Lt John Lenham 137620 (Qr-Mr) Any Information Please

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Car_Commander, Jul 26, 2015.

  1. Car_Commander

    Car_Commander Junior Member

    Any information please for Lt John Lenham (137620).

    I have found him in the London Gazette Supplement for 16th July 1940

    R. North'd Fus.
    R.S.M. John Lenham (137620) to be Lt. (Qr.-Mr.), 25th June 1940.

    And also in the London Gazette Supplement for 27th June 1941.

    Recce. Corps.
    Lt. (Qr.-Mr.) J. Lenham (137620), from R. Noth'd Fus., to be Lt. (Qr.-Mr.) 14th Jan 1941, retaining his present seniority.

    I have been unable to find anything else about him. I would like, if possible to find which regiment he served with.

    I have a Service Dress Jacket with no tailors label, just a name tag in the inside pocket with the name John Lenham. The jacket has Royal Northumberland Fusiliers buttons. It has holes for collars (RNF?), holes in the epaulettes for devices and 1st Lieutenants rank pips.

    Thanks in advance,

    Les.
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    My money was on 4th Battalion but on checking he was the RSM with the 8th Battalion on the 10th May 1940 in France.
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Les,

    RSM Lenham served with the 8th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in 1940.

    They were the duplicate of the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, who were the motor cycle reconnaissance battalion of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

    The 8th Bn were also designated as a motor cycle reconnaissance battalion in the 50 Div's duplicate 23rd (Northumbrian) Division. However, they were extremely short of transport and kit when with the BEF in Belgium/France in 1940. They were employed mainly on construction of defences and guarding important bases. That said, the 23rd Div found themselves in the thick of the fighting.

    The 23rd (Northumbrian) Division was broken up in June 1940 and from November 1940, the 8th Bn were transferred to the 3rd Division as its recce battalion.

    In early 1941, the 8th Bn became the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment (NF), Reconnaissance Corps. They remained with the 3rd Division for the duration.

    Not sure if John Lenham stayed with the 8th Bn/3rd Recce, but will check my Recce books in the morning for you for any references and will revert...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. Car_Commander

    Car_Commander Junior Member

    Many thanks Drew and Steve for the info.

    I can't find John Lenham in 'History Of 3rd Reconnaissance Regt'. It mentions Lt (later Capt) C. Adlard as QM in 1944 -45.

    Thanks,
    Les.
     
  5. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    No mention of John Lenham in the indexes of 'Only the Enemy In Front' (Doherty) or 'This Band of Brothers' (Taylor).

    Possibility - apply for his service records.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  6. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Hello Les,

    War Diary for 8 NF 26 June 1940, “RSM Lenham to act as Quartermaster. CSM Moore DCM to be RSM”.

    Nominal Roll of Officers (3 Recce Regt) for January 1942 lists Lt (QM) J Lenham. No roll for February with war diaries. March 1942 roll does not list any Lt (QM) and April 1942 roll lists Lt C Adlard as QM.

    Regards,

    Richard
     
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  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Do you have the pages with arrivals and departures on the Officer Field Returns - They sometimes list where they go rather than just going so to speak.
     
  8. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    The Rolls of Officers were typed on plain paper, not the Army Form W3008, so no details of officers who joined or quitted.

    The 1942 Army Lists show J Lenham as a Lieutenant in the Reconnaissance Corps with a date of seniority 25/6/42.

    The Army List for April 1943 lists J Lenham as an Acting Captain in the Reconnaissance Corps and now serving with the Home Guard.

    1944 and 1945 Army Lists show him as a WS Capt (26/6/43) in the Reconnaissance Corps and still serving with the Home Guard.

    Army List Oct 1945 has an R against his name which “denotes released to Unemployed List or from embodied service under Release Regulations” (hon Capt).

    Unfortunately the Army Lists just show “h.g.” for Home Guard in his entry, no further details.

    Richard
     
    Steve Mac likes this.
  9. Car_Commander

    Car_Commander Junior Member

    Many thanks for all your help.

    Les.
     
  10. David Gordon

    David Gordon Member

    Check out eBay for photo of him 2x photos 5th Royal Irish Lancers, military band, Trooper Jack Lenham & WE Mills | eBay
     
  11. David Gordon

    David Gordon Member

    Hi where and when was he born? Any chance it was Stockton on Tees?
     
  12. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I have no personal Information concerning John Lenham, David.

    That said, Stockton-on-Tees is within the recruiting area of the then 23rd and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions and so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the answer would be ‘yes’. Stockton was then in County Durham, but near the border of North Yorkshire, so recruits from that town would most likely be Durham Light Infantry or Green Howards, but he may have volunteered for or was transferred to the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

    Indeed, if he was previously in a mounted regiment/battalion then going to a Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Recce unit also makes sense.

    A pity we don’t have his pre-commission army number or service records.

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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