15th / 19th Hussars in Assche / Asse

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

  1. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Fairweather's service papers:
    IMG_20191216_124058651.jpg IMG_20191216_124108146.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Andrew Nichol

    Andrew Nichol Member

    Just the 1940 men or any WW2 ?
     
  3. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Thank you, yes just those from 1940.
     
  4. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Obituaries for Cpt. Brochwel Herbert Mytton and his wife from the 15/19 KRH Regimental Journal.

    Cpt. Mytton assumed command of the remains of A Squadron 15/19 KRH in Assche on May 18, 1940 after the commander of A Squadron, Maj. Cokayne-Frith, was KIA. In an attempt to breakout of Assche Cpt. Mytton continued the frontal assault initiated by Maj. Cokayne-Frith. Well positioned German anti-tank guns and MG 34s along with bicycle mounted infantry positioned in the upper floors of town buildings blocked passage through Assche. The ill advised frontal assault on the narrow streets of Assche continued until all remaining AFVs of A Squadron were either KOed or abandoned. Surviving 15/19 men were then rounded up by German infantry after a brief period of resistance armed only with small arms and German house to house searches. Cpt. Mytton's apparently undamaged tank was later photographed in the local Assche timber yard close to the Assche Railway Station.

    Cpt Myttons MK VIb.jpg

    Regimental Journal
    XV. XIX The Kings Royal Hussars
    March 1969- February 1970

    Obituary
    MAJOR B. H. MYTTON, M.B.E., M.C

    The announcement of Major Brochie Myttons death last year came as a profound shock to his numerous friends and the Regiment lost one of it’s most popular officers. His gallantry coupled with high spirits and cheerful optimism were the admiration and delight of all who knew him.
    Brochie joined the Regiment in India in 1931. Subsequently he served at Shorncliffe, Tidworth and York. During that time he married Pamela Howes, whose father Colonel (Puggy) Howes was an old friend of the Regiment.
    On the outbreak of the Second World War, Brochie went to France as 2IC of A Squadron. On May 18, 1940 during the desperate fighting in which the Squadron was engage round the village of Ath, (SB Assche), the Squadron Leader was killed and Brochie took command in an attempt to force a way through the village, The citation for his MC says, Captain Mytton took over command of his squadron and by his personal example of grit and determination was responsible for holding the enemy pressure on the centre of the regiment. In subsequent fighting Brochie’s tank was destroyed and he was seriously wounded and taken prisoner.
    From the moment of his capture the thought of escape was uppermost in Brochie’s mind. He made two abortive attempts while in hospital in Holland. And after being taken to Germany his reputation for escaping became legendary. He seldom spoke of his prison life or his escapes so it is difficult to get authentic information about them but his gallantry in his persistent efforts gained him the award of an MBE.
    On leaving the Army in 1948 Brochie settle down to farm in Northamptonshire. There the characteristics that had made him so popular in the Army gained him a great number of friends. His death has left a gap that can never be filled.

    Obituary
    Mrs. Pamela Mytton
    Died 5 April 1999

    Pamela Mytton, widow of Major Brochie Mytton, died in her cottage at Hethe, near Bicester, Oxon on 5 April 1999 aged 86. Pam was the eldest daughter of Brigadier "Puggy" Howes DSO MC and Mrs. Howes, She married Captain Brochie Mytton on 28 September 1937, when the Regiment was stationed at York Barracks.
    Until the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939, they enjoyed the regimental and social life of York, especially hunting with different packs of hounds in the countryside around York. Pam was an exceptionally good horsewoman and she was much admired for the way she rode across country.
    In September 1939 her husband went to France with the Regiment and was sadly wounded and taken Prisoner of War during the Battle of Assche on 18 May. He was awarded MC.
    Pam spent the war years working in hospitals nursing the sick and wounded.
    Major Mytton returned to England in May 1945 and was sent to the RAC Depot at Catterick where he remained until 1947 when he was invalided out of the Army.
    It was during their time at Catterick that their eldest daughter Stephanie (Mrs. Vere-Hodge) was born, Fiona (Mrs. Gilbert) was born a few years later.
    The Myttons moved from Catterick to Rowler Farm, near Brachley, Northants, (Northamptonshire), where they farmed and trained horses for National Hunt Racing. Pam was much involved in helping her husband in training horses as well as running a very hospitable house, entertaining owners of the horses being trained, and numerous friends. A home that had a reputation for excellent parties!
    Pam sadly lost her husband in July 1969 when he died of cancer. They had been a devoted couple. Pam had been a wonderful wife, suffering almost 6 years separation when Brochie was a POV, and helping him and supporting him in all things.
    Pam was a really charming and delightful person. Always beautifully dressed very cheerful and amusing to talk to. She enjoyed having a bet. Just before she died she asked Stephanie to ring her Bookmaker and place money on three horses in the Grand National. These three horses were placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd!! Stephanie asked the Bookmaker to send the money her mother had won to the "Injured Jockeys Fund".
    Our deepest sympathies to her daughters Stephanie and Fiona.
     
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  5. Mac Fairweather 68

    Mac Fairweather 68 New Member

    Hello Andrew
    Reuben George Fairweather was my Father, please contact me
    baldybeardy@hotmail.com

    Cheers
    Mac
     
  6. Jan W.

    Jan W. Member

     
  7. Jan W.

    Jan W. Member

    Beste mvdv84,

    Mag het eventjes in het Nederlands (Vlaams)?
    Mijn naam is Jan Willems, 70 jaar, op rust, maar desondanks een vrij druk (familiaal) leven.
    Eén van mijn hobby's is 'lokale heemkunde' in combinatie met het oorlogsgebeuren in beide Wereldoorlogen.
    Bij toeval kwam ik terecht op uw bovenvermelde 'posting'.
    Wel ... mijn geboortedorp is Brusseg(h)em waar deze jongemannen op 18/05/1940 de dood vonden.
    In september 2018 kreeg ik via de Merchtemse heemkring 'Soetendaelle' een vraag van een heemkundige uit Maldegem die op zoek was naar meer informatie over de omstandigheden rond de dood van 2nd Lieutenant BRACE.
    Ik ben op zoek gegaan en kon een maandje later de persoon een kleine infobundel bezorgen met o.a. de beschrijving van het oorlogsincident.
    Deze kleine bundel heb ik uiteraard op mijn PC bewaard en kan ik u eventueel bezorgen ... MAAR blijkbaar kunnen geen documenten met extensie .docx als bijlagen worden meegestuurd.
    Daarom ... mocht het u interesseren dan kan ik het bundeltje overmaken via e-mail .... maar dan moet ik beschikken over uw e-mailadres.
    Mag ik u dan vragen om mij uw e-mailadres te bezorgen via een bericht(e) aan janwillems@telenet.be
    Vriendelijke groet,

    Jan
     
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  8. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    TSM W. Tipping (15/19 KRH) and 2/Lt. J.A. Wood (4 GH) Honored on November 11, 2021

    TSM Tipping and 2/Lt. Wood were honored recently at their grave site in the Mollem Communal Cemetery. Both were KIA on the morning of May 18, 1940.

    tippings grave 3 b.jpg

    Frankreich,Tankette, Panzer, ansehen, tolle Aufnahme.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2021
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  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Cleaned it up a bit. Could the 2nd photo be the same carrier? from the other side. From my collection.
    Keith

    Frankreich,Tankette, Panzer, ansehen, tolle Aufnahme 1 carrier 1a.jpg bren carrier photo 5 (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2021
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  10. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Keith, yes it's the same Scout Carrier. Is this the cleanest image available? Here is a colorized version and another picture.

    Frankreich,Tankette, Panzer, ansehen, tolle Aufnahme 1 carrier 1a_colorSAI_result.jpg

    Frankreich BEF englischer Panzer Karette Bren Carrier abgeschossen WK.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2021
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  11. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Cpl. W. Hemmings, 2 Troop C Sqd, 15/19 KRH

    This is a picture of Cpl. W. Hemmings and his 4 Troop C Sqd. scout carrier crew withdrawing through Louvain on May 14. 1940.

    L Cpl Hemmings.jpg

    4 Troop C Sqd. 15/19 KRH Scout Carrier with Tpr. J. Maskall, Tpr. J.E. Reynolds and Cpl. W. Hemmings, (left to right) with driver Tpr. R. Savage

    Hemmings saw some action against elements of the VA/56 ID on the morning of May 18 southwest of Merchtem.

    I am looking to find any biographical data on any of these men.

    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2022
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  12. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Index card from the German information center for war casualties and prisoners of war, the Wehrmachtsauskunftstelle für Kriegsverluste und Kriegsgefangene, (WASt), for Unteroffizer Walter Berner, 2/PJA 19, KIA Assche.

    Walter Berner.jpg


    He was one of 8 Germans KIA in Assche along with another 27 wounded.

    He was KIA when he and his 37mm pak gun crew were engaged by 15/19 in Assche.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2022
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  13. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    Special Thanks to Leon Leeman and his Family

    Mr. Leon Leeman and his family have tended the graves of those 15/19 KRH, 32 FR RA, and 4 GH KIA on the 18 May 1940 for the last 82 years!

    Leon owns a farm north of Assche which was the site of an engagement between 4 GH and the German VA/30 ID on the morning of May 18,1940.

    On November 11 of each year Leon and his son in-law ensure flowers, remembrance tags and flags are placed on each grave in the Asse Communal Cemetery and the Mollem Communal Cemetery.

    A short ceremony is held annually at the cemeteries honoring the fallen soldiers which is followed by a parade to the WW I monument in front of the old Assche hospital building.

    upload_2022-10-27_12-34-1.jpeg


    upload_2022-10-27_12-40-30.jpeg
    upload_2022-10-27_12-45-0.jpeg upload_2022-10-27_12-51-42.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2022
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  14. vestingjager

    vestingjager Well-Known Member

    Trooper Allcock and trooper Fewster were not KIA in Assche (Asse), but shot by the Germans in the Castle gardens of Chateau Aveschoot at Lembeke, not too far from Eeklo, Roughly halfway between Brugge and Gent.

    Apparantly, they were caught in an attempt to reach friendly troops after being surrounded. They were carrying their guns and were placed in front of a firing squad on 25 or 26 May, 1940. Dates of death changed on the Concentration document of CWGC Cemetery Schoonselhof around 1947:


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] Trooper Fewster

    [​IMG]Trooper Allcock
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2023
  15. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    15/19 King's Royal Hussars.

    No dates or locations, but the decorations will give a clue.

    Not sure these are 'public domain' and thought they may be of interest.

    BRITISH 15th:19th KING's ROYAL HUSSARS REGIMENT 1940'sjpg.jpg 15th:19th KING's ROYAL HUSSARS REGIMENT BAND. ww2.jpg
     
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  16. vestingjager

    vestingjager Well-Known Member

    Their graves at Schoonselhof, Antwerp. Far from where they met their fate, still side by side:

    [​IMG]
     
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