1st & 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by nickc, May 2, 2006.

  1. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    This is my first post to this great site. Anyway here is a list of tank names used by 1st & 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

    1st
    Light Tanks Mk VIb
    "Puma", "Panda" and "Terrier"
    Covenanters
    "Renown" and "Revenge" ( named after warships )

    2nd
    Light Tanks Mk VIb
    "Gannet", "Golden Eye", "Merlin" and "Pintail" ( named after birds )
    Crusaders
    "Loch Tummel" and "Loch Monar" ( named after Scottish lochs / towns )
    Valentines
    "Ben Nevis" and "Benbecula"
    Shermans ( various Mk's )
    "Annsmuir", "Ben Alder", "Harris", "Loch Brora" and "Loch Tarbet"
    Comets
    "Brown Jack", "Cepheus", "Cetus", "Cygnus", "Desert Rose", "Gregalach", "Leo", "Libra", "Lupus", "Lynx Capricornus", "Mons", "Pleides", ""St. Andrew", "St. David", "St. George", "St. Patrick", "Waterloo", "Why Hurry", "Why Not" and "Why Worry"

    I hope these are of some interest to someone.

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  2. Roddy1011

    Roddy1011 Senior Member

    Kevin -

    Surprised that was your first time here - one of the better forums I think you will find !

    Roddy
     
  3. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Roddy,

    I have been here for a short while, lurking, as my welcome message invited me to do.
    An excellent forum with some great detail.

    By the way can you or anone add anything to the above?

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  4. Peccavi

    Peccavi Senior Member

    I am interested in the rearguard action on the Dendre between Ath and Lessines in which F&F were involved according to the report below, partly because my father was involved, but more importantly to try to explain the role of RA Wallis,OBLI, who was killed in this action and to help his nephew's research.

    Thanks to this thread I have found about the composition of the Unit but would be very grateful if any more info can be added regarding this action.



    extract from personal diary of Sgt Jones, B Sdrn, 4/7DG:

    At about midnight the G.I. Of the Division awoke Capt. Bolckow and told him that our right Flank was ‘in the air’ and that we were to send 2 troops to Lessines and one the Ath to hold the crossings in case enemy tanks should break through.

    The 4th, 5th and 6th Troops were sent to these places. Early in the morning of the 18th the Colonel held a Squadron leader conference as a result of which, the whole Squadron was sent to hold the crossings at Ath, the Troops at Lessines being ordered by wireless to rejoin the Squadron.

    We arrived at about midday and made our headquarters at Bouvignies, a name we knew well.

    Our sector of the Dendre rand North from Ath to a bridge South of rebaix, ‘C’ Squadron was on our right and our left was ‘in the air’.

    Late that night we were ordered to hold the crosings until noon the next day. ‘A’ Squadron were changed over to our immediate left and ‘C’ Squadron to Lessines, so that we were now on the right of the Regiment. Our front was also extended so as to include the most Northerly bridge at Ath. A battery of A/T guns (82nd) and a company of the Cheshire Regiment were placed under command.

    The Fife and Forfar yeomanry (where did they come from??) were on our right. At this time there were some very tired infantry of the 48th Division sleeping along the bank of the canal, but, although they would probably have given a good account of themselves if called upon, it was decided to ignore them in the defensive scheme especially as they were due to withdraw before us.



    The Squadron took up position with the 3rd Troop (Atkinson) on the right, the 6th Troop (Sergeant James) in the centre and the 5th Troop (T.S.M. Smith) on the left. The A/T Battery was given the task of covering the roads from Ath and Lessines with the remainder at Squadron H.Q. The Cheshires were given the task of covering the gaps between Troops and engaging the enemy at long range.


    The 3rd Troop failed to get contact with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry until the morning of the 19th and Atkinson was anxious about his right flank as at least one bridge on our right was undefended, so a loop was formed with a platoon of the Cheshires and a Troop of A/T guns to guard against surprise from this direction.
     
  5. Firefly44

    Firefly44 Researching the F&FY

    Geoff/Peccavi

    Here are the relevant pages from the 1st F&FYs war diary for the period you were both looking for info on.

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  6. Firefly44

    Firefly44 Researching the F&FY

    More info from the regimental history.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Medal Ribbon if it is an MiD on a ribbon it would have to be a pre war GSM or similar. Wartime MiDs are worn on the War Medal if not in possession of the War Medal, the regulations state the MiD Oak Leaf must be worn directly on the coat to the right of other decorations or medals.
     
  8. grimmy

    grimmy Guest

    I'm in touch with a veteran of 2nd FFY ('A' Squadron) whose wounds received at Burcy on Sept 5th 1944 put an end to his war.

    He is sending me some of his recollections and a number of photos. Will post them as soon as I get them.
     
  9. bklfox

    bklfox Junior Member

    Hi,

    My grandfather Gordon David Stephen was, as i have been told today after having someone identify the badges in his picture, a member of the Fife anf Forfar. I am also told his arm band shows the 79th Regt.

    My grand father new his dad had been in teh army from 1936 - 1945, but as my great grandfather died in 1958 after coming to Australia, we do not know more than that

    Is there anyway to get service records for my great grandfather?

    Thank you for a great forum!
    Kim
     

    Attached Files:

  10. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Hi, I a new to this site and congratulate you on an interesting thread, My uncle served on Crocodiles in the FFY His tank was named "Sinner" I have a couple of Pictures of him and his crew with the Tank, His name was James Jonah Ackrill and I believe he was a Sergeant - Major ,He used to talk about the Reichswald Forest and seeing americans that had been mutilatedby the Hitler youth Is he likely to have been in 1st or 2nd FFY
     
    Wapen likes this.
  11. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi, I a new to this site and congratulate you on an interesting thread, My uncle served on Crocodiles in the FFY His tank was named "Sinner" I have a couple of Pictures of him and his crew with the Tank, His name was James Jonah Ackrill and I believe he was a Sergeant - Major ,He used to talk about the Reichswald Forest and seeing americans that had been mutilatedby the Hitler youth Is he likely to have been in 1st or 2nd FFY

    Hi Mick,

    Welcome to the site.
    I have come across a photo of a Churchill with a name beginning SINN and going by the placement the only name I could think of was SINNER. Any chance you can post the photos here? If the name is shown that would prove it once and for all.

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  12. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Hi Mick,

    Welcome to the site.
    I have come across a photo of a Churchill with a name beginning SINN and going by the placement the only name I could think of was SINNER. Any chance you can post the photos here? If the name is shown that would prove it once and for all.

    Cheers
    Kevin
    Blimey that was quick, Unfrtunatey you can't see the name on the pics but the serial is visible (just),I wouldnt mind a copy of that photo if poss, anyway I'll try to attach the pics, Regards,Mick
     

    Attached Files:

  13. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Kevin,just to fill you in ,the 1st picture was taken in Amsterdam ,with the local head of the resistance and his family
     
  14. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Hi Mick,

    Welcome to the site.
    I have come across a photo of a Churchill with a name beginning SINN and going by the placement the only name I could think of was SINNER. Any chance you can post the photos here? If the name is shown that would prove it once and for all.

    Cheers
    Kevin
    Found another Pic of the same tank which may assist,
    regards,Mick
     

    Attached Files:

  15. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Found another Pic of the same tank which may assist,
    regards,Mick

    Hi Mick,

    Thanks for posting the photos.

    I have a couple of questions.
    Are you sure that it was the FFY your uncle was in? The reason I ask is that I know that 141st and 147th RAC were equipped with Crocodiles I do have 1 listed as belonging to FFY but it may be a mis-ID.
    Can you make out the WD census number from the photo your end? It looks like T251555 or 95 or 96.

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  16. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Yeah it's confusing isn't it, I remember him telling me that he started in the Buffs and was evacuated with the BEF then trained at Bovington and was based Eastwell Manor near Ashford in Kent, he said that his unit were initially annoyed to be transferred to the FFY, but I don't know when that was except that it was before D Day , I think my dad told me that Jim landed on the 7th June ,as for the serial number I'll dig out the original and see if it is clearer. The name Sinner is a definate though. Bear with me .
    Mick
     
  17. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Having looked at the number it does look like T251555 To me .Actually now you mention it , he once told me that he served with Andrew Wilson who wrote "Flamethrower " and Wilson was a captain in the Buffs which was 141st RAC so the transfer to the FFY may have been later, I think I'd better apply for his service history,Sir Donald Banks in his book "Flame over Britain" states that "another Crocodile Regiment ,the 1st FFY which had landed at Ostend and Le Treport at the beginning of October,came into action in support of the 4th Canadian Div" so he must have landed as a buff and transferred "in the field"
    Mick
     
  18. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Having looked at the number it does look like T251555 To me .Actually now you mention it , he once told me that he served with Andrew Wilson who wrote "Flamethrower " and Wilson was a captain in the Buffs which was 141st RAC so the transfer to the FFY may have been later, I think I'd better apply for his service history,Sir Donald Banks in his book "Flame over Britain" states that "another Crocodile Regiment ,the 1st FFY which had landed at Ostend and Le Treport at the beginning of October,came into action in support of the 4th Canadian Div" so he must have landed as a buff and transferred "in the field"
    Mick

    Hi Mick,

    I have found the image. It is in:-

    "Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall" The 1st Assault Bridge Royal Engineers on D-Day. By Richard C. Anderson Jr.

    Under chapter "Assault Force Gold: The British 50th Infantry Division". Section 81st Assault Squadron, King Red: Lane 4 - Partly Successful. On page 154 is a photo of SINNER. Only SIN is visible but going by placement ( I have seen another larger image which shows SINN ) it has to be SINNER. However the WD census number is visible and it is T17325(or 6)7/H. So it is the same name but a different tank!

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  19. mickack

    mickack Mickack

    Hi Mick,

    I have found the image. It is in:-

    "Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall" The 1st Assault Bridge Royal Engineers on D-Day. By Richard C. Anderson Jr.

    Under chapter "Assault Force Gold: The British 50th Infantry Division". Section 81st Assault Squadron, King Red: Lane 4 - Partly Successful. On page 154 is a photo of SINNER. Only SIN is visible but going by placement ( I have seen another larger image which shows SINN ) it has to be SINNER. However the WD census number is visible and it is T17325(or 6)7/H. So it is the same name but a different tank!

    Cheers
    Kevin
    Kevin ,Thanks for all your efforts, I am buying the book on amazon now,I should imagine that he changed vehicles with promotion and as they were knocked out etc , he was in his late 80s when he died and the reason I remember the name Sinner is that I had a Tamiya Crocodile made for him and he asked for the name Sinner to be put on it, He had the model on the sideboard next to his chair for the last 10 or so years of his life, he was invited to Amsterdam as guest of honour at their victory celebrations back in the 70s where he found that there had been a large picture of him on his tank on the wall of a Cafe' there ever since the war, the cafe owner was the resistance chief shown inone of the photos I posted erlier in this thread, i will keep digging, I live about 15 miles from Bovington so I'll try there. I will of course , let you know the result
    regards,Mick
     
  20. timktm

    timktm Junior Member

    I'm trying to find out a bit more about my Dad, Alan Richard Johnson [Dick], from Driffield, East Yorks.
    I know he was in Fife and Forfar on Churchill Flamethrowers or Crocodiles as they were known, and posted in Belgium.
    As is the usuall case, i never really got to know about his years in the war, and now regretfully it is too late.
    I have a couple of pics that i will try to upload and a couple of medals. Other than that there's not much else.
    I remember him once talking about when they used the flamethrower, some women came running out trying to douse the fire with buckets of water. i was only young but got the feeling he didn't want to remember all that stuff.
    If anyone here can shed any light on anything to do with the Crocodiles in Belgium i would be very interested.
    Thanks,
    Tim Johnson.
     
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