86th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

I am seeking more information about this unit and their locations and activities leading up to the 29th Dec 1944
My Uncle Sergeant William John Beckett was killed on that date.
I have the details and photos of his grave in Mook Cemetery, Holland but would like to know more about events leading up to his death.

86(5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment) Anti-tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Thanks

Peter

 

what you need is
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Aye
MalcolmII

 

Malcolm,

Thanks for that and nice to hear from you

Peter

 

Owen,
another part of the jigsaw, thanks.
can one access war diaries, etc?

Peter

 

http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/dv-5.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/128522970/

http://www.army.mod.uk/ddli/history_/world_war_2.htm

Google it, these were just the first 3!!

regards

Alex

 

Hi Peter, I know it has been some time since you originally started this thread, but I was wondering if you had managed to find any more information regarding the 86th Anti-tank Regiment. My grandad George Bowden was a Gunner in this regiment and I am keen to find out more about his time during the war since he passed away when I was little and I was unable to ask him myself.
Many Thanks
Steph

 

Roll of Honour

Haven't got the WD yet for that period

 

Hi Peter, I know it has been some time since you originally started this thread, but I was wondering if you had managed to find any more information regarding the 86th Anti-tank Regiment. My grandad George Bowden was a Gunner in this regiment and I am keen to find out more about his time during the war since he passed away when I was little and I was unable to ask him myself.
Many Thanks
Steph

Hi Steph,

Do you happen to know when your Grandad served with 86 AT and if he did until the end of the war? Do you also know his service number, as this might indicate whether he served with the 5th Devonshires before they converted from Infantry to 86 AT, Royal Artillery in late 1941. The Devonshire Service Nos were from 5608001 to 5662000.

Cheers - Rob

 

Hello Peter,

I hope you are still following this post. My Grandad served on 86 ATK Regt RA (LAD) and had always wanted to see the war Diaries so in November 2011 I took him to the national archives in Kew gardens and dug them up. My Grandad is still alive and even on Facebook but he has some difficulty logging on as he is registered blind now. He thinks he was the youngest guy on the unit as he was only about 17 at the time. I photographed the diaries and have a soft copy that I can send you. I'll ask my Grandad tomorrow also if he remembers Sgt William John Beckett.
The unit were in a place called HOEVE on the 29th I'll copy the page from the diary below

 

Hello Peter

I've just looked at this site and thought I would write and mention that my father was in the 86th Anti Tank Regt. (Devonshires). He was Sgt Walter Lee, later Major. I have his diary from June 44 onwards. He went through France via JUNO beach and through France (Coulombs)and on to Germany via Holland. He took part in Operation Mallard. They billeted in a town called Brunsumm in Holland where a family names Peters were instrumental in my family and theirs having a long friendship. If you would like any more information I can provide it.

 

Hi, I've just discovered this Forum, my Great Uncle Gunner Adam Wright served with the 86th and died on the 8th August 1944 - his tank was blown up by a landmine two days earlier, he was driving the Tank at the time and was critically injured. As far as I know all the other crew members survived. I don't have much more than that and was wondering if any of the diary pages you have mention anything about the incident on or around the 6th August ??
many thanks
David.

 

Here you go Dave

 

Looks like he was in 340 AT Battery

 

Drew - fantastic, thanks for the quick reply I have an Uncle in Canada who will also be delighted to see this bit of info. Looks like his M10 hit the mine on the 8th August. Adam normally manned the gun on the M10 but that day was driving . . . he was only 22. We have always wondered where he was when he died and now we know. I visited Normandy with my Mother and Uncle back in 2002, we were the first family to visit Adam's grave in Bayeux Cemetary, his family were from Glasgow and never made it over. I have a 14 year old son named after him and plan to take him over to France too when I get the chance.

thanks again
David

 

Hi

I'm planning on visiting my Grandfather's grave in St Manvieu War Cemetery this year and just wondered whether anyone could shed a little more light on his regiment and what they were doing around the time of his death.

He was killed when my mother was a baby and she always wanted to visit his grave but sadly passed away before she could.

All I know are the following details:

Name Stanley Turner - Gunner 3448851

Died - 18/07/1944

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Jo

 

Jo welcome to the forum

you should send off for his service records

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records


TURNER, STANLEY

Rank:

Gunner

Service No:

3448851

Date of Death:

18/07/1944

Age:

30

Regiment/Service:

Royal Artillery



86 (5th Bn. The Devonshire Regt.) Anti-Tank Regt.

Grave Reference:

X. B. 14.

Cemetery:

ST. MANVIEU WAR CEMETERY, CHEUX

Additional Information:

Son of James W. and Mary J. Turner, of Old Glossop, Derbyshire; husband of Elizabeth Turner, of Glossop.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2062050/TURNER,%20STANLEY

 

Thank you very much

I have managed to find the link to the cwgc - I was just wondering whether I could find anything like War Diaries as pictured in earlier posts

 

Hello Jo

Andy who posted copies Diaries for a small charge from the National Archives.
I will message him to see if he can assist

regards
Clive

 

Thanks very much