Unidentified photos from the collection of Lance Corporal Emmerson

CHATEAU D'AMFREVILLE 3 Cdo HQ 1944

CHATEAU D'AMFREVILLE 3 Cdo HQ

This message was edited 8 times. Last update was at 07/11/2012 19:23:57

some fantastic detective work going on here keep up the good work.

Further information can be obtained from Unit 'Tactical sign/ Identifier number'.

eg. the number 81 (in white) on a red square was the Unit Id No for HQ 1 ss (Cdo) Brigade.
the number 81(in red) on a white/blue square was the Unit Id No for Brigade Signals

From this you can identify picture #17 as Brigade Signals,

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/misc+je+photo18.jpg.html

and picture #18 as Brigade HQ.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/misc+je+photo19_003.jpg.html

The vehicle on picture #18 is marked 83 which I believe to be the Tactical sign for 7th Armoured Div's 3rd Transport Company.

The vehicle on the photo (link below) shows the 81 on a white/blue square which identifies the vehicle as belonging to Brigade Signals.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/03+_2_.jpg.html

on picture #43

Jack Bakker wrote:The sign on the wall is painted in German gothic letters. When you enlarge the photo you can read WESEL as the last word on the sign on the left.

I believe this to be a bar /gasthaus/gasthof sign as word two up from 'Wesel' reads Brauerai (brewery) so I think that the gothic script probably shows the name of the gasthof and the bier (beer) served here. The smaller words would be the address of the brewery - I haven't yet been able to identify any brewery, that fit the letters, in the Wesel district.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 07/11/2012 19:26:00

Just looking at picture #18

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/misc+je+photo19_003.jpg.html

and the photo at the link below and I believe that they were both taken before April 45.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/scan0149.jpg.html

Look carefully at the lorries in both photos and the Unit sign for 7th Armoured Div, a red Desert Rat on a white background, can be seen.

By 6th April, 1 Cdo Brigade, still in VIII Corps, came under 6th Airbourne Div.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:57:34

Hi,
A few dates from the HQ 1st Commando Brigade War Diary 1945 that might be of use.

16th January 1945 - Location Asten, Holland. Came under command of 15th (Scottish) Division and went into reserve. 3 Commando detached and came under command 11th Armoured Division.

21st January - Location Helden. Orders were received from 15 (Scottish) Division that the Brigade was to come under command of 7th Armoured Division.

20th February - Location Venrai. Brigade came under direct command of VIII Corps.

March - Missing from WD

3rd April - Location Greven. During the 2/3 (April) orders were received for the Brigade to come under Command of 6th Airborne Division.

6th April - Location Osnabruck. The Brigade came under the command of 11 Armoured Division.

19th April - Location Wreidel. The Brigade came under command 15th (Scottish) Division.

30th April - Location Lauenburg. The Brigade came under the command 6th Airborne Division.

And in relation to this photo : http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/30.jpg.html

17th February - Location Brachterbeek. The Commander 2nd Army Lt General Sir Miles Dempsey KCB DSO MC visited the Brigade.

Regards

Danny

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 17/04/2012 16:54:48

Picture #50

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/scan0152.jpg.html

and SSBde HQ Group - 1

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/1+SS+Bde/scan0149.jpg.html

are taken by the Maasbracht Gemeentehuis (Town Hall), near Brachterbeek.

nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 20/01/2012 21:39:54

Once again thanks to Nick, Stephane, Jack, Danny, and Steve for all their hard work. I am updating photos with the locations and units as and when I get time. I will leave those identified in the Unidentified album at the moment as when I do move them into the main SS Bde HQ and Signals album the links on here will not work. If you find that just go back to the main album where they will be. I'll let you keep working on these before I post the next batch :D

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 21/01/2012 18:40:56

With reference to the Lord Lovat photos, Danny Lovell has found these entries in the War Diary for HQ 1 Commando Brigade

9th April 1945. Location Leise, Brigadier Lord Lovat DSO MC and Lt Col R. Dawson DSO visited the Bde

16th May 1945, Location Oldenburg, Brigadier The Lord Lovat DSO MC visited the Bde

Pete wrote: War Diary for HQ 1 Commando Brigade

9th April 1945. Location Leise, Brigadier Lord Lovat DSO MC and Lt Col R. Dawson DSO visited the Bde

Danny, can you confirm the location LEISE

Nick.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 24/01/2012 00:18:20

Reference my last post, I am unable to find a LEISE on the map.

I have however found a LEESE in Lower Saxony that is almost mid-way between Osnabruch & Wreidel in a almost direct route.

24 Mar - Wesel

3 April - Greven

6 April - Osnabruch

9 April - Leese

13 Apr - Hademstorf

19 April - Wreidel

30 April - Lauenburg

6 May - Neustadt in Holstein

16 May - Oldenburg in Holstein

There is also a possibility that there were other locations along the route.
Nick

Hello Nick,
That is how it is spelt in all of the entries in the War Diary but you are right it is Leese.

There are other places listed in the War Diary. When I get a chance I will do another list of dates and places.

Regards

Danny

Thanks Danny,
I thought it was probably a mis-spelling in the War Diaries, but I wasn't sure.

LEESE does make better sense though.

Nick

New photos added to the album. I have moved some of the photos out of the unidentified album now and updated all the gallery links concerned in this forum thread so that they take you to the correct picture. It's the leise I could do after all the help everyone's given.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/HQ+and+Sigs/

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 26/01/2012 21:32:08

Pete wrote: It's the leise I could do after all the help everyone's given.

Groan!

#55 is Le Plein, France, on the 14th July (we already have it in the Gallery!)

nick

Picture #31 is Sint Petrus-en-Pauluskerk (Church of St. Peter and St. Paul) Oostende, Belgium.

Nick