95531 Pat GARSTIN, MC, RUR & 1st SAS

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by Skip, Oct 5, 2011.

  1. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Hello all,

    Captain Pat Garstin [95531] was, along with 4 others from his stick, murdered whilst on Operation Gain. He had previously served in the 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles where he won a Military Cross whilst a 2nd Lt with them [Gazette 11/07/40]. I am having trouble finding the citation for this and was wondering if anyone might point me in the right direction.

    The circumstances of his death are well documented but I have little information on his pre-SAS life and this citation would help in that respect.

    Many thanks,

    Skip
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Do you know when he got the MC and what unit he was with ?

    Was he in France with the BEF?

    He's not listed on the NA's medal search engine by name or Royal Ulster Rifles.
     
  3. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    I'm afraid not - presumed with the RUR in the BEF but this is pre presumption and I have only gone through the TNA so far.

    All SAS records and his headstone reflect the fact that he did have an MC. There is the possibility that he served with another regiment pre-RUR.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'll check 2 RUR's war diary for 1940 for you.
     
  5. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Drew - many thanks for that. It's much appreciated.
     
  6. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    A bit of further information in case it helps: Garstin was born in India on 17/07/19 and enlisted on 23/07/39. His full name was Patrick Bannister GARSTIN.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    He is listed in the 2 RUR Officer Field returns from Oct 39 to May 40. It looks like he was a Platoon Commander in A Company:

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Drew - that's spot on as it's an extra piece to the puzzle. Thanks very much.
     
  9. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    This info shows no other regiment prior to the SAS than RUR. Garstin,
    Patrick Bannister
    [​IMG]
    Son of Capt. Richard Hart Garstin, CBE, RIN, and Mary Amelia Bannister.
    Husband of Susan Nicola Garstin, of Canterbury.
    17.07.1919
    India
    -
    09.08.1944
    (executed) [age 25]
    [Marissel French National Cemetery, grave 325]
    2nd Lt.
    01.07.1939 [95531]
    Lt.
    01.01.1941
    T/Capt.
    08.09.1943-(04.1944)
    [​IMG] MC
    11.07.1940
    France
    01.07.1939


    commissioned, The Royal Ulster Rifles



    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles
    ?
    -
    04.07.1944
    attached "D" Squadron 1st Special Air Service Regiment - Army Air Corps
    [captured on Operation Gain 04.07.1944 and subsequently executed in the wood near Beauvais, France]

    British Army Officers 1939-1945X -- G
     
  10. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    wtid45 - many thanks for posting this. Very interesting about his father.
     
  11. Hi Skip, I've just read your earlier findings about Pat Garstin. Just to let you know I'm he's grandson. Neil Patrick Garstin
     
  12. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Neil - PM sent
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Did you ever get the MC citation? Things have moved on now since this thread was started and some of us have copies of all the available WW2 citations if you need it.
     
  14. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Hello Andy - no I've never been able to find this citation unfortunately. Same goes with three Military Medal citations that I can't find anywhere
     
    ash0212 likes this.
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I see what you mean.

    He's mentioned a couple of times in 'The Rifles are Here' by David Orr. I've not looked in the History of the Royal Ulster Rifles Vol.3 as there is no index. Anyway the first book lists Monty giving medals to the CO, Knox, Garstin, Sgt's Henderson, Baudains, Kiley and Cpl Martin. These may be worth a look and when I have more time I'll be able to tell you the battle(s) they were involved in via the books and war diary.
     
  16. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Cheers Andy - that would be of great help. I have 'The Rifles are Here' (a good read) but didn't know of the other volumes. If there is anything I'd be really interested.

    All the best

    Skip
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Nothing in the war diary that is specific to him. Just a mention of the above men being given their medals on the 25th. The other citations may hold some clues.
     
  18. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Yes that's true Andy so I'll see if I can buy them online from Kew. Cheers
     
  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Give me a few days and I'll post them on here for free
     
  20. Skip

    Skip Senior Member

    Great - thanks Andy. Very much appreciate that and hopefully we can get to the bottom of this
     

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