9th Platoon of 'A' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Platoon leader Lt D H Walsh centre of front row (wounded at Cambes 09/06/44), Rifleman Hugh McCauley (7015312) is second from left on second row from front. 'B' Company Headquarters 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Major J W Hyde centre right of front row, Rifleman Michael Kevin Ryan MM (6197005) is far left on front row (KIA at Cambes on 4th July 1944). Officers of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Lt R C (Bobby) Diserens, Lt C C (Cyril) Rand Capt N R V (Norman) Watson, Maj. J S C G (Stuart) de Longueuil, Lt R D (Roy) Purcell. Lieutenant Diserens and Captain Watson were both KIA as a result of shelling at Cambes (see Fallen Officers page), Unknown Platoon of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Lt C C Rand sat in centre with Sgt Hammersley on his left. Unknown Platoon of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Lt R D Purcell sat in centre |
Unknown Platoon of 'D' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Rifleman William John Hill is first on left, second row down. Rifleman William Mcveigh also believed to be in this Platoon photo.
Unknown Platoon of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (possibly 'D' Company) - Hawick - 1944
Possibly Lt S M Lennox MC in centre (based on Officers group photo - see top of page)
18th Platoon 'D' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Back Row - Rifleman Harry Brown ; RFM Stevenson ; RFM Desmond Bradley ; RFM Jack Allshire ; RFM Richardson ; RFM Gallagher ; RFM Lomax Middle Row - RFM Richard Keegan ; RFM Rawnsley ; RFM Williamson ; RFM Bradley ; RFM Faulkner ; RFM McAllister ; RFM Smythe ; L/Cpl O'Halloran Front Row - L/Cpl McIlroy ; Cpl Killeps? ; Sgt Teague ; Lt H Greene ; Cpl Kohler ; L/Cpl Fitzgerald ; L/Cpl Houghton Sat at Front: ?????? ; RFM Smith Signal Platoon 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944 Front Row - Third from left - Sgt David Taylor Lt F W McFaull in centre |
D Company - 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Possibly Hawick -1944
Front Row Officers believed to be:
RSM Fleming ; Lt S C N Beavan ; Lt G P Flack ; Capt W E S Sturgeon ; Lt/Col I C Harris; Capt J R St J Aldworth; Capt J G Guinane RAChD ; Maj J W Hyde
Sgt D Taylor - Front Row - third from right
Front Row Officers believed to be:
RSM Fleming ; Lt S C N Beavan ; Lt G P Flack ; Capt W E S Sturgeon ; Lt/Col I C Harris; Capt J R St J Aldworth; Capt J G Guinane RAChD ; Maj J W Hyde
Sgt D Taylor - Front Row - third from right
L/Cpl E. B. Bunston second from right in middle row Lt/Col J Drummond DSO (Battalion Commander from January 1945) in centre of front row Officers 2nd L.T. A.A. REGT R.A. (2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles) - 1944 |
Officers of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Droxford - 19 May 1944 Front Row Left to Right:Maj. J S C G de Longueuil, Maj J W Hyde, Maj C R P Sweeny M.C. , Capt W E S Sturgeon ; Lt/Col I H Richards, Lt/Col I C Harris, General Sir Bernard L Montgomery K.C.B D.S.O , Maj B J FitzG.Donlea M.C. , Maj W D Tighe Wood , Capt M D G Ryan , Capt J R St J Aldworth , Capt (QM) C H D Henniker Second Row Left-Right:Lt G P Flack , Lt L F Laving , Capt J G Guinane RAChD , Capt N R V Watson , Capt H M Gaffikin , Capt K G Perona Wright , Capt C R Gray , Capt J Montgomery , Capt W H Baudains M.M. , Capt A C Bird , Capt C R Wright R.A.M.C Third Row Left-Right:Capt H M Sheane , Lt R D Purcell , Lt H Greene , Lt F W McFaull , Lt R C Diserens , Lt R S Hall , Lt E J Bourke , Lt S E Frost , Lt S C N Beavan , Lt R Lyttle , Lt S M Lennox Back Row Left to Right:Lt C C Rand , Lt H D D O'Neil , Lt W E Palmer , Lt D H Walsh , Lt D R R Greer , Lt M P Scanlon , Lt J H St.J.Cooper , Capt F Kirk M.C. |
NCOs of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Droxford - 19 May 1944
Front Row Left to Right: CQMS Patterson, CQMS McCartney, CSM Turner, CSM Lutton, CSM Long, Capt(QM) C.H.D. Henniker, Lt/Col I.C.Harris, RSM Fleming, General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, KCB, DSO, RQMS Connell, Maj. B.J.FitzG. Donlea, MC, Cap J.G.Guinane,RAChD, CSM Watson, CSM Walsh, CSM Kelly, CQMS Cherry, CQMS Cooke.
Second Row Left-Right: CQMS McEnhill, Sgt Brown, Sgt Teague, L/Sgt Hodgkinson, Sgt Murray, Sgt Woolford, Sgt Tipper, CSM Bennett, Sgt McConville, Sgt Morris, Sgt Gunn, Sgt Stirling, Sgt Gilmore, L/Sgt Young, Sgt McConville(ACC), CQMS Daly.
Third Row Left-Right: Sgt Somerville(ACC), Sgt Fryer, CQMS Mitchell, Sgt Nixon, Sgt McGrady, Sgt McCutcheon, Sgt Patterson, Sgt Corbett, Sgt Dickens, Sgt Creaney, Sgt Knight, L/Sgt Close, Sgt Birmingham, Sgt Montgomery, L/Sgt McCann, Sgt Millen.
Back Row Left to Right: Sgt Martin, Sgt Blight, Sgt Taylor, Sgt Toms, L/Sgt Bennett, L/Sgt Hughes, Sgt Kavanagh, L/Sgt Dunkling, L/Sgt Ross, Sgt Hammersley, Sgt Dyer, Sgt Daly, Sgt Rainey, Sgt Young, L/Sgt Stewart, Sgt Drumgoole.
Front Row Left to Right: CQMS Patterson, CQMS McCartney, CSM Turner, CSM Lutton, CSM Long, Capt(QM) C.H.D. Henniker, Lt/Col I.C.Harris, RSM Fleming, General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, KCB, DSO, RQMS Connell, Maj. B.J.FitzG. Donlea, MC, Cap J.G.Guinane,RAChD, CSM Watson, CSM Walsh, CSM Kelly, CQMS Cherry, CQMS Cooke.
Second Row Left-Right: CQMS McEnhill, Sgt Brown, Sgt Teague, L/Sgt Hodgkinson, Sgt Murray, Sgt Woolford, Sgt Tipper, CSM Bennett, Sgt McConville, Sgt Morris, Sgt Gunn, Sgt Stirling, Sgt Gilmore, L/Sgt Young, Sgt McConville(ACC), CQMS Daly.
Third Row Left-Right: Sgt Somerville(ACC), Sgt Fryer, CQMS Mitchell, Sgt Nixon, Sgt McGrady, Sgt McCutcheon, Sgt Patterson, Sgt Corbett, Sgt Dickens, Sgt Creaney, Sgt Knight, L/Sgt Close, Sgt Birmingham, Sgt Montgomery, L/Sgt McCann, Sgt Millen.
Back Row Left to Right: Sgt Martin, Sgt Blight, Sgt Taylor, Sgt Toms, L/Sgt Bennett, L/Sgt Hughes, Sgt Kavanagh, L/Sgt Dunkling, L/Sgt Ross, Sgt Hammersley, Sgt Dyer, Sgt Daly, Sgt Rainey, Sgt Young, L/Sgt Stewart, Sgt Drumgoole.
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery takes salute from 2 RUR at end of visit - Droxford - 19 May 1944 (IWM)
Montgomery takes salute from 2 RUR at end of visit - Droxford - 19 May 1944 (IWM)
2 RUR pause in La Brèche d'Hermanville during their move inland 6 June 1944 (IWM) Riflemen of 2 RUR patrolling through ruins of Caen - 10 July 1944 (IWM) British troops in ruins of Caen with 2 RUR member in Caubeen on right - 10 July 1944 (IWM) Troops of 2 RUR passing through Caen on the way to secure bridges over the River Orne - 10 July 1944 (IWM)
Rifleman B Armstrong of Collyhurst, Manchester and Private Bannister of 1 KOSB of Newcastle read newspaper in
the ruins of Caen - 10 July 1944 (IWM)Rifleman E Willis of Hounslow and Lance Corporal BJ Smith of Birkenhead from HQ Company 2 RUR in Observation Post on the banks of the Rhine - 22 March 1945 (IWM) 2 RUR with South Lancashire Regiment clearing a street in Bremen - 26 April 1945 (IWM) 2 RUR with South Lancashire Regiment clearing a street in Bremen - 26 April 1945 (IWM) Major Charles Sweeny Killed in a road accident on 9th May 1945 after the German surrender on the north flank had taken place. Whilst escorting a German Admiral back to Kiel and the car left the road and crashed into a tree. Major Charles Sweeny Major Charles Sweeny MC with other Montgomery Liaison Officers on 12th April 1945 just before he died. Funeral of Major Charles Sweeny - 13 May 194510 gun salute at Major Sweeny's funeral Montgomery giving a final salute at Major Sweeny's funeral Honours and Awards Photos
Corporal O'Reilly 7020028 receiving his Distinguished Conduct Medal from Montgomery 27th July 1944 (IWM)
Rifleman Jeremiah Long MM (7014577) and Rifleman Hugh Henry McGlennon MM (7012171), just prior to being decorated by Montgomery on 27th July 1944 for their bravery at the battle of Cambes (see IWM Video footage on separate page)
Corporal Reid DCM, Rifleman Charles MM and Sergeant Sharkey DCM having just received their awards from Montgomery
6986230 Rifleman Andrew Charles MM
Major John Charles Stuart Grant de Longueuil receiving the Military Cross from Montgomery 28th April 1945 (IWM)
The award was for action with the 2nd Battalion at Troarn and presented after he had transferred to the 1st Battalion. Major John Charles Stuart Grant de Longueuil of 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles at Buckingham Palace Investiture with his mother & sister 28th June 1945 for award of MC for action with 2nd Battlaion Royal Ulster Rifles at Troarn in 1944 (see Awards page)
Other Photos of Known 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles Members
Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neill (far right) - Unknown location
(Descendants would welcome any information relating to area where photo taken and/or other persons in photo)
Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neill's modified Jeep
Rifleman Arthur Desmond Bradley - Killed in Action - 17/06/1944
Rifleman Arthur Desmond Bradley - Killed in Action - 17/06/1944
Rifleman Hugh McCauley (7015312), wounded at Cambes 28/06/44
Rifleman Edward Francis Bailey (7016406)
Rifleman Hugh Maguire - Awarded Legion d'Honneur in 2015
Lance Corporal Patrick O'Hagan
Rifleman John Shanahan Lance Corporal Robert Daly, 2 RUR Rifleman Sam Lowry, 2 RUR Rifleman Hamilton Lawrence, 2 RUR Rifleman Stanley Burrows, 2 RUR Rifleman Hugh Crangle, 2 RUR Corporal Hugh Henry Millar (7014297), 2 RUR Corporal Hugh Millar served was killed in action on 7th June 1944 (most likely as part of D Company during the first attack on Cambes Wood). Corporal Frank Thomas George Wallis (7019327), 2 RUR Corporal Frank Wallis 7019327 was killed in action on the 19th July 1944 during the advance on Troarn. Rifleman William Millar (7016788) from Ballymena, NI
Rifleman William Millar served as a Bren Gunner with 2RUR during the Second World War and his brother Robert is also believed to have served with 1RUR. Their father, William Snr, served in the First World War with the 12th Royal Irish Rifles. William Jnr subsequently went on to serve with the RUR in the 1960s and the UDR in the 1970s. His son served with the UDR in the 1980s and Royal Irish Regiment in the 1990s and his grandson served with the Royal Irish Regiment from 2006 until 2016.Rifleman William John Hill, 2 RUR Rifleman William Hill served with 2RUR during World War 2 and experienced a lucky escape when a penny he had in his breast pocket deflected shrapnel or a round into his upper arm (not removed until the 1960s). In later years he became Provost Sergeant of the 6th (TAVR) Battalion and was also a council member of the RUR association club in Waring Street. His father, also William Hill, was a veteran of World War 1 with the 15th RIR / 1st Batt RIF. Lance Corporal Edward Brandon Bunston 7021050, 2 RUR Rifleman Bunston 7021050 (on left above) was a stretcher bearer in C Company who was Mentioned in Despatches and also received a Commendation Card.
Below, Lance Corporal Bunston 7021050 in Palestine.
Rifleman William Sargent 14443269 Rifleman Sargent was with 2 RUR until he transferred to 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in Holland in 1944 (pictured with Min Sargent who served with the RAF). Rifleman George Williamson 7022501 Rifleman Wiiliamson came from Park Street, Ballyclare and landed with the 2nd Battalion O D-Day. He was killed in action on the 30th November 1944 when a man in his platoon stood on a mine and killed 3 men including George. Lance Corporal William S Holmes 7045707 Lance Corporal Homes was the eldest of three brothers involved with the D-Day Landings. Bill was the eldest and landed with 2 RUR, his younger brother Fred was a Royal Marine Coxswain on LCM 154 landing craft that landed on Juno on the 6th . The youngest brother Tom was a seaman on HMS Cockatrice, one of the many minesweepers clearing the channel for the invasion. Bill was killed in action on 21st July 1944 outside Troarn aged 29. Rifleman Robert Glass - A Company - 2 RUR Rifleman Glass was born and lived in Cogry and enlisted in Belfast 1941. He landed in Normandy on D-Day and was later taken Prisoner of War in late 1944 3778633 Rifleman William Fred Grindrod Killed in Action 30th November 1944 during attack on Wanssum 7020024 Rifleman Kenneth Erskine, 2 RUR Killed in action 14th October 1944. Age 22 Serjeant Schofield served with the Royal Ulster Rifles between 1931-38, was recalled to the colours in 1939, was part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 and was recommended for the Military Medal for his part in action at the railway station in Louvain prior to escaping via Dunkirk. He returned to action via Sword Beach on 6th June 1944 and was platoon Serjeant of the Mortar Platoon, S Company that was part of the successful but costly Battalion attack on Cambes Wood on 9th June. He was killed in action on the 1st November 1944 during action around Venray. Born in Kent, he was the son of George William and Margaret Schofield, of Laleham, Middlesex. 7021619 Corporal Eric Boyd, 2RUR. Died of wonds 1944 6th October 1944. 7020380 Rifleman John Walton, 2RUR. KIA 3rd November 1944 aged 33. 1772964 Rifleman Joseph Robinson, 2RUR. KIA 30th November 1944 during attack on Wanssum. 3778633 Rifleman William Fred Grindrod from Bury Died 30th November 1944 aged 25 years old, killed during the first attack on the Wanssum pocket, initially reported as missing presumed Prisoner of War, he was subsequently confirmed to have been killed in action.. 14691055 Rifleman Melvern Roy Guy from Risca near Newport, 2 RUR Went to France a week after D Day and died 13 October 1944 during an attack to secure two woods to the west and south west of Overloon. Although they achieved their objectives, whilst in the wood, he was killed by an almost direct mortar hit and died instantly. He worked for a haulage contractor and was in the Home Guard for three years before joining D Company 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles Rifleman Derick Birch 2 Royal Ulster Rifles 6197005 Rifleman Michael Kevin Ryan MM, WO/373/15/355 Rifleman Ryan MM of B Company speaking to Montgomery prior to DDay. He was later killed in action as a result of shelling at Cambes on the 4th July 1944.
Life in 2 RUR Barracks
Centre of Back Row: Sgt David Taylor
2 RUR Football
Far Left of Back Row: Sgt David Taylor
Band of Brothers - The Beck Family circa 1940
Bottom Left: Robert William Beck - 7020200 ; Bottom Right: William Beck - 7018156
Top Right - Johnny Beck - 7018164 ; Top Left - Unknown friend of Johnny.
Another Band of Brothers - The Magill Family from Belfast LEFT - Rifleman Andrew Magill, 2nd Battalion RUR, survived the war and served in Korea where was a POWcaptured at the lmjin River on 25th April 1951. RIGHT - Rifleman Nathaniel Morton Magill 1st Battalion RUR, killed in action 11th June 1944 when came under fire from snipers at Longueval. Two other bothers served, Rifleman TJ Magill with 2 RUR and another in Italy. |
1948 05 01 Amalgamation of Officers of 1st Battalion & 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles