14605545 Philip Eynon BANKS, 62 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery: 11/06/1944

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Jenwizzle, May 8, 2017.

  1. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    I've inherited some letters written between my uncle and our family. My uncle was killed in France on 11 June 1944. He was a gunner in the RA but as I'm a novice I'm unsure as to his regiment title which I need to find the war diary giving details of what happened in France.

    A letter to him when stationed at Eastbourne states: Gnr P E Banks 14605546, 247/62 Regt RA.
    The letter giving notification of his death states: 146055546 Gunner P E Banks Royal Artillery (Field) in North West Europe Theatre of War
    His Soldier's Will states: 14605545 Private 71st P.T.W
    A returned letter was addressed to: Gunner P E Banks, "I" Troop 247/62, Anti Tank Reg, c/o Army Post Office

    We initially thought he died immediately but, reading letter from his pals in the regiment, it seems he was alive and talking to them the last they saw of him.
     
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Think you might need to look at this thread - 62 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery - War Diaries (and anything related)

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: Philip Banks
    Given Initials: P E
    Rank: Gunner
    Death Date: 11 Jun 1944
    Number: 14605545
    Birth Place: Carmarthenshire
    Residence: Carmarthenshire
    Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery
    Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
    Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery
    Branch at Death: Royal Artillery

    UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
    Name: Philip Eyon Banks
    Age: 19
    Birth Date: abt 1925
    Death Date: 11 Jun 1944
    Cemetery: Bayeux War Cemetery Fr. 1058
    Burial Country: France
    Father: Henry Charles Banks
    Mother: Eveline Muriel Banks
    Regimental Number: 14605545
    Region or Memorial: France

    TD
     
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  3. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It will be 62 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. If you are really lucky, 247 Battery (there were four batteries in an Anti-Tank Regiment) might have their own war diary.
     
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  4. CL1

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

    Re the war diaries members on here will copy for small fee.
    Also apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK

    [​IMG]

    Royal Artillery/Royal Horse Artillery - Roll of Honour, 1939-47

    BANKS, PHILIP EYNON

    Rank:
    Gunner
    Service No:
    14605545
    Date of Death:
    11/06/1944
    Age:
    19
    Regiment/Service:
    Royal Artillery
    62 Anti-Tank Regt.
    Grave Reference:
    XI. F. 6.
    Cemetery:
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information:
    Son of Henry Charles and Eveline Muriel Banks, of Llandebie, Carmarthenshire.
     
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  5. CL1

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

    Phillip Eynon Banks, Gunner, 14605545, Royal Artillery. Phillip was the son of Henry Charles and Eveline Muriel Banks, of Llandebie, and served in the 62nd Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Phillip landed with his unit, 1st Corps, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, on Juno beach, and as part of 1st Corps was attached to the 3rd Canadian Division. It consisted of 245 and 248 batteries with M10 self propelled 17 pounder anti-tank guns, and 246 and 247 batteries which were equipped with 17 pounder 'towed' guns, and had the bad luck to come up against the 12th SS Panzer unit (Hitler Jugend) in the region of Caen and Carpiquet airport. Phillip was killed in action not long after the landings, on 11 June 1944, aged only 19. He is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, France.
    Llandebie War Memorial
     
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  6. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Gunner Banks' casualty card states that he died of wounds.

    BANKS.png
     
  7. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Wow! Thank you so much everyone! When he died the only person who could go over and see the grave site was my aunt, only 16 at the time, quite a journey for somebody who had never left Wales. I have been over and taken photos of his grave for them. Reading the letters has given another dimension to the family.

    Thanks again, I shall print all that out and explore the War Diary link. Another eye opener was a letter to my grandparents from a French girl who was writing from a Sanitarium in the Alps, to apologise for not being able to light a candle on Phillip's grave on All Saints Day. As it was written in French it had never been read until it was given to me!
     
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  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    His CWGC documents state his Regiment and show the map reference coordinates for the location of his original burial at Reviers.

    PEB.JPG PEB2.JPG
     
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  9. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    If you are interested in where in Normandy he was actually wounded, bear in mind that, because he Died of Wounds, it is likely that his initial burial will have been close to the Field or General Hospital where he died and which could therefore be some way from where he was wounded. Similarly, remember that the CWGC card shows the Date of Death which was not necessarily the date he was wounded.
     
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  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks TD

    Hi Jen-Just shout or send me a message if you need a hand with any of the war diaries.

    Regards
    Andy
     
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  12. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Thanks Andy and TD, I looked at the war diary posted above but couldn't find his name in the wounded or killed lists. In one of his last letters he said he was fine apart from a bit of sea sickness so he disembarked in France ok.

    Thanks for all the help and explanations, the fog is clearing now!

    Jen
     
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Jen

    It is highly likely that he will not be mentioned directly by name, this was normally Officers only, however you should be able to work out, if the diary is detailed enough, the location and time of the incident that lead to his wounding - its as close as anyone can come after 70+ years.

    TD
     
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  14. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Oh, I see, I'll have another look then. Thanks for that.
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Your uncle was reported on British Army Casualty List No. 1489 Dated 4 July 1944.

    Expeditionary Forces / North West Europe /France
    Died of wounds
    Royal Artillery
    14605545 Banks Gnr PE / 62 A.Tk.Regt. / Date of casualty 44.6.44
     
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  16. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Thanks too to Bamboo43 for the burial records. I hadn't thought about their original burial place although it's obvious that they were buried then removed to the Bayeux cemetery.

    History unfolding in front of me.

    Jen
     
  17. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    That's interesting, thank you - are the lists available online?
    Jen
     
  18. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Right, I've printed off next of kin form and an SAR, will now go and fill them in and send them off.
     
  19. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    If you want to home in on the various map references let me know: I've got period maps at 1:50000 scale for that area. Would then be easy to look up how it looks at the moment via Google Maps etc. Might also be worth searching for the location of the various Field/General Hospitals in the area: details of which one he was in will likely be contained in the Service Records when you receive them.
     
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  20. Jenwizzle

    Jenwizzle Member

    Yes please to the map references.
     

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