5th (Tower Hamlets) Recce WD lookup possible?

Hallo all,

just wondered if it was possible to discover the
circumstances of the death of the following soldier:

Corporal CORNELIUS STEVENS
6919482
Who died age 32 on 21 April 1945
Husband of C. Stevens, of Millwall, London.
BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 18. A. 2.

Anyone have an idea what 5th Recce were up to and where
around mid April 1945, etc?

Many thanks for any assistance

 

"In march 1945, 5th Div from Italy arrived to take part in the final push against
North Germany; now equipped with Daimler armoured cars, 5th Recce joined VII
Corps' advance towards the Elbe on the British right flank. They went into action
on 19 April and on that first day two NCOs earned the Military Medal for gallantry under fire" (Osprey elite 152, Doherty)

 

From the 5th Div history, see half way down page 254 onwards.

 

blimey


thanks Owen

 

From Only the Enemy in Front - Richard Doherty

23 Race to Victory


The final weeks of war in Germany saw 5 Recce join the regiments in North-West Europe. Leaving Palestine in February, the regiment had a short time in Italy before sailing from Naples to Marseilles from where-after a spell in a mistral-stricken, desolate staging camp, it entrained for Belgium, arriving on 14 March. In Belgium 5 Recce re-equipped with Daimler armoured cars before moving off for Germany on 13 April.Two days later 5th Division joined VIII Corps' advance towards the Elbe on the right of the British sector. After Uelzen fell 5 Recce passed through a brigade of 6th Airborne Division, which was holding a line north-east of the town, to secure the division's start line:

At 0700 hours on April 19, 1 Sqn, which was to operate on the left, moved off, followed by 3 Sqn and RHQ with 2 Sqn remaining in reserve. The first day was spent in close patrols and a thorough search of the area in front of the FDLs. No spectacular advance was intended as the Division was not ready to follow up. 1 Sqn made contact with 15 (5) Division on its left and reported a number of villages clear and had no contact with the enemy until the leading patrol of 8 Tp had a Daimler brewed up by a bazooka [sic] on the outskirts of Himbergen. Sgt Punter very coolly extricated this patrol without casualties and the village was heavily engaged by armoured cars and 3 in mortars. Sgt Punter was later awarded the MM for his gallantry on this occasion.1

Sergeant Bloom, 3 Squadron, also won the MM that day for leading his section in an action near Schwemlitz after he had been wounded when the squadron came under artillery and mortar fire.Although much information had been gained, the regiment had not contacted the Royals to their right nor the Americans to the south. German resistance had lost cohesion; some units were fighting with determination but with no support while others were prepared to surrender.

On the morning of the 20th a fighting patrol from 1 Squadron entered Himbergen to find the village abandoned. That same morning the squadron suffered the regiment's one and only attack by the Luftwaffe in Germany when a single fighter strafed it at Ronstedt, wounding four men who had taken cover under a Daimler.

Next morning 5th Division began its advance supported by Churchilltanks of 6 Guards Armoured Brigade; 3 Squadron were held up .It Hohenzethen and 17 Brigade moved in to clear the village. When it was finally captured Hohenzethen was found to be playing host to a battery of 88s. Meanwhile, 1 Squadron was racing ahead of 2nd Cameronians whowere hitching a lift on Churchills. The infantry were called up to clear Bleckede on the Elbe and then Barskamp, to the south-west, was taken by 5th Essex. Barskamp had been attacked by 9 Troop after a pounding by artillery but it was vigorously defended in strength and the troop had to withdraw; two men were killed and the troop leader and three others wounded. Sergeant Turnbull, who rallied the troop, brought down smoke to evacuate the wounded and then withdrew the remainder; he received the MM.

There was some localised fierce resistance again on the 22nd when a 13 Troop patrol captured an 88 but a link up with the Americans persuaded the Germans to pull back across the Elbe. For a week the regiment provided patrols to search for stragglers and destroy enemy arms and equipment.


The other man killed on the same day was

Trooper ALEXANDER DUNCAN CLAYTON
2821653- Seaforth Highlanders
Who died age 26 on 21 April 1945
Son of Francis and Isabella Campbell Clayton, of Aberdeen.
BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY 18. A. 1.

See also post 135 for Sgt Turnbulls citation http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/recce/24160-decorations-awards-members-reconnaissance-corps-14.html


Cheers
Paul

 

thanks very much Paul, great detail

 

Hi At home Dad,
I to am looking for information about Cornelius Stevens as I married his grand-daughter. Her Dad has told me some stories but I'm looking for hard facts, I would be willing to tell youwhat I know, but don't want to post as they are only hearsay.
Regards Buzer40

 

hallo Buzer40

I'm sure we'd all love to hear any stories regarding Recce units.

Quite often here on the forum you can find that one piece of
hearsay actually uncovers a new angle on true events.

My interest in Cornelius was only idle curiosity, I'm afraid, as
I am also from the Isle of Dogs and had a grandad in Recce.

I would imagine that with the quoted histories above, that is
pretty much all we know about the events on that day. It would
be good to hear your father in law's recollections of his fathers time

very best regards

 

Hi Buzer40 Welcome to the forum, by all means post any information that your father-in-law can tell us


Cheers
Paul

 

Buzzer40,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Post away.

Regards
Tom

 

Hi All,
Will gather all the information and sit down will my Father-in-law and will post my findings asap
Many thanks
Buzer40

 

I know it has been a long time since my last post, And should have shared earlier. ''Lest we forget''

A tale told by: Tony Stevens after he meets with Sgt Turnbull as a civilian living in Dagenham.
21/04/1945 Tony was four when his beloved Dad was killed in action, born on the 3/2/1941 to Caroline and Cornelius Stevens. The war had finished and as Tony grew older he became more inquisitive to what actually happened to his Dad, asking family and his Dad’s late friends what happened and what was he like.

After serving in Italy( enter dates and battle) he was sent home for 2 weeks before the 5th Recce Corp next manoeuvres through Belgium and in to Germany, his family tell the story of his break being cut short and on the night he was due back he was sitting in the pub contemplating going AWOL. He had enough he was one of the oldest and hadn’t seen his family for years. Although it would have brought shame Connie could have lived a long life. His brothers and family told him it was the wrong thing to do, they felt the war was nearly over and this stint would probably be his last, how terribly right they were. Connie left the pub and got on the bus back to his regiment.

Tony now a young man was still no nearer in learning the truth to what happened to his Dad, partly due to the fact that his Mum Caroline in her grief burnt most of the letters and documentation which could of revealed some of what actually happened, being left by the man she loved with 2 young children she didn’t want to be reminded of her loss and in frustration and anger destroyed the information.

Tony in his quest to find the truth was given the address of Sgt Turnbull who now lived in Dagenham
on the off chance one day Tony knocked on the door and was answered by Mr Turnbull himself. Tony recalled the story to me:
“On knocking on the door he felt nervous, in what he might hear or if Sgt Turnbull would remember anything that might shed light on Cornelius untimely death.
The door was answered now a retired Mr Turnbull, Tony said” When I introduced myself as Cornelius Stevens’s son, he physically stumbled back and lost the colour in his face”. Mr Turnbull immediately invited Tony in and was apologising profusely that he hadn’t been or tried to make contact.
Mr Turnbull sat Tony down and made tea and then explained the dreadful events of 21/04/1945.

20/04/1945 Cornelius Stevens along with others from the 5th Recognisance Corp went in to Barskemp to gather information and especially if any 88’s were active, but only found a quiet town, rows of houses lined the streets and this particular row had picket fences little did they know the 88’s had taken to hiding in these cottages. On reporting back it was decided by Lt Hudson to move forward and take Barskemp,

21/04/1945 as the units moved forward the 88’s captured Alexander Duncan Clayton of the Seaforth Highlanders and held him in the quiet looking cottages, this prompted quick reactions and 5th recce took cover. As they waited a door of the house opened and a man was pushed out, stripped of his uniform near naked. Not realising this person was Trooper Alexander Clayton and an ambush was taking place. In Trooper Clayton’s panic started to run he knew the 88’s were watching from the windows ready to fire, as he jumped the garden fences Captain H??? Leapt up thinking it was a trap and fired, killing Alexander Clayton, within seconds the Captain realised and hurdled from cover to retrieve Trooper Clayton, in doing so the windows of the cottage burst open and the 88’s open fired, Cornelius watching in close proximity to the Captain see’s this episode unfold, Captain H?? gets hit himself and is wounded and would later lose an eye, Cpl Cornelius Stevens leapt from cover and ran to Lt Hudson grabbing the Lt, dragging him back to relative safety only for him to be hit in the ambush by the German bullets and killing him instantly and wounding 3 others alongside the Lt. Sgt Turnbull as above sent smoke bombs up and retreated taking the wounded with and leaving the dead.
Sgt Turnbull explained to Tony why he had not contacted him, it was something he wanted to do, he said. “A week later the War was over and although many had died those left was so relieved to be back on Civvies Street and reunited with their loved ones. He wished he had tracked him down but was so pleased Tony had found him”

Mr Turnbull invited Tony back to look through his photos but sadly never got the chance as Mr Turnbull passed away shortly after this meeting.

A letter I have transcribed and have the original :
1Major J.A.T. Hancock
5th Reconnaissance Regt.
R.A.C
B.L.A
15th May 1945
Dear Mrs Stevens
I am afraid you will have heard by now from official sources of the death in action of your husband. I would have written to you before, but I am not allowed to write within three weeks of a battle casualty occurring.
I want to tell you how very sincerely sorry I am for you, I knew your husband very well. I was platoon commander in D Company of the 3rd. Tower Hamlet Rifles when he joined the army and have been his squadron leader commander for about a year. I also selected the Regt. Football team, so I had a lot contact with him. I always found him most likeable as a man and really reliable as an N.C.O. under peace conditions. Under war conditions he become absolutely first class, and would very shortly have been promoted. He was one of the most popular members of the squadron, if not the Regiment and any number of men and officers have come up to me and said how much they would miss ‘’Old Con’’ by which name he was universally known.

He was killed in most gallant circumstances. He went to try to rescue his troop commander Lt Hudson, who had been shot in the eye and to do this he had to cross a piece of ground which was completely exposed to 2- German machine guns. He did this without a second thought and in doing so was hit in the head. When, the next day, the village was captured, I found his body and there was no doubt that he had died instantaneously, as he had many wounds in the head, as well as 2 or 3 through the chest. There is no question of him having suffered. During the same battle a member of his section, Tpr. Clayton who had only returned from his honeymoon ten days before, was killed. In case you would like to write to his wife his address is: 44, Denburn, Aberdeen, Scotland
His troop commander has lost his eye as a result i=of this action in itself was not successful, in that the troop did not take its objective, but as result of the action the enemy withdrew before infantry attacked

If that troop had taken that objective that evening, the 2nd Army would have been on the Elbe 24 hours earlier.

I am afraid I have written you very few words of comfort, but O can assure you that I completely understand your grief and only hope that some of what I have said has helped you in your unhappiness. I am sorry I was the part cause of your husband’s death, in that I ordered him to do that job, but he would do more than he was ordered. Please believe me when I say that this is a great personal loss as well as a great loss for the regiment.
If you are at any time in any difficulty, either financial or personal, I shall be very hurt if you don’t come and see me about it. I am only a war-time solider, but you can always get me through the Westminster Bank, Harley Street London W1.
Believe me Mrs Stevens, I could not be more sorry about this letter
yours very sincerely
JAT Hancock

 

Barry,

Thanks for coming back after fourteen years and adding what you can. Probably a record.

"Old Con" CWGC entry: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2389988/cornelius-stevens/

There is another thread on the unit, a memorial thread: 5th (3rd Bn. The Tower Hamlets Rifles) Regt Reconnaissance Corps Roll of Honour The penultimate post is Trooper Clayton.

 

Thanks Daviddfpo