Hi All, I've been to Kew archives looking in my late Uncle Franks service with the 37 RFU, post D-Day, Does anyone have any information on the location Beach "King" ,, the entry dated 18th June ? The M.R 865828 coordinates have the following location which some distant from the nearest beachhead Here’s the location of the coordinates Any thoughts ? regards Derrick
Gold Beach - Wikipedia King Sector H-Hour for the landing at Gold was set at 07:25 on King sector (50 minutes later than in the American landings, because of differences in the tide).[65] The first wave on King was the 5th East Yorkshires and 6th Green Howards of 69th Brigade, assisted by amphibious DD tanks of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards.[66][67] The 7th Green Howards landed at 08:20.[68] The original plan called for the 38 DD tanks to be launched from their landing craft tank (LCTs) about 5,000 yards (4,600 m) out. Due to extremely choppy seas, they decided to run the tanks directly onto the beach.[67] Infantry, engineers, and DD tanks arrived almost simultaneously.[66] Units disembarking onto the beach immediately came under fire from the casemated 88 mm gun at La Rivière, and the infantry were forced to take cover behind the sea wall. The gun was taken out when a flail tank of the Westminster Dragoons fired a charge directly into its aperture.[69] The 5th East Yorkshires, supported by several tanks, spent the rest of the morning clearing out the heavily fortified houses of La Rivière, at the loss of 90 men, including six officers.[70][71] Specialised armour arriving in the first wave included AVREs, mine flails, and armoured bulldozers.[72] Clearing paths off the beach proved difficult, as the tanks got stuck in the mud or were taken out by mines. A lone mine flail tank finally cleared a path from the beach up toward the Mont Fleury Battery and Ver-Sur-Mer.[73] This route was used by the Green Howards and tanks of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards, who cleared the remaining resistance at the Mont Fleury Battery. B Company moved on to attack trench positions and machine gun emplacements at Meuvaines Ridge, while C Company moved to the west of Ver-Sur-Mer to help cover the assault on Crépon, where roads led to the important targets of Bayeux and Caen. The 7th Green Howards attacked the gun battery at Ver-Sur-Mer, where they took 50 prisoners.[74] Colour Sergeant-Major Stanley Hollis earned the only Victoria Cross to be bestowed for actions on D-Day. On the way to the Mont Fleury Battery, Hollis came under machine gun fire while investigating a pillbox, so he shot into the entrance with his Sten gun and dropped a grenade through the roof, killing most of the occupants. He cleared a nearby trench of enemy soldiers, whereupon the occupants of a second pillbox surrendered.[75] Later in the day, he saved the lives of three men during an attempt to take out a field artillery installation at a farm near Crépon.[76 Crepon is mentioned in the other line dated 18 June where they spent the night sleeping without blankets in a corn field TD
Dear Derrick, In order to complete the history of POW-Camp Zedelgem, Belgium we are looking for relevant information. End 1944, possibly early 1945 the 37th Reinforcement Holding Unit was stationed in Zedelgem, helping to set-up the POW-Camp. Would it be possible to send me the copies of the 37 R.H.U. War Diary starting from Zedelgem? This would be very much appreciated. Best regards, Pol Denys pol.denys@telenet.be
Hi , I’m sorry to say I only captured a few days of the unit after D Day of the War Diaries. They were specifically around the Normandy beachhead and therefore not relevant to your time period. Kindest regards Derrick
When the 24th Lancers were disbanded at the end of July 1944 - quite a large number went first to 37 RHU... 24th Lancers Regimental Nominal Roll and Postings August 1944 NCO's and troopers... ex-24th Lancers... transferred/ attached to 37 RHU - July/August 1944... Warrant Officers (4) WOII Clarke, A.J. WOII Clayton, J. WOII Foote, Lionel Edward (Jackie) WOII Manning, H.N. Staff Sergeants (4) SQMS Brothers H.G. SQMS Joscelyne, L.C. SQMS Law, J. SQMS Smith, A. Sergeants (4) Armour, G Dunger, A. Taylor, D. Thornley, E.S. Corporals (14) Bamford, A. Barber, R.S. Blackman E.G.E. Cousins, H.F. Edwards, G. George, A.J. Holden, R. Langridge, E.H. Lees, E. Nield, J.D. Smith, E.W. Thacker, C.H. Tubb, L.W. Williams, P.J. Lance Corporals (8) Aslett, A.H. Harrich, A. Holden, A. Hooten, N.W. Jamieson, R.W. Mason, S.W. Tucker, J.W.G. White, H.W.T. Troopers (95) Addicott, J.W. Bardle, A Bedford, R. Bell, R. Boyd, E. Bradley, E.C. Buckley, G. Bye, L.C. Chapman, W.G. Christian, G.E. Christley, E. Clarke, L.J. Clowes, H.E. Clutterbuck, J.H. Colbourne, D.F. Coles, N.J.C. Cooper, R.E. Courtney, H.L. Cox, G.E. Critchley, R. Crook, H.D. Davenport, G.E. Egleton, A.F.C. Farage, H.S. Farrant, N.J. French, A. Foster, K. Gosling, J.V. Greenwood, T.H. Griffin, F.E.W. Guglielmo, M.J. - Electrician in "B" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Hallgarth, S.T. Harrison, H.F. Hill, H. Hoffman, W. Hughes, C. Hoogstraten, C.M. Horabin, R.D. Huntley, W.K. Jackson, J.A. Jeffels, M. Keeble, J. Lane, A. Lawson, J.G. Lee, W. Lees, L. Lewis, F.H. Loynes, L.G.P. Lucas, R. Mayhead, J.F. Moss, D. - 7943245 - previously Clerk in "C" Squadron of the 24th Lancers Mountain, C.E. McBride, W. McLaughlin, J. McBurney, J.E. Newcombe, E.G. Newman, R.G. Ottewill, W.J. Overton, W. Orr, L.F. - Transferred to the 4th/7th RDG and "Died of Wounds" - 28d9m1944 - Casualty Details | CWGC Palmer, N.H. Parr, R.J. Sambrook, H. Sayer, A.H. Scammell, J.W.A. Senior, C. Shanahan, P. Shepherd, T. Shields, D. Smith, J.W. Smith, J. Starkie, W. Stephenson, J. Thompson, C.S.G. Turk, S.J. Tyson, G.W. Vincent, R.W. Walsh, T. Watson, J.W. Webb, F.W. Webster, G.J. Wilkinson, T. Williams, S. Winder, J.A. Whitehead, H.