I am the grandson of Sgt Peter Gardiner, who enlisted in the newly activated Reconnaissance Corps 53 Regiment on January 19 1942. He saw action with his unit in France, Holland, Belguim and Germany. I am fortunate enough to hold on to his records from the MOD, as well as personal photographs and stories. I have recently visited Holland, and a city there that was liberated by the 53rd after heavy fighting. I have also found great info from books which talk about their actions.
My granddad was a bricklayer before the war, and what encouraged him to join the Recce Corps was that its soldiers were of the highest standard. Men had to come top on IQ tests before getting in and the press claimed they were as good as the commandos.
My granddad trained at the No 1 Reconnaissance Training Centre at Lochmaben, Scotland before heading down to Catterick. He landed in France in late June. In one incident he was leading a patrol that was recceing some crossroads. He got up on a hill and down below he could see a 88mm Flak gun, with about five Germans firing it unaware that they were being watched. He observed them carefully, and like all proper reconnaissance involved, reported their presence. With dread, he looked at each German through his binoculars then got on the radio to call in an artillery strike. In the next moment he heard the shells come ripping down killing all of those poor Germans and destroying the gun. Smoke was everywhere and what was left was a horrible stench of death and cordite which has never left my granddad since.
He lost his best friend in France too. His name was Sgt Alexander Grant, from Edinburgh just like my granddad. He was a middle-weight boxer in the regiment and my granddad was welter-weight champion. They both used to train together locally when on leave. Does anyone have any more info on Sgt Grant? I will be very grateful for any info anyone has.
Despite witnessing horrible things in the war, my granddad did have some funny stories. In Belgium, during the freezing winter of 1944 'The Battle of the Bulge' as many may recognise it, he was out on another patrol when they came across this old train carriage in the snow. They ripped off planks of wood from it to make a fire, when inside they discovered a stock of wine, cigars and women's fur coats! They were so happy they were smashing the necks off the wine bottles and letting it stream down their faces, but still managing a crate per man. They didn't care much for it though, and started to look for brandy, however I think they got drunk. They put on the women's fur coats and started smoking the cigars! When they got back to their lines like that, the entire regiment must have been laughing!
My granddad was finally discharged from the Recce Corps in 1946, at the time of its disbandment and joined the North Irish Horse until 194... He did win a medal but i'm not sure which one. I would like to find this out.
Please, if anyone has any info could they contact me. Are there any veterans who served in 53 Recce and knew my granddad? Also, does anyone have any information on a man called Paul Rockfeld? He was another friend of my granddad who served in the same unit who died in 1946. All I have is a photograph of him but nothing about his background.This would be kindly appreciated.
Thank you.
