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213304 Tpr. Ernest Leonard Sellman British Army 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment from:Alperton, London (d.24th June 1944) My uncle, Ernest Leonard Sellman was a trooper in the British Army, 43rd 2/5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment. He died on 24th June 1944 when his cargo ship, the Derrycunihy, struck a mine off the Normandy landing beaches (Juno) and broke in two, killing over half the crew.
This is all I know of my uncle. I don't have any photos from his military service. I would love to know if anyone has any further information about his regiment or if anyone knew him personally. This would be enormously appreciated as he was much loved by his family and I would like to be able to pass on information to my own family.
Editors Note:
The unit was called 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment (formerly 5th battalion the Gloucester Regiment TA). HQ,A and C Squadrons sailed on the Derrycunnihy. On 18 June 1944 HQ, A and C squadrons embarked at West India Docks, London, aboard Motor Transport Ship (MTS) T72, a general purpose cargo ship named the MV Derrycunihy. T72 joined a convoy off Southend-on-Sea and arrived off Sword Beach on the evening of 20 June. High seas and enemy shelling prevented unloading for three days and it was decided to move T72 to Juno Beach for disembarkation. As the ship started engines at 07.40 on the morning of 24 June it detonated an acoustic or 'Oyster' mine dropped by one of the nightly Luftwaffe raiders. The mine exploded under the keel, splitting the ship in two, and the after part, packed with men of 43 Recce, sank rapidly. Worse still, a 3-tonner ammunition lorry caught fire, and oil floating on the water was set alight. Landing craft and the gunboat HMS Locust quickly came alongside and picked up survivors, most of whom were evacuated to SS Cap Touraine, a former French liner. The Regimental War Diary records that 'Great gallantry was displayed by all troops in the two aft holds' and lists 183 men of the regiment lost and about 120 others evacuated wounded. In addition, 25 of the ship's crew (including Army gunners) died in the disaster, which represented the biggest single loss of life off the invasion beaches.
In the days following the sinking, the survivors were formed into a composite squadron and most of 43 Recce's vehicles were landed from the beached fore part of the "Derrycunihy". B Sqn arrived from England, together with the first reinforcements. A complete squadron was transferred to 43 Recce from the reinforcement unit, 161st (Green Howards) Reconnaissance Regiment.
The regimental war diary can be viewed at National Archives in Kew.
There are a number of websites for the Recce unit. There are family records on Ancestry which seem quite comprehensive.
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