Recce Photo ID - 3rd Division?

Only photos of Dad are posted on my page, but not much help I am afraid.

Regards
Tom

 

Yes, this is 3rd Reconnaissance Regt (NF). Attached is a picture of the officers, taken, I presume, on the same day. My late father (Lt WL Lewis) is 3rd row, 4th from right (in dark shirt). CO was Lt Col HH Merriman, DSO MC TD (front row, no gaiters).

No idea where picture was taken, UK or Continent (can any architectural experts pinpoint the building?). Regiment was stationed at Langholm, Dumfriesshire at beginning of 1944 before embarking for Normandy in June 1944 . Group is flanked by two 6-pdr anti-tank guns.

Regards,

Richard.

 

Welcome to the forum! Great opening post!

Cheers for the photo


I was thinking the same thing when I looked at Pauls post.
There are two broken windows above the doors, but that
is it, re damage.

Germany, 1945, where could it be

 

Richard,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the confirmation, Paul will be very pleased indeed.

Regards
Tom

 

In the Regimental history the last locations mentioned (on 26 Apr 45) before the ceasefire were:
RHQ & C Sqn - School at Varel
A Sqn - Hutching
B Sqn - Iprump

Regards,

Richard

PS Damage to the windows of the building may not be a sign of battle damage. Boozy nights in the mess can have the same effect!

 

Could be the 1939-43 Star (later 1939-45) which was awarded from 1944 onwards.

Regards,
Richard

 

[FONT=&quot]Yes, this is 3rd Reconnaissance Regt (NF). Attached is a picture of the officers, taken, I presume, on the same day. My late father (Lt WL Lewis) is 3rd row, 4th from right (in dark shirt). CO was Lt Col HH Merriman, DSO MC TD (front row, no gaiters).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No idea where picture was taken, UK or Continent (can any architectural experts pinpoint the building?). Regiment was stationed at Langholm, Dumfriesshire at beginning of 1944 before embarking for Normandy in June 1944 . Group is flanked by two 6-pdr anti-tank guns.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Regards,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Richard[/FONT]

That's excellent to have it confirmed. Thanks for posting that photo. Personally I think this is taken in Germany. On my original I can see a German word through the broken upper window but can't quite make it out.

Don't suppose you have a full key of the names?

Any other photos of 3rd Recce?

 

Richard welcome to the forum.

Cheers
Paul

 

Paul I tried zooming in to see, but can't be certain ... it does look like 2 words, possibly the ending of 'hotel' and the beginning of a name, but the second word has too many possible permutations in the gothic font for me to even hazard a guess. Is there a chance of a higer res of this area?

Diane,

I too zoomed the photo up 400% and still could not make out the letters and on calling Anja to have a look she could not hazard a guess also.

My thoughts were a Hotel, but I haver been wrong on many occassions before

Regards
Tom

 

Third Div?Certainly is... Mine!
Sapper

 

I will re-scan when I am back at my desktop.

 

Just noticed the 6-pounder has different tyres

 

I see what you mean, Owen, about the medals. I saw that my father was not wearing any ribbons and so thought that picture was 1943/4. So…why wasn’t he wearing his medal ribbons?

As for the German sign in Paul’s picture I’ve fiddled tried to enhance it and come up with this:


Don’t know if it helps. Seems clearer to me when I’m on the other side of the room to the screen!
Unfortunately, no more pictures of 3 Recce (have you any more of the group photos, Paul?) and no key to the picture of the officers. However attached are the nominal rolls from ‘History of 3rd Reconnaissance Regt. (N.F.) in the invasion and subsequent campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945’.

 

Close up of the wording.

 

[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Don’t know if it helps. Seems clearer to me when I’m on the other side of the room to the screen![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Unfortunately, no more pictures of 3 Recce (have you any more of the group photos, Paul?) and no key to the picture of the officers. However attached are the nominal rolls from ‘History of 3rd Reconnaissance Regt. (N.F.) in the invasion and subsequent campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945’.[/FONT]


Hi Richard - thanks for that.

Re

[FONT=&quot]‘History of 3rd Reconnaissance Regt. (N.F.) in the invasion and subsequent campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945’.[/FONT]

Is this a published history of the unit? Have you scanned or transcribed it?

 

Sorry, not really. I tend to '-iel' as well, but there's really too much missing - maybe the two guys can step aside a little?
Are there any other pictures that offer a different angle?