2724014 Guardsman Thomas TYRRELL, 3 Irish Guards: 13/08/1944

Hello

This is my first post here. This forum is really impressive and informative.

I'm wondering if anyone could shed light on the circumstances of my grand-uncle:

Guardsman Thomas Tyrrell, 2724014, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards
died age 22 on 13 August 1944.

CWGC :: Certificate

I have absolutely no information other than that. I would genuinely appreciate any more details. I'm also trying to locate a photograph of his headstone in Bayeux War Cemetery but I've had no luck so far. I don't even have a picture of him and I've no idea when he would have signed up.

Regarding service records, I'm not sure how it would work as all of his siblings are deceased now and he had no family of his own.

Any information would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Anthony

 

Anthony, Di (Dbf) has a photo on her Website, so I am sure that she will be along soon with a link.

In fact she has 5

P

 

Hi Phil,

That's great news. Hopefully I can get more information now!

 

Hi Anthony,
Welcome to the forum.

Regarding records, you need worry about difficulties over Next of Kin, as according to MOD full disclosure is applicable for even non-relatives, so long as death occurred over 25 years ago. The records for Guards regiments are not held by the MOD, but by the regiments themselves. However in respect of disclosure, the Guards follow the same rules set out by MOD*

Apply to the address below enclosing the usual fee of £30 & copy of CWGC certificate: -
The Regimental Archivist, H.Q. Irish Guards, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, SW1E 6HQ.

Attached is one of the photos which Phil referred to
bayeux war cemetery, france

If you care for any of the others, send my your email address by PM and I'll forward them to you.

I can't access my spreadsheet at the moment for IG Army No.s, so I can't be sure when he joined, but he has a number near to my father's ... so Thomas' squad would've passed out of the Depot around Oct or Nov 1943.

Thomas is noted on Army Casualty List published in The Times (Jan 18, 1945) as having Died of Wounds. So I've added an excerpt from the battalion war diary for a few days before and which I think might be when he was wounded.

1944 August Wednesday 9 - SOUTH of MONTCHAMP

During the morning the Bn was told to stand by ready to move to take over a new position at SOURDEVALLE 7033, at present held by a composite Bn of MONMOUTHS and NORFOLKS of 11 Armd Div.

1200hrs The Commanding Officer, accompanied by Coy Commanders, tank representative of 1 Armd COLDM GDS and Arty F.O.O. went to SOURDEVALLE to recce the new positions - a task made difficult owing to heavy shell fire and close range S.A. fire. This position was in the tip of a salient created by 11 Armd Div. The recce party did not return until 1900 hrs, and all through the day the whole Bn area had again been subjected to sporadic mortar fire and S.A. “overs” - casualties suffered being three ORs wounded.

2100hrs Eventually the Bn completed the hand-over to a Bn of ROYAL SCOTS, and commenced the move to SOURDEVALLE. The marching personnel embussed in T.C.Ls at MONTCHAMP - nobody was looking forward to the journey as any dust on the roads was bound to bring down a lot of shelling. 1 (Armd) COLDM GDS were to move into the new position just before dark, and the Bn after dark. We only took the minimum number of vehicles into the position as the previous unit had lost an enormous amount of transport by taking it right forward - this fact was only too evident when one saw the graveyard of brewed-up vehicles in the area of Bn HQ. Our transport was divided into three groups - the actual vehicles we needed with us, confined to Jeeps, Carriers, rear link vehicle and the C.O.’s Scout Car. Secondly, those vehicles necessary to maintain the Bn in battle, such as petrol, amn, signal stores and Int. stores, and lastly the remainder of the Bn vehicles, 3 tonners and 15 cwts and T.C.Ls. Those three echelons were known respectively as F, F2 and A.


*
Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel
Under the scheme, and in recognition of the duty of care owed to the family of the deceased subject, for a period of 25 years following the date of death of the subject and without the consent of the Next of Kin, MOD will disclose only: surname; forename; rank; service number; regiment/corps; place of birth; age; date of birth; date of death where this occurred in service; the date an individual joined the service; the date of leaving; good conduct medals (i.e. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM)), any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals (decorations of valour) awarded, some of which may have been announced in the London Gazette.

After this period, and if it is held, in addition MOD will disclose without the requirement for Next of Kin consent: the units in which he/she served; the dates of this service and the locations of those units; the ranks in which the service was carried out and details of WWII campaign medals.

 

Thanks a million Diane, I have PM'd you.

 

Hi Anthony,

As promised, copies of the Headstone photo with commemorative cross and a message I left for you on T Tyrrell's grave.

(Have e-mailed you the close up's with your personal message).

 

Casualty

Guardsman TYRRELL, THOMAS
Service Number 2724014
Died 13/08/1944
Aged 22
3rd Bn. Irish Guards
Son of Peter and Mary Ellen Tyrrell, of Cabra, Dublin, Irish Republic.
INSCRIPTION: LATE OF 10 ANNAMOE PARK, CABRA, DUBLIN "SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY" R.I.P.
Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
Location: Calvados, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: XXVI. E. 16.
See cemetery plan

 

Tommy was my grand uncle too. My brother his family and my mother visited the grave yard recently. Pictures will follow.
Amanda.
Just wondering Antony are you Tony and Gays son.

 

Pictures

 

Hi,

Anthony hasn’t been on the forum since August 2011.

I’ve sent him a message to alert him to your post. He should receive it if he still uses the email he had when he joined the forum.

Steve

 

Thank you for your responce Steve.
Amanda.