2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry Memories

Two photographs which were taken during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Saint Valery en Caux and which was led by A Squadron, 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry. The first at the 51st Highland Division monument and the second at the French/British Military Cemetery memorial.

Three further photographs which were taken in 1944 in Veules les Roses and provided by war historian Herve Savary

Pipers of the Black Watch sound the Last Post in front of the memorial after its unveiling. Below, where crowds watched the ceremony, is all that remains of the centre of Saint Valery. Before the war it was a prosperous tourist resort with fifteen hotels. At the time of the photograph it had one.

Four more photographs of "C" Squadron 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in Veules les Roses Northern France 1 September 1944

Photographs of "C" Squadron 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry entering Veules les Roses 80 years on have been uploaded

A new cover photograph has been provided by John Davie of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry reunion dinner which was held in Windsor Castle on 11 April 1947.

80th anniversary of the liberation of Saint-Valery-en-Caux and its region on 1st and 2nd September 1944 by the 51 Highland Division including members of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry.

The program, which is envisaged by the commune of Saint-Valery-en-Caux and the community of communes of the Côte d& #39;Albâtre, to commemorate the 80th anniversary on 30th August to 1st September 2024 is as follows:

Friday 30th August
Afternoon:
Reception of the authorities at the town hall of Saint-Valery-en-Caux
-General, Brigadier and ADC of Highland Brigade Edinburgh
-Delegation from the City of Inverness
-Delegation of the Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry Association
Official dinner for the authorities Château de Sommesnil

Saturday 31st August
Morning:
Veules-les-Roses cemetery ceremony (laying of wreaths)
Ceremony Place des Ecossais (laying of wreaths)
Official lunch of the authorities

Afternoon:
51st Highland Division memorial ceremony on the cliffs (laying of wreaths)
Saint-Valery-en-Caux military cemetery ceremony (laying of wreaths)
Fontaine-le-Dun ceremony (laying of wreaths)
Wine reception

Evening:
Buffet
Jazz entertainment

Sunday 1st September
Morning
Mass church of Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Ceremony at the station square with unveiling of commemorative plaque (laying of wreaths)
Wine reception
Official lunch of the authorities

Afternoon
Visit to the Henri IV house exhibition dedicated to the liberation of Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Free time

Evening
Departure of certain delegations

Preliminary announcement of 80th anniversary commemoration in 2025
2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry Memories has been contacted by a Dutch gentleman who is part of an organising committee from the towns of Dinxperlo and Aalten in The Netherlands and which were liberated by the 51 Highland Division in 1945 and who are planning a commemoration and celebration weekend on the 29th, 30th and 31st of March 2025 and who are keen for those with connections with the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry to attend the commemoration. Further information will be posted when it is received.

The period of stalemate continued throughout the remainder of June. On 27th June, a signal was received, to the effect that Lieutenant-Colonel W P Serocold, Reconnaissance Corps, had been nominated to command the regiment, and the next day, our new Commanding Officer joined us, from England.
One heartening sign was the fact that quite a large proportion of the enemy shells were ‘duds’ and we all rather wondered if this was the result of sabotage in the factories. Thirteen in succession were counted during one bombardment. Reinforcements were continually being brought into the beach area and it was apparent that our forces were being built up apace. We all hoped to see the factory chimneys at Colombelle come tumbling down one day, but despite constant shelling and the occasional heavy air attack in the area, those three chimneys still dominated the landscape. Capt A J Jones.

On 22nd [June], the enemy hit an ammunition dump of the 6th Airborne Division, and for the next sixteen hours, small explosions from the blazing dump made movement precarious. Late that evening, a large parcel arrived from Divisional Headquarters, with the following message from ‘Monty’: “Your chaps in 51 Division are doing a grand job of work, and a very important one. Please tell them so from me. I send them ninety thousand ci******es as a present to the Division from myself.” The Divisional Commander had replied: “Many thanks for your kind letter and the gift of ci******es. I have given them to Brigadier Murray’s 153 Brigade and to the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry who have been holding the front line. Your letter is being relayed to all the ‘Jocks’.” Capt A J Jones.
The 2nd Derbyshire War Diary records attacks by Mitchells [North American Aviation B-25s] and Bostons [Douglas A-20 Havocs] on Colombelles (factory area of Caen).

During the night 16th-17th June “B” Squadron had a bad time in Escoville. A strong patrol was sent out, dismounted, into the enemy lines, in order to secure identifications. This patrol , under Second Lieutenant Porter, got as far as Cuverville before encountering the enemy. At the northern end of the village, the enemy opened fire with small arms and spandaus, and soon a small scale battle was raging. Mortar flares were put down by the enemy, and after a further exchange of fire, the patrol withdrew with four men unaccounted for.
The remainder of the squadron spent a very uneasy night in their slit trenches. Spasmodic small arms and mortar fire was kept up all through the night, and there were occasional enemy raids. It was easy for the Germans to crawl up, through the standing corn, to within close range of our Bren gunners. Artillery fire was kept up by the enemy and it was estimated that during the night, some 750 shells and mortar bombs fell in the squadron area.
Early in the morning of 17th June, Regimental Headquarters and the other two squadrons, moved forward to an area just south of Escoville and the echelon came up, and took over their previous position at St. Aubyn d’Arquenay. At about noon Regimental Headquarters was heavily mortared and the Commanding Officer (Lieutenant-Colonel R H Palmer MC) was wounded by a bomb which exploded in the tree under which he was sitting. His wounds proved to be severe, he was evacuated to England, and did not rejoin again. We were all extremely sorry to see him go; he had served the regiment well.
A temporary re-organisation was effected. Major R Dunlop took over command of the regiment, temporarily, whilst Major A F C Langly-Smith MC gave up command of “C” Squadron to Captain R L Oyston in order to take over the duties of second in command. Other squadrons were unaltered. Major J N Harris, remained in command of “B” Squadron, Major K B J Meaby in command of “A” Squadron and Major A J Robotham in command of Headquarters Squadron.
Throughout the day, “A” Squadron had been under heavy fire, in Herouvillette, and our own artillery opened heavy counter fire on positions which had been given by the squadron. This eased the volume of shelling, temporarily, but it was soon resumed and the whole of the regiment’s positions was subjected to a heavy storm of mortar and artillery fire on and off throughout the day.
Just before midnight, “B” Squadron reported that the four men missing from their patrol, in the early hours of the morning, had rejoined the squadron, having been guided through the enemy lines by Corporal Thompson-a very gallant effort indeed. Capt A J Jones.

Sadly just as the four rejoined “B” Squadron one of their number, Lance Corporal Williams, was killed by a mortar bomb.

For his fine powers of leadership in bringing his men safely home and very great courage during the twenty hours he spent in the enemy area Corporal Harry Thompson was subsequently presented by Field Marshall Montgomery with the Military Medal. For more information about Corporal Harry Thompson please visit https://madrecce.org/project/corporal-h-thompson-mm/

Harrison Thompson | 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry H Thompson MM Rank: Corporal   Photograph-with-Field-Marshall-Montgomery-2nd-right-middle-row Corporal H Thompson MM Extracts from The Second Derbyshire Yeomanry An account of the Regiment during the World War 1939-45 by Captain A J Jones MBE. On 16th June, the enemy attacked Escoville and Herouvil...

16 June 1944
On 16th June, the enemy attacked Escoville and Herouvillette, at first light, and two troops of “C” Squadron had a running fight in the first named village. The enemy were supported by tanks and what looked like a determined attack was finally sealed off, thanks largely to the coolness of the troop leaders in directing the fire of our supporting artillery and mortars. The squadron then formed a box in Escoville and were relieved that evening by “B” Squadron, whose orders were to continue to hold the village at all costs.
Regimental Headquarters and “A” Squadron were then in the area of St. Aubyn d’Arquenay, on the West of the bridge, and here the Regiment less “B” Squadron, concentrated for the night. Casualties that day were: 5 other ranks killed [Troopers Peter J Brown, Harold Burton, John Rendell and Sergeants John L James and Leonard Simpson] 2 officers [Lieutenants J B Milne “C” and B O Bodycombe “A”] and seven other ranks wounded, and one trooper missing. Capt A J Jones.

On 14th June the CO issued instructions that the regiment was to form part of the attacking force of 51st Highland Division, who had been withdrawn from reserve, to seize and hold the ground to the East of the river Orne. A bridgehead had been established by 6th Airborne Division and a strong bridge erected. This bridge, aptly named “Pegasus” bridge, was held by the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, from the West side of the canal, whilst airborne troops were scattered around in the East side, awaiting relief by the “Jocks” of the Division. Until such time as the ground could be consolidated and held in force, the bridge itself was in danger. It was essential that this bridge, which had been erected at such heavy cost to the Airborne Division and to the gallant sappers who had worked under continuous fire, should be maintained and held undamaged. Without it, we would have lost our only link across the Orne, which was of vital importance for the assault on Caen, as and when our forces were powerful enough for it to be launched. Capt A J Jones.
Extract from Regiment’s War Diary 14.10 Signal from “C” Sqn–Herouvillette entered and held.

On 13th June “C” Squadron crossed the river Orne, to cover 153 Brigade, who were retiring slightly under strong pressure from the enemy, supported by continuous artillery fire, and made first contact with the enemy. One carrier was knocked out by a mortar bomb, whilst advancing well forward of the leading elements of the squadron, and its crew of three were not seen again.1 No.4 Troop (Lieutenant Millington) reported contact with enemy forces of considerable strength, including anti-tank guns, and kept them busy without sustaining any casualties or serious damage. Later on the day, the squadron were moved Eastwards to Herouville and ordered to keep a standing patrol in Escoville, during daylight. In the evening they were strongly established in the former pretty little township, now practically gutted, with the enemy keeping up continual shelling in order to render it uninhabitable. Capt A J Jones.
1 An entry in The Regiment’s War Diary reads One carrier ko’d, Cpl Taylor C, Trps Smith N & Highley A missing believed PW.

By the late evening of 12th June, squadrons were in position, with Regimental HQ and the echelon at Columbiers-sur-Seulle. It was not long before enemy guns opened up in earnest and we soon learned the usefulness of slit trenches, which saved many lives during the next few weeks. Capt A J Jones.

Just before 1pm [on 12th] the CO and a small portion of Regimental HQ were transferred to small craft and we watched, with relief, as we saw them land without wetting the wheels of their vehicles. During the day, the remainder of the Regiment disembarked without untoward incident, and after passing through the de-waterproofing area, the Regiment was safely ashore without a single casualty. Capt A J Jones.

At about 8am on 11 June Fort Yale and Fort Assinboine were anchored, among a mass of shipping, off the beach-head. As far as the eye could reach, ships of all sorts and sizes, were rocking placidly at anchor as if gathered for the biggest regatta of all time. We waited in vain all that day for any sign of disembarkation from our own particular ships. Capt A J Jones.

At first light on 10th June the remainder of the regiment were underway.
RHQ and “A” Squadron in SS Fort Yale and “B” Squadron in Fort Assinboine.
CO’s briefing: 51st Highland Division was in reserve to 1 Corps.
Depth charges were dropped by es**rt destroyers at 14.00 and 19.00.

"On June 7th "C" Squadron arrived off the beaches which had been stormed during the previous day. By 4pm all vehicles and personnel were safely ashore, despite some desultory shelling of the beach by the enemy." The Second Derbyshire Yeomanry Capt A J Jones

The article in today’s The Times brings to a conclusion a project which started four months ago when madrecce.org was asked by a Dutchman if it could trace two members of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry who were billeted, in 1945, prior to the Rhine crossing with his aunt.

This link is to The Times online article https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ve-day-anniversary-soldiers-letters-to-wartime-host-unite-families-in-time-for-ve-day-vqs8zd5xd

This link will take you to the correspondence and postcards of which mention is made in The Times’ article https://madrecce.org/j-prested-and-j-clarke/

A new website has been launched which records memories of those who served during the 1939/45 war in the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry www.madrecce.org

Madrecce has been asked to trace the families of two members of the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry who served in Europe in 1945.
John (Jack/Busty) Clarke lived in Egham and Jack Prested in Harrow.
Please email [email protected] if you are a relative of either John or Jack or can assist.