Hi need a bit of help with some research I am doing for a relative of Gunner Micheal Dubovitch who was killed in action on the 20th of August 1944. Trying to find out what happened to him. Have checked the war diaries on that date and can only find one KIA which was a SGT. There are no other KIA recorded that day. Any information would help. I believe he was based in Bulford,Wiltshire but not sure how he arrived in France (either drop or across the channel) if he sailed did he go from Gosport or Southampton? Also trying to find out if he was in Troop A,B,C or D. Any help would be brilliant.
Hello Glenn and welcome to the forum This isn't my area, I'm sure others more knowledgeable will be along soon, but I'm curious about your source for casualty status when you said your relative was killed in action. Just checking, as it's not possible to establish going by the CWGC entry alone, i.e. he could also have died of wounds sustained on an earlier date. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2847970/ DUBOVITCH, MICHAEL Rank:Gunner Service No: 3532386 Date of Death: 20/08/1944 Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 3 Airlanding Anti-Tank Bty. Grave Reference: IIA. F. 9. Cemetery: RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Simon and Jane Dubovitch, of Hightown, Manchester.
Hi Glenn, I'm sure you are aware of the very fine tribute to Gunner Michael Dubrovitich on Fallen Heroes of Normandy: http://www.fallenheroesphotos.org/Servicemen/Detail/15900 Like Diane says Michael could have been wounded previous to August 20th and died sometime later. For example there was a jeep that was struck by mortar fire on the the 19th which resulted in a number of wounded men. One them Albert Dyche died the next day. It doesn't specify in the story if any of the others in the jeep died soon after? http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/albert_dyche.htm Regards ...
Glenn, Cee, His RA casualty card states DOW on the 20th August 1944. He could have been wounded in the jeep incident along with Dyche? Guy
Thanks for the quick replies - I am also now thinking he may have been one of those in the Jeep was was wounded on the 19th and then passed away the next day. If anyone else has an information on the Jeep incident it would be good to find out. Still looking for information non how he got to France.
I just noticed his early grave marker has D/W inscribed on it which is probably an abbreviation for "died of wounds" as Guy's info indicates. As usual the WD is lacking in the kind of detail which would tell us if he was indeed on the jeep or one of the other wounded on the 19th from B, C and A troop. I think we are close, but not quite close enough. I'll check to see if there is anything in the Para accounts that may shed light on the series of woundings and one death that were sustained by the 3rd AL Anti-Tank Battery in the battle for Putot-en-Auge Regards ...
