David Thomas Walters 43rd (2/5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regt.) Regt. Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Raymond Andre, Jan 9, 2020.

  1. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    My grandfather was Trooper David T. Walters 5389838 of the 43rd (2/5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regt.) Regt.
    Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. He died 24 June 1944 at Normandy. My mother was only 2 years old when he died so she never knew him. I am American and am having a difficult time researching him because I don’t know his date of birth. If someone could point me in the right direction on where to start I would greatly appreciate it. 358B5376-1A3A-4606-B5C2-2E38FED237FF.jpeg
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    His service number indicates that he enlisted with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

    Casualty

    If you are confident on his service number then you do not need his date of birth to send off for his official service records, these will provide full details of his service.
    Get a copy of military service records
     
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  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    He was initially reported as 'missing' on casualty list number 1513 dated 1 August 1944, and then reported 'now presumed killed in action', location given as 'At sea' on list 1576 dated 13 October 1944.
     
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  4. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Welcome to the forum.

    CWGC give his age as 30 at the time of his death in 1944.

    Casualty

    I’m sure one of our members may be able to find his birth in either 1913/14 and or his marriage record reference number.

    Good Luck

    Steve
     
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  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Some info here:
    43rd Recce Regiment War Diary and Part 1 Orders 1944-1945

    "June 24 - Move to JUNO Beach. Div HQ Fuminchon Acoustic Mine explodes aft. 2 aft holds full of sleeping troops flooded. 3 Ton Ammunition wagon catches fire and sets oil on water alight. Rescue by landing craft, SS Cap Tourain and HM Gunboat Locust. Wounded returned to GB. "Great gallantry by all troops in 2 aft holds". Great confusion as to who is where! 180 killed and 150 wounded from A & HQ Sqns"

    MV Derrycunihy - 24th June 1944
    MV Derrycunihy (1943) - Wikipedia
    D-Day - 75 Stories: The MV Derrycunihy - Normandy Memorial Trust
    The local boys Bristol lost in the MV Derrycunhiny disaster

     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2020
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  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I have asked if one of our members Recce_Mitch can post a photo of the Bayeux panel for you

    regards
    Clive
     
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  7. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  8. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    Tony56 Thank you so much for the info. Im not 100% on the service number. The missing and then lost at sea info that you provided mirrors the story that my mother told me long ago that my grandfather was a machine gunner on an APC and that he was reported missing and later that it sank during the Normandy landing. The service number came from an internet search which brought up the memorial in France and listed his name, rank, unit, date of death, next of kin, and home town. Some of which I already knew. Not sure about the others. I read the request for info form and it said that the date of birth were required. That’s why I am trying to find it.
     
  9. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    Tullybrone thank you. If someone could help with that I would be happy to provide whatever info I could.
     
  10. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    The CWGC states his wife as M J Walters of Rose Hill, Oxford - does that fit in with the information you have? If you could provide your mother's full name, dob and place of birth it may be possible to find your grandfather's marriage details.
     
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  11. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    My mother’s maiden name was June Elizabeth Walters. DOB 8 June 1942 I believe in Oxford or London. I’m not sure of my grandmother’s name.
     
  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Does any of this ring a bell, anyway you can check it out?

    June E Walters, birth registered Q2 1942 Abingdon Berks, mother's maiden name Thomas.
    David T Walters married Nellie I Thomas Q4 1934 Abingdon Berks.

    1939 census has
    David T Walters dob 28 Oct 1913, married, Lorry driver
    Nellie Walters dob 12 June 1912, married, unpaid domestic duties
    Living at 174 Saxton Road, Abingdon

    Nellie I J Walters then married Arthur H Belcher Q4 1946 Abingdon.

    Nellie Irene J Belcher, dob 12 June 1912 death registered Nov 2005, age 93, West Surrey.

    There is a birth for David T Walters Q4 1913 Pontypridd, Glamorgan, mother's maiden name Thomas.

    Might need more time to check it out but looks promising.
     
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  13. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    THIS IS IT! You’ve found my family! My grandmother’s name was Nellie Irene Thomas. My sister had this name but was unsure.
     
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  14. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    Since the name of his wife on CWGC is different different does this mean that I have the wrong person?
     
  15. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    As all the other pieces of the jigsaw appear to fit I’d suggest that it is simply an error by a CWGC clerk perhaps mistaking a handwritten N for M and carrying that mistake forward from their handwritten ledgers to the typed memorial book and the internet page of more recent vintage.

    Steve
     
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  16. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    The only mandatory fields on the service record application are surname, forenames and service number OR date of birth, also you do not need death certificate as he was KIA, just send a copy of the CWGC details.
    You can get an online copy of his birth certificate in a few days so I suggest that is the way to go.
    First name(s) DAVID T
    Last name WALTERS
    Birth year 1913
    Birth quarter 4
    Registration month -
    Mother's maiden name Thomas
    District Pontypridd
    County Glamorganshire
    Country Wales
    Volume 11A
    Page 1475
    You can then confidently send off for his records.

    By the way it looks like the photo that you posted has a cap badge of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
    Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry - Wikipedia

    1939 attached.
    Walters.jpg
     
  17. Raymond Andre

    Raymond Andre Member

    Gentlemen, you have given me more information about my family in the last 24 hours than I have been able to find in the last 24 years. Service in the military runs deep in my family. As you know my grandfather served for his country. My father served for mine in the Air Force , I served 10 years in the Army, and my daughter currently has 5 years under her belt in the Navy. I have always wanted to know more about my mothers side of the family but had no idea where to start. You gentlemen have been a windfall. I don’t know how to thank you.
     
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  18. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    By saying 'Thank you'

    TD
     
  19. Simon_Fielding

    Simon_Fielding Withnail67

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  20. Simon_Fielding

    Simon_Fielding Withnail67

    Detailed newspaper report from 1945
     

    Attached Files:

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