| 23rd Hussars | Do You Remember...? | V.E. Day | Payslip for fighting a war | The cost |
|
My Dad, John Brunt, is dead.
He died in a quick and dignified way, 5th September 2000. His funeral took place 11th September, in the Northwich area, and was attended by family & friends.
I intend to publish his full life story soon on another site.
23rd HussarsThe 23rd Hussars was part of the 29th Armoured Brigade of the 11th Armoured Div., which comprised 23rd Hussars, 3rd Royal Tanks, & The Fyfe & Forfar Yeomanry.
Two lads from Formby, my dad and his mate, John Laidlaw, volunteered to do "their bit". As John said later, "It's better to drive to your death, that to walk to it". This was a reference to their decision to join the tanks from the infantry. A good decision, as it transpired, they made it through the war in one piece.
Operation Dracula: They "covered 3010 miles throughout England, testing and reporting on the performances of all the current tanks of the British Army. 100 miles by road, and then 100 miles across country." It was hard work, but the outcome was worth it." Verbatim. Certificate of Thanks
Follows a potted piece excerpted from the official 23rd Hussars "Do You Remember....?" booklet. Forward Index
Theatres of action included:
|
|
||
| June 16th. | Colombes. | |
| June 28th. | Cheux. | |
| Hill 112 |
My dad & Bill Dorrington's tank was knocked out, they were missing, presumed dead. |
|
| July 18th. | Caen. | |
| August | Presles | Intense weeks under fire. |
| Bas-Perrier. | 'A' Echelon were bombed. 24th Lancers arrive. | |
| Beny Bocage | 88's all around. | |
| L'Aigle. | First rest for a long time. | |
| Amiens. | The latest game: chase the bosch. | |
| September | Belgium | Scenes of joy from the Belgians. Photo Back of photo |
| Antwerp | ||
| Ijsselsteijn | ||
| October | Leunen | |
| Christmas 1944 | Ardennes | |
| January 1945 | Ypres | Re-equipped with the new Comet tank, my dad (on top with the glasses) throwing a few into Dunkirk. Personal photo of the tank crew. |
| March | Schoot | Gliders overhead. |
They were amongst the first troops into Belsen 15th April 1945. And everything you have ever heard about Belsen is true.
May 4th. Germans pack it in.
May 8th "Yes it's true, just heard it on the B.B.C.!". THE END.
My dad (Sgt J. "Johnny" Brunt) at the V.E. Day dinner at the
Marine Barracks, Husum, Schleswig, Holstein, Germany.
The war in Europe lasted for 11 months, and for five days only, the 11th were
not in contact with the enemy! [Short holidays, then. - Webmaster]
Payslip for 6 years' warfare side a, side b.
The following members of 'B' Squadron gave up their lives for their country.
28th June, 1944 (Hill 112) |
18th July 1944 (Caen) |
3rd August 1944 (Presles) |
9th August 1944 (Bas Perrier) |
Lance Corporal L.W.Ball |
Corporal J. Adams | Trooper B. Richardson |
Corporal A. P. Packman |
| Trooper J.Brown | Sergeant G. Bateman | ||
| Captain R.G. Clarke | Trooper P. Chaney | 20th August 1944 | 21st November 1944 |
| Lance Corporal C. Franklin | Trooper R. E. Cutting | (Argetan) | (Ijsselsteijn) |
| Lieutenant P. Helyar | Trooper L. Hiscock | Trooper R. J. Cheshire | Trooper J. M. Forbes |
| Lance Corporal R. P. Holt | Trooper K. W. Lane | Trooper J. H. Insley | Trooper D. G. Manders |
| Trooper G. Pearce | Sergeant A. McConnell | Lance Corporal J. Raper | |
| Lance Corporal J. Sawyer | Trooper F. L. Robinson | Sergeant W. White | |
| Trooper J. Stebbings | |||
| 16th
December 1944 (Antwerp) |
27th
December 1944 (Ardennes) |
30th
March 1945 (Legden) |
|
| Trooper G. Hansom | Trooper T. Boal | Corporal H. J. Edkins | |
| Trooper F. Gibbons | |||
| Trooper L. W. Malbon | |||
| Trooper G. Plant | |||
| Trooper R. Richardson | |||
| (All these lads were killed in the same tank) |
R.I.P.
