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Author Topic: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943  (Read 2541 times)

Offline vapcq45

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8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« on: Tuesday 12 May 20 08:19 BST (UK) »
I've no service papers at all, the attached is all I have, but I would welcome some help working out where my ancestor might have been fighting.

William Alfred Loftus Cpl 8th RTR No. 7887108.

I've attached 4 documents that show:
8.12.41 he was wounded (any idea what battle/location this might have been?)
1.6.42  listed as missing (presumably captured but where?)
Then listed as a POW in Italy (any idea where he might have been taken?)
Then listed in Dec 1944 as no longer a POW

He apparently escaped in Italy and fought with the partisans.  When/how might he have rejoined his unit - he apparently met up with his brother who in August 1944 was with the 65th LAA Regiment which had just joined the British North Africa Force (8th Army?).

Any help welcome!  Thank you.

Offline vapcq45

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 08:20 BST (UK) »
The other docs

Offline Crumblie

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 08:46 BST (UK) »
I am not an expert on Army matters but I can tell you he was probably wounded in Libya during the conquest of Bardia. He probably was taken a prisoner at Tobruk. I have seen a list of pows on Find My Past and whilst he is on it there is no camp number against his name so I don't which camp he was held in. Other people I am sure will be able to help further.

Offline vapcq45

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 08:57 BST (UK) »
Thanks Crumblie, that's interesting.  I'll have a good search for Bardia and Tobruk.

Offline MaxD

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 09:33 BST (UK) »
In that time period, the regiment was with 1st Army Tank Brigade in N Africa, outline of its service here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Army_Tank_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)

You might like to Google away a few hours on each on the battles listed looking for mention of the regiment and/or the brigade at the right time.

Bardia was January 1941??

MaxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline vapcq45

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 09:54 BST (UK) »
Perfect, thanks Max I will get hunting.

Offline Crumblie

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 09:56 BST (UK) »
Quote from: MaxD on Tuesday 12 May 20 09:33 BST (UK)
In that time period, the regiment was with 1st Army Tank Brigade in N Africa, outline of its service here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Army_Tank_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)

You might like to Google away a few hours on each on the battles listed looking for mention of the regiment and/or the brigade at the right time.

Bardia was January 1941??

Wiki says Bardia was Dec 1941 - Jan 1942  when they were attached to the 2nd South African Division. It changed hands several times apparently.

MaxD

Offline MaxD

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 10:07 BST (UK) »
Noted.

MaxD

If I may observe - you have put your last comment inside the quote from my post making it look as if it came from me!
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline vapcq45

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Re: 8th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-1943
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 12 May 20 10:08 BST (UK) »
ooops, not sure what I did there.
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