86 Anti tank Regt Royal Artillery Sept 1944

Other than what I've seen and posted. These four are correct. No citation listed on The National Archives and no MID listed in the book "Honour those Mentioned".

If you post a copy of the relevant page from his service record or in a private message, it'll be easier/quicker.

 

I’ll have a look in his records once I get a minute once again thank you so much . Do you think there would be any phots of him anywhere?
Dave

 

David, don't hold your breath about photographs - if the immediate family - and you know best who they are - don't have any, then it's not likely they'll turn up randomly. You might be lucky and find that the Lincolns Museum, (Museum of Lincolnshire Life, The Old Barracks, Burton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3LY (Tel: 01522 782040) may have some unit photographs, but thousands of men will have passed through the ranks of the regiment and I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 

Hi Brian thank you for your reply I will try and find out from the details you have given I’m also considering a trip to records in Kew Gardens London to see what I can find out from there. Dave

 

I have spent the day today trying to get information on my granddad H C Pearn (5623607) who was also a member of 86th Anti Tank Regiment. It turns out he was Major Nightingale's personal driver until he was injured on 26th July 1944. We have a hand written letter from Major Nightingale to my Great Granddad explaining how he was injured while driving him around.

I am saddened to think that had my granddad not been injured he may well have been still driving Major Nightingale on the 1st of September when he was killed and that he may have died then rather than George Smart.

 

Do you have the war diary for 86th regiment around 26th July 1944?

 

Hi thank you for the ngo do you have a copy of the hand written letter? I’m trying to find out how my grandad George John James Smart died!
Regards
Dave

 

The letter we have is in post 27 and relates to the injury sustained by my Grandad H C Pearn, I believe he was shipped back to England to recover and may well have not taken a further part in the war (I know he was injured twice in combat but I have not been able to find a second official injury record to create a chronology.) I had done an amount of family tree research several years ago but drew a blank on my grandfather's military service, it is only this weekend I have come back to it after my dad mentioned the discovery of the letter above and my research over the weekend lead me to this forum and a number of threads on the 86th ATK regiment.

I am guessing that George Smart may well have then taken over the job as Major Nightingale's driver in my grandfathers absence either permanently or on an ad hoc basis. My grandad only mentioned the war a couple of times to me when he was alive, one of the stories related to driving round a superior office in a half tracked vehicle, this would seem to tally with the entry in the regiment war diary posted on this thread that Nightingale was travelling in a half tracked vehicle when he died. (and the above letter)

 

Hi thank you so much for the info Nightingale died on sept 1 1944 and I have located his grave . My grandad died on 5 September 1944 and is buried at Chelers France Aprox 47 miles away from where nightingales grave is. That’s the bit I’m trying to find out I think he was injured and escaped on foot wounded to get back to his unit for help but did not make it
Regards
Dave

 

-"-

 

Do have a look also on here for guides to researching at Kew - it can be daunting and disappointing - the missing personnel files for the Royal Artillery anti tank regiments are at: WO 361/526

Description: North West Europe: Anti-Tank Regiments, Royal Artillery; missing personnel. Date: 1944 Aug 01 - 1945 Apr 30

Few good people on here including Drew who can photograph files for you, but do have a good read up and get as prepared as possible before you go so you can make the most of your time there.

“Archives contain many interesting things, but Truth is not amongst them.” (Nancy Partner – mediaevalist)

 

here is the war diary of the rgt that was sent to me by drew5233 (I hope it's not forbidden to broadcast it).
I seek all information concerning the major and the soldiers killed in Airaines September 1, 1944.
I live in Airaines and with the association "Les amis d'Airaines et du 53RICMS" we think to make an exhibition
for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the village.

(Sorry for my bad english...)

 

Good evening, would it be possible to expose this letter as part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Airaines, village where the major NIGHTINGALE was killed?
I live in Airaines and with the association "Les amis d'Airaines et du 53RICMS" we think to make an exhibition
for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the village.

(Sorry for my bad english...)

 

Hi,
For a long time, for the liberation of the village, we gathered at the graves of the soldiers buried in the local cemetery thinking they were Canadian...
Four years ago, we realized that these soldiers were not Canadian, but English...

Ci after some photographs taken during the inauguration of the commemorative plaque to honour the 7 British soldiers who were killed in Airaines on September 1, 1944

We are looking for all types of documents, photographs concerning this period.
cordially,

Franck

 

Hello, do you know what happened to the 2 missing drivers?
I followed the post and tried to contact mr Smart but I didn't get an answer.

Best regards

Franck