24th Lancers - LST Query

Reference LST 139: looks like the chap might well have misremembered the 139 albeit it mentions in None Had Lances that the reason he remembered it was that the numbers add up to 13 (1+3+9=13) which is an 'unlucky number'....but then LST 229 also adds up to 13 !

The search continues.

Steve

Edit: incidentally, I've always wondered about the significance, if any, of the LST Number markings. I've always thought that it was something to do with their Division etc.

 

Hi,
The last sheet for LTIN 2925. Dated 12th April 1944.

Regards

Danny

 

Thanks Danny. Appreciated.

.....and no subsequent entry for LTIN 2926 ?

2926 is definitely mentioned in the Loading Table and implied by '6 LSTs' in None Had Lances. Possibly it was a late addition - after the Landing Tables being quoted had been prepared. Curious.

 

Steve,

Late additions to the Landing Tables are not unheard of. Between the mid-April 44 version and the last known issue of the JUNO Landing Tables (dated 2 May 44) for example, various major changes occurred including the deletion of some LTINs and the addition of new ones, with further changes being prescribed via Amendments up to 20 May, which was the official limit for Amendments. Some further changes probably took place until the last moment, but whether these late modifications were documented or not is hard to tell because traces of them are elusive.

Michel

 

Hi,
The odd copy of the amended sheets do turn up in some of the War Diaries but I have yet to find a full set of the amended sheets for Gold or Sword Beaches.

You also find that some units extracted the information they needed from the LTIN sheet and put this information in their orders for Overlord. A few of these exist in the War Diaries.

I would be interested to hear if anyone has found a set of the amended sheets in one of the archives.

Attached is one of the amended sheets for 2 Lincolns.

Regards

Danny

 

I had all but forgotten about this extract from the 56 Inf Bde Op Order as found in Holborn's thesis referenced in my penultimate post, showing LTIN 2926:


So does the 50 Div Op Order dated 9 May 44:


Michel

 

Hi,
A couple of the units that went over on LTIN 2926.

Regards

Danny

 

Danny

Superb! Do you have the same information for LTIN 2921 ?

Also, what's the source of that information?

Thanks again
Steve

 

Hi,
The information came from the units War Diaries.

So far I have only found a couple of pieces that mention LTIN 2921.

In the 953 IWT Op Coy War Diary it has the following information on LST arriving at Jig & King Beach’s with their Rhinos.

LST arrived between 10.00hrs and 16.30hrs.

1st Tide Jig & King Beach
LST 17, 21, 25, 72, 73, 264, 280, 312, 344, 345, 370.

2nd Tide Jig & King Beach
LST 30, 503.

It does not mention what tide the following LST were due to land at.
LST 229. Tow to Rhino broke and the Rhino returned to Cowes. LST carried on to Normandy.
LST 377 and LST 520 did not tow Rhinos to Normandy.

Regards

Danny

 

Hi,
Thought you might be interested in seeing this extract from 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment War Diary.

Regards

Danny

 

Excellent Danny!

No doubt whatsoever now that LTIN 2926 was used on D Day.

Finding which US LST it was is the next challenge. No luck my side so far...

Michel

 

From:

GOLD BEACH.

For the 24th Lancers...

24 Lancers.
11 Stuart Light Tank.
53 Sherman Tank.
1 Sherman ARV.
5 M14 Halftrack.
2 Scout Car.
12 3ton 4 X 4 GS.
2 Jeep.
3 Motorcycle.
326 men from 24 Lancers
24 Lancers Signals Section RS
1 Jeep with 2 crew.
1 15cwt with 3 crew.
24 Lancers LAD REME.
2 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 12 crew.
1 Tractor Breakdown with 5 crew.
1 15cwt GS.

Albeit - compared with -



There's a marked difference in the number of Shermans counted there.

With 53 (or 54 if it includes the ARV) vs. (49+12=61)

I wonder what accounts for the disparity? Whereas the number of Stuarts are matched.

 

D-DAY - BRITISH FORCES DURING THE INVASION OF NORMANDY 6 JUNE 1944

A23902
DESCRIPTION
Object description
The Free French River-Class frigate FFL LA SURPRISE K 292 (formerly HMS TORRIDGE) and LSTs (Landing Ship Tank) off Gold assault area, 6 June 1944.

 

At the time Trux wrote his thread, LTIN 2926 was not listed in the available Landing Tables. Now we know that LST LTIN 2926 comprised 8 'Tk Sherman' from 24 L (plus sundry vehs including one 'ARV Sherman'), so the total is the correct 53+8=61 Sherman tanks, including 12 Fireflies.

Still missing though is the third ARV, which must have been planned for a later trip...

Michel

 

Re. USS LST 287... (aka LST 2926)



"LST 287, later transferred to the Philippine Navy and renamed the RPS Samar Oriental (LT-502)"

1956. A Letter from an Old D-Day Comrade

With...

"Bill Downs accompanied Allied forces at Gold Beach during the Normandy invasion. One LST crewman, Fredrick Freeman Leister, wrote a brief letter to Downs twelve years later recalling the experience.
To: Bill Downs
From: Fred F. Leister
September 20, 1956
Mr. Bill Downs
C.B.S.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Downs,
Each time that I have heard you broadcast for the past few years I have intended to drop you a line. You will probably be surprised to hear from me after so long a time.
I am the ex-Chief Engineman aboard the L.S.T. 287 that we were both aboard in the Normandy invasion with Chief Engineer W.A. Wilson and Captain F.P. Eldredge. I often think about that morning when we were all in the main engine room making our wills of motorcycles and so forth to each other. I was certainly glad to hear that everything turned out O.K. with you.
After the (?) I was transferred to the South Pacific and was a very lucky person myself.
If you could find the time I would be very glad to get a line from you and I would like to give almost anything I own for a copy of your release to the news of the invasion that you were on with us aboard the L.S.T. 287.
If I am ever around where you are broadcasting I will certainly look you up.
Yours truly,
Fred F. Leister
San Diego, California"

 

Re. USS LST 229... (aka LST 2922)

D-DAY - BRITISH FORCES DURING THE INVASION OF NORMANDY 6 JUNE 1944

IWM A 23907
DESCRIPTION
Object description
LSTs and other naval craft off Gold assault area, 6 June 1944. In the foreground is an MTB and a line of LCP(L)s with USS LST-229 behind.

Tank Landing Ship LST

 

Re. USS LST 280... (aka LST 2924)

Facebook - Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives

And...
LST - 280
Tank Landing Ship LST

 

Re. USS LST 503... (aka LST 2923)

Facebook - WWII Veterans History Project

LST 503...
Tank Landing Ship LST

 

Re... 24th Lancers - LST Query

There is quite a bit here of Charlie Wilmot's account of his D-Day experiences etc...

Gold Juno Sword

He is pictured earlier in mid July 1942 here - TRAINING TANK DRIVERS

 

Re. USS LST 30... (aka LST 2921)

USS LST-30 -



Tank Landing Ship LST

(To add to in edit)