Capt. Micheal Gillian Died
10th February 1943 Aged 32
Captain in
the Leicestershire Yeomanry. He was a well known
steeplechaser locally and won prizes at the Dingley Races.
He was good-looking and charming and popular at local social
events. Michael's daughter, Serena, remembers being told that
during the 1930s he went to the help of a victim of Nazi
Brownshirts while in a cafe in Germany. He was beaten up
but the German authorities did apologise afterwards.
In February 1943 Michael’s troops, the Kibworth troop,
was on manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain. One contact thinks
this was the time when the Royal Artillery was changing over
from horses to vehicles. The weather was terrible and he was
taken ill after travelling to London in wet clothes.
He took leave and booked himself into the Dorchester Hotel in
London where, tragically, he died
of double pneumonia. He left his widow, Grizel and an
infant daughter. Michael is buried in a Commonwealth War
Grave in Long Stowe in Cambridgeshire.
The Leicestershire Yeomanry training in 1940
Nov 25th 1939 all non "Brigaded" Yeomanry converted to Field
Regiment Artillery.
"The 153rd (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment R.A"
"The 154th (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment R.A"
LY Cap & Collar Badges retained in uniform but R.A buttons worn.
Divisional Cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Division
Rufford Abbey (Regiment Concentration)
(Sept 22nd 1939)
5th Cavalry Brigade
(Sept 1st 1939)
Leicestershire Yeomanry
c1939 at summer camp prior to the War.
The full
length photograph was taken at Oakham, Rutland, in 1939. In the
background can be seen the railway crossing that is near the
centre of the town. The three young men are Eric Montgomery of
Thurmaston, Dusty Miller of Oakham, and Percy Potter of
Thurmaston.
The head and shoulder photograph was taken in early 1940 and
shows Percy, left, and Eric, right. The uniform worn by Percy
shows very clearly the regimental badge of the Leicestershire
Yeomanry. The lower scroll of the badge bore the inscription
South Africa 1900-02. This was in recognition of the battle
honour gained by the regiment during the Boer War, when members
of the regiment made-up companies of the Imperial Yeomanry
force.
Leicestershire Yeomanry Sports c1938
Leicestershire Yeomanry (Arab Enemy) c1938
Captain Hon. George Charles
Spencer
b. 15 August 1903, d. October 1982
He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the Leicester
Yeomanry (Territorials). He gained the rank of Captain in the
service of the 33rd (St. Pancras) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal
Artillery (Territorials).
The Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants
7th Queens Own Hussars and The Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince
Albert's Own)
Aldershot 1932
Regimental Headquarters : Magazine, Leicester.
HRH the Duke of York
KG KT GCMG GCVO
(1926)
Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment as "Prince Albert's Own",
an honour which was keenly appreciated by all ranks as well as
by the two counties (Leicestershire & Rutland).
Col. Sir Geoffrey Codrington, HRH the Duke of York and Major.
Thomas Hay
Colonel F G Blair, CB, CMG
Honorary Colonel
Colonel. Sir Geoffrey Codrington, KCVO, CB, CMG, DSO,
OBE, TD
Commanding Officer 1922-29
Major T W Hay, T D
Second-in-Command 1922-29
Lieutenant E.F.S. Morrison RAMC (TA)
Leicestershire Yeomanry silver salver. A fine example by the
Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd. of 112 Regent Street bearing
London hallmarks for 1935. Ten inch diameter with stepped ornate
scalloped rim and supported on four ball and claw feet. The
centre is engraved with the Leicestershire Yeomanry cap badge
device surrounded by 19 facsimile signatures. Around the edge
'Presented to Lieutenant E.F.S. Morrison RAMC (TA) by the
Officers in the Leicestershire Yeomanry on the occasion of his
Marriage Nov 19th 1935'.
2/Lt Ian Fenwick
A Second World War campaign group of six awarded to Major Ian
Fenwick, 1st Special Air Service Regiment and Army Air Corps,
killed in action during operation 'Gain' 1939-45 Star; Africa
Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star;
Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf emblem, these all
unnamed as issued but sold with named condolence slip (Major Ian
Fenwick) extremely fine E200-300 M.I.D. London Gazette 10 May
1945 Ian Fenwick was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the
Leicestershire Yeomanry in 1937 After serving with the Royal
Artillery and King's Royal Rifle Corps, He Joined the Special
Air Service, having gained his wings with the Army Air Corps. He
commanded "D" Squadron, 1st S.A.S., during operation 'Gain',
parachuted into France on the night of 16th/17th June 1944, with
six men. Working on foot some thirty to fifty miles south of
Paris, in the gap between the Loire and the Seine, they
proceeded to blow up railway lines and, working with the French
Resistance, Fenwick's party derailed many trains. This was all
occurring too near the Gestapo's Paris stamping ground to be
long tolerable, and finally a double agent enabled the Gestapo
to raid Fenwick's base. On the 7th August, 1944, the base was
surrounded by a large enemy force. The base party was successful
in breaking out, while lan Fenwick was out on an operational
patrol at the time. On his way back He received garbled reports
which must have indicated that most of his party had been
captured. "It was typical of him" wrote another officer, "that
his first thought should be for the safety of his men. It was in
an attempt to relieve them immediately that, after successfully
attacking an enemy column, He was ambushed in his Jeep and
killed instantaneously. Thus died a very gallant Englishman."
Ian Fenwick was a noted cartoonist for Punch and other
magazines. The lot is sold with further research including a
copy of his book Enter Trubshaw, which was published shortly
after his death in 1944, with a Preface by David Niven who had
been a friend of Fenwick since his childhood days.
Air Vice-Marshal J E 'Johnnie'
Johnson Born
on 9 March 1915 in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire James
'Johnnie' Johnson attended Loughborough School and then
Nottingham University graduating as a civil engineer in 1938.
Failing to get into the Auxiliary Air Force and the Volunteer
Reserve at his first attempt, he joined the Leicestershire
Yeomanry. But shortly after this, the Air Ministry invited him
to attend a selection board for the VR, in which he was
successful and became a Sergeant Pilot (under training).
Undertaking his training at weekends at Stapleford Tawney and
Marshal's at Cambridge before Service flying training at RAF
Sealand, being commissioned in 1940. Operational training at
Hawarden was followed by his first posting to No 19 Sqn at
Duxford.
Squadron HQ: Melton Mowbray
Squadron district : LEWIN BRIDGE on the FOSSE WAY
over RIVER WREAK - along the FOSSE WAY to BROUGHTON LODGE - then
the county boundaries of Leicestershire and Rutland to the
bridge over RIVER WELLAND 1/2 mile S.S.E of GREAT BOWDEN
exclusive - along L.M.S Railway to the crossing over HARBORO' -
TUR LANGTON Road - EAST LANGTON exclusive - CHURCH LANGTON
exclusive - SHANGTON exclusive - along the SHANGTON-TILTON Road
to TILTON exclusive - along the TILTON-QUENIBOROUGH Road to
QUENIBOROUGH exclusive - thence along the QUENIBOROUGH Brook to
LEWIN BRIDGE.
Major R.P. Spencer
Leicestershire Yeomanry Silver Presentation cigarette box. "The
lid of this box is engraved with the regimental badge to the
centre and the signatures of friends. To the front the
inscription Major Spencer with Best wishes from the Officer's of
A Squadron 1932. The interior retains wooden lining. One or two
small dents, GC." E30-50 Major R.P. Spencer was appointed to
this rank in 1930
Melton Troop, Lt Lord Willoughby de Eresby and Sgt Goodwin.
A Sqn LY in Melton Mowbray on Armistice Day 1932.
Permanent Staff SSM W N Jones
William Neville Jones was a 7th Dragoon Guard, he transferred to
LY 24 Aug 1920
Extended tour of duty in 1923, 1924 and 1925 until (writing
unclear) termination of engagement 7. 5. 1927. In 1923 his
address was Drill Hall, Oakham and on his death he was buried in
Sysonby, Melton Mowbray. After his service within the LY he had
a long association with the Remount Depot (RAVC) in Melton
Mowbray. His Great War record shows that he was also part of the
Machine Gun Corps (Cav) in 1916 and this might indicate an
association with Major E R Hanbury (Oakham) who was also part of
the MGC(Cav) before his death in
Flanders (see WW1 page, Major E R Hanbury) , hence the link with the LY.
(Many thanks to Roger Jones, Netherlands, Grandson of William)
Only half a picture of A Squadron on annual camp c1922-4, SSM
Jones (7DG) is seen in the photo. Note the Sergeant next to him
is wearing what appears to be a Sam Browne belt with the
shoulder strap on the left shoulder.
Squadron HQ: Leicester
Squadron district : LEWIN BRIDGE along A Squadron
WESTERN boundary to the junction 1 mile S.S.E of BARSBY - thence
to HUNGERTON inclusive - HOUGHTON -ON-THE-HILL inclusive - GREAT
STRETTON inclusive - GREAT GLEN inclusive - NEWTON HARCOURT
inclusive - along RIVER SENCE to the FOSSE WAY - along the FOSSE
WAY - along the FOSSE WAY to BRAUNSTONE inclusive - crossroads
at HIGH WAY SPINNEY - thence a line through THURCASTON GLEBE
LODGE to WANLIP inclusive - along RIVER SOAR to the junction
with RIVER WREAK - thence along the RIVER WREAK to LEWIN BRIDGE.
Sgt K Walker
Ken Hibbert
Jack Hatton
Bernard Marriott
Cyril Evans
Harry Skelson
Doug Coltman
Oadby Troop in February 1940, the horses ears are pricked
towards their Troop leader B Brassey as he blows his hunting horn. The
soldier inset is Tpr. Freddy Draycott, later to be in 153 (LY)
F.Rgt, RA.
Signal Troop, B Squadron in 1938. Led by Sgt. Ken Walker.
Jack Edwards
Trooper Jack Edwards, Signals Section,
Headquarters Company B Squadron LY. Read an account of his War
stories below (there is an error in the description of the
Regiments badge in this account).
Squadron district : Along the LEICESTER - COALVILLE
Road from B Squadron boundary to COALVILLE exclusive - along the
L.M.S LEICESTER - BURTON Railway to the WESTERN county boundary
- thence along the WESTERN and NORTHERN county boundaries to SIX
HILLS - thence down the FOSSE WAY to LEWIN BRIDGE.
Major E GORE-BROWNE DSO, TD.
COL. SIR ERIC GORE-BROWNE, Kt Bachelor (1948), DSO
(1918), OBE (1939), TD (1926), of Glaston
House, Rutland, High Sheriff of Rutland 1957, Barrister-at-law,
Inner Temple 1909, Lt-Col cmdg Prince Albert's Own Leics. Yeo.
Post Office Rifles / Leicestershire Yeomanry DSO, OBE, TD
group. Awarded to Colonel Sir Eric Gore-Browne, who was
commissioned into the Post Office Rifles and was the Commanding
Officer at the time of its disbandment in 1922. Comprising:
Knight Bachelor breast badge, Distinguished Service Order Small
flake to enamel of left front arm, Order of the British Empire,
1914/15 Star "Capt 8-Lond R", British War Medal, Victory Medal,
MID "Major", War Medal, 1935 George V Jubilee Medal, George VI
Coronation Medal, Territorial Decoration GVR, French Croix de
Guerre. The group is mounted for display and is accompanied by a
quantity of original paperwork and research material. GC.
Colonel Sir Eric Gore-Browne, London Gazette entry for the DSO
is dated 1st January 1918, OBE 8th June 1939, MID 11th December
1917 and French Croix de Guerre 31st August 1917. He was
commissioned into the Post office Rifles on the 15th January
1912, at the outbreak of the war he proceeded with the Battalion
to France landing on the 18th March 1915. He was appointed a
Staff Officer, serving at the War Department and held various
Staff Appointments. At the end of the war he undertook a highly
successful career as a merchant banker and remained with the
Post office Rifles, he was appointed Lt Col Commanding the
Battalion and it was his sad duty to address his men on the
disbandment and amalgamation of the Battalion, with the 7th
London Regiment. In 1933 he was appointed Lt Col Commanding the
Leicestershire Yeomanry a post he would hold until 1938 when he
was promoted to a Colonel on the Staff in 1939. In 1938 he was
also appointed an Additional ADC to King George VI. At the
outbreak of the Second World War he was serving as a Staff
Officer, but in 1943, he was appointed Controller of Rubber, but
had to give up this post a year later when he was appointed
Chairman of Southern Railways a post he held until
nationalisation in 1948. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor 1st
January 1948. He died on the 28th May 1964.
Leicestershire Yeomanry (C Sqn) at Rufford Abbey c1939
Tpr 546747 John William Lock
Tpr Lock's Medals, he joined the LY in 1926 (Cook) and then
transferred to ACC in 1941 (after loss of horses).
Tpr. Headley at Rufford Abbey c1939.
Squadron HQ: Market Harborough
Squadron district : All that portion of Leicestershire
lying outside the other Squadron areas detailed above.
OC Major C. J. Henry
c1925-28
Part of "D" Squadron in Market Harborough, 3rd of September
1939.
Church Parade, Lubenham, Market Harborough c1928. Sgt. Bert Main on
the front row.
Sgt. Bert Main (528942)
Medals Five: Sergeant B. Main, Leicestershire Yeomanry
British War and Victory Medals (1905 Pte., Leic. Yeo.); Defence
Medal 1939-45; Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (528942 Sjt.,
Leic. Yeo.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial (528942 Sjt.,
Leic. Yeo.)
Medal Index card confirming
entitlement to pair, change of number and award of Efficiency
Medal under A/O 177 of 1924.
Leicestershire Yeomanry Memorial in Bradgate park, Leics.
(Un veiled July 19th 1927)
Sgt. A Roe (17520)
TA No: 266177
1914 Star, War Medal 194/18, Victory Medal 1918, TA Efficiency
Medal.
Sgt. P P Harris (255157)
GEORGE V TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY
MEDAL TO 255157 SJT. P. P. HARRIS LEICESTER YEOMANRY
