Hello all, I am interested to find out what the 1st Fife & Forfar Yeomanry's involvement at Belsen concentration camp was in 1945, I had always assumed that as they were flame thrower tankies they were responsible for perhaps burning corpses? Is there anyone who can help? Don
Time for a visit to Kew ? http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=WO 171/4699 WO 171/4699 1 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. 1 January 1945 - 31 December 1945
Ha, it would be nice but unfortunately there is no possibility of me making it to Kew. I expect I will need to save the pennies and have a researcher do the lot in one go. I wish more was available on Documents Online , makes it a lot easier for chaps like myself who won't make it there for years. Don
good evening Donnie.yesterday.08:58pm.re:tankies burning corpses.i don't think would ask tankies to burn corpses.they may have used there flame throwers to burn the buildings.if you go to google and ask your question you may get the information you seek.good luck.regards bernard85
Here's a start, just from Googling your "1st Fife & Forfar Yeomanry's involvement at Belsen concentration camp was in 1945". IWM audio recording of an interview with one of the 1st Fife & Forfars. : http://m.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018431
Him all, Thanks for the replies, Blutto though interesting the recording is of the 2nd FFY not the 1st. Don
hi Donnie, i've just joined this site as I am also researching my grandfather who was in the 1st fife and Forfar Yeomanry. He would never talk about it but he apparantly confided in my great Grandfather once and the family rumour is that he was greatly disturbed by what he saw at Belsen. I know the 2nd fife and forfar were involved but I can't find anything on the internet that suggests the 1st Fife and Forfar were in Belsen other than similar experiences from others trying to research relatives so I'm guessing they must have been involved somehow. I have just contacted the tank museum to try and get a copy of the 1st fife and forfar war diaries to see if they can shed any light. I will keep you posted if I find anything.
Hi Donnie, Lee at Arcre.com has the war diary for '45 (Owen gave you the reference above). I'm sure there are some Fife & Forfar war diaries already posted here on this website though. Good luck with your search. Cheers - Maria
Hi all, Sorry for having missed the replies, many thanks. I understand that Crocodiles were used to burn the huts but anymore than that is a mystery. Maria, I will pursue the war diary.....cheers. Don