4th Armoured Brigade Right Shoulder Flash 4th Armoured Brigade Left Shoulder Flash

 

Artefacts - Northern Europe 

 

 

The purpose of this page is to provide a source of pictures and other information that may be of interest to anyone browsing the website, relating the 4th Armoured Brigade's service in Northern Europe. It will change as and when items are available to be added to it.

Please click on the pictures to see large versions.

 

No 4 Troop, 'A' Squadron, 3rd CLY clearing the guns of their tanks in the Tank Park, Navarino Road, Worthing, in May 1944.

 

Pictures of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (The Sharpshooters) at Bovington Camp.

 

Sherman Firefly from C Squadron 3rd County of London Yeomanry (The Sharpshooters), in Normandy

Note the 123 'Unit Serial' sign on the offside front and the half hidden 'Black Rat' on the nearside front of the tank.

Note the 123 'Unit Serial' sign on the offside front and the half hidden 'Black Rat' on the nearside front of the tank.

 

Some interesting photos from the Liberation of Molliens Vidame on 1st September 1944. (Please see the request for any information from Alain Chantrieux below) 

The Village was liberated by 4th Armoured Brigade, with 'C' Squadron, 11th Hussars under its command. The men are most likely from the Royal Scots Greys (though 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry was nearby and did pass through the area) and/or 2nd Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Children of the Derney Family with a member of 4th Armoured Brigade. Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

 Villages welcome the men of 4th Armoured Brigade. Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux Damiler Armoured Car from C Squadron of 11th Hussars (under the Brigades Command) in the village. Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

Children of the Derney Family with a member of 4th Armoured Brigade.

Villages welcome the men of 4th Armoured Brigade.

Damiler Armoured Car from C Squadron of 11th Hussars (under the Brigades Command) in the village.

Valentine Bridge Layer in the village, probably from 4th Armoured Brigade TAC HQ. Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

M3 75mm Half-Track from C Squadron of 11th Hussars (under the Brigades Command) in the village. Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux
Valentine Bridge Layer in the village, probably from 4th Armoured Brigade TAC HQ. M3 75mm Half-Track from C Squadron of 11th Hussars (under the Brigades Command) in the village.

Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

Local girl and liberators in the town Staghound Armoured Car and other vehicles on the town, probably from 11 Hussars.

Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

Courtesy of Alain Chantrieux

White Scout Car with a Staghound behind it probably from 11 Hussars.

Locals and Liberators together

German PoWs and locals, plus a soldier from The Scots Greys in the village
Molliens Vidame on 1st Sept 1944
Children of familly Derny
If you recognise someone on those pictures or you have other information on this village liberation as other pictures, thanks to contact me : alain_chantrieux@hotmail.com 		 Libération de Molliens Vidame le 1er Sept 1944
Enfants Derny sur cette photo
Si vous reconnaissez l'anglais sur cette photo ou que vous disposez d'informations sur cette épisode merci de me contacter : alain_chantrieux@hotmail.com

 

Pictures of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry, in Holland in December 1944.

Men of 3rd/4th CLY (The Sharpshooters) next to a Sherman Firefly, in Stamproy, Holland, December 1944

Men of 3rd/4th CLY (The Sharpshooters) with some villagers from Stamproy, Holland, December 1944.

Men of 3rd/4th CLY (The Sharpshooters) next to a Sherman Firefly, in Stamproy, Holland, December 1944

Men of 3rd/4th CLY (The Sharpshooters) with some villagers from Stamproy, Holland, December 1944.

 

3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry, negotiating a road block in Brunen, while advancing to cross the Rhine

 

3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry, after crossing the Rhine

A Squadron. passing British Gliders, 26th March 1945

A Squadron, near Diesfordferawald forest, 26th March 1945
A Squadron. passing British Gliders, 26th March 1945 A Squadron, near Diesfordferawald forest, 26th March 1945

 

Shermans of 4th Armoured Brigade Keent, 1944

Well camouflaged Shermans in front of the church at Keent. Alas they are camouflaged for the countryside and not the town! Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

Well camouflaged Shermans in front of the church at Keent. Alas they are camouflaged for the countryside and not the town! Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

Some coloured photographs of 4th Armoured Brigade in and around Weert, The Netherlands, December 1944. 

Courtesy of the grateful people of Weert / Met dank aan de inwoners van Weert.
A unit Postman with sack of mail Crew of a 44th RTR Sherman view a 'Plum Duff' from their branch covered tank

The crew members are: Left to right Trooper R Buckley Trooper J Round and Sergeant H Kirk. 

 

Lorry and Driver from No. 5 Coy RASC.

A lorry from No 5 Company, RASC, with its Driver. Note the 'Micky Mouse' Camouflage and the clear Brigade badge of the front nearside.

A lorry from No 5 Company, RASC, with its Driver. Note the 'Micky Mouse' Camouflage and the clear Brigade badge of the front nearside.

Lorries and Driver from 4th Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park RAOC.
L/Cpl Les Darby and Ted Dobson in front of their lorry. Another lorry from the 4th Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park, call 'Peggy'. Note partial AoS mark which is 97. This denotes a Ordnance Field Park in an Armoured Bridage

Courtesy of Graham Darby

Courtesy of Graham Darby

Another truck called Barbara, with the same 97 AoS, with L/Cpl Les Darby in front

Men of 4th Armoured Brigade RAOC
A little winter humour
4th Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park RAOC at Schloss Nehmten after the end of the war. Courtesy of Graham Darby
Football in the snow

Outside of the building

Swimming and boating in the lake

Inside of the Schloss (which is rather grand) 

 

4th RHA Carrier with liberated German Staff car, in Normandy.

Pictures of a 4th RHA Sexton, Holland 1944

4th RHA Sexton. Note the Browning MG mounted on it instead of the normal British preferance for a Bren Gun. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

4th RHA Sexton on near Hushoven, north of Weert, 1944. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.
4th RHA Sexton. Note the Browning MG mounted on it instead of the normal British preferance for a Bren Gun. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex. 4th RHA Sexton on near Hushoven, north of Weert, 1944. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

 

Captain G Chilver-Stainer Troop Commander of 'D' Troop, 'DD' (Jerboa) Battery, 4th RHA with his jeep on which is painted the Battery Sign he designed. (NAM. 1975-03-63-19-34) AoP Sherman of 4th RHA, probably the BC's Command tank from 'DD' (Jerboa) Battery RHA, called MILLY, with Shermans from 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry. Note cable reel on back of the turret storage box. (NAM. 1975-03-63-19-34)
Op Carrier for the Troop Leader (TLD) of D Troop, 'DD' (Jerboa) Battery, 4th RHA, Bucholt 1945. Sexton SPG of H Sub-section, F Bty 4th RHA, 1945

 

Picture of a 4th RHA Sexton and crew from C Battery

C Battery, 4th RHA, Sexton commanded by Sgt Tom Maton (Second from left in front row) plus Troop Commander. Note 1191 Unit Serial on Arms of Service sign (Red/Blue, with Army Troops White Bar underneath), denoting it was still considerd the senior Regiment in 5th Army Group Royal Artillery, although the men clearly wear the Black Rat of 4th Armoured Brigade. The White Circle in Dark Square above it is unknown at present. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

C Battery, 4th RHA, Sexton commanded by Sgt Tom Maton (Second from left in front row) plus Troop Commander. Note 1191 Unit Serial on Arms of Service sign (Red/Blue, with Army Troops White Bar underneath), denoting it was still considered the senior Regiment in 5th Army Group Royal Artillery, although the men clearly wear the Black Rat of 4th Armoured Brigade. The White Circle in Dark Square above it is unknown at present, but may be a legacy 30 Corps badge. Picture, courtesy of Tom Maton (4 RHA) and Wesley Haex.

Men from 4th RHA between two Sexton SPGs towards the end of the war, with their 'trophy'.

Picture courtesy of Jim and Ann Reid. Jim Reid is on the left next to the ropes.

NB. If anyone recognises someone in the picture please contact me, as Ann Reid would like to hear from you.

44th Royal Tank Regiment - Normandy, The Siegfried Line and Christmas 1945

Firefly from 44th RTR " Crossing the Orne at London Bridge". The photograph was taken as they crossed the River Orne they gave Richard Dimbleby a lift, he was on a push bike, which they threw onto the back of the tank. The radio operator Stanley Cornett is holding a peice of paper, Walter Kosh the tank commander, you can just see the elbow of Dick Richardson - Gunner and the driver was Frank Garside. Courtesy of Dave Cornett.

Men from 44th RTR on captured 'Beetle' tanks, photographed as they crossed the Siegfried Line. From left to right Walter Kosh, Commander. Dick Richardson - Gunner. Frank Garside - Driver. Picture courtesy of Dave Cornett.

Men from 44th RTR celebrating Christmas in 1945. Picture courtesy of Dave Cornet

Firefly from 44th RTR " Crossing the Orne at London Bridge". The photograph was taken as they crossed the River Orne they gave Richard Dimbleby a lift, he was on a push bike, which they threw onto the back of the tank. The radio operator Stanley Cornett is holding a piece of paper, Walter Kosh the tank commander, you can just see the elbow of Dick Richardson - Gunner and the driver was Frank Garside.

Top: Men from 44th RTR on captured 'Beetle' tanks

 

Bottom: Men from 44th RTR celebrating Christmas in 1945

Pictures courtesy of Dave Cornet

Some Pictures of 'C' Squadron, 44th RTR crossing the Rhine in DD Shermans

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

 

Newsletter about the pending Rhine crossing (courtesy of Graham Darby)

 

44th RTR in Germany

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

Bocholt at the end of March, sitting on their camouflaged DD Sherman, a few days after the Rhine crossing  Left to right, they are: Tpr Renee Houston (wireless op), Lieut Wally Arsenault, Tpr Denis Knight (co-driver), Tpr Bert Arrowsmith (driver), and Tpr Tom Denning (gunner).

Advancing into Bremen

Photographer Tpr Tom Denning, courtesy of Peter and Denis Knight.

Advancing into Bremen. These are still DD Shermans, but note Firefly on the right of the picture.

Tank Crew in Lubeck - Left to Right: Bert Arrowsmith, Denis Knight, Renee Houston, Tom Denning.

Tanks of 'C' Squadron, 44th RTR at Schloss Rantzau, at Plon in Schleswig-Holstein

Tank Crew in Lubeck - Left to Right: Bert Arrowsmith, Denis Knight, Renee Houston, Tom Denning.

Tanks of 'C' Squadron, 44th RTR at Schloss Rantzau, at Plon in Schleswig-Holstein

 

A Jerboa Broach made with two Dutch coins, a little smaller that a modern British 1p coin.

 

Order of the Day from Brigadier Carver, 6th May 1945

Click on picture for larger image. Courtesy of Graham Darby

 

If you have anything that you feel may be suitable for this page please click here  

 

 

 

Main Site Map 4th Armoured Brigade Artefacts Page, Sicily and Italy,

4th Armoured Brigade Engagements and campaigns page 4th Armoured Brigade Organisation Page

4th Armoured Brigade Units Page 4th Armoured Brigade History