Hello Comrades and thanks for letting me in to a wonderful site, looking forward to chatting with you all and learning more. I do no my history , However looking forward to learn more! My Great Uncle brings me here as I am researching our family tree, his name was Trooper Eugene Tretton, he was one of the fallen at Naples in 1944. looking to find out his background.
Hi & Welcome Angela. There are a few Reconnaisance Corp experts on this site, so hopefully they will be able to provide you with a little more information from that time. Name:TRETTON, EUGENE Initials:E Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Trooper Regiment/Service:Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. Unit Text:46th Regt. Age:21 Date of Death:23/01/1944 Service No:10601776 Additional information:Son of Edward and Beatrice Tretton, of Riddlesden, Keighley, Yorkshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:III. C. 11. Cemetery:NAPLES WAR CEMETERY Regards - Robert PS - If you change the title of your thread to 46th Regt, Recconaisance Corps, that will attract the Forum members concerned.
Thanks guys for helping me, have no clue where to start. Eugene Tretton was my Aunts Uncle, so therefore Edward and Beatrice were her Grandparent's, we were all brought up in Keighley England, I moved to Canada last year, my Aunt will be so happy to hear about this, but I want to keep it a surprise until I have enough info on Eugene and his parent's.
Angela, Hello and welcome to the forum. From what little I know about the 46th Reconnaissance Regt, they served in Tunisia from late January 1943 until the end of the campaign around Cap Bon. The Regiment landed at Salerno in Italy in September1943 as part of the 5th Army and fought in Italy until the end of 1944 when it was transferred to Greece (My late fathers 4th Recce Regt also). Returned to Italy after the German surrender. The 46th Recce Regt markings are included on this site. http://www.armouredacorn.com/Reference/BAM/Inf%20Divs%20Armour.pdf Regards Tom
Thanks Smudger Jnr for the information I'm so happy to hear all this , So Trooper Eugene was killed towards the end of the war I am led to believe? Don't suppose you have any pictures of The 46th Recce Regiment do you? And the dreaded question is how would I find out how he died? Thanks. Angela.
Hi and welcome to the forum. 46th Regt Reconnaissance Corps [1941-1946] Converted from 23rd The Royal Fusiliers 11.07.41 - 05.06.42 46th Reconnaissance Battalion 06.06.42 - 31.12.43 46th Reconnaissance Regiment 01.01.44 - 31.08.45 46thReconnaissance Regiment RAC Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel F.H.Cotton, MBE Major J.H.Preen: 2 September 1944 Served under 46th Infantry Division 1st Armoured Division: May 1943 LOCATIONS SERVED United Kingdom: 11.07.41 – 06.01.43 At Sea: 06.01.43 – 17.01.43 “Duchess of Bedford”, “HMT Batory” Tunisia: 17.01.43 – 01. 09.43 At Sea: 01. 09.43 – 09.09.43 Italy: 09.09.43 – 16.03.44 At Sea: 16.03.44 – 21.03.44 Egypt and Palestine: 22.03.44 – 28.06.44 At Sea: 28.06.44 – 03.07.44 Italy: 03.07.44 – 13.01.45 Greece: 14.01.45- 07.04.45 At Sea: 07.04.45 – 10.04.45 Italy: 11.04.45 – 11.05.45 Austria: 12.05.45 – 31.08.45 BATTLES & ENGAGEMENTS 1943 23 April – 26 April: El Kourzia 05 May – 12 May: Tunis 09 September – 18 September: Salerno 22 September – 01 October: Capture of Naples 12 October – 25 October: Volturno Crossing 05 November – 09 December: Monte Camino 1944 25 August – 22 September: Gothic Line 03 September – 15 September: Coriano 14 September – 21 September: Rimini Line 02 December – 13 December: Lamone Crossing Cheers Paul
This is from Only the Enemy in Front by Richard Doherty On 5 January 46 Recce passed to 23 Armoured Brigade for a crossing of the Garigliano River. Patrolling continued and, on 19 January, 12 Troop were heavily engaged by the enemy while crossing a valley mouth: four men were killed and eight wounded. But four days later a patrol from 46, Recce made the first crossing of the Garigliano in their sector since X Corps had reached the river line. OPs were still being maintained and occasionally suffered heavy mortaring from the Germans; casualties, however, were light. By the 26th all three squadrons were on the river line with their vehicles still far behind. There is a very good chance that Trooper Eugene Tretton was one ones wounded in that action and later died of his wounds. This might not be the case and maybe if you obtained the War Diary for that period it would clarify the matter for you. Cheers Paul
Oh great, thanks for that , I had chills running through me reading that. OK so where do I get The War Diary from? Sorry to be a pest, I just want to know about my Great Uncle. Angela.
Angela, War Diaries are written at the end of each day, usually by some tired Lt, which was the last thing that they needed when they were perhaps exhausted after a days fighting etc. Look at the link below from a thread I started and you will see what kind of information is forthcoming in the diary. From the diaries I have in my possession the casualties are not usually named unless they were an officer rank. Usually written as ... Officers killed and ....OR (Other ranks). Same kind of listing for wounded. The Diaries are all held at the National Archives (NA) at Kew. I was extremely lucky that a very good friend of mine visited and took photos of the diaries for me, as living in Berlin it is a little bit difficult just to pop along to Kew. It is from the diaries that you would be able to find out just where the various squadrons operated as part of the Reconnaissance Corps (Regiment). If a member of the family already has possession of your Great Uncles Army record, you will be able to learn a lot of details from it. If no one has requested them you can go online to Army Records in Glasgow and download the forms to fill in and send them off with a 30 Pounds stirling cheque. Usually takes a few months at present, but if you wish to learn more about your family military history it will be well worth it. Best of luck with the research. Regards Tom http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/italy/20411-4-recce-war-diary-map.html
Angela, The address for the Army records is as follows. The Army Personnel Centre Civil Secretariat Historical Disclosures, MP 400 Kentigem House, 65 Brown street, Glasgow G2 8EX Tel: 0141 224 3515 If you require an email address please send me PM and I will let you have it. Hope this is of help. Regards Tom
Oh thanks Tom for this info, I do know that none of my family have had any possession of his records, that is my immediate family, However, maybe my Great Grandparents did. OK I will contact The Army Personnel for the records. I guess Berlin is a little far to just pop round for The Diaries too. Thanks Angela. P.S I wonder if I could get hold of any pictures of the 46th Recce from anywhere?
Hello Angela and welcome aboard, You may already be aware of this but just in case: BBC - WW2 People's War - My Experience in Reconnaissance Corps. CS
Angela, Being a wartime Regiment they have only the history of the time that they served, which in Army terms is relatively short. There is not too much written on them and photographs are also short in supply. This is a good reason for mutual sharing when we stumble upon anything. I have not found anything photographic so far, but am still trying. Regards Tom
Tom, That's what I thought too about serving a short period of time in The Army, anyway the information you have all given me is more than enough so Thanks. I feel I know something about Trooper Eugene Tretton now. And maybe one day my family and I could visit his grave in Naples. Thank you all for making me feel welcome and helping me. Now my next mission.....onto my Grandad James Clarke he served as one of the Queen's Guards not sure of the date though! Angela.
Oh my goodness reading that brought tears to me eyes Capt.Sensible, I'm speechless just now, Thank you, will continue on with it after a strong cup of tea. I never knew about that particular site. Angela.
Oh my goodness reading that brought tears to me eyes Capt.Sensible, I'm speechless just now, Thank you, will continue on with it after a strong cup of tea. I never knew about that particular site. Angela. No problem. Strong cup of tea possibly with biscuits and/or tobacco will assist in any form of crisis....
No problem. Strong cup of tea possibly with biscuits and/or tobacco will assist in any form of crisis.... Ahhhhhh yes only choc chip cookies though, I'm not a dunker either !