Capt. R F Schooley (Service No. 129602) - RWF

[Angela G]

Hi Everyone!

I'm desperately hoping there's somebody out there who can help me discover some information about my uncle, Capt. R F Schooley (Service No. 129602) of the RWF, before I visit his grave later this year on the 70th anniversary of his death.

I am only interested in the period from immediately prior to D-Day until my uncle's death on 8th June 1944. I know he was at Southwick House and believe he was in HQ Company, 9th Infantry Brigade.
At some stage he was Acting Brigade Major but I have no idea whether this was before 6th June or after he landed on Sword Beach. I would love to know what his job was. What I do know is that he was very badly wounded on 7th June and was taken to a converted chapel, which must have been some sort of first-aid post. On 8th June the converted chapel was shelled and my uncle was killed. He is buried in Hermanville Cemetery.
I would be so grateful for any information anyone can offer.

Angela Glynn (nee Schooley).

In both of the attached photographs Capt. Schooley is in the centre, wearing the peaked cap.

[Jerry B]

He is listed in the regimental history of WWII, in the Roll Of Honour, but is otherwise not mentioned.

Are you sure he was in 9th Infantry Brigade, as they had no Welsh Battalions with them in 44, though he might have been transferred/attached to them. The 7th Inf Brigade had the 2nd Bn from the South Wales Borderers and they were part of the 3rd division which were the first British division to land on Sword beach on D Day and it is possible that he was with them. Interestingly the 9th brigade were with the 3rd Div in 1940 with the BEF, so perhaps the dates of which brigades he was with have been mixed up. Obviously from the records he was with the RWF, but officers were quite often moved outside their parent regiment.

I wish you luck with your search.

[Angela G]

He was a Staff Officer at Southwick House (SHAEF HQ) before D-Day and I'm pretty sure I remember being told that he didn't land on Sword Beach until 7th June.

[Drew5233]

He was with 9 Brigade HQ as a staff officer. He'll probably get a mention somewhere along the line in 9 Bde's war diary. Officers deaths tend to be well documented in war diaries. Here's his details on CWGC: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2337499/SCHOOLEY,%20REGINALD%20FREDERICK

[Drew5233]

This is the war diary he will be in: WO 171/616 9 Infantry Brigade. H.Q. 01 January 1944 - 31 July 1944