Trooper Frank Kershaw 10602574
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
50th Northumbrian Division
Died Age 21 on the 20th June 1944
Buried in Bayeux War cemetery 11.B.7
kindly supplied by his nephew Ron Kershaw
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
50th Northumbrian Division
Died Age 21 on the 20th June 1944
Buried in Bayeux War cemetery 11.B.7
kindly supplied by his nephew Ron Kershaw
13 Troop Assault "B" Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment
August 1943
Frank is 5th from Left, second row.
Also on the photo Tony Rambling 3rd from left top row,
John Cole top left, Crumlish 5th from left top row,
Bottom row Haigh, 6th from left Captain Oliver, 7th from left Ken Erkins.
kindly supplied by Ron Kershaw
August 1943
Frank is 5th from Left, second row.
Also on the photo Tony Rambling 3rd from left top row,
John Cole top left, Crumlish 5th from left top row,
Bottom row Haigh, 6th from left Captain Oliver, 7th from left Ken Erkins.
kindly supplied by Ron Kershaw
Alfred Grimes 14633283
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
50th Northumbrian Division
6A Troop / A Squadron
Landed Normandy 6th june 1944 age 19 years old.
Kindly supplied by his nephew Mike Marriott
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
50th Northumbrian Division
6A Troop / A Squadron
Landed Normandy 6th june 1944 age 19 years old.
Kindly supplied by his nephew Mike Marriott
Alfred Grimes meeting "some of the boys"
Revisted Normandy 06th June 2009 on the 65th Anniversary. Kindly supplied by his nephew Mike Marriott 
Alfred with the Legion d'honneur presented at the Imperial War Museum on December 13th 2015.
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visiting a cemetery near Tilly
"many Recce men did not get further" Kindly supplied by his nephew Mike Marriott 
We had the honour to be present at the ceremony, also present were Eric Postles and Don Aiken. A very big thanks to Mike (knelt next to Alf) for inviting us along.
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Tony Rampling's sister-in-law, brother and Tony at 18
Tony was a member of the Assault 13 Troop B Squadron 61st Recce Regt. Tony is third from left top row on Frank Kershaw group photo. Landed on Gold Beach Saw action at: Falaise Gap Hill 112 Arnhem Ardennes, Battle of the Bulge. |
Tony Rampling.
Aged 89 Revisting Normandy I was a Gunner W Op on an armoured car in Lt Williams troop B Squadron he married Chottie , her daughter wrights the blog on Chottie Darling. She came to see me to get info for the blog. you wanted a story.
The first 40 days or so was very hard getting from the beaches to Caen. We did,nt even take our boots off and were unable to wash very much if you did you heated up a biscuit tin of water with abiscuit tin below it filled with earth and some petrol. Slept in a slit trench 2 blankets and a ground sheet to avoid getting shrapnel form morters. A few miles from Caen we had to park our vehicles and file up to the front line were we went into trenches. At a place named Briquessard , these trenches were at the bottem of a forward sloping wood just 2 small fields away from the Germans in their trenches. Mortar bombs were exchanged and gun fire often in the night.We were in these trenches 10 days the only sleep you could get was standing up in the trench, Food was brought down to us at night. We also had to man outposts which were in no mans land about 40 yards from the trench line, with a field telephone to warn of a attack. Could go on. Please excuse typing for a 90 year old. Tony |
Trooper James Elphick 1464104
Aged 18 may 1943 13th Assault Troop 61st Recce Trained as a radio operator landed on Gold Beach 6th June in the second wave. Passed away in 2013 James is on bottom full row, third from Right on Frank Kershaw group photo Kindly supplied by his sons Robert & Laurence |
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C Squadron 61st Recce
Corporal R H McClure is in the second row up and is second from the right. Kindly supplied by Chris McClure 
Trooper Arthur Thomas 10602531 61st Reconnaissance Regiment 50th Northumbrian Division Seen here with his parents in 1946 Kindly supplied by his brother in law Graham Eagland |
Part of C Squadron 61st Recce Kindly supplied by Chris McClure Email recieved from Robert Ashton DEAR SIR, AGAIN LOOKING AT YOUR SITE ON THE VETERANS PHOTOS ON THE ONE WITH THE TATERED CORNERS I COULD HARDLY BELIEVE MY EYES SITTING THERE THIRD FROM THE LEFT WAS MY DAD I ENLARGED IT TO BE SURE IT WAS A PHOTO THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND IT WAS HIM , I AM NOW PUSHING 76 BUT THE YEARS ROLLED BACK TO THAT DAY IN 1944 WHEN WE ALL STOOD OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE AND WAVED HIM OFF MY MUM AND MY YOUNGER BROTHERS ONE 4 YRS AND YOUNG DAVID JUST 6 WEEKS OLD. AFTER D/DAY HE GOT AS FAR AS TILLY WHERE HE NOW LAYS GOD BLESS HIM. CPL SQUIRE ASHTON. God Bless indeed. 
Arthur seen here with his wife Doreen photo taken in 2013 Kindly supplied by his brother in law Graham Eagland |
Trooper Fred G Padbury
5254402
Mortar Section
B Squadron
61st Recce Regiment
Kindly Supplied by his Grandson Ian Padbury
5254402
Mortar Section
B Squadron
61st Recce Regiment
Kindly Supplied by his Grandson Ian Padbury
B Squadron 61st Recce August 1943
B Squadron 61st Recce August 1943
B Squadron 61st Recce August 1943
B Squadron 61st Recce August 1943
Captain B J Heitman
ADC to Brigadier General Colquhoun
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Can be seen wearing the medal ribbon of the Purple Heart that was presented to him by US General Patton
Joined up in 1940 in Maidstone Kent in the Royal West Kent Regiment, 9th Battalion, promoted in three consecutive years to Sergeant, in 1943 the 9th Battalion to a man were transfered to the 162nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps were he was recommended for Officer training attended Sandhurst Military Academy
and joined 61st recce on the 16-01-1944 until they were disbanded.
Kindly supplied by his son John Heitman
ADC to Brigadier General Colquhoun
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Can be seen wearing the medal ribbon of the Purple Heart that was presented to him by US General Patton
Joined up in 1940 in Maidstone Kent in the Royal West Kent Regiment, 9th Battalion, promoted in three consecutive years to Sergeant, in 1943 the 9th Battalion to a man were transfered to the 162nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps were he was recommended for Officer training attended Sandhurst Military Academy
and joined 61st recce on the 16-01-1944 until they were disbanded.
Kindly supplied by his son John Heitman
Lieutenant B J Heitman
Headquarters Company 61st recce
known as "Johnnie"
Pictured with an Armoured car.
Headquarters Company 61st recce
known as "Johnnie"
Pictured with an Armoured car.
Photograph taken about 5 miles from the Siegfied Line.
Lieutenant Heitman on the right with Belgian Madamoiselle
on the left is Lieutenant Charlie Charlton.
Lieutenant Heitman on the right with Belgian Madamoiselle
on the left is Lieutenant Charlie Charlton.
Admin Half track at Nijmegan ( Holland )
Lieutenant Heitman at the front, Spud Murphy in the cab and Tommy Adams on the machine gun.
Lieutenant Heitman at the front, Spud Murphy in the cab and Tommy Adams on the machine gun.
Driver Tommy Adams
He swore that every enemy tank he saw was a "Tiger", he boasted, that being the driver he was the first to enter France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
He swore that every enemy tank he saw was a "Tiger", he boasted, that being the driver he was the first to enter France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Driver / Batman Max (Spud) Murphy
Lieutent Heitmans never to be forgotten Batman he says
"In action he was the nearest approach to a cowboy I have ever seen, as a Yorkshire lad, all 120lbs of him. Was wounded in action at Nijmegan (Holland) but came back for more, my closest companion and Juniors best friend".
Lieutent Heitmans never to be forgotten Batman he says
"In action he was the nearest approach to a cowboy I have ever seen, as a Yorkshire lad, all 120lbs of him. Was wounded in action at Nijmegan (Holland) but came back for more, my closest companion and Juniors best friend".
Brownriggs Boys 61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Brownriggs Boys 61st Reconnaissance Regiment
CPL Eric Postles 10602580
10 troop B Squadron
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10 Troop B Squadron Carriers
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Don Aiken
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Christmas in the Ardennes Don is third back on the sled.
Jack Townsend 10602588
C Squadron
61st Reconnaisance Regiment
N R Rankin 5383874
His diary show him with the 61st and the 5th Recce Kindly supplied by his son Ken. |
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My father, Norman Harry Rankin, told me a few stories about he's days in the Recce core. I thought that others might want to hear them. Maybe they or their Fathers were involved:They were in France and had run out of fuel for the bren gun carrier he was driving. They went into a barn in a farm yard and dug up the floor inside. Under the floor they found some Calvados brandy. They put it in the fuel tank and my father adjusted the carburettors and got the bren gun carrier running.
They were trapped in a large greenhouse and the Germans were firing at them with machine guns. In the green house there were grapes. They ate the grapes and at night the farmer’s wife brought them a large bowl of yoghurt. He said she was a brave woman. Because of this he would not eat grapes or yoghurt after the war.
One of the men in his group was a Mr McAlpine. I think he was one of family that had a construction firm.
They drove into a town or village square and there was a German tiger tank in the square. My father put the bren gun carrier into reverse and drove out of the square. He spun it around and drove through a hedge. The tiger tank drove through a shop and emerged out in the back garden but was too late to fire at them as they went over the ridge of the field and down the other side.
I have a German snipers rifle bullet that has a dent in the end. My farther said that he was sitting in the driver’s seat and moved his head to look at something when the bullet hit a pipe or something just behind his head.
I hope others will find these interesting. My mother would not let him talk about what happened during the war, so these are the only stories I have.
Regards Ken
They were trapped in a large greenhouse and the Germans were firing at them with machine guns. In the green house there were grapes. They ate the grapes and at night the farmer’s wife brought them a large bowl of yoghurt. He said she was a brave woman. Because of this he would not eat grapes or yoghurt after the war.
One of the men in his group was a Mr McAlpine. I think he was one of family that had a construction firm.
They drove into a town or village square and there was a German tiger tank in the square. My father put the bren gun carrier into reverse and drove out of the square. He spun it around and drove through a hedge. The tiger tank drove through a shop and emerged out in the back garden but was too late to fire at them as they went over the ridge of the field and down the other side.
I have a German snipers rifle bullet that has a dent in the end. My farther said that he was sitting in the driver’s seat and moved his head to look at something when the bullet hit a pipe or something just behind his head.
I hope others will find these interesting. My mother would not let him talk about what happened during the war, so these are the only stories I have.
Regards Ken
Trooper Derek Edmonds 14378693.
I landed on D Day at 4 pm in the second wave and was in action next day when Corporal Billingham got the MM.
I've been trying to recall our regimental makeup, by D-day we had been incorporated into the Royal Armoured Corps, and I believe the Squadron consisted of a Bren Gun Carrier Troop ( with which I went into action ), an Armoured Car Troop, an Assault Troop ( that Trooper Jimmy Elphick was in ) and an HQ Troop. The Regimental CO was Colonel Sir William Mount ( David Cameron's father-in- law) who was wounded shortly after D day by a sniper ( the same day that I was slightly wounded by being blown off the side of our carrier ) I don't recall who our OC was but he was known as Chinny and the Squadron Sergeant Major was known as Chang, not to his face of course. I was Troop, Wireless Operator with Lieutenant Rainey in the third carrier back, he got a Blighty one soon after that and by September 1944 I was the only one left of the original troop that landed on D day. Cheers from Derek Edmonds retired to Ottery St. Mary in Devon.
Photo kindly supplied by Derek himself.
I landed on D Day at 4 pm in the second wave and was in action next day when Corporal Billingham got the MM.
I've been trying to recall our regimental makeup, by D-day we had been incorporated into the Royal Armoured Corps, and I believe the Squadron consisted of a Bren Gun Carrier Troop ( with which I went into action ), an Armoured Car Troop, an Assault Troop ( that Trooper Jimmy Elphick was in ) and an HQ Troop. The Regimental CO was Colonel Sir William Mount ( David Cameron's father-in- law) who was wounded shortly after D day by a sniper ( the same day that I was slightly wounded by being blown off the side of our carrier ) I don't recall who our OC was but he was known as Chinny and the Squadron Sergeant Major was known as Chang, not to his face of course. I was Troop, Wireless Operator with Lieutenant Rainey in the third carrier back, he got a Blighty one soon after that and by September 1944 I was the only one left of the original troop that landed on D day. Cheers from Derek Edmonds retired to Ottery St. Mary in Devon.
Photo kindly supplied by Derek himself.
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Another group photo supplied by Derek Edmonds (he is top right back row)
Trooper A E Pearman 6351782 First photo is from his time with the 61st Recce and shows his driver training record, the second show him when later transferred to 15th Recce.
Kindly supplied by his son Adrian
Kindly supplied by his son Adrian
L/Cpl Payne 5886344
Hi, the photo of my dad was taken on 22/4/1943, the third shot of the Recce Corps badge was done during the war by a neighbour of his mother in silk on a piece of flour sackcloth from the local flour mill (rivermill Eaton Socon). The final shot are of his divisional markings whilst in the 61st Div, and his original Recce shoulder flash. His original army service number was 5886344 and he was a L/Cpl. Lt Col Mount was instrumental in getting my father a job post war, and had welcomed my father into his home near Reading and told him that if he was ever in trouble and needed a character reference he would help him. He was David Cameron's maternal grandfather.
Kindly supplied by his son Alistair
Sgt Bill Abbey 5248541
7 Able Troop, A Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Died 23rd June 1944, Age 34
Buried at Hottot-Les-Bagues 111.F.7
Kindly supplied by his son Jim.
7 Able Troop, A Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Died 23rd June 1944, Age 34
Buried at Hottot-Les-Bagues 111.F.7
Kindly supplied by his son Jim.
Trooper T A Humphreys 5340981
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
An unknown Trooper
his photograph was always carried by T A Humphreys
Kindly supplied by Will Humphreys
Very interested to find out that there is a 61st Recce group.
My father was in the 61st Recce 'A' sqn.
Sgt Bill 'skip' Ricketts.5255291 - Cromwell tank driver
Also my uncle was also in the same sqn.
Sid Ricketts - Daimler armoured car driver
unfortunately both have passed on now.
Attached is photo taken in Iseghem Belgium 1945.
Dad is 3rd row back and 2nd from right.
Regards
Ken Ricketts
My father was in the 61st Recce 'A' sqn.
Sgt Bill 'skip' Ricketts.5255291 - Cromwell tank driver
Also my uncle was also in the same sqn.
Sid Ricketts - Daimler armoured car driver
unfortunately both have passed on now.
Attached is photo taken in Iseghem Belgium 1945.
Dad is 3rd row back and 2nd from right.
Regards
Ken Ricketts
Another photo of member of the 61st Recce.
Hartley Astin from Clitheroe Lancashire is on the left seated.
After the war he went back to Iseghem Belgium, married and lived there the rest of his life.
kindly supplied by his Grandaughter Sofie Deleersnyder
Hartley Astin from Clitheroe Lancashire is on the left seated.
After the war he went back to Iseghem Belgium, married and lived there the rest of his life.
kindly supplied by his Grandaughter Sofie Deleersnyder
Reunion
Reunion in Iseghem (Izegem) not sure of the date, kindly supplied by Sofie Deleersnyder.
William Reginald Flack
First photo above shows Lance Corporal William Reginald Flack 5340290 15 Troop C Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Second photo show him with Lance Sergeant Sidney Smith sadly killed in action on 09-09-1944 at the Gheel Bridgehead.
Third photo shows enthusiastic locals during the Liberation of Bottelare near Ghent.
Fourth photo shows WR Flack with his troop (not yet identified).
kindly supplied by his son Les Flack
First photo above shows Lance Corporal William Reginald Flack 5340290 15 Troop C Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Second photo show him with Lance Sergeant Sidney Smith sadly killed in action on 09-09-1944 at the Gheel Bridgehead.
Third photo shows enthusiastic locals during the Liberation of Bottelare near Ghent.
Fourth photo shows WR Flack with his troop (not yet identified).
kindly supplied by his son Les Flack
James Heaton 61st Reconnaissance Regiment then 52nd Lowland Reconnaissance
Includes a poem written by James after the War.
Kindly supplied by James brother Les. (quality of photo's area bit poor as they are from a photocopy).
Includes a poem written by James after the War.
Kindly supplied by James brother Les. (quality of photo's area bit poor as they are from a photocopy).
Captain Herbert Sidney Snook 229268
KIA 21-04-2045 Becklingen Cemetery nr Bremen
Kindly Supplied by his son Alan
KIA 21-04-2045 Becklingen Cemetery nr Bremen
Kindly Supplied by his son Alan
A Squadron 61st Recce
Photo kindly supplied by Ian Cunningham
W A Larkin 10 Troop 61st Recce. Kindly supplied by his daughter Anne.
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Staff Sergeant Douglass Kew
RHQ Squadron
Kindly Supplied by his son Malcolm
Christopher Costard.
possibly C Squadron, 61st Recce. Kindly supplied by his son Ian |
Group shot with Christopher on the front row, first on right.
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Sydney Albert Ricketts above, and on left with his brother Bill (Skip) Ricketts, Sid is also below on a motorcycle possibly in Scotland.
Kindly supplied by his son Ray.
Sgt Charlie Wells
B Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. |
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Trooper Thomas Graham 14573558
C Squadron
61st reconnaissance Regiment
Enlisted 1st April 1943 aged 19.
Qualified Driver/Operator November 1943.
(See Thomas own story of his Last Night with the Regiment in the Veterans
Memoir's page).
Kindly supplied by his son Tony Graham
Doug Johnson
Bren Gun Carrier Driver
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Kindly supplied by his son Ken
Jim Leaver
Lieutenant A Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment |
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Lt Jim Leaver armoured car, Jim on the left and Eric Midgeley on the right. Kindly supplied by his son Tim Leaver |
5A Armoured Car Troop
A Squadron Stan Oliver, Horace Holmes, Alf Beesley, Geordie Eadinston, Les Eldridge Jim Leaver, Cpl Turner, Cpl Rogal L/C Grainger, Danny Tansell, Hartley Astin, Eric Midgeley |
Bill Cadle
5339606
C Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Bill was the Corporal in charge of the carrier in Thomas Grahams story
My last night with the Regiment see Veterans Memoir's
Kindly supplied by his son Robert
5339606
C Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Bill was the Corporal in charge of the carrier in Thomas Grahams story
My last night with the Regiment see Veterans Memoir's
Kindly supplied by his son Robert
Trooper Thomas Webb
14561565
Killed in Action 30-12-1944
Aged 19
Buried at Adegem Cemetery
Belgium
14561565
Killed in Action 30-12-1944
Aged 19
Buried at Adegem Cemetery
Belgium
RSM John Lunn aka (Angus)
2813562
Seaforth Highlanders
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Click on each photo to enlarge
Kindly supplied by his son Don Lunn.
Sgt Kenneth Izon 10602516
B Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Click on each photo to enlarge
Kindly supplied by his grandson Christian
B Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Click on each photo to enlarge
Kindly supplied by his grandson Christian
Frances Howes and two friend in the 61st Recce
Kindly supplied by his nephew Mark Turner |
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Trooper Maurice Raine 14544569 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. K.I.A 11,October 1944 aged 19. Kindly supplied by his great niece Anitta Philpot. |
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Cpl Gerald Metcalfe 10602579 61st Reconnaissance Regiment K.I.A 04, January 1945. Kindly supplied by his Niece Julia Quinney. |
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Fred (Beverley) Merrick
from Droitwich, Worcestershire
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Kindly suplied by his Grandaughter Diana Davis.
from Droitwich, Worcestershire
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Kindly suplied by his Grandaughter Diana Davis.
Trooper Ray Hetherington 10602543, 11 Troop, B Squadron, 61st Recce, Pic taken in 1943. Pic on right shows Ray with Spiv Burges and Webster Booth and the Troop Dog Fritz, The carrier was named "Merlin" |
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Ray in 2018 attending a Remembrance day parade.
Kindly supplied by his son Andrew
Trooper John (Jack) Jordison 14245009
61st Reconnaissance A” Squadron
George Stockton 262931 61st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Cecil G Martin
5188096
Transferred to the 61st Recce in 1941 from the Gloucester Regiment,
went to 3rd Recce when the 61st disbanded.
Kindly supplied by his Grandson Rob.
Roberts W.R (Bill) 14636999 13th Assault Troop, B Squadron 61st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Kindly supplied by his daughter Lynda.
RICHARD CHARLES COLLINGWOOD, 5187667, 61st Reconnaissance Corps RAC Died aged 27yrs entering Bure on 30th December 1944. He was driving an armoured car that was hit by anti tank fire from the woods up on the right.
I have attached some of the letters and photos that have been treasured by my Grandmother (Richards mother) and my Aunt. I have all the letters and pictures that were sent to my Grandmother by the family who tended Richards grave until he was moved to Hotton Cemetery.
……. Richards body was seen being dumped on the step at the Priests House by some German soldiers, they told the Priest to ‘bury him’. The Priest buried Richard at the side of Bure Church (see attached picture with a lady and a young girl). We were always told that the girl was 12yrs old, she was the daughter of the lady in the picture. It was a father and his 10yr old son who lived in Bure , who saw Richards body dumped on the Priests step, they had been hiding up in a Monastery /School (ordered by the Germans) but had run home to find some food when they witnessed this. The young boy was called Jules Noël, he and his family tended Richards grave in Bure. They used to write to my Grandmother.
Kind regards,
Joanne
I have attached some of the letters and photos that have been treasured by my Grandmother (Richards mother) and my Aunt. I have all the letters and pictures that were sent to my Grandmother by the family who tended Richards grave until he was moved to Hotton Cemetery.
……. Richards body was seen being dumped on the step at the Priests House by some German soldiers, they told the Priest to ‘bury him’. The Priest buried Richard at the side of Bure Church (see attached picture with a lady and a young girl). We were always told that the girl was 12yrs old, she was the daughter of the lady in the picture. It was a father and his 10yr old son who lived in Bure , who saw Richards body dumped on the Priests step, they had been hiding up in a Monastery /School (ordered by the Germans) but had run home to find some food when they witnessed this. The young boy was called Jules Noël, he and his family tended Richards grave in Bure. They used to write to my Grandmother.
Kind regards,
Joanne
First photo Trooper Richard Collingwood, second photo Richard on far right., third photo the priest who buried Richard, fourth photo the family who tended his grave, fifth photo letter from Major Oliver, B Squadron Commander, sixth photo letter from Colonel Brownrigg, 61st Recce Commanding officer, Last photo letter from Lt Winzer Richard's Troop commander.
Kindly supplied by Richards niece Joanne.
6352488
Albert Allison
War Substantive Sergeant
A Squadron
61st Reconnaissance Regiment
Transferred to 52nd Recce February 1945
Kindly Supplied by Alvin Allison.
Lt Richard Kelner Williams
5731671 commander of B Squadron 5 Troop
See his story on the memoirs page.
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John Duke 6349329 61st Recce
Kindly supplied by his son Richard.
