thomas hepple

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by amhepple, Nov 17, 2010.

  1. amhepple

    amhepple Junior Member

    i am trying to find out about my uncle thomas hepple what he was like and how he died he died on the 10th may 1945 thats about all i know
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    This is one for Sapper to give you some answers on as your uncle was with his old Field Company.

    HEPPLE, THOMAS
    Initials: T
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sapper
    Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
    Unit Text: 246 Field Coy.
    Age: 19
    Date of Death: 10/05/1945
    Service No: 14728865
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 13. D. 10.
    Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

    I'd suggest a personal message to him.
     
  3. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    I think this may be him.

    Name: HEPPLE, THOMAS
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sapper, Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
    Unit Text: 246 Field Coy.
    Age: 19, Date of Death: 10/05/1945
    Service No: 14728865
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 13. D. 10.
    Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY


    You may want to speak to our member Sapper (Brian) I came across the above on one of his threads posted by Englandphil
     
  4. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Snap,you beat me to it Rich.lol
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    There wasn't much in it, was there ? A photo-finish I'd say !
     
  6. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Yes I can tell you a considerable history of that Sapper. How best to do it.? here or by private message?
    Sapper
     
  7. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owne does this fellow have an E mail? He was indeed a member of my company, and I know how he died. It is a sad story. for it had other implicatioms
    Sapper
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    While Brian & amhepple quite rightly decide how they wish to pursue this discussion, and how fortunate for the enquirer that they actually have someone here from the same unit, I trust that everyone in this forum realises the significance of the date on which Thomas Hepple died.

    May 10th was just two days after the war ended in Europe.

    Can you imagine the relief of his parents to know that the war had ended only to have their hopes dashed when they received the terrible news of his death ?

    There were too many cases like this and I can remember myself learning of my own brother's death after the war had ended in Italy.

    Lest we forget !

    Ron
     
  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Exactly Ron, and this was one of the saddest days of mt life ,I learned about it through the sappers info
     
  11. amhepple

    amhepple Junior Member

    thomas hepple was my uncle and i would like you to send me a private message please regards alison hepple
     
  12. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Have done Alison
    Sapper
     
    englandphil likes this.
  13. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  14. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Phil..Not sure mate. I do get a huge amount of mail ETC. I don't mind, and am always willing to help where I can.

    Apologies! I did get a PM from Kyle (Louise) it is on the same theme as Alison's. I will reply at length that should satisfy both of the queries.

    I will post here what happened to Sapper Hepple and Lance Corporal Kyle. At present I am trying to find Hepples birthday. He was the same age as me... 19... Given his age, it will indicate if he was an "original" or a reinforcement. No under 19 were allowed in "Active Areas" If his birthday was after 6th June he may have come in later. That will alter considerably what he got up to
    Best regards mate.

    PS I will make a full report on this as soon as I can. I do have both these men on my private casualty list that I added to the back of the book I wrote for my family.
    Cheers Phil
     
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Right. Here we go Sapper Hepple. Lance Corporal Kyle. RE
    Both these sappers will have taken part in every battle that took place from Sword beach, where they landed, with the task of clearing the beach of mines and anything that stood in the way. They did just that……. They were given the top job of opening up a path from the beach to the road that ran parallel to the beach. They had to ensure that no one stood in the way…..ANYONE, no matter who or what.

    They completed the task allotted them completely successfully. They would have seen action in Front of Caen,amongst the great battles that took place there, they would have been to Morris and Hillman and the other great German positions.

    They would have taken part in the Goodwood battles, and around Vire. In fact, all of the battles we were involved in. They were at the back of the Falaise pocket driving the enemy toward the death and destruction. They would have been at Pegasus Bridge helping out. They took part in the drive north to Arnhem and would have been in the vicinity of all the battles. They would have been at Weert and Euvelwegen Maarheeze Mook Linden the lot, they would have taken part in the Rhine crossing and played a great part in that operation, they would have seen action all across the Northern plains of Germany.
    Indeed, they were the very best of our men.. The Very best. They were in at the death of the German army at Bremen. Now here is the sad bit. At the time they died, they were in the company of the bravest man I ever met, a corporal that took on all the worst jobs, from going deep into enemy territory, to lifting the worst of minefields. A Very great man. He also died after the war.
    You two ladies should be very proud of your relatives for they were true heroes.
    Now to their deaths. This is exactly as it was written at the time.
    May 10th.
    Search for and disposal of enemy arms and equipment throughout the area.
    5 men killed and 7 admitted to hospital, as a result of two serious accidents. One with Regal mines. The other with Panzerfausts (German antitank rockets) And German shell fuses.
    That is the wording.
    So they would have served their country in a company that was involved in every phase of the war in Europe. I can tell you that the Company earned a great reputation of never turning anything down, no matter how dangerous, or how miserable. In some cases they would have been far away our in front and have been ordered to stop leading!!!
    You should be proud of both these men; they gave this land something quite special. Now having given me his age, he would have been an original and saw the lot Cheers
    Brian …Sapper
     
  16. kyle

    kyle Junior Member

    Hello
    My name is Louise and my Grandad is called Henry Kyle and he is buried in Rheinberg War Cemertary in Germany next to Sapper T Hepple. I know because I visited there about six weeks ago with my Dad. He is buried next to my Grandad who also died on the 10th May and was part of 246 Field Company. They died whilst clearing mines along with T H Little (who again is also buried next to them) I have pictures of the gravestones (My Grandad is in the middle) and you can see T Hepple details. I have managed to find out some information including getting hold of a fantastic book that charts their landing on Sword Beach right through to Germany. Like you I am trying to find out all I can about 246 Field Coy and what happened on the 10th May. It is so sad that they served through the whole war and died 3 days after it ended. I would gladly send you a copy of the photograph and exchange what I have found out so far. As they are buried next to each other and were part of the same company dying on the same die it seems all three of them would have died together.

    Look forward to hearing back from you
    Louise
     
  17. kyle

    kyle Junior Member

    Brian,

    Thanks so much for taking the time to provide such great information you have helped hugley as we know so very little other than the fact that we know he sadly died 3 days after the war ended and is buried in Rhienberg War Cemertary where we visited a couple of weeks ago. Your information has helped us to understand where he served and his route from Sword Beach. We think he was part of South Lancs that were part of 246 field company and know that he was awarded medals for bravery as part of the battle at Venray on the 18th October which I have also found out was called opertaion Aintree - seems fitting for a Sapper from Liverpool! If you know any further details or have any archives or photographes or any further information it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your help so far. Louise
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I do like this forum at times like these.
    :D
     
  19. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    The battles of Overloon and Venraij...Where my war ended in the early hours of the morning while collecting the next days battle orders. Horrific battles in mine infested sandy conifer woods, and where we lost groups of men, some from Shelling, others killed when the mines they had lifted blew up. My pleasure Louise.
    Sapper
     
  20. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    I do like this forum at times like these.
    :D


    Absolutely great to see the relatives hear from Sapper on what happened so many years ago.
     

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