I have discovered that L/Cpl John McGuire, Pioneer Corps and 2SAS, died on 20 February 1944 and is buried in Bari War Cemetery, to where he was transferred from Bari Civil Cemetery (concentration form). Operation Maple (Thistledown & Driftwood) Is he the same Corporal McGuire, mentioned on this forum in the thread Operation Maple (Thistledown and Driftwood) regarding the Baobab operation? I don't have a full list of the members of Baobab though know that two of them were Laws and Dowell. Were the other two Miller and McGuire?: The dories left the destroyer at 23.50 hours and reached the beach where Lieutenant LAWS was standing at 00.15 hours. Lieutenant LAWS led the demolition party to the bridge and the defence party to the positions which he had selected. The laying of the charges occupied about half an hour. The charge was laid in one strip across the bridge under both tracks from where the ballas t was removed. By the time this was completed the Italians in the Carabinieri barracks had succeeded in opening the door from which they debouched and challenged. Corporal McGUIRE replied in Italian that a working party was repairing the line and they remained quiet for a few minutes. Meanwhile the main party had been drawn to the dories and Lieutenant MILLER was preparing to set off the charges, which had a ten minute delay, when the Italians opened fire. He completed his task, jumped over the bridge, and returned to the dory. The boats then put out to sea and for the first 400 yards the Italians fired in their direction. The fire appeared to be coming from on the bridge and in its neighbourhood. The light of a torch directed downward could be seen as though a search was being made of the bridge. Twelve minutes after Lieutenant MILLER had left the bridge a violent explosion occurred at 01.12 hours; it resembled the petals of an orange coloured flower opening, while fragments of incandescent material were thrown through the air. It is reasonable to assume that a considerable proportion of the Carabinieri were amounts this debris as they were last seen on the bridge. Blue flashes came from the overhead electric power lines which must have also been damaged. Does anyone have any information about his death? Vitellino Edited: Also ini Bari War Cemetery is Guardsman Maurice Joseph Reynolds, Irish Guards, and 2 SAS. See Conc Form. Any info. on Guardsman Reynolds would also be appreciated. Thanks
2718228 Maurice Joseph Reynolds Casualty list states 'accidentally killed' This Maurice Reynolds has the same date of death: Maurice Reynolds (Unknown-1943) - Find A Grave...
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Maurice Reynolds Given Initials: M J Rank: Guardsman Death Date: 11 Dec 1943 Number: 2718228 Birth Place: Eire Residence: Eire Regiment at Enlistment: Irish Guards Branch at Enlistment: Foot Guards Theatre of War: North Africa Regiment at Death: Irish Guards Branch at Death: Foot Guards UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Name: Maurice Joseph Reynolds Age: 30 Birth Date: abt 1913 Death Date: 11 Dec 1943 Cemetery: Bari War Cemetery It. 4. Burial Country: Italy Regimental Number: 2718228 Region or Memorial: Italy Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 Name: Maurice Joseph Reynolds Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1913 Registration district: Granard Birth Country: Ireland Volume: 3 Page: 137 FHL Film Number: 101075 TD
Lance Corporal MCGUIRE, JOHN Service Number 3314921 Died 20/02/1944 Aged 22 Pioneer Corps and 2nd Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C. Son of William and Elizabeth McGuire, of Glasgow. Casualty Looking at the above perhaps some of our Scottish members could help out - there may be news articles etc TD