3 Troop, 'A' Squadron, 8th Hussars

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by 8thDesertrat, Aug 5, 2012.

  1. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    My Grandfather was Sgt Clough in Lt Talbot-Hervey's (Talbot-Harvey??) 3 Troop in 'A' Squadron when they were hit by A/T gun fire just south of Granville Crossroads on 12th June 1944, he was in Cromwell T187613
    I have a list of his crew but can only find records on CWGC site for my Grandfather and his L/cpl Spibey.
    Can anyone let me know if the remainder of the crew escaped and survived the war.
    They are as listed; Tpr Foster 557167, Tpr Reay 4386862 and Tpr Rix 14544648.
    If anyone is their surviving family or if God has spared you and you are still alive and would like to get in touch me and my older cousin would be delighted to speak to you and exchange information.
    Anyone with any idea on how to find out about the missing crewmen, I would also welcome your imput.
    I am also interested in hearing from anyone with informantion with regard to 8H in North Africa
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Are you aware of the site: 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars? The owner is also on WW2Talk but hasn't been around for a while.

    The 8H association looks like it's been absorbed into the Queen's Royal Hussars Association. There seem to be two websites for them here and here that might provide some leads. The latter site mentions that regimental journals are available on DVD, but I'm wary that this would be QOH journals only, not the old regiments.
     
  3. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Thanks, I have visited the site quite a bit during my early research days and I have read everything on it many times and spent hours studying the pictures looking for you know who!!. Chris Attwood hasn't replied to any e-mails we have sent so he may not be into this thing a present?? Busy lives and all that....
     
  4. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Lord help me, but looking through my other records on JGW I have found on his birth certificate that his Father was also in the army, in the Yorks Regt 8th Batt in WW1,,,,,,,,, no no no!!!!!!!!! I must not wander,,,,,
     
  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  6. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Thanks for that,

    Not a lot more than I already knew, but appreciate it....
     
  7. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Hi Idler, I thought you may be interested in the following, and I would also value a little bit of learned input on it please. It is in regard to where JGW Clough was found!!! I was engaged in my now daily routine of research,,, when I happened upon details on Wikipedia, (I know!! I was warned about researching on Wiki during my degree), of a meeting that took place at VILLEY BOCAGE between Helmut Ritgen and Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlain, a possible clue as to the Germans using the site as an HQ maybe? and a possible solution to the reason why some of the allied troops remains were found there. Could anyone you know on the forum shed any light on this? or back up the evidence on Wiki??
    This research thing can take over your life!!!!!
     
  8. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The books I want to check are not to hand at the moment, but Orbois is usually given as the headquarters of Panzer Lehr Div (where Wittmann went after he was knocked-out in Villers Bocage). However, I think Orbois was more a tactical HQ as there is an account of a staff officer coming up to there from south of Villers-Bocage.

    Villy-Bocage may well have been the HQ of one of Pz Lehr's subordinate units, but I don't know who. Their recce regiment - Panzer Aufklarungs Lehr Abteilung 130 - were in the area on the division's left flank. The link above has a very interesting entry in the early hours of 13 June...
     
  9. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Thanks for that, again I bow to your superior knowledge. I had read a few articles naming the Chateau d'Orbois as the HQ, several with Wittman going there after Villers-Bocage and two sources stating Major Werncke taking the nicked Cromwell tank there (first ever reported case TWOCing to local Gendarmerie I believe, ha!)
    Very interesting thing on the report about the two tanks though,, It could be!!!!, you really do appear to have an encyclopaedic knowledge on all things 8H and Normandy??

    I now have another avenue to follow, and once again I am in your debt....

    Derek
     
  10. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Can any of you learned people let me know where I could find out how many of the missing crewmen from Lt Talbot-Harvey and Sgt Clough's tanks were found with Lt Talbot-Harvey in the orchard after the war...
    I think some of these guys may not be listed on CWGC memorials and I would like to put this to rights.:poppy: ( see first post on this thread )
    I have read the thread today on new members coming on and getting what they want from the older learned members, NEVER thanking people, then never coming back on and I do feel for you, in the belief you have been slighted by them, which I feel you have!!!!:(
    I would like to say that I personally appreciate all the assistance I have had from the people who have taken time out to help me, especially Idler.
    I have always had an interest as to what happened to my Grandfather in WW2 and now have a much clearer picture of this thanks to you guys, but this now leads me onto what happened to his mates that day!!!
    If anyone would like any information I have come by I will gladly share it, if that is okay with those I have received it from?? and especially those of you with an interest with 8th Hussars.
    If you could also bear with me until I find out the full ins and outs of how to use all the sites tools to upload items, and if it is allowed to be uploaded of course!!
    I teach motor vehicle at a local college so after this week my posts will be fewer than of late as I am back to work after my summer break, but I will try and check in at least once a week.
    Derek
     
  11. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    With reference to my last posting,,, (sorry for the waffling:)), this what I believe is accurate up to now from both crews.
    L/cpl Loughman,Tpr Rix and Tpr Farmer survived attack...
    The name's of the crewmen commemorated are as follows:
    Lt Talbot-Harvey, Sgt Clough both in Hottot-les-Bagues
    L/cpl’s Mackay and Spibey, and Tpr Kirkham are remembered on panel 2, column 2 at Bayeux
    The name’s of the crewmen not listed on the CWGC:
    Tpr’s Reay, AD Foster, both out of Sgt Cloughs tank ‘Ajax’ T187613
    Thanks again folks
     
  12. sirjahn

    sirjahn Member

    Trooper Thomas Rix, 14544648, shows up at the Rennes Military Hospital for Allied POWs on 24 June and departs into the local Stalag 12 July. He had burns to face and hands. Nothing on the other two though.
     
  13. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Hi Dale,

    Many thanks for that, I will add it to my records that he was a survivor of the action, and we hope the war.
    It totally amazes me that you guys have all this information,,,,,

    regards
    Derek
     
  14. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    I have been scanning the records I received from Drew5233 for the 8H in Normandy (A bargain, so if you need owt, check him out!! ;)) and I see that the specific records for the action which saw Lt Talbot-Harvey's and my Grandfather's tanks being knocked out only lists AD Foster's report as the one who was missing?? I know from my conversation with Andy that they only did this for MIA, but from what my Grandmother told me over the years she knew nothing about his whereabouts for months and nor did the army. Talbot-Harvey’s remains were not found until after the war along with other soldiers remains.
    Can anyone shed any light on the possible reasons as to why the records would have no specific records for Talbot-Harvey or my Grandfather even when nothing was know as to their immediate whereabouts.:confused:bearing in mind they were Troop leader and 2i/c in 3 troop...
    I also have a question as to what action and reporting if any, was carried out to record the finds of soldiers remains during and after the war.
    All I have at present is the info on the casualty card from Bovington detailing where his remains where found and re-interned
    Cheers
    Derek
    :confused:
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ref the officer. I've copied a fair few Missing Files now and I have never seen a investigation into a missing officer. Either they were not investigated, removed from the files before they bacame public or possibly there is a seperate series of files for WO 361 that have not been released yet?
     
  16. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    POW info for Trooper Rix. Stalag XII-A was the LAST camp he was in.

    First Name: T.
    Last Name: Rix
    Rank: Trooper
    Regt / Unit: Reconnaissance Corps
    Soldier Number: 14544648
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number:
    Place and Date:
    Camp: Stalag XII-A
    Camp Location: Limburg, Baden-Warttemberg
     
  17. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Trooper Fosters POW Record.

    First Name: A. D.
    Last Name: Foster
    Rank: Trooper
    Regt / Unit: Reconnaissance Corps
    Soldier Number: 557167
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 80136
    Place and Date:
    Camp: Stalag IV-B
    Camp Location: Mahlberg/Elbe, Brandenburg
     
  18. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Trooper Reay's POW Record

    First Name: N.
    Last Name: Reay
    Rank: Trooper
    Regt / Unit: Reconnaissance Corps
    Soldier Number: 4386862
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 80015
    Place and Date:
    Camp: Stalag IV-F
    Camp Location: Hartmannsdorf, Saxony
     
  19. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    No POW info on Loughman, about 40 Farmer's in POW listing, do you have any more info on Tpr. Farmer that would allow us to narrow it down?

    Wayne
     
  20. 8thDesertrat

    8thDesertrat Durham Desert Rat!!

    Again,,, you people never fail to impress me:D, thanks for all that Wayne and you also Andy. I will check out the Farmer issue and let you know.

    Derek
     

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