53rd Reconnaissance Regiment

I've searched the National Archive catalogue for any mention of 'Regimental Notes' or appendices for the 53rd and come up with nothing. Can anyone verify that such documents exist for this unit and, if so, where I might find them? Thanks.

 

Ian, If they exist/survive they will be with the diaries and are not a separate item.

 

Thanks. That's a shame as, as far as I can see, there's nothing with the diaries.

 

Have you got them, you said before that you couldn't find them? It will depend on what was copied, was it just the actual diaries or everything? The originals are at the National Archives, if you can get there, or there are people who will copy for you.

 

The 53 Recce WD posted was a copy that was originally from the Tank Museum & is only the diary & not the appendices

 

OK - I know someone who works regularly at the NA and I'll get her to check. May be some time but I'll report back.

 

I have a photo copy of a WD done at TNA several years ago, but it wasn't until I looked at the file for myself at TNA that I found the photocopy had omitted the appendices.

 

I have imposed on a friend who visits Kew regularly and she has looked at the boxes of files. She specialises in mediaeval legal documents rather than military records but, as far as we can see, there are no appendices or supplementary material. The boxes look fairly chaotic and it may be that someone with more time and an idea of what they're looking for may come up with something different but, for the moment, I would say that the official war diary is 'it'.

 

My dad had two fruit bowls and an oval nut bowl. they were always on the sideboard. My name is Bryn Dixon, my dads name was Godfry. R. J . Dixon, he was a dispatch rider for the 53rd Recce

 

Did he ever keep a diary? If so, does he mention the area of Lyons-La-Forêt on August 30th 1944? I live there and I wangt to know all that happened here during the liberation.

 

Hello Oldleg,
I've been away from this group for several years now, because my search for information about my Uncle Don seemed to have hit a brick wall. However, I've recently rekindled my interest and have been reading a few posts. I believe I saw one from you asking about Recce halftracks and other carriers. Have you seen this photo of A Sqdn at the closing of the Falaise Pocket?

 

Hello All,
I've been away from this group for several years, but I'm back and eager to try and continue my research into my Uncle Don Newell, listed as MIA and the other men that were KIA on 18.8.44
It's good to see some familiar names still here.

 

Hello All,
I seem to remember there was a link here somewhere to 53rd Recce wounded men's details. Can anyone point out where I can find them please? I'm trying to find out what I can about Trpr Arthur Frederick Bates and L/Cpl Sydney Phillip Every.
Many thanks.

 

Lance Corporal S P Every 3963596
RAC 53 Recce
KIA 18/8/1944
Archive reference WO 417/81 Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 1540 - 1556
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2930289/sidney-phillip-every/

Tpr A F Bates 14203366
RAC 53 Recce
Died of wounds 18/8/1944
Archive reference WO 417/81 Casualty Lists - Other Ranks 1540 - 1556
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2045129/arthur-frederick-bates/

Casualty lists on Ancestry and Findmypast but don't supply any further information.

 

Thanks Tony,
I think it's the casualty lists I was thinking were on here somewhere or maybe some missing in action information.
As for Trpr Bates. I know he died of wounds on 18th in a Field Hospital but thought I might find out when, where and how he was wounded.
L/Cpl. Every is the only casualty on 18th that I have absolutely no details about, other than his previous place of burial, which doesn't correspond to any other casualties previous places of burial. I'm hoping that if I find more about him, it might lead to more information about my Uncle Don.

 

Also on the subject of casualties, I came across some 53rd Recce dogtags on ebay. What interested me more than the dogtags was the images of casualty detail lists included in the sale details.
What and where are these documents ?

 

They are the casualty lists I referred to in #454

 

Is anyone going over to Normandy for the 80th? If you spot my T-shirt, say hello.

 

My dad 3rd from the left back row

 

Hi I’m just found this page , my uncle sadly died on 15/08/1944 I am trying to find more info, I see it’s mainly a welsh regiment if so , how did a northeast lad join? What vehicles did they drive. Reading the diary it looks like they hit a mine sadly the captain was killed trying to rescue them. Any info anyone has has would be great. Cheers