoucke family_001.jpg
    Very glad indeed to hear Len Brereton is well. I have this photo too. The only one who could be my Dad is the one in profile at the top of the pic. I have a pic of Griggs, Bereston, Lt Ricketts and my father (Hermitage is just out of shot right) and my Dad has written their surnames on the back. the crew inc Lt Ricketts_001.jpg
     

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  18. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    The Crew_007.jpg ere is a pic of Lt
    Ricketts with his name on back of pic View attachment 323359 and another shot of the whole crew
     

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  19. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    Here is a pic of Ted Hermitage, George Brooks and 'Papa' Vanhoucke. Must go now. Will upload more in
     

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  20. Pearl

    Pearl Maggie Brooks

    Great to make contact
     
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