52nd Regt Reconnaissance Corps Roll of Honour

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Recce_Mitch, Feb 14, 2009.

  1. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    IN MEMORY OF


    A

    Serjeant WILLIAM ACKROYD
    3060746
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 34 on 24 April 1945 KIA
    Born: Doncaster
    BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 7. H. 10.

    B

    Serjeant ALBERT EDWARD BALLANTYNE
    3186809
    Who died age 26 on 28 August 1941
    Son of George and Rebecca Ballantyne; husband of Lilian Potter Higgins Ballantyne, of Dumfries.
    DUMFRIES (ST. MICHAEL'S) CEMETERY Sec. 35. Grave 60.

    Corporal WALTER ROBSON BROWN ‘Willy’
    3135534
    “B” Sqdn
    Who died age 32 on 22 April 1945 KIA
    Born: Airdrie
    BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 3. E. 13.

    Trooper LEONARD ERNEST BURTON
    10600839
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 23 on 25 September 1944 KIA
    Son of George Ernest and Marion Jane Burton, of Ripon, Yorkshire.
    Born: Lanarkshire
    Resident: Yorkshire
    UDEN WAR CEMETERY 4. D. 2.

    D

    Corporal JACK DYE “Ginger”
    3191970
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 25 on 02 October 1944 KIA
    Born: Yorkshire
    JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY 7. A. 7.

    E

    Serjeant WALTER EVERSON “Walt”
    3317506
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died on 16 February 1945 KIA
    Son of Frederick and Rhoda Everson; husband of Annie Everson, of Thornbury, Bradford, Yorkshire.
    MILSBEEK WAR CEMETERY I. A. 5.

    G

    Trooper RICHARD GRAHAM
    3320583
    Who died on 05 September 1945 KIA
    Born: Gateshead
    Resident: Newcastle on Tyne
    MUNSTER HEATH WAR CEMETERY 2. E. 20.

    Trooper JOHN GREATHEAD “Johnny”
    14201756
    “B” Sqdn
    Who died age 21on 22 February 1945 KIA
    Son of Walter and Mary Greathead, of Lower Gornal, Dudley, Worcestershire; husband of Beatrice Greathead, of Lower Gornal.
    Born: Duley
    Resident: Dudley
    MILSBEEK WAR CEMETERY I. D. 10.

    H

    Trooper FREDERICK HEATH “Titch”
    14208849
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 22on 25 October 1944 KIA
    Son of Edgar John and Ethel May Heath, of Harwich, Essex, England.
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. C. 11.

    L

    Trooper WILLIAM LAKE “Bill”
    4546462
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 23 on 25 September 1944 KIA
    Son of Clifford and Martha Alice Lake, of Ingrow, Keighley, Yorkshire.
    Born: Lancashire
    Resident: Yorkshire
    UDEN WAR CEMETERY 4. D. 1.

    Lance Corporal RONALD MCTAGGART LEITCH
    3253968
    Who died age 32 on 30 January 1943
    Son of Ronald and Mary Gillan Leitch, of Milngavie.
    NEW KILPATRICK (OR HILLFOOT) CEMETERY Sec. L. Grave 390.


    Lance Corporal TEGWYN MASON LEWIS “Taffy”
    14531306
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 23 on 25 October 1944 KIA
    Son of John and Elizabeth Lewis, of Ponterwyd, Cardiganshire, Wales.
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. C. 9.

    M

    Lance Corporal JOHN ALEXANDER MARTIN
    10601738
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 25 September 1944 KIA
    Son of John James Martin and Pamela Martin, of Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire.
    MIERLO WAR CEMETERY VI. B. 8.

    Company Quartermaster Serjeant JAMES MASON
    3244104
    Commando
    Who died age 26 on 22 June 1943
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Mason, husband of Letitia Mason, of Wishaw. Lanarkshire.
    KAMPALA (JINJA ROAD) EUROPEAN CEMETERY British Plot. Grave 2.


    Trooper CHARLES STUART MOSS
    14201818
    Who died age 20 on 10 August 1943
    Son of Charles and Wilhelmina Moss, of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
    NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME CEMETERY Uncons. Sec. Old part. Grave 10725.

    Lieutenant DONALD STEWART MURRAY
    299060
    “B” Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 27 September 1944 KIA
    Son of James Stewart Nixon Murray and Mary Elizabeth Murray, of Kendal, Westmorland.
    MIERLO WAR CEMETERY VI.A. 13.

    N

    Trooper ROBERT NIVEN
    3313116 – Highland Light Infantry
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 27 on 20 April 1945 KIA
    Born: Glasgow
    BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 2. D. 1.

    O

    Private ADAM B. ORPHANT
    3061671
    Who died age 22 on 18 March 1942
    Son of Adam and Elizabeth Bennett Orphant, of Macmerry.
    GLADSMUIR PARISH CHURCHYARD Grave 339.

    P

    Lance Serjeant JAMES PARK “Jimmy”
    3189118 – King’s Own Scottish Borderers
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 23 on 25 September 1944 KIA
    Son of George Park, and of Margaret E. Park, of Carlisle.
    Born: Dumfriesshire
    MIERLO WAR CEMETERY VI. B. 10.

    Corporal THOMAS WILLIAM PARKIN
    3194013
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 27 on 20 April 1945 KIA
    Born: Sunderland
    BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 2. D. 2.

    Trooper ROBERT FRANCIS PATERSON “Bob”
    3186694 – King’s Own Scottish Borderers
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 29 on 07 April 1945 KIA
    Son of John and Janet Paterson; husband of Ethel May Paterson, of Selkirk.
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 49. K. 10.

    Lance Serjeant ALEXANDER PETRIE “Alec”
    3313424 – Highland Light Infantry
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 25 on 09 April 1945 KIA
    Son of William and Ellen Petrie, of Glasgow.
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 49. K. 12.

    Corporal WILLIAM POOL
    3187935 – King’s Own Scottish Borderers
    “HQ” Sqdn
    Who died age 26 on 23 January 1945 KIA
    Son of Thomas William and Florence Pool, of Annan, Dumfriesshire.
    BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY VI. 281.

    Trooper CHARLES JAMES PURSER
    14208898
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 25 October 1944 KIA
    Born: East London
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. C. 10.

    R

    Trooper ERNEST VAUX ROWE “Vic”
    10602013
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 22 on 04 April 1945 KIA
    Son of Ernest Vaux Rowe and Margaret Ellen Rowe, of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Co. Durham.
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 49. K. 11.

    S

    Trooper WILLIAM SALT
    3391573
    Who died age 34 on 29 September 1947
    Son of William and Mary Salt, of Stockport; husband of Emily Salt, of Stockport.
    STOCKPORT BOROUGH CEMETERY Sec. C.B. Grave 366.

    Lance Serjeant GEORGE SCOTT
    3059953
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 26 on 06 April 1945 KIA
    Son of Thomas and Catherine McInnes Scott, of Edinburgh.
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 46. J. 16.

    Corporal JOHN SCOTT
    3313937 – Highland Light Infantry
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 24 on 22 November 1944 KIA
    Born: Glasgow
    BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY 8. A. 9.

    Corporal DUNCAN BROWN SIMPSON
    10602804
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 24 on 01 March 1945 KIA
    Son of John Simpson, and of Margaret Simpson, of Fairlie, Ayrshire.
    Born: Paisley
    MILSBEEK WAR CEMETERY I. F. 11.

    Trooper THOMAS HILTON HUME SINCLAIR
    10602018
    Who died age 20 on 13 February 1943
    Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Lauder Sinclair, of Ashington.
    SEATON HIRST (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD Sec. T. Row 1. Grave 33.

    Lieutenant ERIC FRANK SLATTER
    210367
    “HQ” Sqdn
    Who died age 31 on 19 September 1944 KIA German Patrol
    Son of Frank Poulton Slatter and Elizabeth Slatter, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
    Born: Middlesex
    GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY XXII. E. 8.

    Trooper RONALD PETER STAGG “Ronnie”
    14208923
    "B" Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 21 October 1944 KIA
    Son of Ernest Walter and Emma Eliza Stagg, husband of Ethel Jessie Stagg, of Cornhill, Banffshire, Scotland.
    Born: Hertfordshire
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. A. 2.

    Serjeant JOHN STEVENSON
    3250654
    “HQ” Sqdn
    Who died age 28 on 11 October 1944 KIA
    Son of David Grant Stevenson and Helen Bremner Stevenson, of Glasgow; husband of Jeanie Mackay Stevenson, of Glasgow.
    JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY 13. F. 7.

    Trooper GEORGE STOCKS
    3248537
    Who died age 27 on 23 March 1946
    Son of Thomas and Frances Stocks, of Sheffield; husband of Catherine Stocks, of Arbourthorne, Sheffield.
    SHEFFIELD (CITY ROAD) CEMETERY Sec. V.4. Grave 198.

    T

    Corporal THOMAS THOMSON
    3188899 – King’s Own Scottish Borderers
    Who died age 25 on 19 February 1945
    “A” Sqdn
    Son of Jeanie Lees, of Annan, Dumfriesshire. KIA
    Born: Kirkcudbrightshire
    MILSBEEK WAR CEMETERY I. C. 14.

    V

    Trooper ERIC PALMER VAN DER LINGEN
    14438357
    Who died on 20 April 1946 DOW
    Born: South Africa
    Resident: East London
    MUNSTER HEATH WAR CEMETERY 4. A. 17.

    W

    Trooper RONALD WALLACE “Ronnie”
    10602030
    “B” Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 27 September 1944 MIA
    Son of William and Dora Wallace, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
    Resident: West Hartlepool
    GROESBEEK MEMORIAL Panel 1.

    Trooper JACK WESTON
    14345418
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 22 on 18 March 1945 KIA
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Weston, of Hethersett, Norfolk.
    Born: Norwich
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 49. K. 7.

    Corporal ALLAN WHITAKER
    4544102
    “A” Sqdn
    Who died age 29 on 11 April 1945 KIA
    Son of William and Marguerite Whitaker; husband of Doris Whitaker, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
    RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY 13. C. 8.

    Lieutenant RICHARD KELNER WILLIAMS
    Mentioned in Despatches
    299440
    “C” Sqdn
    Who died age 23 on 30 March 1945 KIA
    Son of Dudley Kelner Beresford Williams and Alice Maud Williams, of Pagham, Sussex; husband of Barbara Elizabeth Williams, of Parkstone, Dorsetshire.
    Born: Kent
    Resident: Susssex
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY 54. A. 18.

    Lance Corporal WILLIAM JAMES WYLIE “Bill”
    3319409
    “HQ” Sqdn
    Who died age 26 on 02 March 1945 KIA
    Born: Lanarkshire
    Resident: Glasgow
    JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY 13. A. 4.


    If this list is incomplete please let me know.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  2. kell05

    kell05 Junior Member

    Hi, my Grandad was a member of the 52nd reconnaissance corps, I remember him having the same badge you have, as your picture, on a shell in his bedroom. What can you tell me of his Unit. He wasn't very talkative about what he did during the war as you can imagine. He was part of the expeditionary force which when the Germans invaded. He was evacuated at Dunkirk, when he got home he got injured in a training accident and played no more part in the war. Could you tell me more about what his unit did during those days?

    It would be much appreciated.
     
  3. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hi, As 52 Recce wasn't formed until 8th Jan 1941 what unit was he with at Dunkirk?

    Formed as the 52nd (Lowland) [Divisional] Battalion Reconnaissance Corps on 8 January 1941, it was redesignated 52nd (Lowland) [Divisional] Regiment Reconnaissance Corps on 6 June 1942. From 1 January 1944 onwards it was part of the Royal Armoured Corps as: 52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment, RAC.

    2 books which may help you are:
    T.D.W. Whitfield
    Time spent, or The history of the 52nd (Lowland) Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment R.A.C., January, 1941-October, 1945
    [S.l. : 52nd Recce Regt, 1945] (Hamilton : The Hamilton Advertiser)
    79 p.
    Carl Shilleto
    The fighting Fifty-Second Recce : the 52nd (Lowland) Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment in north-west Europe, September 1944 to March 1946
    York : Eskdale Publishing, 2000
    192 p.


    On 31 August 52 Recce embarked at Tilbury, divided among four vessels. Disembarkation was complete at Arromanches on 6 September and the regiment set off to cross the Seine at Les Andelys and then drove to Lens on the Belgian border. Alost was the next stop where 52nd Division came under command of xxx Corps which was pushing north over the Albert canal and creating a corridor to Nijmegen and Arnhem. In mid-September, 52 Recce moved to Heusden where, for four nights, orders were awaited. There the regiment had its first fatal casualty on active service: the IO, Eric Slatter, was killed by a German patrol while visiting the leading units at Grave. On the night of 20 September the regiment moved out of Heusden to join the stream of units moving north "to the sound of the guns."

    The regiment's first action was to be Operation MARKET GARDEN, the attempt to take the bridges over the lower Rhine, Maas and Waal by combined airborne and ground assaults. That operation would involve several reconnaissance units, the most distinguished of which was 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron, last encountered in this narrative as 1st Airlanding Squadron in Italy.

    From Only the Enemy in Front by Richard Doherty

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  4. kell05

    kell05 Junior Member

    Thanks but with so much historical research the answers raise more questions. I did some digging and I found this article on him. Jimmy Hamilton - Obituaries, News - The Independent but the key paragraph in the article states:

    "Volunteering for army service at the outbreak of war he was posted to the Cameron Highlanders and served with them and the Reconnaissance Unit of the Lovat Scouts, ending the war in northern Italy. He counted himself lucky not to be captured along with so many of his contemporaries in the Highland Division, and was one of the Camerons who escaped to Britain from the beaches of Dunkirk."

    This obituary doesn't coincide with the fact that he said the badge on the shell in his room was his units. I know he was with the main Expeditionary force in 39 and probably fought against Germans army group B which was the bait to suck in the our forces so that their army group A could push through the Ardennes and out flanked our forces.

    Thanks your help has been much appreciated.
     
  5. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Trooper FREDERICK HEATH
    14208849
    Who died age 22on 25 October 1944
    Son of Edgar John and Ethel May Heath, of Harwich, Essex, England.
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. C. 11.

    The Adegem Canadian War Cemetery: F. Heath

    Trooper RONALD PETER STAGG
    14208923, "B" Sqdn
    Who died age 21 on 21 October 1944
    Son of Ernest Walter and Emma Eliza Stagg, husband of Ethel Jessie Stagg, of Cornhill, Banffshire, Scotland.
    ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY VI. A. 2.

    The Adegem Canadian War Cemetery: R.P. Stagg
     
  6. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    englandphil, Thanks for posting these 2 Recce men.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  7. tthjrsebay

    tthjrsebay Junior Member

    I have a book in my possession from gretna green dated 1930 from a margaret ellen robinson to a henry d rowe,i am trying to give it back to its original owner...these people lived in castletown,am hoping that i have found them here
     
  8. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    tthjrsebay,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    I hope that you have found the right family.

    Perhaps you would like to start a thread to introduce yourself and perhaps relate the story of the book.


    Regards
    Tom
     
  9. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Thanks but with so much historical research the answers raise more questions. I did some digging and I found this article on him. Jimmy Hamilton - Obituaries, News - The Independent but the key paragraph in the article states:

    "Volunteering for army service at the outbreak of war he was posted to the Cameron Highlanders and served with them and the Reconnaissance Unit of the Lovat Scouts, ending the war in northern Italy. He counted himself lucky not to be captured along with so many of his contemporaries in the Highland Division, and was one of the Camerons who escaped to Britain from the beaches of Dunkirk."

    This obituary doesn't coincide with the fact that he said the badge on the shell in his room was his units. I know he was with the main Expeditionary force in 39 and probably fought against Germans army group B which was the bait to suck in the our forces so that their army group A could push through the Ardennes and out flanked our forces.

    Thanks your help has been much appreciated.

    Your statements suggest he was with 1st Camerons, if he was evacuated from Dunkirk, as not many 4th Battalion managed to get away from St Valery.
    There were NO Lovat Scouts in France in 1940, their first foray abroad was in May 1940, to the Faroe Islands, Lovat Scouts went to Italy in July 1944, joining the 10th Indian Div as mountain rece troops near Arezzo.
     
  10. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Corporal WILLIAM POOL
    3187935
    Who died age 26 on 23 January 1945
    Son of Thomas William and Florence Pool, of Annan, Dumfriesshire.
    BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY VI. 281.

    [​IMG]
    pool w
     
  11. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Phil, Thankyou very much.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  12. calgarian

    calgarian Junior Member

    My father was a sergeant in the 52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment during WWII.
    Unfortunately I've lost all of the documentation he used to have regarding their service in Europe. I remember a book that described their exploits in Europe and also a colourful illustrated map showing the route they followed.
     
  13. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum


    Cheers
    Paul
     
  14. gt6jon

    gt6jon Junior Member

    Hi i have just seen my my uncles name on your Roll of Honour. He is Frederick Heath 14208849 52nd Recce Corp.Thank you for the mention.I never knew him unfortunatly.I took my dad over to Adegem Canadian war cemetary about seven years ago to visit his grave as dad had never been before.I have just started to research him and his regiment to learn about his story and the part he played in WW2. Any help will be appriciated.

    Thanks again
    John Heath
     
  15. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello John-welcome. Have you any photos you would like to post of your uncle?

    Lesley
     
  16. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hi John welcome to the forum. If you are able to get to Kew you can view the following War Diaries if not contact Drew5233 He charges a very reasonable price to photograph them. Also listed are 3 books on 52 Recce

    WO 166/644 DIVISIONS: 52ND. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-July, Sept., Dec.
    WO 166/6354 52 Recce Regt. 1942 Feb.-Dec.
    WO 166/10633 52 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-May
    WO 171/547 52 Recce.Regt. 1944 Aug.-Dec.
    WO 171/4263 52 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8783 52 Recce 1946 Jan.-Mar.


    Further Reading

    Time spent, or The history of the 52nd (Lowland) Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment R.A.C., January, 1941-October, 1945. T.D.W. Whitfield [S.l.: 52nd Recce Regt, 1945] (Hamilton : The Hamilton Advertiser) 79 p.
    The fighting Fifty-Second Recce: the 52nd (Lowland) Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment in north-west Europe, September 1944 to March 1946. Carl Shilleto. York: Eskdale Publishing, 2000. 192 p.
    George Blake. Mountain and flood: the history of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, 1939-1946 (Glasgow: Jackson, 1950) xx, 265 p.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  17. Kevin A

    Kevin A Junior Member

    My father was a sergeant in the 52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment during WWII.
    Unfortunately I've lost all of the documentation he used to have regarding their service in Europe. I remember a book that described their exploits in Europe and also a colourful illustrated map showing the route they followed.

    My grandad , Charlie Brackstone , was in the 52nd, he passed the map you mentioned onto me when I was a young man. I still have it today together with the original cardboard tube it was sent to him.
     
  18. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hi Kevin
    Just posted on Recce roll of honour. Lovely to have another Recce here. Any photos would be very welcome.

    Lesley
     
  19. Chotie's Daughter

    Chotie's Daughter Chotie's Daughter

    Hi Kevin and Lesley
    I have the same map. Will try to get a scan so can post but it's rather large though.
    Chotie's Daughter
     

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