|
|
|
Those known to have fought in Operation Epsom during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
|
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 27th April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264001 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQ's
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
|
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
Want to know more about Operation Epsom? There are:69 items tagged Operation Epsom available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
|
Gnr. Edward Stollar 124th Bty. 151st Field Regiment Royal Artillery I have a very complete record of the war service of my Uncle Ted, my mother's brother.
Edward Stollar joined on the 27th of February 1941 at the age of 29 and joined the 72nd Coastal Training, 223rd Battery He had served in the Orkneys before joining the Ayrshire Yeomanry in 151st Field Regiment, B troop of A Battery on the 8th February 1944.
151st Field Regiment had spent 1941 travelling up and down the country developing and becoming proficient in its Gunnery skills. In May 1942 it became part of the Order of Battle of 11th Armoured Division with the Black Bull being the divisional sign.
Following training in Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight on the 8th June he left for Tilbury where the regiment was divided in two to be loaded on the Empire Canyon and the Empire Farmer bound with full escort to the English Channel and Normandy. The coast came into view at dawn on the 13th June and 124th Battery landed on the most easterly beach near Ouistreham. Ted and his mate concentrated on Lantheuil village eight kilometres inland for ten days whilst the bridgehead was established.
From the 26th of June to 6th of July he was involved in bridgehead Operation Epsom with the aim of passing Caen and crossing the River One to the south. Further operations included Goodwood (18th - 22 July) and Bluecoat (30th July - 7th August). From the 14th - 19th August the next phase of battle commenced with the closure of the Falaise pocket with Flers liberated on the 16th. The 22nd saw Ted and his mates in action at Face against Tiger tanks. The Allied Liberation of Paris was completed on 30th August ending Operation Overlord. The period 29th Aug to 4th September took Ted across the Seine and in the six days the division had advance 340 miles fighting on five of the six days. This took them to Antwerp. The next stage was moving into Holland and on the 12th September, 151st Regiment fired in support of the Welsh Guards eventually assisting them and breaking through to Arnhem which turned into a bridge too far. Over the next few weeks 151st fired at targets over the Maas.
He returned to the UK and was discharged to the Reserve on 16th Jan 1946, being awarded the France & Germany Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal and Victory Medal.
|
A/Cpl. Charles Birrell 8th Btn. Scots Guards My dad, Charles Birrell, hailed from Forgan in Fife.
On researching him I found out he joined the 8th Battalion, Scots Guards which became part of the 44th Lowland Infantry Brigade and were involved in Operation Overlord, the Battle of Caen, Operation Epsom, second Battle of the Odon, and Operation Bluecoat between June 1944 and August 1944. They then fought in the Northwest Europe Campaign (Siegfried Line Campaign) during which my father was captured in Belgium by the Germans in September 1944.
He wouldn't tell us much about his time during the war or his time in Stalag XII-A but he suffered with his stomach and bowel for years. He did tell us that the men had to forage the rubbish for food and would make soup from potato peelings. He mentioned being liberated by the Americans and said he was glad that it wasn't the Russians, but I don't know why this was. I still have the letter sent to his mother that said he was missing and presumed dead.
|
Pte. George David "Jock" McIntosh 7th Btn. C Coy. Seaforth Highlanders My Father, George McIntosh joined the Army 12 Feb 1942, aged 19, basic training at 11th Infantry Training Center at Fort George. Once training was complete he was posted to 7th Seaforth Highlanders. During Op Epsom he was wounded and was returned to the UK. Once declared fit he returned to North Western Europe on the 12th of November 1944. He was wounded again on the 16th of February 1945 in Germany. He survived the War. I have done research into his time in the Army getting his Service history to help put everything together.
|
Pte. Jack "Tush" Barrett 8th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment Jack Barrett joined the 8th East Lancashire Regiment in 1940 and, on conversion to tanks in 1941, continued to serve in 144th (East Lancashire) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps on Valentine, Churchill and Sherman Tanks, first as a co-driver then driver.
He saw active service in Normandy, the Low Countries and Germany, taking part in the Battles of Noyers, Pierre sur Mere, Le Havre, Caen, Operation Goodwood, Operation Totalise and Operation Epsom, in the Ardennes and the Rhine Crossing.
In 1945 the regiment became the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. Jack was demobbed in 1946.
|
Capt. Wilfrid Turtle Keenan 9th Btn. Cameronians Rifle Brigade (d.29th June 1944)   My birth mother, Edith Keldie Edgar served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (circa 1942) and was previously married to Captain Wilfrid T. Keenan of the Royal Cameronians from Glasgow Scotland (1942).
My mom passed away in 1991 and I knew very little about Wilfrid's history.
The Internet has helped me with much of the information contained herein but I also have a few photos of Wilfrid, his 9th Battalion Group and several hand written letters he wrote to Edith after he landed in Normandy, leading up to a few days before he was killed with several of his fellow Cameronians during the historic battle there.
Wilfred was killed in action on 28th of June 1944 in Grainville Sur Odon, France during the well-documented Operation Epsom and he is buried in the British Military Cemetary at St. Manvieu - Cheux, France.
Wilfrid was the son of Henry and Hannah Keenan of Glasgow, Scotland but I do not have any other records of his family.
I would like to acknowledge and honour this brave gentleman for his service to his country and for his brave fight. I am also quite aware of the fact that I and other members of my immediate family, would not be here today if it were not for Wilfrid's ultimate sacrifice. God Bless all!
|
Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
|
|
|
