Hello,
My name is Seamus Murphy and my Grandfather is buried at Valkenswaard War Cemetery, i am trying to find out more about the conflict around this area in 1944. could anyone please help me answer the following questions?
My Grandfathers name was Patrick Murphy, Serjeant, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 4th Bn, Died 23/09/1944. service number 3764554
Where were the 4th Bn based?
Why were they in that area at that time?
Has anyone got any pictures relevant to the Royal Welch Fusiliers especially the 4th Bn at that time?
Does anyone know what happened in that area at that time?
Hello Seamus,
Capt M.E.Beale. the Ajutant of the 4th and Lt Paul the intelligence officer of thr 4th were drowned whilst yachting in Strangford Lough. Major R Humphreys Roberts was appointed Adjutant of the 4th.There were two changes in September Lt/Col J.A.M.Rice-Evans took over command of the 4th, with Major Bryant as his 2nd in Command.On October the 3rd the 4th were taking part in Corps manouevres at the end of these training exercises the 53rd Division made ready to return to England.On returning to England the 4th were stationed in Whittington Barracks in Lichfield.The 4th and 6th fought in the Gavrus and Evrecy area.I will forward more info later. All the info I have sent is from The Red Dragon byLt/ Commander P.K.Kemp
Regards RBD
¨4th RWF and the 53rd Welsh Division had the task in the later half of september 1944 to protect the western side of the corridor used by XXX Corps in their effort to reach Arnhem. They were in action near Lommel, and the days 22/23rd of september 1944 found them in a village called Wintelre in Holland.
Three men from the Bn are reported died/killed on this day:
This information is taken from Delaforce's "red crown and dragon" and Riley/Glovers "that astonishing infantry.
Kind regards,
Lars
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The 4th Bn had had 80 men killed or wounded in an action which commenced on the 19th Sept 1944 during Bn attacks on Wintelre.
I would suggest obtaining a copy of The Red Dragon by Lt Comdr PK Kemp. It cover the actions of The RWF during WW2, and follows the 4th Bn in detail after they landed at Normandy in mid to late June.
The book is out of print, so try www.abebooks.com for a used copy. Expect to pay £20-40.
Hello Seamus,
Re my truncated e mail on the 4th batt RWF. I started to read about the 4th 6th and 7th from the Red Dragon.I had to stop e mailing after the info I mailed to the forum. The reason for this is the book contains 199 pages on the Battalions concerned. Lars e mail is nearer the mark. I will write some info that came from the Red Dragon. The Brigade was made up of three RWF battalions.They lost a lot of men in fighting to capture GAVRUS and EVRECY and the crossing of the river ORNE.They also helped to trap the German 7th Army in the FALAISE gap which helped the Americans to encircle this body of the German Army. The 53rd Division casualties were very heavy and the 3 RWF battalions lost a lot of men. So many in fact that the RWF have more names on the Bayeux Memorial than any other regiment.it was a fitting tribute to the RWF that the Regiment were selected to do the guard of honour for the official opening of the Bayeux memorial.However on the 3/8/1944 the 3 RWF Battalions were replaced and broken up. The official reason was that reserves were easier to find by re-organising the Brigade.
The new formation was as follow
158 Brigade 7/RWF,1/East lancs, and the 1/5th Welsh.
160 Brigade was made up of 6/RWF,2/Mons, and the 4th Welsh.
7 Brigade was made up of 4/RWF 1/ Highland Light Infantry,1 Batt Ox and Bucks.
Within the RWF family another reason exists. Monty was losing too many men from the 3 RWF Battalions and this alternative was found to help save bad news in the Principality.I cannot state that this is true but it makes sense. In conclusion I had to stop work on the 3 RWF Battalions because there is a gap in our Regimental history. General Riley's first volume starts in 1945.and the history from the 2nd world war has yet to be finalised it is being worked on at present. I have asked the $64,000 question ie what will it be numbered under, we only have number 5 left and volumes 6&7 are already published.I expect the numbering may turn out to be 5a and 5b etc. Food for thought.
Regards RBD
Hello All,
I have received an answer to the thread on Sjt Murphy, from Colonel Sinnett from the war diaries.The 4th RWF War Diary records that there were 19 casualties on the 23 September1944, but it fails to give details (Names ) Although I (Colonel Sinnett) know that 3 men died, of whom Sjt Murhpy was one. his number is 3764554, with only one 4 at the end. It is a King;s Regiment (Liverpool)regimental number, so he probably joined us as a reinforcement at some time during the campaign,as did a large number of men particularly after our losses in Normandy.There was not an attack on this day, so they may have been on patrol or killed by shell or mortar fire.Of course he could have died of wounds inflicted before the 23rd.the battalion was at that time in the Westelbeers area, due west of Eindhoven in Holland.google maps will pinpoint the area for any one interested.
Regards RBD
Hi I realise this is an old post but I am a new member. My Husbands great Uncle Pte Emrys Jones was killed in Peel (I believe near Reusel) on 27th Sept 1944. He is buried in Valkenswaard cemetery which we visited on the 70th anniversary of his death. I have seen some info about the 4th Btn on those days but don't know which company he served in. Any way I can find company info? thanks in advance
You could do worse than get a copy of the battalions 1944 war diary from the National Archives. It is unlikely you'll narrow him down from the battalion unless you have some letters with his address on or there's a nominal roll in the war diary.
Here's all the 4th Battalion war diary refs covering WW2. If Kew is too far for you, I photograph war diaries at 10p per page and ship the images on DVD.
WO 166/4626 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1939 Sept-1941 Dec
WO 166/8929 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1942 Jan-Dec
WO 166/12764 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1943 Jan-Dec
WO 171/1389 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1944 Jan-Dec
WO 171/5281 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1945 Jan-Apr
WO 171/5282 4 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1945 May-Dec
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