53rd Reconnaissance Regiment

Discussion in 'Recce' started by dave3164, Dec 7, 2009.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Interestingly the gentleman on the middle row on the right has chevrons on his lower right arm

    They denote each year of service.
    I can't find an image on the net at the mo.
    All I can find is WW1 ones.
    This should do as an example.
    http://mpmuseum.org/rcmp/rcmpsd_3.jpg


    edit.
    Mike Chappell British Battle Insignia 2 1939-1945 says page 9,

    ...service chevrons were awarded for service at home as well as abroad . They were also all red ...
     
  2. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    No worries mate, I'll bung it up in the Unit Documents thread regardless :)
    Also could you try and photocopy/photograph any of those pics? I may have to drop them an email meself if they have a whole album of them.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Thought you'd like to see this from the Opsrey book "British Battledress 1937-1961" by Jewel & Chappell.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    Hi Owen, like I said I am trying to get down to Bovington after xmas so I will see what I can do.

    I have just recieved a photocopy of some pages from the Unit regimental history and how about this.... my grandfathers name is mentioned as being one of the squadrons medics!!! So from knowing nothing about a month ago I can pretty much suggest that my gf was the Squadron medic for B Sqn 53rd Reconnaissance.

    More reading for me over the xmas hols.
     
  5. paulokeefe03

    paulokeefe03 Junior Member

    I would like to start a thread (as I can't find an existing one) on my late grandfathers regiment the 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment.

    I am currently doing some research on the Regiment, I have a transcribed copy of the Regimental war diary from January 1941 until February 1945 which I am reading through. I have also read a good reference book published by Osprey Publishing and have recently started reading 'Only the enemy in front', so will report back in due course.

    I have also managed to get a photocopied page from the Regimental History, Welsh Spearhead by Philip M Cowburn, which lists the honours and awards given to members of this regiment. My grandfather is listed as having recieved the Commander in Chiefs Certificate for Good Service. Could anyone give me an idea as to what sort of thing this would have been awarded for? I have also attached a photo of my grandfather which I think would have been taken between January and April 1944.

    Ideally I would like to find any surviving members of this regiment, but do understand that this is increasingly becoming more unlikely!!

    If anyone has information regarding this regiment or would like some information from me, just add to the thread.
    Hi Dave3164,
    My grandad, Jack Watson, was in the 53rd.
    Before he died he left me a book on the regiments activities 1941 - 1946. I'm proud to say that there is both a photo and a reference to him in the text.

    "Tpr Watson, the A/Tk Battery gunfitter, and Tpr Lewis, his driver, who were the crew of one of the Battery ammunition carriers spotted trouble to their left and entirely on their own initiative carried out a sally against a German position hitherto unnoticed and dealt with about 20 of the enemy in no small way."

    I am not ashamed to admit that whenever I read that I almost burst with pride!

    I wish I could tell you more about the book, but sadly the author is not mentioned. I can tell you however, that the book was printed by "Wilhelm jr. KG., Solingen-Ohligs"
     
  6. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hi Paul, Welcome to the Forum. Details of book below.

    Philip M. Cowburn. Welsh Spearhead : a history of the 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment 1941-1946. [Solingen-Ohligs : 53rd Recce Regt], 1946. ? p. [at least 113]

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  7. paulokeefe03

    paulokeefe03 Junior Member

    Hi Mitch,

    I'll have to get back to you on that. I filled in the War Office form yesterday to find out the specifics of my grandad's service records. My mother has the book at the moment as the form has to be filled in by the first next of kin.

    May I enquire as to how you're connected to the regiment?

    Regards,
    Paul
     
  8. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Paul, My father was in 56 Recce and I have collated the Rolls of Honour for all Recce Regiments and am in the process of collecting Photos of Headstones/Memorials to go with them. So far I have collected over 1100photos. So I have an interest in all Recce Regiments. I also posted the History of 56 Recce which I scanned and transcribed as I believe such histories should be available to all.

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/17356-regimental-history-56th-recce-regt.html

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  9. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    Hi Paul great to hear of a fellow member with interests in the 53rd, is the book red with a gold reconnaissance corps badge on it? If so it is the book listed above by recce mitch. I'm in France at the moment responding on my iPhone so I will message you when I get back with some more info for you!!
     
  10. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    Just to let you know I went down to the tank museum yesterday. It was a very interesting visit, I was saddened however by how little information/documents they have on the regiment. The photo album was very good and had about 70 photo's in it, unfortunately I didn't find any of my grandfather but did recognise some of his colleagues from one of the photo's I have uploaded. I was able to read the book Welsh Spearhead and cross reference other named photo's to confirm that my grandfather was the Squadron medic for B Sqn (the two other sqn medics were photographed and named). The wouldn't allow me to photograph any of the picutres in the album but said if I wanted any copies they could get their photographer to copy them for £3.90 each. I was also able to read through a private diary from a member of the regiment that had been donated and got them to photocopy relevant parts of it which I will scan and upload later.

    I am now just waiting for the medals office to get back to me and I am planning a visit to the IWM to listen to some recorded interviews with former members.

    Also I would like to write a synopsis of the regimental history has anyone got any tips?
     
  11. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    The best bet is to read all the War Diaries in conjunction with the original synopsis/accounts and photographs to build up a good 'base' of knowledge from which to confirm or contradict accounts! You may also discover huge amounts from intelligence summaries/interogation reports that prove more happened than the official histories record.

    I'd be most interested to read it as I've had no luck finding Welsh Spearhead, my next major shot is Stoneleigh Militaria Fair...

    Also the IWM archives may have some stuff sitting away in documents somewhere (worth calling and asking).

    Royal Welch Fusiliers - 53rd Division Support
    There are my rough synopsises of 71 (RW) ATR and 116 (RW) LAA, I condensed the information, made it more 'digestible'. I should be dusting off 53rd Recce Diary in a few days (after exams!) with the rest of the 53rd stuff... so it'll appear up on here shortly...
     
  12. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    According to some records I dragged up at the tank museum the 53rd Welsh Reconnaissance was formed in Belfast on the 1st January 1941 and was made up as followed:
    A Sqn, 4th, 6th and 7th Battalions of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers
    B Sqn, 1st Battalion The Herefordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantary and The 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment.
    C Sqn, The 4th and 5th Battalions of The Welsh Regiment and The 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment.
    HQ Sqn was made up of men from all of the 9 mentioned battalions.
     
  13. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

  14. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    According to some records I dragged up at the tank museum the 53rd Welsh Reconnaissance was formed in Belfast on the 1st January 1941 and was made up as followed:
    A Sqn, 4th, 6th and 7th Battalions of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers
    B Sqn, 1st Battalion The Herefordshire Regiment, 4th Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantary and The 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment.
    C Sqn, The 4th and 5th Battalions of The Welsh Regiment and The 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment.
    HQ Sqn was made up of men from all of the 9 mentioned battalions.

    Dave,

    Appendix One page 279 of "Only the Enemy in Front" states:-

    Arriving in France during the battles for Normandy the Regiment fought in the breakout and the subsequent advance to the Low Countries.
    Also served in the "Island" and in Reichswald in early 1945 before advancing to hamburg where it ended the war.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  15. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Dave, This is from the appendix of This Band of Brothers by Jeremy Taylor.


    THE 53RD (WELSH) RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT


    The Regiment was formed in January, 1941, from the 158th, 159th and 160th Anti-Tank Companies. The 53rd fought in the invasion of Normandy and subsequently throughout the campaign. North-West Europe.

    Commanding Officers of the Regiment were: Lt-Col. G. W. B. Tarleton, D.S.O., M.C, Lt-Col. G. M. F. Prynne, Lt-Col. L. Williams, D.S.O., O.B.E., Lt-Col. L. A. Biddle, M.C, Lt-Col. A. C. Stocker.

    Other Ranks of the Regiment gained the following Decorations and Awards :-

    Tpr J. Ayers, M.M.
    Tpr P. H. Bennett, M.M.
    Sgt D. Boxshall, M.M.
    Sgt C. B. Boyce, D.C.M.
    Sgt K. G. Carbutt, M.M. and M.I.D.
    Cpl G. W. Chalmers, M.I.D.
    Tpr H. Cowan, M.I.D.
    Sgt A. Edwards, M.M.
    Sgt G. D. Gardner, M.M.
    Cpl J. Hills, M.M.
    Tpr H. Lewis, M.I.D.
    L/C C. H. F. Mercer, M.M.
    WO 1 W. H. Pentland, M.B.E.
    Sgt G. Pritchard, M.I.D.
    WO II F. Ripley, M.B.E.
    Sgt F. G. Swift, M.I.D.
    SSM A. Tranter, M.I.D.(twice)
    Sgt L. Vallender, M.LD.
    Cpl J. W. R. Wells, M.M.
    Sgt L. H. Whitehouse, M.M.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  16. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

    Paul,

    The book arrived early then, how is it? Going to the stoneliegh militaria fair at the end of the month here in the uk hoping to get myself a copy!! Was it worth all that money?
     
  17. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Dave, Just now reading and digitising it and to me it is worth the money as it was the first book written about Recce.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  18. dave3164

    dave3164 @davidcarter1978

     
  19. Trpr Hughes

    Trpr Hughes Member

    Hullo chaps,

    New recruit here with keen interest in the 53rd recce as my old man was a trooper.
    Sadly the old horse died in 2000 before my interest had deepened, also he was not so keen to dredge up long forgotten memories unless they had a funny side.

    I don't know which squadron he was with but do have some information about the sort of things he got up to, such as riding around in a captured kubelwagon painted white with a red cross on the side. I've got quite a few photos with helpful dates and places noted on the back. I'll scan those in and post them when I get half a brain and a chance. With any luck someone might be able to shed some light on things.

    Have got Red Crown and Dragon, Only the Enemy in Front.
    Pipe dream: Welsh Spearhead.
     
  20. Trpr Hughes

    Trpr Hughes Member

    Right there it is, uploaded a bunch of 53rd Recce and 53rd Welsh Div photos.
    They're in my Album.

    Cheers
     

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