Royal Ulster Rifles & London Irish Rifles

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by dbf, May 17, 2009.

  1. Part 4
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Part 5 final part, if you have any questions regarding my grandfather, please do not hesitate to contact me.

    regards

    David Robinson
     

    Attached Files:

  3. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Good work.. covers his time with 1 LIR well.
     
  4. Monument

    Monument Member

    Hi, does anyone know anything about how exactly Lieutenant Samuel Raymond Evelynn Richard Burbidge (304907) of the Royal Sussex Regiment attd. to 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles C Company perished on 31/03/1945 for example war diary? And what was his function in C Company? Many thanks in advance.
     
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  5. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

    All I could find....


    1 RUR War Diary Entries

    30th Mar 1945
    Advance 6th Airbourne Division is ordered to continue from start line NE of Coesfeld. Delays occasioned by demolitions en route in area of town, which was overcome by by-passing town during day. Billerbeck 6975 taken at 1500 hrs. Tac HQ moved on axis of advance and Main 6th Airbourne Division HQ moved to join at cross roads 7779 at 2100 hrs. 3rd Para Brigade occupied area Greven 9188 but main bridges blown. Inns Of Court Regiment reverted to Command of 11th Armoured Division less one squadron.

    31st Mar 1945
    Advance Advance by 6th Airbourne Division to line of Dortmund - Ems Canal in area 9789. Tac HQ moved to farm at 866864 at 1000 hrs. Main 6th Airbourne Division HQ moved to join Tac HQ at 1700 hrs.

    1st Apr 1945
    Bridgehead 6th Airbourne Division HQ reports "Bridging ops for cl 40 bridge over Dortmund - Ems Canal carried out during day at Schmiedehausen 978823. Main (with Tac HQ) 6th Airbourne Division HQ moved to road junction 940887 at 1115 hrs. Units of 6 Airlanding Brigade established bridgehead over Canal during night 31st of March - 1st of April."

    Casualty List Details

    First Name: S R E R
    Surname: Burbidge
    Date of Action: 31/03/1945
    Fate: Died of Wounds
    Incident Date: 12/04/1945
    Information: Casualty List No. 1729.
    Rank: W/Lieutenant
    Service Number: 304907
    Royal Sussex Regiment
    Archive Reference: WO417/008

    First Name: Samuel Raymond Evelynn Richard
    Initials: S R E R
    Surname: Burbidge
    Birth County: Sussex.
    Nationality: British
    Resided County: Sussex.
    Date of Death: 31/03/1945
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Service Number: 304907
    Service: British Army
    Regiment: Royal Sussex Regiment attached to 1st (Airborne) Battalion
    Archive Reference: WO 304/12



    Quis Separabit
     
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  6. Monument

    Monument Member

    Quis Separabit many thanks for that.

    Does no one else have further information on this?

    Best regards
    Monument

     
  7. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

    EXTRACT FROM: THE RIFLES ARE THERE FOR PERIOD
    Reference to casualties in C Company casualties around the same sort of time...

    You might also want to try some of the 1 RUR research items included within attached Download Links document...

    Otherwise you probably need a copy of the War Diary for the period (though no guarantee will mention anything).
    upload_2022-6-8_17-31-45.png
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    RIFLEMAN-JOHN HARMAN
    Service Number: 5990060
    Regiment & Unit/Ship
    Royal Ulster Rifles

    7th Bn.

    Date of Death
    Died 10 August 1943

    Age 21 years old

    Buried or commemorated at
    KINGS LANGLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

    New Part.

    United Kingdom
    • Additional Info Son of John William and Violet Mary Harman, of King's Langley.
    • Personal Inscription DEATH IS A HEARTACHE NO MAN CAN HEAL MEMORIES A TREASURE NO ONE CAN STEAL

    upload_2023-4-26_12-49-50.jpeg
     
  10. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    3458149 Rifleman John Cooper, 1st Bn (Airborne) Royal Ulster Rifles KIA 24th march 1945 aged 28 buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
    upload_2023-7-14_3-41-31.png
    upload_2023-7-14_3-41-45.png

    Manchester Evening News 21st April 1945
     
  11. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Interesting thread, thank you, which furnished a not very common Ulster/South Down family name for following-up, albeit any link seems to be pre-Victorian. Of peripheral interest, I found the 'musical cap-badge' predilections of the RUR testing at times. The London Irish are well known for wearing their badge above the right eye, with the left side of the caubeen pulled down over the left ear. The RUR appear to have varied their style with the headwear of the moment, and then back again, for example, in Bracciale's photo of their Pipes and Drums (1945 NAM) we see:
    upload_2023-7-15_10-28-1.jpeg
    but a few years later, the pipers have reversed to:
    upload_2023-7-15_10-29-15.jpeg

    Being 'Rifles', I wondered what style the Bugles wore and found this example:

    and did they have a Regimental band too .........?

    Meanwhile, I note that pipers in the Irish Guards have adopted the right side style:
    upload_2023-7-15_10-50-26.jpeg
    and looking as if the shaping process involved wearing it under a helmet?
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2023
  12. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

     

    Attached Files:

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  13. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    7020380 Rifleman John Walton, 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles KIA
     
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  14. EKB

    EKB Well-Known Member

    FORUM - THE TIMES WN5068.jpg
    Published caption for this press photo reads:
    Men from C Company, 2nd Battalion Ulster Rifles look at a road sign to Paris amid the devastation of Caen. To the left is Sergeant Robert John Rainey who was awarded the Military Medal in 1945. On the right is Lieutenant Cyril Rand. He was wounded at Troarn later in July and rose to the rank of major while serving with the London Irish Rifles after the war. Herbert W. Warhurst, The Times WN5068


    Frames from motion picture made at the same time (cinecam operator unknown to me):
    FORUM - IWM WPN 170.jpg

    Does anyone have other information about the two caught on camera?

    Caen | History, Geography, & Points of Interest
    WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 170 [Main Title]
    D Day Landing Craft Markings
    The Liberation of Europe 1944-1945
     
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  15. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member


    Cyril Rand became mates with my Dad & Mum (now passed) whilst 2RUR were training for D-Day in Scotland. My Dad was also 2RUR attached to 9th Brigade Headquarters and landed with them on D-Day.

    Details of 2RUR's campaign from Sword to Bremen can be found on my website at 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2 including photos and a personal account from Cyril.

    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: Personal Accounts

    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: 2 RUR Gallery

    Sergeant Rainey was awarded his MM for his actions during the crossing of the Meuse canal - see:

    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: 2 RUR Honours and Awards

    Cyril's Great Nephew Paul Woodadge does Battlefield Tours in Normandy and knows alot about their exploits as well...
    Paul Woodadge

    Happy reading!

    Cyril Rand Top Right
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. EKB

    EKB Well-Known Member


    Thanks for the info and links. Do you know if your father advanced inland on this road?
    FORUM 01.jpg
    FORUM 02.jpg
    As an aside, it looks like the chapel was reconditioned or rebuilt at some point.
     
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  17. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

    There is alot of information about who landed where at:

    D Day Landing Craft Markings

    D Day Landing Craft Markings

    which suggests that the photo was taken from one of the LCI's - LCI(L) 375 - that landed near Exit 11 and which was one of the 3 LCI's carrying 2RUR.
    [​IMG]

    The second photo shows troops of "A" Company, 2 RUR pause in La Brèche d'Hermanville at the location you have identified during their move inland 6 June 1944 - see
    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: Photo Journal

    and it does indeed look like the chapel has been rebuilt.

    upload_2023-12-4_13-8-18.png


    9th Brigade, including 2RUR, then moved inland straight up what is now Avenue de 6 Juin towards their respective Assembly Points, which somebody has helpfully superimposed on to a map at:

    D Day Landing Craft Markings
    [​IMG]

    with 2RUR War Diary entries available at:
    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: 2RUR War Diary

    You can also find further information on my blog relating to 9th British Infantry Brigade at:

    9th British Infantry Brigade During World War 2: June 1944

    Hopefully this provides the information you were looking for.....

    I retraced their steps to Cambes a few years back and hope to do the same again next year for the 80th Anniversary.....
     
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  18. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member


    I forgot to mention, there is a section on YouTube WW2TV all about this photo and the background to it produced by the Great Nephew of Cyril Rand...

     
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  19. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

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  20. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

    Details from 2 RUR Official History notes from 9th June - taking of Cambes Wood.

    "All gun detachments moved forward in the face of an accurate 88 mm and mortar fire, and succeeded in being manhandled into position with the exception of one detachment. This was commanded by Cpl Boyd and received a direct hit from an 88 mm shell which besides knocking out the carrier, wounded Cpl Boyd and Rfn Heald and killed Rfn Bingham. Rfn Walton the remaining member of the crew escaped without injury. The gun itself was later recovered and manhandled into position."

    2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles in WW2: 9th June - The taking of Cambes Wood
     
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