59th Regiment Reconnaissance Corps

[sailorbear]

Hi all, I am seeking information on the 59th Regiment Recce Corps who my wife's grandfather served with during 1941-42,

Does anyone have any information as to where the regiment was during this time, what the orbat was and whether they wore any particular unit insignia?

Any information and especially images most gratefully welcome

Regards Tony

[Voltigeur]

Well you can always start with:
http://www.ddaycasualties.com/59div.htm

then go to:
http://59div.morssweb.com/

Also:
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/recce/1...ll-honour.html

Jo

[Luc]

Hard to say Tony, the Recce cap badge was sealed August of 1942 and the cloth shoulder title even later. I presume he wore the insignia of his parent unit initially, perhaps the unofficial "reconnaissance corps" shoulder titles but I'm unsure when these were worn.

[badjez]

A quick look in JBM Frederick shows tha Brigade Recce Groups were formed within each 'higher establishment' infantry division in 1940. The date varied between divisions. The Recce Corps was formed on 08.01.41. with the recce groups being formed into battalions. Most battalions took their number from their parent division.

According to Joslin, 59th Bn Recce Corps was formed on 27.01.41. in 59 (Staffordshire) Inf Div. On 06.06.42. it was re-designated as 59th Regt, Recce Corps and served with the division until 31.12.43. It doesn't record what happened to the unit after that but I presume it was disbanded or re-designated after transfer to another formation.

Stephen.

[Voltigeur]

The British Reconnaissance Regiment, 1944 to 1945

At the end of 1943 what would prove to be the final version of the Reconnaissance Regiment organisation was introduced. It coincided with the transfer of the Reconnaissance Corps to the Royal Armoured Corps at the beginning of 1944, joining the various Cavalry and Yeomanry Regiments and the Royal Tank Regiment. Later that year, the Reconnaissance Regiments found themselves in France, scene of the disaster of four years earlier. Finally, the terrain and the type of warfare proved suitable for their vehicles, and the Reconnaissance Regiment of each Infantry Division was kept fully employed. Even so, in areas where the situation stagnated, such as in Holland in the winter of 1944 to 1945, Reconnaissance Regiments still found themselves deployed as extra infantrymen, despite their black RAC berets.

The Reconnaissance Regiment, circa 1944 to 1945

Regimental Headquarters (6 Officers, 30 men);

Armoured car

2 Light reconnaissance cars

Headquarter Squadron (9 Officers, 184 men) comprised of;

Squadron Headquarters (2 Officers, 8 men);

Light reconnaissance car

Signal Troop (1 Officer, 23 men)

Mortar Troop (1 Officer, 40 men)

Anti-tank Battery (3 Officers, 64 men)

Administrative Troop (2 Officers, 49 men)

Three Reconnaissance Squadrons (9 Officers, 187 men), each comprised of;

Squadron Headquarters (2 Officers, 38 men);

Light reconnaissance car

Assault Troop (1 Officer, 38 men)

Three Scout Troops, each comprised of;

Troop Headquarters (2 Officers, 7 men);

Armoured car

Universal carrier

Reconnaissance Section (12 men);

2 Armoured cars

2 Light reconnaissance cars

Two Carrier Sections, each comprised of 9 men;

3 Universal carriers

Total Strength of;

817 all ranks (42 Officers and 775 men)

28 Armoured cars

24 Light reconnaissance cars

63 Universal carriers

Points of note

The Anti-aircraft Troop was deleted from the previous organisation, and the number of armoured cars increased. There was also a change of transport for the men of the Assault Troop in each Squadron.

The elements of the Regiment

Regimental Headquarters - simply added an armoured car, with the light reconnaissance car this displaced going to the commander of Headquarter Squadron.

Anti-tank Battery - this served eight towed 6-pr guns, divided into two Troops of four guns. Each Troop also had six Loyd carriers, four for towing plus two 'spare', with a Bren and 2-inch mortar per Section of two guns.

The Reconnaissance Squadron - the ratio of armoured to light reconnaissance cars had altered, and there were, yet again, new vehicles to be found.

The Scout Troop was now divided into a Headquarters, a Reconnaissance Section and two Carrier Sections. Troop HQ had a single armoured car crewed by a Subaltern, gunner and driver, plus a Universal carrier with a second Subaltern, two radio operators and a driver-mechanic. There was also a Troop Sergeant and an orderly, each with a motorcycle.

The Reconnaissance Section now consisted of two armoured cars, both commanded by Sergeants, and two light reconnaissance cars each with a Corporal. In early 1944 the Reconnaissance Regiments in 21 Army Group were all equipped with the Humber Mark IV. This was armed with the US 37-mm gun and a co-axial 7.92-mm Besa machine gun. Increasingly during the course of the campaign, Regiments converted to the Daimler armoured car, with a 2-pr main gun, and by May 1945 there were just two Regiments left with the Humber, plus a third with a mix of Humber and Daimler armoured cars. The Humber Mark III light reconnaissance car, armed with a single Bren gun in a small turret, was though standardised for units in 21 Army Group.

In Italy, there was further room for variation, and my research budget has not extended to this most 'anti-establishment' of theatres. Frequent mention is made of Regiments in Italy operating US M8 Greyhound armoured cars, but I have not seen any real indication as to whether this was done on an ad hoc basis to replace certain vehicles or in a more formalised manner.

The Carrier Sections each had three carriers, with a Sergeant, Corporal and driver-mechanic in the first vehicle, and a Corporal, trooper and driver-mechanic each of the other two. Each carrier had a Bren gun, and there was also a PIAT and 2-inch mortar per Section.

The Assault Troop exchanged its 15-cwt trucks for either wheeled White Scout cars or US halftracks. The Troop was organised as the Motor Platoon of The British Motor Battalion 1943 to 1945 but added a fourth Section.

Summary

The Regiments of the Reconnaissance Corps had a particularly interesting war. Their original intention, of forging ahead of the infantry in light armoured vehicles, was often thwarted as much by terrain and inadequate equipment as the enemy. Officers and troopers alike were frequently required to fight from foxholes or on foot as infantrymen themselves, until the situation allowed them to resume the mobile, probing, and extremely dangerous job of reconnaissance proper. After the war, the endeavours of the Reconnaissance Corps during the conflict were not enough to save it from disbandment. In the post-war era, Cavalry Regiments again provided British Divisions with their reconnaissance units, and continue to do so to this day.

http://bayonetstrength.150m.com/

[Deejayuu]

59th Recce served wholly within the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division and as such can be traced using the div history. Looking through `Divisions of the British Army` by Malcolm Bellis we can glean the following.

Insignia- pit-head gear in red against a black slag-heap, blue background
History- second line Territorial div in UK sept 1939, duplicate of 55th (West lancashire) inf div, placed in suspended animation Oct 1944.
Locations- Uk(9/39 - 6/44),NW Europe(6/44 - 10/44)
Battles- Caen (44), Mont Pincon (44)
Served as Div troops so was not part of a brigaded unit. Transformation from 59th bn recce corps (1/41-6/42) to 59th regt recce corps (6/42 - 12/43) to 59th recce regt RAC (1/44 - 8/44). It seems strange that the 59th recce seems to have dissapeared a couple of months before the division went into suspended animation. Was it the div was taken out of the front line prior to SA to provide replacement troops for other units? As far as i am aware only 2 units in the recce corps wore distinctive cap badges. The 49th div wore the normal christmas tree but with an in theatre yorkshire rose added which i think was later officialy recognised (though i may be wrong on this (kk1925). The second was worn by officers attached to scottish units, chromed christmas tree with enamelled chrome disk to centre bearing the scottish lion in red (kk1930).

Just found this link, may be of interest. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/59th_(S...antry_Division

Cheers, Dave

[blackpowder44]

Title, Only the Enemy in front. by Richard Doherty,printed by the Bath Press, Bath 1994 This book gives a very good insite into all the Recce Regiments. I will look it up in one of the bookfinding websites and update if I find any for sale' John.

[blackpowder44]

Looked on bookfinder site and plenty of the above books for sale, on looking in my copy there is very little on the 59 Recce, just three pages overall, John.

[sailorbear]

Thats great, thanks to all for the replies and info.

Rgards Tony