Award Bronze Star Trooper Alan Lynn, Squadron E, 141st Regiment, (The Buffs). Royal Armoured Corps, WO 373/147/40 IWM B 13376 General Simpson speaks to Tpr. Lynn after decorating him with the Bronze Star Enkereind, Holland 3rd January 1945
A description of the taking of the fort; the (fifteen) British tanks were flame-throwers (Wiki says Churchills) and the German garrison, paratroopers did not surrender (Wiki says they did). From: The fall of Montbarey & Keranroux Forts, VIII Corps battle of Brittany , Fort Montbarey - Wikipedia and https://www.gf9.com/Default.aspx?tabid=295&art_id=3607
Great Pictures. Next year will be 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Brest. We can expect quite a few commemorations. Keen to ensure that the British contribution is not overlooked. We know the 141 RAC took casualties ( we have seen pictures sadly) but are struggling to discover where they are buried. Any help much appreciated
The CWGC database has the following three regiment members; you have to use the Royal Armoured Corps not 141 RAC (even in full). They are: Service Number: buried at Bayeux: 2764220 FRUDD; Service Number: 7951476 MOORE; and Service Number: 14403324 GUY (commemorated at Groesbeek, Holland). I can only assume for Frudd and Moore as they were from an attached British unit with the US Army, "we" claimed our own, hence the 'concentration' or movement to Bayeux from the American St. James Cemetery, Normandy (near the eastern edge of Brittany). The CWGC records do not show specifically show this 'concentration', instead there is blank column i.e no ditto. I cannot think of a reason why Guy - who died on 14/9/1944 - is buried at Groesbeek; which is mainly a Canadian cemetery dating from Operation Market Garden 17–27 September 1944 and Operation Veritable. Looking more he is commemorated, not buried; so his body was lost or not recovered in Brittany. There are no other men buried there from his regiment, although there thirty-two from the RAC. Hopes this helps!
Correct, as mentioned at CWGC website "Groesbeek Memorial" a part of "Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery" probably missing.
Many thanks to both of you. We rather suspect that any 141 fatalities were moved to the American St. James Cemetery near Avranches. But we need to try at get to the bottom of it. Unlike much of France, Brittany has a large number of, often individual CWGC graves in local communal cemeteries. There appears not to have been a major concentration/reburial apart from the Americans.
The only CWGC graves or memorials to 141 RAC for the dates of the assault in 1944 are these three soldiers. The CWGC does record graves etc in local cemeteries; I have two in the church near where I drink in the pub.
Found this website by a military researcher, which incudes 141 RAC, for Brest opens with: One of the photos above is from this site! From: 141 RAC Regiment Crocodiles Now a mystery , not a death shown on: Lt. Hubert Anthony Ward British Army 141st (The Buffs) Regiment Royal Armoured Corps The Wartime Memories Project and very briefly mentioned on the previous link. The London Gazette of 7/12/1944 records his Silver Star and has his Service Number 299727. From: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36828/supplement/5616/data.pdf He is no trace on CWGC, nor when using just Hubert Ward or Anthony Ward. So he must have survived. A second officer was in action at Brest, Reginald Roy Moss, taking the Fort Montbarey was awarded by the USA The Bronze Star. From his 2009 obituary: Colonel Roy Moss and as the Daily Telegraph is behind a £ paywall, his obituary is within: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Journal-No-18-Summer-2009.pdf Oddly the Brest action is not in The Buffs magazine, December 1944, although taking Le Havre and clearing the Scheldt are. See: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dragon-No-541-December-1944.pdf The bold text amidst this may be of note: From: Independent Brigades - British Friends of Normandy
Thanks David Yes there is a local Facebook group (in French) which has published a map of all of them in our region. Working my way through. At least you guys have narrowed the field. Seems extraordinary that so few were lost from 141 RAC. Liberation of Brest was a very brutal affair.
Silver Star Now that is impressive! As we honour the dead, it will be good to pay tribute to the "Heroes". TVM for the links
The IWM has a manuscript by a 141 RAC soldier, not available, which refers to Brest. See: Private Papers of J W Howes With my bold: From Niel's obituary: HARE, Niel Lewis The Bronze Star awards also appear on a US 29th Division website, with my bold: From: https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/US/Baltimore/280086829390/29th-Infantry-Division-Archives This would suggest the opening post photo shows one of the 141 RAC being awarded that day, presumably if they had survived till January 1945 they were there too. There is a book by a 141 RAC officer, published in 1974; note it does not state clearly he was at Brest. See: https://www.paulmeekins.co.uk/product/65867/FLAME-THROWER Lt. Ward's award is available from TNA for £3.50p via: Recommendation for Award for Ward, Hubert A Rank: Lieutenant Service No: ... | The National Archives
Took a while and I'd not spotted the list of Bronze Star awards earlier when I found the Silver Star award. Screeshot easier than cut & paste. From: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dragon-No-541-December-1944.pdf
There is a two-post thread for another soldier given the Bronze Star, with a photo: Award Bronze Star Tpr. T. Parry, 141st Regiment, (The Buffs), RAC (Brest) I have converted the List shown in Post 13 to Word so it can be searched for (as below). Checked all names on CWGC and they all survived WW2. DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Silver Star Medal. Lieutenant Hubert Anthony Ward ( 299727 ) Bronze Star Medal. Captain (temporary Major) Ian Nigel Ryle ( 151573 ) Lieut. (temporary Captain) Reginald Roy Moss ( 261944 ). RIP DT Obit. Second Lieutenant Neil Lewis Hare ( 232515 ) No. 6294232 Sergeant Leonard Henry Morley No. 7919115 Lance-Sergeant Arthur Strachan Cowe No. 14399498 Lance-Corporal Stanley Harris No. 6292339 Lance-Corporal Joseph Albert Rayman No. 6293221 Trooper Henry Adams No. 6300090 Trooper George Edward Clare No. 14384786 Trooper Alan Lynn No. 14528208 Trooper Thomas Parry No. 14324905 Trooper Peter Guy Thorne No. 14399742 Trooper Leslie George Richard Worthy
In Post 4 the driver of the Churchill tank was Alan Lynn. From a comment after Jonathan Ware @ReassessHistory posted four photos on 4/4/2019 and Grahame @Churchillcroc responded with the identification. In 2021 Alan Lynn's wife (then 97yrs) was interviewed in her home town of Hartlepool, her son Kevin (70yrs then) lives in New Zealand. From: https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/hartlepool-woman-97-awarded-medal-from-diabetes-uk-3509648