86 Anti tank Regt Royal Artillery Sept 1944

im trying to find out information on the above regt on the 5th September 1944 in Chelers, France. My grandad Gunner Smart was killed there and is buried there .
Hope to hear something

 

Hi Drew thank you for the info how would I find out how my grandad was killed?

 

George John James SMART
Service Number: 4806435

He enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1939 (before WW2 was declared). I will go through my lincolns files later today with more information.

 

Gregory John James SMART
Service Number: 4806435

Joined the 50th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment.
50th Battalion, became 8th Battalion on 9/10/1940.
8th Battalion, Lincolns were disbanded and converted to the 101st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery on 22/12/1942.
101st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was disbanded in June 1943. No details about postings.
A full service record will be required to obtain further details, until he died, serving with 86th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery in France as 12 Corps Troops.

 

Found in the War Diary of 8 Lincolns. Training exercise in Holkham.

 

8 Lincolns formed.





8 Lincolns disbanded.

 

101 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery formed and George Smart's name is listed on the nominal Roll.





George Smart's name is shown on page 2 of the Nominal Roll of 101 A/T Regt, R.A.

 

Thank you so much my grandads name was George not Gregory but the head stone is correct

hi that’s something I did not know he was in 101 regt I’m hoping to find out how he died and also what he was engaged in when he was killed. He is buried in a village called Chelers near Arras in France hope you can help Dave

 

My apologies for the spelling of his name. First name amended to George.

I've tried to enhance the image supplied by Drew. Looks like he was in a half tracked vehicle with an officer who was killed. Looks as though George was recorded as missing plus one (two Driver Operators) and was presumed missing and later recorded by CWGC as killed. (08-30 hrs). Other Ranks are not always mentioned by name in a war diary.

 

It looks like Major Nightingale went missing on the 1st September 1944 along with the two Driver Operators in a half tracked vehicle. Major Nightingale was then found and his death recorded by CWGC on 1st September 1944 and was buried at Airaines Communal Cemetery. (Is it possible to get a copy the first page of this war diary for September 1944?)

The distance by road from Airaines Communal Cemetery (Major Nightingale's grave) and Chelers Communal Cemetery (George Smart's grave) is 47 miles away and 5 days death apart. George was missing from the vehicle and looks as though he died of wounds. George's grave is North West of Arras.

 

Hi Rob very helpful info thank you that. I have already got details from army records of postings etc but when he was killed it just says accidental. Was trying to find out how. Also was wondering what he was doing in or near Chelers at that time. I imagine he must have been killed somewhere near by to the cemetery in Chelers ? Thank you for the photos of them training in Holkam Norfolk that would explain why I’m always drawn to the north Norfolk coast. I live in Soham near Newmarket now
Would love to know anything else you may have ?

 

How would I get a copy of this from the war diary?

 

David - you may or may not know that there is a family tree on Ancestry for him

George John James Smart
Birth: Apr 1915 - London
Death: 5 Sep 1944
Marriage: Dec 1937 - Poplar, London
Spouse: Selina Lilian Howard
F: William Smart
M: Kate Frost


TD

 

Ok thank you I was not aware of that

 

David, have a search just on this website and you'll find several threads/posts regarding 86 A/T Regiment, including someone whose relative kept a diary from June 1944 until the end of the war. Also, he doesn't seem to have died elsewhere and been reburied so the distance from Airaines where the officer was buried and Chelers might indicate that while they recovered the body of the officer, the unit may have moved forward and discovered Gunner Smart some time later. 47 miles in 5 days isn't unlikely given the speed of the Allies advance in those days?

 

Thank you so much so my grandad must have seen lots of action I know he won 5 medals

hi thank you all again just wondering if I would be able to find any phots of my grandad?

 

No I don’t have a photo of them but I think I have them on his army papers