14605545 Philip Eynon BANKS, 62 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery: 11/06/1944

The location of his initial burial is given as Map 7E/5 map reference 959818. The other two graves are reported as 958818. These references are adjacent so, even if the map reference includes a typo (for example 959 substituted for 958) the location corresponds to being adjacent to a roads 'T' junction near the corner of a small wood. This makes sense if, for example, there was a small Field Unit Hospital in the adjacent field. Having had a quick check on Google Maps, the area is now quite developed and it appears the wood has been replaced by a housing estate but the 'T' junction (the road leading down to Amblie) is still generally as it was in 1944 as is the adjacent field. The map reference is shown by the arrow on the map extract.



Note: I think the trees might be an orchard rather than a wood.

 

This is getting exciting now - the SAR forms are ready to post, shame they take so long but it's about time I did some housework. I currently have lost the dining room table under shedloads of letters, and am working between an iPad, computer and phone (logistics!).

 

Thank you SDP for the map and information, it is invaluable.

I'm finding some of the letters quite poignant, is there a page I can post copies of letters from his friends for their families to see? I have one from Gunner William Rae (318288) with a photo of himself, and another from Taffy Beynon (1087945). They all seemed to be called Taffy or Jock!

But thanks everybody for your help, I really do appreciate it.

Jen

 

You could upload documents to the Gallery or, I believe, the Resources section. Bear in mind, however, that this is a Public Forum so everyone can see whatever you upload. Might be an idea to ask one of the Moderators ( their avatar has the abbreviation MOD in the lower section).

 

Thanks for replying, I'll browse the galleries and see if there's a similar thread.

Jen

 

I've just looked through my late husband's war books and have found some Michelin maps, one entitled Voie de la Liberté Juin 1944 - Janvier 1945. It's only a copy but it will help, now I know where to start looking.
Jen

 

1087945 Gunner Raymond "Taffy" Beynon enlisted in the RA in 1940.
318288 Gunner William Rae was wounded in Normandy but the date isn't recorded on the War Office casualty list.

 

Gunner Jock Rae sent a letter to my grandmother asking after my Uncle Eynon and goes on to say he "arrived back in England two days ago with a lump of shrapnel in my thigh". He ends his letter "PS I already wrote a letter but was informed it was lost when the post boy was hit by a shell".

Taffy Beynon said "will you excuse the writing and wording of this letter as it is written in a dugout and I tell you it's rather dark here".

I'm so glad I have these letters.

 

Hi Jenwizzle,

I have copied of the 5 war diaries of the batteries relating to 62 AT Regiment. I will check my records and come back to you shortly. I know that he did not serve with 245 Battery when he died.

 

He was with the 247/62 Reg. Gunner Phillip Eynon Banks, 14605546, died of wounds on 11 June 1944.

Thank you so much.

Jen

 

The war diary you require is attached. I think this may be your man. As war diaries mainly do not state a name only the title, ie other rank. I think he may be the battle accident reported on 10 June 1944. Apply for the service record as others recommend.

It tells you about when and where sailed from and the beach of arrival. 3 Landing Ship Tanks are listed for the trip. Southampton to Juno Beach, Normandy.

This is my own headstone photo taken in 2011.

Regards Rob

 

Oh my goodness, this is the one, isn't it? Thank you so much for sharing them, I really do appreciate it. Thanks too for the photo, we went out there in the late 80's, did the whole Normandy landing thing for the kids, seeing the headstone brought it home to them how the war had touched our family, it's wasn't just in history books.

I need a cup of tea now, then I'll sit and read all the new information.

Jen

 

Wonderful to see this thread evolve so quickly and with such good results for Jen.

 

Re the War Diaries - are there any appendices to them that might have recorded further information ?? it sometimes happens, just that it has not been mentioned so far in this thread.

TD

 

Introducing Gnr P E Banks

Excerpts from my Uncles letter to his parents:

"I have been on a course this week, on Tanks, I have been learning to drive them. You should see me now Dad, driving it, I am not afraid to bump into any cars in one of them"

"Don't worry about me as I am fine and so are all my mates, we do get good food and we do get plenty of it"

"...coming over was alright except for getting a bit sea sick but that didn't last long."

Thanks to everyone for your help and for all the information. Uncle Eynon might only have been 19 when he died, but he does seem to have enjoyed those 19 years.

 

I didn't copy them at the time.

 

Part copy of map 7E/5 I found at Kew. The same Map Ref from SDP and where P E Banks was originally buried.

 

Thank you ramacal