Help please. D-Day question.

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by Paul Pariso, Dec 27, 2011.

  1. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Hello all,

    I am posting this question on behalf of a friend of mine who is trying to find out about his Uncle, Henry Hall, 949424, of the 53rd (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Lt. Regt., Royal Artillery.

    Bombardier Hall is listed as being killed on the 5th June 1944 and is buried at Ranville. My friend is pretty certain that his Uncle was in the 211th Airlanding Light Battery but the Unit History shows that they didn't arrive in Normandy until late in the evening of the 6th June.

    Does anybody know if there was an "advance party" for this unit that went in earlier?

    All the best............:)
     
  2. horsapilot

    horsapilot Member

    Right... the 211 A/L Bty arrived in Normandy during "Operation Mallard", at the end of June 6th.
    18 Horsa gliders from C and G Sqn's towed by Stirlings from 620 Sqn / 38Grp.
    Departed from Fairford between 19.10 and 19.35
    8 x 75mm (Pack Howitzers ?)
    Landing Zone "W"

    The 256 involved gliders landed between 20.52 and 21.20 on LZ "N" & "W"

    For me, no advanced party for 211 A/L Bty... !
    For some, the advanced party was dropped or airlanded and second part arrived by sea...

    Have a look at http://www.pegasusarchive.org/ and click on "Normandy" for more details about the 6thAB... excellent website !

    Keep us informed about your research.
     
  3. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    They arrived at a crucial time at about 9.15.There was a drive to the coast by the Panzer's with the arrival of the Airborne they fell back.

    It is unlikely that anyone landed before that time. As the Sappers had to get to the landing ground to remove "Rommel's Asparagus" Tree trunks dug in to prevent glider landings. They had completed that task in time for the Gliders to arrive. and landed safely in the main.
    PS After the landings. The enemy shelled the scattered gliders for some days after. I suppose to ensure they would not be used again?
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello all,

    I am posting this question on behalf of a friend of mine who is trying to find out about his Uncle, Henry Hall, 949424, of the 53rd (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Lt. Regt., Royal Artillery.

    Bombardier Hall is listed as being killed on the 5th June 1944 and is buried at Ranville. My friend is pretty certain that his Uncle was in the 211th Airlanding Light Battery but the Unit History shows that they didn't arrive in Normandy until late in the evening of the 6th June.

    Does anybody know if there was an "advance party" for this unit that went in earlier?

    All the best............:)


    Don't forget that may have just been his parent unit. In many OR Field Returns within unit war diaries there are always men listed from other units attached. Sadly not always listed by name and just by their cap badge.

    Andrea's grandad was East Lancs when he went to Normandy but he was wounded there when he was attached to 13 Para. Unit ID by CWGC is not always the unit they were with when killed.

    Does he have his service records?
     
  5. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the info fellas. My mate doesn't have his Uncle's service records but he assures me he is going to badger his Mum to apply for them.

    All the best.......:)
     
  6. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

  7. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  8. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Paul, I contacted CWGC about this many years ago and they told me the date was correct.

    I've heard many rumours, including one that he was killed by Flak on the way over.

    Does the family have a photo of him?
     
  9. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Jason:

    Thanks for the links mate, I hadn't seen that stuff before.

    Paul:

    My friend has mentioned that the family seemed to think he was killed "en route" as it were. If that is true then it still doesn't quite add up because the gliders carrying 211th Battery would not have been in the air on the 5th as they arrived in Normandy in the evening of the 6th.

    I tend to agree with the suggestions on here and elsewhere that he may have been part of some kind of SF team or perhaps an FOO for the Battery.

    I know that there is a picture of him in the family so I'll try and get a copy from my friend.

    Thanks again everyone for your help, I knew I could count on you all!! :)

    All the best.............
     
  10. horsapilot

    horsapilot Member

    Keep us informed of the results... ?
     
  11. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    I was having a look through what I have on 53 Worcs, and found the below.
    Its not much, but I believe it leads to what others believe that Bdr. Hall was part of an FOO team. I am going to make an assumption that he was attached to one of the battalions of 5th Parachute Brigade.

    Dai King was a friend of Bdr. "Nobby" Hall's and mentions him on the link below under the title Summary of the Normandy Campaign and my thoughts of the Battle 55 years later.

    http://www.gotoitgunners.co.uk/account-212-53WY.html
     
  12. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Keep us informed of the results... ?

    Will do............:)
     
  13. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    I was having a look through what I have on 53 Worcs, and found the below.
    Its not much, but I believe it leads to what others believe that Bdr. Hall was part of an FOO team. I am going to make an assumption that he was attached to one of the battalions of 5th Parachute Brigade.

    Dai King was a friend of Bdr. "Nobby" Hall's and mentions him on the link below under the title Summary of the Normandy Campaign and my thoughts of the Battle 55 years later.

    http://www.gotoitgunners.co.uk/account-212-53WY.html

    That's fantastic. Thanks very much for the link........:D
     
  14. horsapilot

    horsapilot Member

    Interesting link... thanks !
     

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