Location of 1st Bn Rifle Brigade

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by vista52, Jan 28, 2009.

  1. vista52

    vista52 Member

    My uncle died 29/08/1944. He was Rifleman Edward Lagdon. He is buried in Edmonton but my Aunt thinks he died on his way back to the UK from Normandy but I don't know how reliable that info is.

    Would anyone know where the 1st Battalion RB was in late August?
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Vista 52-
    tricky one as there is little mention of 1st battalion Rifles but the 8th Rifle Brigade were attached to the 11th Armoured Division - they may have been part of that Brigade - they fought at Epsom - Goodwood and the other battles along the Odon - Caen area from June to August until the breakouit, so it is possible that he was badly wounded - brought back to the Uk and died there which would account for his burial at edmonton.....try CWGC and "the Black Bull" by Patrick Delaforce which cronicles the movement of the 11th armoured Div.
    Cheers
     
  3. vista52

    vista52 Member

    Thanks Tom. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the 1st RB were involved in one of those ambushes where a lone Panzer Commander shot up a whole British Tank column. Don't think it was Wittmann but someone else. Always wondered if my uncle was involved in that.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    1 RB were in 7th Armd Div.
    Infantry Regiments Page

    Engagements that 7th Armd Div involoved in 1944.

    Battles 1944
    Panzer Commander shot up a whole British Tank column. Don't think it was Wittmann but someone else.


    Yes it was Wittman.
     
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Might be difficult to pin down as most regimental diaries only concern themselves with the actions of the officers .. th men are not always recognised - unless they win a VC or soemthing - then they have to acknowledge them !
    Cheers
     
  6. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Vista 52 - there we are then - 7th Armoured fighting pretty close to 11th Armouered after Goodwood - so still relevant as being badly wounded -
    repatriated to the Uk and buried at Edmonton

    Cheers
     
  7. vista52

    vista52 Member

    Thanks again Tom.

    Owen that's a great site you directed me to. So by late August we have Falaise and crossing the Seine.

    My aunt was 13 or 14 when Edward died and all that's remained in her memory is that he had been in so much pain that he had bitten through his tongue.

    Thanks,

    Paul
     
  8. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Paul, do you have a photograph of him ? It would be nice if this thread helped him not to be forgotten.

    Rich
     
  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I have the Rifle Brigade Chronicles for WW2. I will see if there is anything interesting in there tomorrow.
     
  10. vista52

    vista52 Member

    Hi Rich,

    No, don't have a photo. Neither side of my family seems to of collected any, or if they did, they aren't around today.
     
  11. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Apologies - didn't get the time to look. Will do this over the weekend.
     
  12. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    As promised, some material for you. Have copied their entire history for 1944, and put it on my Flickr account in its own folder. You can download it all from there:

    1st Rifle Brigade 1944 - a set on Flickr
     
  13. vista52

    vista52 Member

    Thanks Paul,

    13th June, the Michael Wittmann Ambush, is mentioned on Page 4. It started at 9am when the column was stopped and finished at 1pm. Must of been terrifying for those involved. Very heavy casualties.
     

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