World War 2

153rd (Leic. Yeo.) Field Regt. R.A

SP Regiment 25Pndr/Sherman "Sexton"

5th Guards Armoured Brigade

War Diary

The Officers before leaving England in the summer of 1944. 

Gunner Lord's notes on the back of the photo: 153rd Field Regiment R.A. Friday 1^st June 1945 at Achim near Bremen – the S.P. guns can be just picked out behind tanks and half tracks. A few, that is – there are twenty four all told. Sherman tanks, Ram S.Ps. 1945 

Gunner Lord's notes on the back of the photo: Our barracks at Brand Camp Aachen 1945 (Foreground) our last two S.P.s  and “The Enemy Within” John Wastney. The Regiment returned north with the Guards Division in March 1946 to Husum where they were to remain till disbandment later that same year (April- December 1946). They must therefore be the originators of the name "Leicester Barracks".

153 ready for G.O.C's inspection, 1st June 1945. In the postscript of 130 Battery's book on the war, page 53, they say the following:-

"The tanks. S.P.s (Sextons), carriers (Bren Carriers), and halftracks all painted pale grey with burnished muzzle breaks, and insides painted red, were drawn up in front facing a dias with the Union Jack flying on one side and the Regimental flag on the other".

RHQ

CO "Z" Lt.Col. J S Atkins, DSO TD

14th March 1945, the Colonel is awarded the DSO.

2IC "Z2" Major Hon. B T Brassey MC

Wounded, 26th April 1945. Mentioned in Despatches.

(1st December 1944, General Montgomery made a surprise vist to RHQ at Hillensberg. The Colonel unfortunately was out at the time, but the 2IC, the Adjutant and the remainder at RHQ had great pleasure in introducing him to his first visit to German soil in the sector. The WW2 censor has masked out the LY cap badge. The vehicle they are both walking past belongs to 128 Field Ambulance.) 

Sir Peter Studd GBE KCVO

Adjutant "A1" [2]

Knighted in 1969 and the 643rd Lord Major of London in 1970.

Cpt. S J H Sherrard

Cpt. E C W Sowman MBE

Cpt. G L Vokins, MM

Quartermaster "Q1"

Cpt. John H Paterson

Intelligence Officer, seen above west of the Rhine in March 1945.

Professor of Geography at Leicester University

Lt. T Sherer

KIA on the 3rd of August 1944

Lt R N Levenson-Gower

Wounded 3rd of August 1944

Rev. A S Pryor, CF, RA, Ch.D [1]

Killed 3rd August 1944 Aged 41, buried at St. Charles de Percy (British Cemetery). He was killed in Le Tourneur, by a shell which landed on the road just in front of his car. He had been with the Regiment since September 1939. Mentioned in Despatches.

Rev. W W March, RA, Ch.D [2]

Joined the Regiment on the 8th of August 1944

RHQ Officers at Halmael

R.S.M. Eady

RSM on 29th January 1945

Un-identified Sergeant

318520 Gnr. W Goodwin

A victim of the sinking of the ship Andora Star by U-Boat, he is buried in Kilcommon Erris Cemetary  Ireland. He was a Batman to the Colonel.

Stan Puffet

Batman to Major Brassey

Sgt's Mess, Burgess Hill in 1941.

Gunner Dick (Walker) Irving

Dick died in 2015.

Gunner Lord 

Gunner Lord's notes on the back of the photo: 10 Hawthorn road, Exeter.

Click here for more of Gunner Lords photos of Germany and UK Exercises with the 153rd (Leics.Yeo.) Field Regiment, RA.

Gunner Lord's notes on the back of the photo: 18/6/45 20 Minutes halt on the autobahn (Hanover-ruhr) near Hanover. A “mash” of tea – just made – A.Kelly chief “masher” Bert Steed I/C “compo” mixing! I’m reading “Mrs Parkington”.

Men of RHQ standing next to a 153 OP Sherman in its GOC inspection colour "Pale Grey" in June 1945. The photo was taken in Beirdon on Vassel in Germany. Sadly we can only see part of its "T" number. Probably a Sherman III mid production.

The OP Tanks of 153, on operation, would join their respective Armoured Battalions they were attached to and would call down fire missions on their behalf. An OP Tank, normally, would have a fake 75mm gun and the inside of the turret would have no breach block allowing for a map table in its place. The tank would be armed with the .30 Cal Machine guns. Its whole purpose was to call down fire missions from the battery in support of the armoured regiment it was attached to. It does appear that 153 had "active" 75mm guns in some of their Shermans, these tanks were probably dedicated battery defence and not generally used for OP missions, unless they really had to.

Half Tracks were used as Troop command posts within the Bty and Bren carriers as support vehicles. F Troop managed to capture a German Half Track that was put to good use (See 131 Bty).

(556516) Gnr J J W PADGETT

John James William, died: 03/12/1944 Age 30.

129 (P) Battery

Irish Group

2nd (Armoured) Bn, 3rd Bn. Irish Guards

Also, briefly, supporting the Welsh Guards in their efforts near Hechtel, early September 1944 

Major Lord Willoughby de Eresby

Battery Commander "X" [1]

Wounded, 3rd August 1944, mentioned in Despatches, pictured above as the 3rd Lord Ancaster in post war years. History of Irish Guards in the Second World War, FitzGerald, pg 418: - This shelling cost the Battalion its old gunner commander and great friend, Major Lord Willougby d'Eresby. He was going back in his jeep to reorganise his damaged battery and try to get some guns up to support the Battalion. An 88-mm. fired at this jeep and he jumped out of it into the ditch beneath the hedge on the side of the lane. On the other side of the hedge was a Sherman; to get at the 88-mm. it reversed through the hedge and ran over James Willoughby's legs. His feet were badly crushed, and he had to be evacuated the following morning. "We miss his company greatly, as he had trained with use for two years and been in all our battles. He knew his trade and always landed his shells in the right place." During the day No. 7 Self-Propelled Battery of the 21st Anti-Tank Regiment killed three Panthers, revenging the loss of the Leicestershire Yeomanry guns.

Major C J "Chris" Vesey MC

Battery Commander "X" [2] on 11th August 1944.

Cpt. D C M Salt

Battery Captain "K"

Lt. J Gordon

Lt. K Wharton

Lt. C D Tosh

Lt. D C Davies

Lt. G Ponsonby

Lt. B M Ross [1944-45]

Wounded, 1st August 1944

Jan van Wessen

129 Bty Dutch interpreter, Sittard, Netherlands.

130 Bty got to know Willie Burki in Malden and his friend Jan van Wessen from Sittard.

Gnr. Mike J Short

KIA, Driver of the Battery Commanders Tank. A shell landed near his dugout and he died from wounds.

A Troop

"A" Troop 129 Battery.

Cpt. E J Howard MC

Troop Leader A Troop "TLA" [1]

(OP Tank "BELVOIR")

in the Rhineland, Feb 1945.

Arthur Wright, Capt E.J. (Jack) Howard, Jack Bates

Driver Geoff (Junior) Wright, Freddy Platts.

Note also that "Freddy Platts" is holding a German Assault rifle the MP44 (see below).

The only damage to "BELVOIR" throughout the war was a broken track after falling into a shell hole. The 75mm gun was fired in anger on Operation Market Garden to capture Arnhem with the Irish Guards.

Another view of "BELVOIR" and her crew with members of the "GEORGE Truck" GA (Gun Positioning Officer's Halftrack). They appear to be in the middle of doing some "track bashing" looking at the state of the track in view.

B Troop

Lt. R "Dick" Brisbourne

Troop Leader B Troop "TLB" [1]

Lt. M "Mike" Townsend MC

(1920-2015)

Troop Leader B Troop "TLB" [2] 11th August 1944

At dusk, his observation post became the target for a direct attack by enemy fighter bombers, but he continued to engage German units during the night and frustrated any attempt that they made to launch an offensive. Throughout the next day, he occupied the church tower and directed a number of successful shoots.

During the day, the spire received four direct hits from the 15th Panzer Grenadier’s artillery. Fortunately, they struck just below the top but they demolished one side of the tower and blew away his ladder. Thereafter, the only way that he could climb down from his OP was by knotting together bits of rope in the belfry. Despite this handicap, he continued to man his post and, having spotted guns firing into the village, engaged them and silenced them.

Townsend was awarded an Immediate MC. The citation stated that he had supported the Irish Guards Group for three days and nights without rest or relief and was instrumental in thwarting a series of strong enemy attacks. His splendid determination and disregard for his own safety, it added, merited the highest praise.

Sgt. Everard

IC Sexton, B Troop.

Sexton B2 of 129 Battery on the main road near Douai, 2nd September 1944.

B2 Marking locations 

130 (Q) Battery

Grenadier Group

1st (Motor) Bn, 2nd (Armoured) Bn. Grenadier Guards 

First shots in anger were fired at 04:20 hrs on the 8th of July 1944.

OC Major. R Hoare MC

Battery Commander "X" [1]

Mentioned in Despatches

W C J Burki

Dutch interpreter, Voorschoten, Netherlands.

130 Bty got to know Willie Burki in Malden and his friend Jan van Wessen from Sittard. Willie used an Opel Van to travel about and was taken prisoner on the 1st of April 1945 by the Germans whilst trying to visit his Grandmother at Hangelo. On the 8th of May 1945 Willie had been seen in Nijmegen, and so a jeep was sent for him at once. He had been liberated by the Canadians in the north of Holland, and altogether survived the ordeal of a P.O.W. life extremely well. The Regiment was delighted to see him again.

Battery Commander "X", 130 Battery O.P. Tank "West Norfolk", water proofed, June 1944 in Eastbourne.

Major R Hoare, Bdr. G Burditt (Driver), Gnr. H Morgan, Gnr. Osbourne and Gnr. Randal

* Sherman V (M4A4), the tank tracks are the T62 steel.

130 Battery O.P. Tank "West Norfolk" in 1945.

Top (L-R): Major Hoare, MacKenzie, Floor (L-R) : Capt. J Green, Don Watts.

* Studying the photo a bit closer, the tank is probably "BELVOIR" as the tracks have the "Duckbill" attachments seen in the photo of above. "WEST NORFOLK" on prep for D-Day has the T62 tracks with no duckbill attachments.

Capt. Peter Winslow

Battery Captain "K"

Mentioned in Despatches.

Lt R N Leveson-Gower

Wounded, 3rd August 1944

Lt. A C B Helps

Lt. C P "Cliff" Noble

Battery Command Post Officer (C.P.O) "H"

Lt D J "Doug" Hamilton

Killed in action 22nd Sept 1944

Lt. R E Tofts

Lt. A Baker

[1944-45]

Lt. D (Digby) Neave

[1944-45]

Lt. A E (Ted) Smith

 [1944-45]

B.S.M. Eady [1]

B.S.M. Peter Jackson [2]

A member of D Squadron (Market Harborough) in the Yeomanry from 1933 and took past in a gallop past Lord Beatty at Dingley Hall with sabre drawn. He was released from 153 in October 1945 as RSM.

Sgt. Marriot

Becomes B.S.M [3] November 1944

Sgt. Ellis

Wounded in the leg, 12th October 1944.

Sgt Clark

Sgt. Harrison

Sgt. Reeve

SPG Commander

Sgt. Swanborough

S/Sgt Ash

Cpl Hart

L/Bdr. Robinson

L/Bdr Weedon

L/Bdr Hardy

Gnr.Sherring

Bdr. Bright

Becomes Signals Sergeant, November 1944

5734891 L/Bdr. D.C.F.Watts

Driver of the "West Norfolk" Sherman OP Tank, 130 Battery. Mentioned in Despatches.

Insignia and medal grouping to 5734891 L/Bdr.D.C.F.Watts 153 Leicestershire Yeomanry Field Regt.R.A. TA. 153 landed in Normandy in August 1944 and fought with 5th Guards Armoured Brigade. Watts\' MID is confirmed and the emblem is present along with his medals in their envelopes and box. Various insignia included - Guards Armoured div. signs, Leics Yeo shoulder titles, rank badges, Leics Yeo buttons and various other souvenirs medals etc.

Bert Puffet

Batman to Capt. Winslow

Micheal McDonald

Gnr. Richards

Gnr. Gillingham

Bdr. Ingham

Killed by a Messerschmidt bullet whilst travelling from Giberville back to St. Martin

C Troop

Capt. Luke T Lillington

Troop Leader C Troop "TLC" [1]

Killed in action 11th August 1944 in the area of Forgues. An 88mm shot through his OP Sherman tank turret killing him. His crew survived, Bdr. Quinney (Burned), Bdr. Lathan (Burned), Bdr. Blackwell (Burns) and Bdr. Jackson (Burns).

Lt Tony Baker

Troop Leader C Troop "TLC" [2]

Lt. D A H "Derek" Baer

Troop Leader C Troop "TLC" [3] 13th September 1944

Capt. Sidney R Hedges

Troop Leader C Troop "TLC" [4] 21st March 1945

Lt. Sam Hughes

Gun Positioning Officer (G.P.O.)

"GC" Halftrack

Bdr. Quinney

"TLC" Crew member.

The crew of "CEASER", C1 Sexton, S 2338??, on GOC inspection day. 1st June 1945.

Sexton C2 crossing a bridge on the Wilhelmina Canal at Zon, 20th September 1944.

Driver Ossy Savage

"C3" Sexton driver (seen below, left, in the background)

Sexton C4, in the background, having just fired its last salvo at 08:00 hrs on 5th May 1945.

Reg Burbibge, Bill Swift, Austin Rogers, Cliff Taylor, Tom Coulon, Jack Kenny and Jock McLintoc

D Troop

"Don" Troop

Capt. A L A "Tony" Tasker

Troop Leader D Troop "TLD" [1]

Killed in action 20th Sept 1944. Killed by a shell direct into an OP position near Nijmegen. Bdr Ashwell earns his MM for actions that day after taking over his Troop leaders responsibilities.

Capt. H R "Roy" Wright

Troop Leader D Troop "TLD" [2]

Wounded, 2nd August 1944. In the area of Catheolles his tank took a direct hit from an enemy shell whilst trying to get into an OP position for the Gren' Group.

Capt. J "Jerry" Green

Troop Leader D Troop "TLD" [3], 12th October 1944.

Sexton D2, D Troop, 153rd (LY) FR RA in Nijmegen on Thursday 21/09/1944.

(Courtesy of www.royalartilleryunitsnetherlands1944-1945.com ) 

Sgt. Ash

554553 L/Sgt. G R Vines

"D" Troop OC Tank Co/Dvr

Killed 2nd August 1944 Aged 28, buried at St. Charles de Percy (British Cemetary) I. C. 7. Son of George Leonard and Lizzie Matilda Vines; husband of Elizabeth Jane Vines of Arthingworth Northamptonshire.

http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=2299135

L/Sgt. Norman Ashwell MM

On the 1st December General Montgomery held an investiture at Divisional HQ at which L/Sgt. Ashwell received a well earned Military Medal for his very gallant effort during the fighting in Nijmegen.

Cpl. Chester

Gnr. Ames

Badly wounded, 22nd September 1944.

Gnr. Chamberlin

Gnr. Eggleton

Driver OC "D" Troop Tank

Wounded 3rd Aug 1944, shot through the leg by a sniper getting out of the shot Tank.

Bdr. A J May C de G

Driver of the "TLD" Sherman Tank

Bdr May was awarded the Croix-de-Guerre with bronze star presented to him by General de Gaulle.

L/Bdr. Bill (Willie) Norman

Bdr. Bill (Willie) Norman, in his Sexton II S 233950, liberating Brussels. He is also seen in the D4 image below, so it could be that D4 had a replacement?

S 233893 Sexton II of 130 Bty waterproofed and ready to go in June 1944. The black & white image shows the profile image of a Sexton waterproofed for D-Day.

F Furlong, S Sharp, G Ames

Cpl Jim Reeves, L/Cpl S Swanson, Willie Norman, G Puffit

This appears to be the crew of D4, we know that this sexton belongs to 130 Bty and we have an image of the C4 crew, therefore this must be the D4 Sexton.

* The tracks appear to be the T54E2 type on the later chassis.

D4 Crew members Willie Norman (Standing Middle) and S Sharp (seated) as Leicester Yeomen prior to 1939. Also pictured Tpr F Timpson (left) and Tpr Ken Granger (right).

Motor Transport

130 Battery Motor Transport Personnel, Eastbourne 1944

Back Row: F Hussey, ?, Gillingham, W French.

3r Row : D Hayes, J York, G Hamilton, S Herrick, ?, S Arnold, E Bond, ?, Eales, G Kelly, A Cole, ?, ?.

2nd Row : G Burditt, McDonald, Adamson, W Driver, S Wilson, J D Coates.

Front Row: J Revel, F A Coe, C Harlow, ?, W Perrin, Hill, White, ?.

Un-named Bdr/Signaller of the 153rd, possibly 130 Batt.

Capt A.L.A. Tasker 130 Battery D.Troop KIA 20-9-1944 Jonkerbos War Cemetery	Lt D.J.A. Hamilton 130 Battery KIA 22-9-1944 Oosterbeek Cemetery	L/Sgt W.H. Iliffe 130 Battery KIA 21-11-1944 Sittard War Cemetery
Gnr T.A. Nutt 130 Battery Signaller KIA 22-9-1944 Oosterbeek Cemetery	Gnr H. Morgan 130 Battery OP Tank KIA 26-9-1944 Woensel General Cemetery	Gnr E.M. Scott 130 Battery KIA 5-10-1944 Jonkerbos War Cemetery

131 (R) Battery

Coldstream Group 

1st (Armoured) Bn CG, 5th Bn. Coldstream Guards 

131 Battery Officers at St.Trond, Belgium 1944.

Back Row: Lt. D.J.Smith, Lt. G.A.L.Huxtable, Lt.J.F.McKenna, Lt.G.C.Atkinson, Lt.R.A.J.Ryder, Lt. D.P.Willen

Front Row: Capt. L.Yates, Capt.H.R.G.H.Bentley, Major R.C.Rowland-Clark, Capt. J.C.Reid, Lt. J.D.Bolton.

Major. P S Buxton

Battery Commander "X" [1]

Killed in action 18th July 1944. Commanding 131 Battery, he was acting as OP to 1st Bn Coldstream Guards. He got a direct hit by an enemy shell whilst getting out of his tank to talk to the OC Armoured Battalion, Col. Rid Myddleton.

BUXTON, PETER STAPLETON
Rank:Major; Service No:25648; Date of Death:18/07/1944
Age:39; Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery 153 (The Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regt.
Awards: T D
Grave Reference VIII. B. 17.
Cemetery RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Colonel Geoffrey Buxton, and of Clare Buxton (nee Stapleton); husband of Julia V. Buxton, of Gainford, Co. Durham.

Peter Buxton's name is also on the War Memorial granite obelisk in the south-west corner of St Luke's Church in Gaddesby, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

"ZETLAND" : Battery Commanders Tank (X)

The Zetland Hunt are based in north Yorkshire and they straddle the border in County Durham.

The crew:- Mjr. Buxton, Harry Sheo, Ron Lund, Cyril Arnoth and Liney Gregory (From Normandy beach to Brussels 1944)

"ZETLAND"

 Ready for G.O.C. inspection, Baden, May 31st 1945.

"ZETLAND"

Notes by Ron Lund:- "X-Tank, the old original in fighting rig. In action from Normandy beaches to CUXHAVEN, Germany. June 28th 1944 - May 8th 1945."

Cpt. R C Rowland-Clerk 

Battery Commander "X" [2], 11th August 1944

Capt. H Yates

Battery Captain "K"

Capt. M S "Mike" Brown

Killed in action 8th Sept 1944 by an artillery strike on his position.

Capt. J C "Campbell" Reid

Capt. H Bentley

Lt. Jim Bolton

Lt. G A Huxtable

Lt. J G MacAlpine

Taken Prisoner, 3rd August 1944

Lt. D P Warren

Lt. R A J Ryder

Mentioned in Despatches.

Lt. J "Jock" McKenna

Lt. G C Atkinson

Lt. D J "Jack" Smith

Lt. J G Sherer

Lt. F A Pearson [1944-45]

On August 21st 1943 Arnold passed out as a 2nd Lt. officer in the Royal Artillery, he was then posted to the 153. He was wounded and subsequently died from his wounds at / near Beeringen on the 8th September 1944.

Sgt. Clampit

Sext0on SPG Commander

994275 Sgt. J W Gullen

Killed 10th August 1944 Aged 28, buried at St. Charles de Percy (British Cemetary)

L/Bdr. Smith

818017 Gnr. L A Gregory

Mentioned in Despatches

Gnr. Corbett

Capt J C Reid's Driver

E Troop

E Troop, 131 Battery, 153 (LY) Field Regt. RA.

Capt. S R Hedges

(pictured above as 131 Bty Captain, "K", on GOC inspection)

Troop Leader E Troop "TLE" [1]

(OP TANK : FERNIE)

Wounded, 1st August 1944

He went to Normandy in 1944 as E Troop commander and his Troop claimed to be the first guns of 153 to fire in anger after landing and moving up to Caen. Charles Freer was his tank driver. The tank Captain Hedges is standing in front of in the above photo, on GOC inspection day, is not FERNIE. Its a Sherman V (M4A4) with added armour plate in front of the crew hatches. Captain Hedges was made Troop Leader of C Troop on the 21st March 1945, so the tank is probably the "TLC" tank.

"FERNIE" appears to be a Sherman III (M4A2) DV, the guess is based on the moulding number on the (3 part?) transmission armour? The Sherman V (M4A4) DV has different mouldings. If anyone looking in can identify this Sherman tank, from the picture below, then please let us know.

Hard to tell but this is possibly E3 from E Troop, the given name is only partially seen but looks like E???EM??. Note the box on the upper left front plate, this is probably to hold the .50 Cal ammunition boxes. Note also that the crew member on the left is wearing a non regulation belt, this is more than probably a trophy belt (German) ..... a common practice.

Sexton E4 "EMPIRE" In the "Battleship Grey" livery for GOC inspection near Bremen. She is next to a Battery Captain's Sherman tank "FERNIE".

The M.3 A1 Half-track "GE" (Troop Command Post) and the Universal Carrier MkII "ESCAUT" (T275751?), of E Troop, are in the victory parade Pale Grey colour. The Sexton "EMPIRE" E4 can be seen in the background (right).

There are also other reports of the Guards Armoured Division painting their vehicles in this colour for victory parades at the end of the war. It appears that they liberated warehouses of their German Naval Grey paint to smarten up their vehicles as this was the only thing to hand. The older Regiments wear grey and this colour would not have been inappropriate in the Guards or the Yeomanry.

(See page 86 paragraph four of the 153 book)

Driver/Op Geoffrey Arnold

On the "GE" Truck (Halftrack) at the time of D-Day.

Charles Freer  E Troop Driver OC Tank: FERNIE

My Victoria Cross By Charles Harry Freer (1924-2005) I served in the Leicestershire Yeomanry giving close support to the Guards Armoured Division. All our tanks were named after the Leicestershire Hunts: mine was called FERNIE. It was March 1945, and a long way from Caen in Northern France. We had fought our way through France, Belgium and through part of Holland. We had tried desperately to relieve the stricken Airborne Troops at Arnhem. We had stood firm as the Germans pushed through the Ardennes in their savage counter-attack. We had crossed the Maas River and now stood not 3 miles from the Rhine - our next objective.   We were part of Montgomery’s Army and as Bdr. C Freer my job was Driver i/c of a Sherman Tank carrying the Officer Commanding. Armed with a 75mm 25 Pounder gun we were firing across the river both H/E and Smoke shells, and a considerable smoke-screen was being formed to confuse the enemy as we prepared to storm across the river. The ground we occupied had, of course, been the scene of previous heavy fighting and damaged tanks and lorries of both Armies littered the area.

In a “stand down” one day I did a “walk-about” among these wrecks, and came across a German Tiger Tank that had been hit in the turret by a “P.I.A.T.” shell. The crew appeared to have escaped without mishap and I climbed into the driver’s cockpit without hesitating, eager to compare the conditions experienced by the enemy. The dashboard with various dials and gauges was at a slope and I put my hand behind it more or less out of habit.

A dirty oily rag was there but inside the rag I found a dull metal object in the shape of a cross. On the reverse side was an inscription,

“To commemorate the sixty years of the reign of Queen Victoria”,
and turning it over I saw that the front bore the head of that venerable lady, and the date 1897.

What was this medallion doing inside a German Tank? Had it been captured? By whom from whom? Why would a British soldier have been carrying an over 40 years old souvenir of the Royal Diamond Jubilee? Why?...Why?...Truly a mystery from that battlefield so long ago.

But today, that 101 years old bit of dull metal is still one of my most prized possessions - my "Victoria Cross".

"FERNIE" (K/76) and crew. The "K" designation is for Battery Captain.

"C" Sub Section - E Troop

18:00 Hrs 20 September 1944, 131 battery were ordered to turn their Guns round and support some infantry who were attacking a village called Wyler, and with the first target taken on, "C" Sub of E Troop, ranging, they were the first shells from British field guns to fire into Germany during WW2. 

F Troop

"Fox" Troop

Capt. Hon. F "Freddie" L Cawley

Troop Leader F Troop "TLF" [1]

Wounded, 3rd August 1944, the "TLF" Sherman took a broadside shot from a Panther of the 9th SS Panzer Division near Maisoncelle. The Sherman was destroyed but the crew survived.

Capt. Dick Bentley

Troop Leader F Troop "TLF" [2] 11th August 1944

"F" Troop, 131 Battery, Eastbourne, June 1944.

The crew of "FIREBRAND", F2 Fox Troop.

Note the D-Day waterproofing rim welded around the gun mantlet. This would have held a canvas cover in place. T48 rubber tracks on the early chassis.

Fox Troop crossing the Waal bridge, Nijmegen. 21st September 1944

The captured Sd.Kfz 251/9 Type D German Halftrack that belonged to Fox Troop, seen here in the traffic jam waiting to cross the bridge on the 21st September 1944. This was "taken on strength" on the date of 2nd September 1944 in the area of Neuville near the Somme. Many other vehicles and prisoners were acquired on this day.

Called the "Stummel" (Stump), 8.53 t, it had a crew of 3 and had the 7.5cm Tank Gun 37 L/24. It was also fitted with the .50 Cal Browning.

Fox Troop, 131 (R) Battery. The Sexton "FURIOUS" next to an unidentified OP Tank.

Sgt. Wilson

OC Sexton, F Troop.

4868147 Gnr. Pat Reid

Half Track Driver (F Troop), Belgian Croix-de-Guerre with Palm.

Cliff Wild

(R battery, F Troop)

982681 Gnr. Thomas A NUTT 

Royal Artillery - 153 (The Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regt. 22/09/1944 Buried in ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY  - 14. A. 9. Son of William Robert and Marion Elizabeth Nutt; husband of Eileen Alberta Nutt, of Scarborough, Yorkshire. 

Gnr.Cyril Haig

Gnr.Cyril Haig, 26, whose name is given as Hague by the CWGC, was a gunner in the Leicester Yeomanry. He died on 1st January, 1946, as a member of the occupation forces. Buried in Cologne. He was son of William Birchall Hague and Jane Hague and husband of Alice Hague, of Crooke.

952375 BDR. W H R Trow

Killed 3rd August 1944 Aged 25, buried at St. Charles de Percy (British Cemetary)

325179 Gnr. A. Horton

Killed 3rd August 1944 Aged 26, buried at St. Charles de Percy (British Cemetary)

Other Ranks Wounded (Battery not known)

14345475 Gnr. E Z Corbett

Everill was aged 20. Date of Death 17/09/1944 somewhere near Valkenswaard. Son of George and Susan Corbett, of Letchworth, Hertfordshire

Gnr. AHJ (Jim) Taylor

Dispatch Rider and mentioned in dispatches.

987594 L/Bdr Cecil Elvin Hockney

This eBay listing formed an important document and medal group relating to a man who served from 12/07/1940 until 26/07/1946. Born 25/02/1917 he gave his wartime address as 'Volunteer Arms', Union Street, Bridgwater, Somerset. The documents are varied, including some I have never seen previously, together with a few which include a post war Ration Book and petrol rationing booklets. As part of the Guards Armoured Division 153 (Liecs Yeo) Field Reg RA the regiment landed in Normandy as part of VIII Corps and fought in many of the pivotal battles including Epsom, Jupiter, Goodwood, Bluecoat and the breakout from the Falaise pocket. Later as part of 30 Corps Guards Armoured Division formed  the spearhead of the ground forces in Operation Market Garden where in conjunction with American Paratroopers captured the Nijmegen Bridge. During the Battle of the Bulge it was sent to the Meuse to form a defensive line in case the Germans broke through. Following Operation Varsity (crossing of the Rhine) the Division was involved in bitter fighting in the Reichswald and on into Germany.

Denis Trickey, 153rd (LYPAO) FR RA.

This image is taken in the Post War period and his rank and Battery is not known, if you have some information on Denis then please contact us.

Gnr. G V Danks

REME

Capt. C E "Teddy" Akerhielm

Joined 153 at Nawton in Yorkshire in August 1943.and remained with the Regiment until their large LAD detachment was disbanded at the end of the war. With a demobilisation number of ‘’40’’ he was then to spend a year in India. The work of his LAD was well tested when on 28th of August 1944 Guards Armoured Div advanced from Vernon On Seine to reach the Palais Royal in the centre of Brussels by midnight on the 3rd of September a distance of nearly 250 miles without losing any of the Regiment’s Sexton SP Guns or Sherman tanks. As an attached officer and a keen amateur photographer he was able to stand aside from parades and we now have many of his photographs.

"QUORNDON"

Called the RE Tank so it was probably used as a recovery vehicle? "RE" possibly short for REME. The chap in the middle has a REME cap badge. The name of the tank is partially covered so the full proper name has been guessed at from what is seen in the image.

7643446 Sgt. R Gibb

Wounded 3rd March 1945

SIGNALS

Lt. Darrel Angus

"S1" Signals Officers.

Mentioned in Despatches.

2321946 Sgt. Spreadbury, A.E.P

Mentioned in Despatches

Sigm. Blackburn

KIA

Sigm. Spiller

KIA

Sigm. White

KIA

2342294 Sigm. H F Canner

Royal Signals, 153rd (Leics. Yeo.) FR RA

Harold is having a sandwich and is under the "S3" vehicle sign.

A letter from Harold.

RAMC

Capt. John Simpson

Arrived 8th Jan 1945

Capt. A Rammage

Killed in action 10th July 1944

Capt. J H Simpson (R.A.M.C)

Lt. D M Colyer

ACC

7653110 Pte. D J Power

Wounded 27th December 1944

945761 Pte. R Saunders

Wounded 27th July 1944

210972 Pte. N Harris

Wounded 27th July 1944

RASC

Dvr. J Booth

Wounded 3rd August 1944