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43rd Wessex Coy, Royal Army Service Corps
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Want to know more about 43rd Wessex Coy, Royal Army Service Corps? There are:430 items tagged 43rd Wessex Coy, Royal Army Service Corps 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. |
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Pte. Sydney Douglas Penny 1/8th Btn. D Coy, 15 Pl. Middlesex Regiment Sydney Penny served with the 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in WW2 as a wireless operator to FOO for D Company's 4.2" mortars. He spent most days in a bren-gun carrier with the officer and driver while reconnoitering for the mortar line.
He came ashore in Normandy with the 43rd Wessex Company, Royal Army Service Corps on about 24th June 1944. At first he was involved in the battles for Verson and Mouen and later, Maltot (he was left there with a handful of troops after the main force withdrew; the next morning our attack regained the village).
Later battles for Hill 112 and Mont Pincon found Sydney providing wireless contact for the mortar fire. He was wounded at the battle for the Noireau (the carrier Dauntless caught fire) and sent to England for recovery and
returned to the unit at Louvain and served with the 8th Battalion until the end at Bremen.
Sydney's memories recalled the approach to Bremen. The Germans were adding sea-mines to the teller mines in the road with (we think) a ratchet detonator. It was most disconcerting to hear explosions behind you as well as in front, the result of which was a hole so big it needed a scissor-bridge to cover it (and no sign left of the vehicle that triggered it).
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Sgt. Wilfred Charles Watts 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment Royal Army Service Corps 43rd Wessex My father, Wilfred Watts served with the 4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment and 43rd Wessex Coy. Royal Army Service Corps. I am researching his war history.
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L/Cpl Reg Arthur Dunnage 43rd Wessex Coy Royal Army Service Corps My Father joined the British Army in 1942 after losing his Mother and Sister to the German Bombing of London. He lied about his age and was accepted as his personnel records of birth were destroyed in the bombing. He was trained as a soldier and then as a specialist with pack animals and sent to Burma. He was in theatre for 6 months before the military discovered his age through county records. He was repatriated to England in time for his 17th Birthday and told not to even mention he had been in Burma. Apparently nobody wanted to admit they had sent a 16 year old to Burma, let alone the ramifications if the public found out.
Upon his return to England he began taking any course in which he could get out of barracks. Apparently your pay also went up with every qualification. He was trained as sniper, demolitions, driver, driver Ic, medic, crew commander, gunner, parachutist, army commando, and several other courses all listed in his paybook.
He took part in at least 1 cross channel raid on German radar installations that I am aware of as a demolitions expert.
He was floated around from unit to unit and finally attached semi permanent to the 43rd Wessex with the RASC. His older brother was a MP with the division and asked to have him attached to keep an eye on him as they say.
He took part in the Arnhem drop as a jump master. His aircraft was shot down and he did survive, though his chute did not open properly and he was disabled on landing. It was several days before he was found by the advancing British Forces. He recuperated in Holland after and still has contact with the Dutch family he was billeted with.
After the wars end he was the senior NCO at the British Stables at the Berlin Olympic Stadium for 4 years I believe.
He was demobbed in mid 1949, and then almost immediately remustered for Korea. He was attached with the 29th independent Infantry Brigade and set sail on the Empire Fowey for Korea, and arrived there in I believe December of 1950. Originally he was supposed to be part of the 26th Field Ambulance, but they were disbanded almost immediately and he was then made a crew commander of a Daimler Armoured Car and given convoy escort duties.
He was wounded 6 months later while escorting a convoy.
If anyone remembers my Dad I am sure he would like to hear from you. He is alive and well and living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
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