46th (The Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank Regt. R.A.C

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by mark rogers, Jan 27, 2018.

  1. mark rogers

    mark rogers Member

    I am conducting research into the men on the two King’s School Worcester war memorials The intention is to produce a commemorative book. I am looking to find details of how men were killed and if possible obtain a photograph of the individual. Could anyone help with the following casualty?

    HARGRAVES, Harold Leslie Trooper 7943567 46th (The Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank Regt. R.A.C.
    buried EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY
    killed 28/10/1942
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Another member has created this web site which should include the details you are after - The Crusader Project

    TD
     
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  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    TD, I think you're wrong here. 28/10/1942 was the 2nd battle of El Alamein, not Operation Crusader.

    46th RTR was equipped with Valentine tanks and involved in the fighting in the north of the line. On the night of the 28th/29th they were to assist the Australians, but due to very bad (late, hasty) planning missed the marked gaps in the Australian minefield and started to hit mines. This led to an enormous amount of confusion, and when they did head down the marked paths, the light of burning tanks aided German anti-tank guns who laid on extremely heavy fire. "46th RTR had lost all but eight of their tanks and had a high percentage of their crews killed or wounded, including all the Squadron Commanders" (Perrett, The Valentine in North Africa) Niall Barr says the CO was a casualty as well.

    It seems likely that Harold died in this attack, although I do not know whether 46 RTR was involved in some other action earlier in the day.
     
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  4. mark rogers

    mark rogers Member

    Checking the Crusader website they are talking of dates from November 41 to January 42, so it looks very much like the description above of the action on 28th/29th was the one where Harold lost his life. Thank you both for your replies. This website is proving to be a gold mine of information. Keep it coming!
     
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    A brief google search gives

    The Battle for North Africa

    I incorrectly gave you a link to Crusader which as pointed out was earlier than your man died

    TD
     
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  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    46 Royal Tank Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 169/4523
    Description:
    46 Royal Tank Regiment
    Date: 1942 July- Dec.
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
    Access conditions: Closed For 29 years

    TD
     
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I think you should be able to take it from here!
     
  8. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Although Hargraves is not mentioned (not unusual in a war diary for other ranks), the war diary for 46th RTR for October 28th describes the action where he was killed.
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. mark rogers

    mark rogers Member

    Thanks for the war diary entry it is brilliant
     
  10. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    No problem.
     
  11. mark rogers

    mark rogers Member

    Thank you for all your help . It is much appreciated.
     
  12. andy1742

    andy1742 New Member

    Mark, do you know when Harold joined the 46th?
     

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