Operation Transfigure/Market Garden Seaborne Tail.

Can anybody point me in the direction a book/books that covers or mentions the 1st Parachute brigades Seaborne echelon during Market Garden.I am fully up to speed with embarkation and disembarkation dates but lacking any in the field information.

Many thanks

 

To the best of my knowledge not much written on it......there was a Ministory on them in the SFAM newsletter some years ago by Bob Gerritsen......

 

To the best of my knowledge not much written on it......there was a Ministory on them in the SFAM newsletter some years ago by Bob Gerritsen......


Thanks AM, perhaps it needs the Mr Cherry touch to put that right

 

The best would be there WD, that ministory is based on that, I have to check, I have a couple of Seaborne Tail stories, but not sure if they also included 1st Para Bde

 

The best would be there WD, that ministory is based on that, I have to check, I have a couple of Seaborne Tail stories, but not sure if they also included 1st Para Bde


Horsapassenger is hoping to obtain copies of the diaries next time he's at Kew for me,However, I would be interested in anything you may have Philip, Im just trying to built up some sort of picture.

 

As with other parts I will take some time as a lot of stuff is stored

 

The one thing I find really confusing is the Tatham-Warter letter to the families of the 2nd Battalion. Why would such a letter be sent for someone who from the dates on his service record was with the Seaborne tail.In fact there could be possibly two instances of this occurring for two different families..

For one of these people I have an embarkation date of the 4.10.44 and then disembarking in the UK on the very same day.These dates don't seem to concur with the ministory Ive just read that was kindly sent me by Paul Pariso.

Any thoughts on the above chaps.

 

As with other parts I will take some time as a lot of stuff is stored

Thanks Philip

 

I was at the National Archives last week. The Seaborne Tail file wasn't particularly very good if your looking for names or even references to individual Bns. It had no mention of the Second Echelon at all. My Grandfathers records say 'at sea' from 23 Sep until 01 Oct 1944. However the elemnts of the first echelon did get to Nijmegen and beyond.

 

I was at the National Archives last week. The Seaborne Tail file wasn't particularly very good if your looking for names or even references to individual Bns. It had no mention of the Second Echelon at all. My Grandfathers records say 'at sea' from 23 Sep until 01 Oct 1944. However the elemnts of the first echelon did get to Nijmegen and beyond.

It doesnt sound hopeful does it now, its about par for the course when it comes to my research,think I will change my name to 'dead end Dave'

 

Hi Dave, just happened to have these probaly no use to you but they are seaborne, regards lofty ( note not in date order)

 

Hi Dave, just happened to have these probaly no use to you but they are seaborne, regards lofty ( note not in date order)

Still would be interested in ready them Lofty PM SENT

 

Having now grasped a fuller understanding of the Seaborne Tail and the fact that they formed part of the cancelled operation 'Transfigure'. I am eager to learn more about the Liberty ships they were on and where the transit camps were actually situated near the docks. Now having established that Ralph Baverstock was on the Seaborne Tail and incidently lived next door to the docks I am eager to find out more.

Below is an exert from the 4th Parachute Sq War Diary from August 1944.


On the 11th preparations for operation 'Transfigure' began. This operation was designed to cut off the enemy’s withdrawal route by landing 1st Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, other American airborne units and 52nd (Lowland) Division between Paris and Orleans.
The Sea-borne element were briefed and began loading their vehicles the next day. On the 13th they moved off heading for transit camps near the East London Docks where over eleven hundred vehicles, eighty-four Officers and two thousand-one hundred and eighty men were assembled.
As well as extra equipment and food for the airborne troops all the vehicles carried a load of ammunition for the artillery, nine rounds of 75mm or 6pdr shells to each. The majority of the men were held in transit camps near the docks while the vehicles were loaded onto the Liberty ships at 0800hrs on the 14th. They were loaded at the East, the West, the India, the Victoria or the Albert Docks. The rest of the personnel were then called forward at 1700hrs when they too embarked and the whole convoy moved down the Thames at 1900 hours.


Any help to further my knowledge would be gratefully received

Regards

 

Hi Mate,

Sounds like at some point soon you need to visit Kew.. Lots of information about Airborne there but once you start you can't stop lol

Tom
PS if you to let me know we could meet up

 

Having now grasped a fuller understanding of the Seaborne Tail and the fact that they formed part of the cancelled operation 'Transfigure'. I am eager to learn more about the Liberty ships they were on and where the transit camps were actually situated near the docks. Now having established that Ralph Baverstock was on the Seaborne Tail and incidently lived next door to the docks I am eager to find out more.

Below is an exert from the 4th Parachute Sq War Diary from August 1944.


On the 11th preparations for operation 'Transfigure' began. This operation was designed to cut off the enemy’s withdrawal route by landing 1st Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, other American airborne units and 52nd (Lowland) Division between Paris and Orleans.
The Sea-borne element were briefed and began loading their vehicles the next day. On the 13th they moved off heading for transit camps near the East London Docks where over eleven hundred vehicles, eighty-four Officers and two thousand-one hundred and eighty men were assembled.
As well as extra equipment and food for the airborne troops all the vehicles carried a load of ammunition for the artillery, nine rounds of 75mm or 6pdr shells to each. The majority of the men were held in transit camps near the docks while the vehicles were loaded onto the Liberty ships at 0800hrs on the 14th. They were loaded at the East, the West, the India, the Victoria or the Albert Docks. The rest of the personnel were then called forward at 1700hrs when they too embarked and the whole convoy moved down the Thames at 1900 hours.


Any help to further my knowledge would be gratefully received

Regards

Did you manage to speak with Bob G on Saturday?

 

Did you manage to speak with Bob G on Saturday?


Unfortunately not, like you he seem to be in much demand AM

 

I think I have managed to track the troop ship 2nd Battalion embarked on, also seems they were in a transit camp in the Canning Town area of East London

'SS Samnesse see below

 

To the best of my knowledge not much written on it......there was a Ministory on them in the SFAM newsletter some years ago by Bob Gerritsen......

Dave, it's Ministory No.37, I'll email it to you,

All the best..........

 

Hi Dave & All,

Bloody hell mate you keep this up and we will all be coming to you for 2 Para inform... Well done and great work and indeed we do need to meet up Me Ol China

Tom

 

Dave, it's Ministory No.37, I'll email it to you,

All the best..........


Cheers mate, I did have it, but when my laptop crashed and burned a few weeks back I lost it ,so thanks again