3854166 Cpl Joseph Dennison BARRON, 1 Reconnaissance Corps: DOW 07/12/1943

Hello members,
I was wondering if anyone can shed any light on 3854166 CPL J D Barron of the 1st Regiment Reconnaissance Corps, late Loyal Regiment. He was wounded in the North African Sector on 13th June 1943, a casualty list confirms, and died at home of his wounds on 7th December 1943.
A bit puzzling as hostilities in North Africa ceased on 12th May 1943 and he was wounded on 13th June 1943. One possibility was that he was wounded during Operation Corkscrew, the allied invasion of the island of Pantelleria. I was wondering if perhaps the war diary would shed some light on it. If anyone has it I would be most grateful if you could advise.
Thank you

 

On the forum courtesy of Recce Mitch, have a look here:
1 Recce War Diary June 1943 | WW2Talk

For info:
Corporal Joseph Dennison Barron | War Casualty Details | CWGC

Corp Joseph Dennison Barron (1910-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial

 

His death certificate may have information, guessing this is him:

Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
First name(s) Joseph
Last name Barron
Gender Male
Birth day -
Birth month -
Birth year 1911
Age 32
Death quarter 4
Death year 1943
District Weston-Super-Mare
County Somerset
Volume 5C
Page 614

 

Thanks very much for the war diary. Yes the death certificate is for him. No mention of him in the war diary unfortunately, so still a mystery how he was wounded.

 

Gordon Nisbett in his memoir, 'For The Duration', refers to "Old Joe" from 16 Troop, 'C' Squadron carrier section;

'"Old Joe", a veteran, was formerly in the Lancashire Fusiliers (?) and has abandoned his 'foot slogging' for less demanding duty of riding in a Bren carrier.'

'After Pantellaria was captured, the regiment moved to a camp near Kelebia...There were frequent route marches. It was during our marching that "Old Joe" played his trump card. On every march, he went for about a mile and then refused to go any further on account of his claiming to have flat feet. He was given a medical inspection and his protests proved to be right. Soon he left the troop for the less arduous task of guarding prisoners of war.'

Joe Barron was 32 years old and has previously seen pre-war service with the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) and recieved a General Service Medal. A veteran from the point of view of 20 year-old Gordon Nisbett?

The wounds recieved by Joe Barron may have occured after he was posted away from the 1st Recce?

 

Thanks very much Guy,
Great to have an account of him from the war. I own his GSM that you mention.
Pantellaria was captured on 11 June 1942 and Barron was wounded only two days later on 13 June. The casualty report states 1 Regiment Reconnaissance Corps, so he was still under the strength of that regiment. I don't think I will ever know how he was wounded, but it would have been during operations as opposed to a training accident. Perhaps he was wounded by one of the POWs that he was guarding? The second casualty list states that he died from wounds at home six months later. I think I'll have to obtain his death certificate, that should shed some light onto it.

 

Death certificate ordered. Thanks again for your help

 

I've now got his death certificate, not much extra information. His cause of death was "Due to War Operations". That could have two meanings of course!! medical operations or wartime operations, Operation Husky etc, it probably means medical operations due to his wounds though.

 

Dave I do not believe it means a medical operations it means war time operations, combat etc

 

Thanks for that, thought as much

 

Luftwaffe fighter bombers were very active over Pantelleria so Joe might have been fatally wounded in an air raid.

 

Have you considered looking through newspapers around where lived for a mention of his death in December 1943. I have found newspapers to be an extremely effective way of finding information on local soldiers

 

Thanks for that jonas. Funilly enough I had recently subscribed to Find My Past newspaper archive. Just checked, nothing on him. I will have to apply for his service records I think.

 

You’ll likely find no more detail about how/where he was injured in his service records as medical information is withheld. It’ll likely just be one line entries on his B103 recording his journey through medical facilities to his eventual discharge.

Steve

 

Not all newspapers have been digitised and uploaded. If you know where he lived, I would contact the local library or local history archive and find out what the local newspaper was called for 1943, you might find it is not available on line yet. Some libraries have copied newspapers articles regarding local casualties and they can tell you over the phone if there is a mention. I went to Stockport recently and they had 3 books full of articles. Just a thought.

 

Thanks for that. He was originally from Cumbria, but married a Somerset lady and died in Minehead and is buried there. It's a bit far from where I live.