2723650 Guardsman Henry TRIMBLE, MM, 3 Irish Guards

Date of Enlistment: 1943
Date of Discharge:

Army Number: 2723650
Rank: Guardsman
Name: Henry TRIMBLE, MM
Unit: 1 Platoon, 1 Company, 3 Irish Guards

Date of Birth: 1st Quarter 1920
Place of Birth: Dublin South, Ireland




London Gazette : 1 March 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36961/supplement/1181/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe:—
The Military Medal.
No. 2723650 Guardsman Henry Trimble, Irish Guards (Dublin).

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Trimble, Henry
Rank: Guardsman
Service No: 2723650
Regiment: 3 Battalion Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North West Europe 1944-45
Award: Military Medal
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 01 March 1945
Date 1945
Catalogue reference WO 373/52



2723650 Guardsman Henry TRIMBLE, 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS
Directly the leading platoon of the 3IG Battle Group had crossed the DE GROOTE BARRIER over the MEUSE-ESCAUT Canal on the night of 10 September 1944, the Royal Engineer Officer required four men to assist him in removing the charges from the bridge. Guardsman TRIMBLE was one of the four Guardsmen who carried out this extremely dangerous work, calmly and efficiently handling dangerous explosives which he was not accustomed with. His task entailed the climbing of ladders to remove the charges and this had to be done under enemy fire. In addition, there was an exploding ammunition truck by the bridge.

It was only through the extreme bravery of Guardsman TRIMBLE and his comrades that the charges could be removed and the bridge saved from destruction.

 

From WAR DIARY, 3rd Bn, Irish Guards:

“September 10, 1944; EAST OF HECHTEL

As is often the case, the 1/50000 scale map bore no resemblance to the ground and after one company and one squadron had been launched on the chosen axis it was proved that the going was entirely unsuitable to tanks. Luckily, No 4 Company, which had been sent forward for this task of ground recce were able to disengage from the enemy with very light casualties and the Battalion group followed up the C.L. of the GRENADIER GUARDS group who had discovered a bridge by means of which tanks could cross the otherwise impassable ground. Having reached the main rd to the ESCAUT Canal, the I.G. group were ordered to hook right and make for the bridge over the ESCAUT at de GROOT BARRIER. During the approach march we met no opposition and civilians and elements of H.C.R. informed us that there were no enemy SOUTH of the Canal. We reached the area of the bridge as light was failing and the Commanding Officer, after a rapid recce, decided to try and rush it. No. 2 Coy and one squadron of tanks were detailed for the job. The tanks put down a hail of fire on the area of the bridge itself and succeeded in knocking out several unarmed 88 mm Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank guns.

Lt. STANLEY-CLARKE’s pl. preceded by a troop of tanks then rushed the bridge itself and succeeded in reaching the opposite side. The remainder of No. 2 Coy and No. 3 Coy were quickly pushed across to join them and the position was rapidly consolidated.

The R.E. Officer* with the Bn succeeded in disconnecting all the charges which were in position to blow the bridge, and the crossing of the ESCAUT had been successfully achieved. Total casualties for the day were one Other Rank killed and 5 Other Ranks wounded.”


[N.B. Four Guardsman received Military Medals for this action at Joe's Bridge: - H. Trimble, C. Mollard, E. Colethorpe & K. Fielding assisted Sapper officer, Captain Ronald David Hutton 615 Field Sqn RE, in removing charges and received MMs. Collin Mollard was killed later, on 4th March 1945.]

 

IG History, page 477
"They had got the bridge. The Squadron and Company swept across to join them. The first to follow was a Sapper officer, Captain HUTTON, with a party of four Guardsmen of No. 2 Company - Guardsmen Trimble [1 Coy], C. Mollard, E. Colethorpe and K. Fielding, who had been detailed as "You, you, you and you." They climbed over the side of the bridge and cut the cables. The machine-gun bullets were drumming into the wooden beams, but they worked steadily till they had moved the detonators from the charges in the piers."

 

Market Garden & Normandy
"And there was one bloke who had been rewarded at Joe’s Bridge. He was in my company originally and he and three others were grabbed by our Sergeant Major Osborne and told to go and guard the people taking the explosives off of Joe’s Bridge and he did. They all got MMs. Two of them disappeared, deserted the following week, and this fellow who was a mine of business, he stayed on for a reward and he was put in the snipers. So when we came to rest at Nijmegen he said: ‘Oh I want to go back every night to see my mates on the bridge.’ And he said to the Drill Sergeant, ‘Drill Sergeant I’m all right Drill Sergeant I’ll be back in the morning.’ I said: ‘What the bloody hell do want to go down there for, they’re shelling that every night.’ ‘Ah but there’s Margy’s Brothel down there and it’s wonderful fun.’ And I said ‘Bloody hell.’ Trimble! And he went back every night. My God, I can’t believe it."


[There's a strong possibility this was one of the other 4 men who received MM for Joe's bridge. Another account states that Henry Trimble "went to Paris for 3 days to recover" so missing the presentation of his award by F-M Montgomery - who was told that the absence was necessitated by 'a bad case of the 'flu'. ]

 

See also

• Joe's Bridge or someone else's
• War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944
• War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1945

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

WO373/51-ir909-p297

269055 War substantive Lieutenant Ronald David HUTTON, 615 Field Squadron, ROYAL ENGINEERS
32 Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division, 30 Corps

On the night of 10 September 1944 Lieutenant HUTTON advanced with the leading platoon of the assault party to capture the DE GROOTE BARRIER over the MEUSE-ESCAUT Canal. The bridge was covered with three enemy 88mmm Anti-Tank guns and many spandaus.

In spite of this opposition Lieut. HUTTON, with total disregard for his own personal safety, examined the firing mechanism of the bridge in the glare of a blazing ammunition lorry on the bridge site, and successfully neutralised all the charges.

The initiative and gallant conduct of this officer was instrumental in enabling the column following up to maintain a bridge head and keep the centre line for further movement.

Recommended for Immediate MC
Signed Lt. Col. J. VANDELEUR, Officer Commanding, 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS

 

From Dad's Album: Henry Trimble left, Robert McCourt right.
Captioned "Normandy, 1944"

 

CPL P BRENNAN’S SQUAD, MARCH 1943



Back Row (Left to Right): Guardsman R. Waring, Guardsman R. Watts, Guardsman J. Atkinson, Guardsman G. Lilley, Guardsman T. Carey, Guardsman W. McLaughlin

Second Row (Standing): Guardsman R. Robinson, Guardsman H. Moore, Guardsman E. Allen, Trained Soldier J. Hosey, Guardsman M. Trainer, Guardsman Henry Trimble, Guardsman J. Mounsey

Front Row: Guardsman Syd Davie, Guardsman I. Craig, *Corporal P. Brennan (Squad Inst.), Serjeant J. Tymon (Supt. Serjeant), Guardsman T. Gallagher, Guardsman D. Foynes



Former forum member Eejit is also in this squad photo. Syd served in the 2nd Armoured Battalion, Irish Guards. He shared with me how he got his nickname, thanks to their Corporal - and a misunderstanding with Henry.

*Corporal Patrick Brennan would later be awarded the Military Medal for an action in Normandy during which he was badly wounded.

 

Another photo of Henry from my father's album. Dad was a Bren gunner, Henry was his Number 2. Dad always joked that somewhere in Normandy lay their spare barrel, which was chucked into a hedge by Henry who couldn't be bothered carrying it.

Normandy, 1944



Just one of Dad's stories which included Henry, during Operation Market Garden.
When did you start smoking ?