Hi - newbie looking to share info on 2 RUR, 9th Brigade, Brit 3rd Division in N. Europe

Hi

I'm new to this forum so thought I'd introduce myself to see if there is anyone I can share info with (in particular any veterans) of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles during WW11 including:

- training in Scotland
- D-Day landing at Sword
- Cambes Wood
- Caen
- Belgium
- Holland
- Bremen and post war occupation

My dad (M.P.Scanlon or Scanlan in some records) started as a Lieutenant in 2 RUR (possibly D Company) and later received a promotion to Captain and joined Battalion HQ staying with the Battalion until he ended up as an acting Major looking after a town in/around Bremen after the war had ended.

Regrettably he passed away a couple of years ago and he spoke very little about his exploits during the war.

I've got alot of facts and figures details but am really looking for stories/personal accounts of their actions.

The only things my dad did talk about were the more lighthearted side of things such as:

- smuggling turkeys for Christmas pre D-Day
- benefiting from the hospitality of native American Indians in war torn Europe
- having a German major surrender to him at a funeral

but I'd like to hear about the personal experiences that he would have been through but refused to talk about.

Many thanks.

Paul Scanlon

 

Welcome Quis! This is a great place to share information. I do not have any of the information that you seek but I would love to hear your father's stories concerning Native Americans. If you will post them, I shall very much appreciate it, as I am sure will others.

Cheers!

 

Hi

Unfortunately detail is a little scant as my dad was reluctant to talk about the war, however, her did recount one story about native American scouts.

Some time in to the campaign (not sure when) my dad's company in 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles were running low on extremely important supplies (cigarettes) and he volunteered to go and barter for some with whatever could be "acquired" from the stores.

He and his batman (not the cloaked variety) took a motorbike and sidecar and headed off in the general direction of where they thought they would find some Americans who were renowned for having decent supplies of cigarettes.

The first unit he came across was to his great surprise Native American "scouts" , several of whom were up trees at the time. He wasn't even aware that American Natives/Indians were in the US Army and obviously hadn't met one before but after his initial surprise/introductions etc enquired as to whether any business could be done.

They received a very warm welcome and after some negotiation (accompanied by some smoking and drinking) they set off back to their company with the requisite supply of cigarettes but a little worse for wear.

They nearly didn't make it as the batman drove them in to a ditch on the way back but were equally warmly welcomed on their return.

The only downer on the story is that shortly afterwards they heard that the Native American unit had been nearly wiped out shortly after they left (I think by shelling).

Hope this is of interest, I would be very interested to hear of any details regarding American Native units in N. Europe and their movements to try and tie down where it may have occurred (presumably there weren't that many??).

Regards.

Quis Separabit

 

welcome to the forum
a fine and interesting place here you will enjoy your stay
cheers krieg

 

Welcome and cheers, you'll find a wealth of information.

 

Welcome Quis, we have quite a few members that might be able to help. If you ask your questions in the information request section you may be succesfull, wishing you luck in your quest. If you type Hoek van Holland in the search section you will find pictures of former British nissen huts at Hoek van Holland,they had a base there from 1945 until the 60s. It was a major passage for British units that went from Britian to Germany.

 

Echoing others, WELCOME to the forum. I hope you can find the info you are looking for. As to the Amerindians, we (USA) had quite a few who served in WW2.

"A 1942 survey indicated that 40 percent more Native Americans voluntarily enlisted than had been drafted. Lt. Emest Childers (Creek), Lt. Jack Montgomery (Cherokee), and Lt. Van Barfoot (ChoctawW all of the famed 45th "Thunderbird" Infantry Division-won Medals of Honor in Europe. (as an aside, before WW2 the emblem of the 45th had been a Swastika)

"The annual enlistment for Native Americans jumped from 7,500 in the summer of 1942 to 22,000 at the beginning of 1945. According to the Selective Service in 1942, at least 99 percent of all eligible Indians, healthy males aged 21 to 44, had registered for the draft. War Department of ficials maintained that if the entire population had enlisted in the same proportion as Indians, the response would have rendered Selective Service unnecessary. The overwhelming majority of Indians welcomed the opportunity to serve. On Pearl Harbor Day, there were 5,000 Indians in the military. By the end of the war, 24,521 reservation Indians, exclusive of officers, and another 20,000 off-reservation Indians had served. The combined figure of 44,500 was more than ten percent of the Native American population during the war years. This represented one-third of all able-bodied Indian men from 18 to 50 years of age. In some tribes, the percentage of men in the military reached as high as 70 percent. Also, several hundred Indian women served in the WACS, WAVES, and Army Nurse Corps.

From:

Native Americans in World War II

 

Nice to meet you Paul.
I don't come here too much nowadays.
look forward to your posts.

 

Thanks all for the warm welcome and pointers provided - I'll have a dig around.

I will try and add more details as time allows (certainly seems to be some cross over already with other members), in the meantime if anyone is looking for 2 RUR related images they can find a selection at:

http://www.ww2f.com/members/quis-separabit-albums-2nd-battalion-royal-ulster-rifles.html

Cheers.

Quis Separabit