2nd. Fife and Forfar

Asten was liberated by my grandfather’s troop of tanks of the 2nd Fife and Forfar. I have quite a lot on this battle if you are still interested?

 

Hi John,

For clarity, I wonder... was your grandfather's surname Foster? And was he in "A" Squadron of the 2ndF&F, or another Squadron and also in which troop?

In the above post you are replying to posts made 3+ years back.

It might help if you post an introduction and some explanatory details etc.

There was (also) this post, in another similarly named thread - 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

About four years back. That thread has had numerous posts since, and the last post (currently) in that was Oct'2021.

All the best,

Rm.

Ps. Some other threads that mention "Asten" - http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/11540010/&q=Asten&o=relevance - in order of most recent.

 

He was then Cpl Vallance and later Maj Vallance DCM MBE, his troop leader was Lt Steel Brownlees

 

Thanks for clarifying that.

"A" Squadron 2ndF&F, HQF (HQ fighting troop, initially) then 4th Troop from August'44 - I think?

All the best,

Rm.

Ps. Some former 24th Lancers that went to 2ndF&F... 24th Lancer transfers to the 2nd Fife and Forfars

Edit - Apparently - Roy Valance knew - Sgt Dave McMahon ex 24L who was a fellow A Sqn tank commander and Roy Valance remembered talking to Sgt Dave McMahon the night before the Asten bridgehead crossing. Unfortunately Dave was killed the following day : Serjeant David McMahon | War Casualty Details | CWGC

Sgt Dave McMahon is IWM tagged here...
Search our collection | Imperial War Museums
With...
"22/9/1944: situation and terrain; plan; German hits on Bulley and McMahon's Shermans having crossed bridge; panzerfaust hit on Steel Brownlie's Sherman; throwing grenades and firing machine guns whilst during advance through village; hit on scout car; casualties; role holding village perimeter whilst capture of village was consolidated by following units. Recollections of operations in Netherlands."

 

Hi all - I have been previously on the other FFY forum as I was writing a book about my fathers regiment - 'A' Squadron 1st FFY in the 1940 campaign. I have applied to have it published with Pen and Sword and waiting to hear. I wish to follow through with a book on the 1944-45 campaign and wish to include the 2nd FFY. From what I know the involvement with D-Day and the opening of Belsen camp are surely two powerful stories. I have just finished the Dunkirk book and would now like to start gathering material for the next. In particular are the war diaries. I had the Brigade, Regimental and Squadron diaries for the 1st FFY which allowed a detailed view on events on different levels. I am happy to send anyone a copy of the book as a word doc if you can help with war diaries or other primary sources, or suggestions about what si held where. All the best - Jim

 

14290008 Tpr Bernard Briggs, A Sqr, 2 F&F Yeo.
Tank driver.
Wounded Burcy, 7 Aug 1944..
Born 14 Aug 1923. in Preston, Lancashire.
Died 5 Sep 2011 in Westgate on Sea, Kent.
Photo taken in Avenham Park, Preston (in his RAC uniform).
A lifelong friend of my Dad.

 

One for the diary?

 

Jim, was a Sgt Earnest Duffield mentioned? Trying to establish what FFY he served in. Don’t think it was the 2nd