Looking for history information...

[Springroll]

Okay, my mother and I are very stumped on this part of our geneology research.

My great grandfather, David John Osbourne Richards was an RSM, but we do not know where and with whom. He did pass away back in WW2  on March 13 1943, but we do not know any other specifics on his death. We have tried a variety of websites and searchs, but have found nothing.

Both my grandparents and my great grandmother have passed on,
but if any of you are able to help me out, that would be great.

Pictures are great too!!

 

[the 48th regulator]

Read this helpful thread,

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/32707.0.html

hope it helps,

dileas

tess

 

[Springroll]

Thank you, that does help but I was more looking for maybe someone who may be in the regiment he was with and would possibily recognize his name and have some info.

Easier than writing Ottawa.

 

[larry Strong]

Do you know what regiment he was with? Or hiis service number?

 

[Gunner98]

Commonwealth Graves Commission site shows:
In Memory of Warrant Officer Class I DAVID RICHARDS
K/12003, 3 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Canadian Artillery who died on 13 March 1943

Remembered with honour
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY, United Kingdom

The BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL stands at the southern end of the Canadian section of the cemetery and commemorates 3,500 men and women of the land forces of the Commonwealth who died during the Second World War and have no known grave, the circumstances of their death being such that they could not appropriately be commemorated on any of the campaign memorials in the various theatres of war. They died in the campaign in Norway in 1940, or in the various raids on enemy occupied territory in Europe such as Dieppe and St Nazaire.

See links for more info:
http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=44400&mode=1

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/certificate.aspx?casualty=2928706

 

[Gunner98]

According to http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/

3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment mobilized on 28 Sep 40  as part of 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, moved in early 41 - UK and saw action in Jul 44 - NWE

In March 1-12, 1943, Exercise SPARTAN, the largest of the military exercises conducted in the UK during World War Two, was held.

 

[Springroll]

OMG!!! Thank you!!!
:-* :-* :-* :-*

 

[54/102 CEF]

You can still get detail on him - so don`t stop yet.

See http://www.genealogy.gc.ca/10/100907_e.html

Note you have to show the family link and then ask for his record - it may show circumstances of his demise.

My hazy memory suggests that unit went over to Dieppe............ was he wounded there?

Good luck and be sure to tell us what you found! 

 

[Springroll]

Well I did receive a message about him, and it sounds kind of like him.

They were done some exercise or mission and were returning home and he decided to give a Pte a break off the motorcycle and he took over riding it(it was a hobby of his) and sent the private into his vehicle to get some rest. He did perish on the motorcycle when it was either hit by a bomb or hit a landmine, either way he was killed.

I wish my grandfather had filled us in more on what and how he was killed over seas. We have read the letters that were sent to my grandfather after his father died, typical "you are the man of the house now, take care of your mother and siblings" etc.

I will check into that link. I am not sure how I could prove I am a relative other than my grandfather was his oldest son.

Thank you for the link.