15th / 19th Hussars in Assche / Asse

Discussion in '1940' started by BrianM59, Apr 12, 2015.

  1. Ox_Bucks_44

    Ox_Bucks_44 Member

    I've found this thread really interesting. I had very little, to no knowledge regarding the 15/19 in action at the beginning of the war. My Great Uncle (profile picture) served with the regiment from 1943 and fought through Normandy, Holland and finally into Germany.
     
  2. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    I've been collecting 15th and 15th/19th Hussars medals for nearly 20 years. This thread has enabled me to add a lot of information to one particular group: MM, 39/45 Star, War Medal to L/Cpl RG Fairweather whose service papers I have. He was the gunner in Captain Mytton's tank (2i/c FHQ A Squadron).
    Fairweather was captured on the 18th May 1940 during the action of A Squadron in Assche, his MM was gazetted in 1946 but unfortunately with no citation as was normal with the late ones.

    Another group that I only acquired yesterday is 39/45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal with ID disc to 4746622 Trooper S Goodman. He was awarded an MM on 18th May 1940 when acting as a Dispatch Rider with RHQ. He does have a citation. The award was gazetted on 20th December 1940.
    Any further information on these two men would be gratefully received, thank you.
     
  3. Ox_Bucks_44

    Ox_Bucks_44 Member

    Hey Andrew - that's great to hear about your medal collecting. I've got a few items of uniform and kit belonging to ordinary ranks and officers who served in the 15th/19th. Including a small pack owned by Capt. J Watson of B Squadron. What's interesting to note regarding your medal recipient L/Cpl Fairweather is that he was captured in 1940 along with a host of others. Do you have any idea where he was sent as a POW?
     
  4. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    My notes from the National Archives:
    He was in Stalag X1B/357 at the end of the war- Oerbke, near Falingbostel- liberated 16/4/1945 by 8th Hussars. Probably also in Thorn, Poland.
    Camp 357 POW no. 19980.
     
  5. Ox_Bucks_44

    Ox_Bucks_44 Member

    Wow - ended up at Stalag in Poland basically sat out the entire war (minus the actions in 1940 of course) Would love to read his memoirs if they exist!
     
  6. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Unfortunately I have not been able to find out much about him. He died in 1983 aged 67 in East Sussex, a retired stone mason.
     
  7. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    That's good to know Fairweather was Mytton's gunner. Mytton's tank was KOed or abandoned near the Assche rail station, (pictures of his tank don't reveal any damage). There were some claims that he fought on armed only with a Webley Revolver. As you probably know Mytton was wounded and taken to the Hopital de Notre Dame near the Assche town square. He made numerous escape attempts as a POW. He was awarded the MC. In addition to Goodman and Fairweather I have the following 15/19 men awarded the MM for actions in and around Assche:

    MM
    Sergeant E.B. Dodson RHQ, 15/19 KRH
    Sergeant J. Smith RHQ, 15/19 KRH
    Corporal T. Sainsbury A Squadron, 15/19 KRH
    L/Corporal J. Davies A Squadron, 15/19 KRH

    I was not able to find any award recommendations for these men. Have you uncovered any info on these men..
     
  8. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    All these MMs were gazetted in February 1946 and none had any citations, though the regiment had known of the awards since 1941 (info from History of 15/19th).
    Davies was a Despatch Rider, he was initially given an MID in the February 46 gazette, but this was amended to an MM in June 46.
    Sainsbury was a pre war 15/19th man who had the Indian General Service Medal clasp 1930-31.
    Have you seen Goodman's citation ? If not I'll post a photo of it.
     
  9. Ox_Bucks_44

    Ox_Bucks_44 Member

    Excellent knowledge on here. Does anyone have any information regarding the regiment and it's involvement during the Normandy campaign?
     
  10. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Yes Davies......... he was the dispatch rider that my Dad flagged down to assist him with the wounded Sgt. McKenzie. He was captured with my Dad who said they surrendered to German infantry without firing their revolvers. We were always a little confused as to how he got the MM when all he did was follow my Dad to where Sgt. McKenzie lay wounded and watched over him while my Dad tried to get help from Auxiliary Cardinal Jozef Leo Suenens at Kurth House. My Dad mentioned he was known for his bigger than life tales... and his cozy manor with officers while a POW. So not sure what his version of events was ....... I guess we will never know...... but obviously no mention of my Dad's efforts to save Sgt. McKenzie.

    Thanks I have Goodman's citation and have some additional info that I will PM to you.


    Also from the 1990 KRH Regimental Journal

    OBITUARIES
    24 February 1990
    Ex 4746622 Tpr S Goodman MM 15/19H. Served 1937-42. Awarded the Military Medal in
    May 1940 whilst a D R in HQ Squadron, Also served in Italy and Africa with 250 Tank Delivery
    Regiment and 24th Lancers in UK. Joined 15/19H at York. Served in France, Belgium, ltaly
    and Africa.
     
  11. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Thank you, looks like Goodman's group is missing a couple of stars. It does sound like your father was bit hard done by in terms of an award.
     
  12. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Here are a few more, any particulars on these awards...

    MBE

    Lt. H. Mayo RHQ, 15/19 KRH

    DCM

    SSM J.R. Laing A Squadron, 15/19 KRH
    TSM G.S. Briggs B Squadron, 15/19 KRH

    MiD
    RSM L.B. Lyons RHQ, 15/19 KRH
     
  13. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    DCM to Briggs was for his escape from POW camp via Russia. His story is in the Appendix of the History of 15/19th Hussars by Courage.
    Again Laing and Lyons were both POWs, gazetted in February 1946, but no citations.
    Mayo's MBE was gazetted on 2nd June 1943 (Birthday Honours)
    Sorry I cannot add anything that has not already come up in this thread.
     
  14. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Latecomers to the actions in Normandy. Landed at Arromanches on 15/16th August 1944 as part of 159th Brigade, 11th Armoured Division. The 1939/45 History of 15/19th by Courage is a very good read, try and get a copy.
     
  15. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Thanks Andrew... The 1939/45 History of 15/19th by Courage is available online at the Light Dragoons website

    History Downloads
     
  16. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    I have a further two medal groups to men who took part in the 18th May 1940 battle around Assche.

    C Squadron, No. 4 Troop TSM Scheldts who was wounded but managed to get back to the UK,
    IGS Clasp North West Frontier 1930-31, 39/45 Star, Def, WM,LS,MSM. Due to his wounds he did not see any further active service.

    B Squadron No.1 Troop TSM Maddocks who escaped via Dunkirk, returned to France with 15/19th in August 1944 and was wounded in September 1944. He would be RSM in 1946.
    39/45 Star, F+G Star, Def, WM, GSM “Palestine 45-48”, LSGC, QE Terr Medal

    Major JHL Holford- he was with the regiment pre war but I don't think he went to France in 1940. In December 1940 he was part of a detachment from the 15/19th that formed the 23rd Hussars as did Captain J Watson (mentioned in the thread earlier on)
    His group consists of IGS 1930-31, 39/45 Star, Def, WM.
     
  17. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Also from the KRH Regimental Journal

    OBITUARIES
    RSM Leslie Bryce Lyons
    Major Leslie Bryce Lyons' MM. 15/19H. SSM of 'C' Sqn l5/19H. Took over as RSM from RSM Sam Mayor in May 1940. Taken POW on 18th May 1940. Awarded the Military Medal at the end of the war in recognition of his service in France and Flanders. Rejoined the Regiment as RSM Sept 1945 and sailed with the Regiment to the Canal Zone Egypt. Became Garrison RSM at Moascar. Commissioned, and became Quartermaster Northumberland Hussars 1953, an appointment he held until leaving the Army in 1958. Mr. Norman Williams and Mr. Bill Pearce represented the Regimental Association at the funeral.
     
  18. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Thank you. Looking at the awards section in the history, he had an MID as well, but I have not tracked that down in the LG.
     
  19. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Here is his MID- LG of 20th December 1945 "for gallant and distinguished services whilst a Prisoner of War"
     
  20. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Thank you.. I was wondering if you have come across any pictures of 15/19 award recipients.. I have found a few. Also could you post Fairweather's service papers or PM to me.
     

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