Looking for help! 23rd Hussars

Hi All, I am looking for some help from you experienced guy's. I am trying to gather more information about my uncle who served with the 23rd Hussars in Normandy in June 1944 until his death in August 1944.
His name was David Deans (trooper, service no, 14282604) I think he may have been a driver, he served in 'A' Squadron, he was wounded on the 2nd of August 1944 ('A' Squadrons bad day) and later died on the 9th of August in the no 7 Canadian General Hospital RCAMC APO BLA. I have a hand written letter from J.A.H. Hodgon 1st Major Chaplain advising his wife of his passing.
The day he was injured was the day the group were advancing from Pressles to Chenodelle when 'A' Squadron were attacked by many enemy tanks.
I would like to find out who his fellow crew members were, and how they fared on the day,what injuries he sustained that caused his death, and any more detail re 'A'Squadron on the day or up until this point as even wth acess to the Squadron war diary there is no great detail.
Any help with the way to find out the awnsers to my questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

I have some information on the 23rd Hussars which I will pst tomorrow.

 

Not my area Len, but good luck with your search.

And welcome to the forum - enjoy!

Best,

Steve.

 

Welcome to the forum


Cheers
Paul

 

Hi All, I am looking for some help from you experienced guy's. I am trying to gather more information about my uncle who served with the 23rd Hussars in Normandy in June 1944 until his death in August 1944.
His name was David Deans (trooper, service no, 14282604) I think he may have been a driver, he served in 'A' Squadron, he was wounded on the 2nd of August 1944 ('A' Squadrons bad day) and later died on the 9th of August in the no 7 Canadian General Hospital RCAMC APO BLA. I have a hand written letter from J.A.H. Hodgon 1st Major Chaplain advising his wife of his passing.
The day he was injured was the day the group were advancing from Pressles to Chenodelle when 'A' Squadron were attacked by many enemy tanks.
I would like to find out who his fellow crew members were, and how they fared on the day,what injuries he sustained that caused his death, and any more detail re 'A'Squadron on the day or up until this point as even wth acess to the Squadron war diary there is no great detail.
Any help with the way to find out the awnsers to my questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

As I presume you have already learnt, the 23rd Hussars formed part of the 11th Armoured Division (i.e. tanks). The Division's emblem was a Black Bull.

There is an excellent book by Patrick Delaforce on the 11th Armoured is Division which you may find interesting:

"The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division".

However, to get down to the specific level you suggest you are looking for the 'War Diary' for that period might prove useful combined with information you might be able to get from elsewhere (e.g. if you can find other 23rd Hussars buried nearby who died about the same time).

 

Hello and welcome to the forum. As mentioned above the units diary is at Kew:

WO 171/847 23 Hussars Jan - Sept 1944.

Regards
Andy

 

Hello Len,

welcome to the forum and good luck with your research.

Regards
Peter

 

Len
Welcome to the forum

 

The day he was injured was the day the group were advancing from Pressles to Chenodelle when 'A' Squadron were attacked by many enemy tanks.
I would like to find out who his fellow crew members were, and how they fared on the day,what injuries he sustained that caused his death, and any more detail re 'A'Squadron on the day or up until this point as even wth acess to the Squadron war diary there is no great detail.
Any help with the way to find out the awnsers to my questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Len,

Welcome to the forum, an excellent place to learn and figure out these sorts of queries. A knowledgeable bunch of members will guide and assist wherever possible.

I had similar questions with regards to my grandfather and my great uncle, answers to which I found by:

1. obtaining copies of the relevant war diaries, (Andy and other members provide excellent research and copying services if one is unable to get to the National Archives at Kew);
2. reading official histories of divisions, regiments and other publications; and
3. contacting the regimental museum via their website. Most of the Regimental Museums offer research services for a charge.

Good luck with your research, and I look forward to hearing of your success.

Mark

 

I didn't get a chance to follow this up today, bear with me. I'm pretty sure I have the war diaries for 23rd Hussars and also the regimental history.

I'll come back to you later in the week.

 

Hi Len

Do you have these-
CWGC :: Casualty Details
Click on the cemetery for more details
and

The War Graves Photographic Project

and a bit on wiki about them-
23rd Hussars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

regards

Robert

 

Len,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Good luck with your research and it looks like you will be receiving some expert information from Paul.

Regards
Tom

 

See: 'What did you do in the war daddy?' Major Cecil Blacker MC - Obituary the Independent 23rd Hussars.


23rd Hussars.

 

Many thanks to all who have replied and welcomed me to the forum, I look forward to benefiting from your experience and enthusiasim, regards. Len

 

Hello and welcome.

 

As promised the War Diary of 23rd Hussars for June-August 1944 is attached.

 

Hello, I just joined yesterday and have already recieved invaluable help with research. They are all a great bunch here, give me a shout if I can be of service.

 

Hi Len,

This from memory:

The Hussars' objective that day was the Vire-Vassy road just to the south of Chenedolle. They set off from Le Beny Bocage with the 2nd Fife and Forfars on their right (west) but no flank cover on their left - the Guards had been held up back down the line.

After an encounter with a Panther which emerged from the east just before Presles, it was decided to send 'A' Squadron on a parallel route to the east to provide cover. They had no infantry support. They were ambushed by a group of German tanks and only four 'A' tanks made it back.

I'll provide the full extract from The Story of the 23rd Hussars when I get the chance (a must-have book BTW).

Finding out the crew members of a tank is not an easy task. My father (who was in 'C' Squadron) still can't name all the members of his own crew!

 

Great thread. Look forward to seeing more.
Hi Len and Grimmy - you seem to be settling in well!