The 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucestershire Regiment) (43 Recce) was a regiment of the British Army's Reconnaissance Corps, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps, during World War II. It fought in North West Europe with the 21st Army Group in 1944–1945. Throughout most of its existence the regiment was part of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.
Origins
The regiment was formed (as 48th Reconnaissance Battalion) on 14 October 1941 by the redesignation of the 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, a Territorial Army (TA) infantry battalion that had fought with 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division in Battle of France and Dunkirk evacuation and then acted as the divisional recce battalion since July 1941. The regiment was initially commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Dudley Ward, later to serve with distinction in the war and destined to become a full General. The following month it was transferred to the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division and renumbered accordingly in January 1942. On 6 June 1942 all reconnaissance battalions were redesignated regiments, and on 1 January 1944 the Reconnaissance Corps became part of the Royal Armoured Corps. Lieutenant Colonel Francis ('Joe') Lane Fox, of the Royal Horse Guards, took command of 43 Recce on 29 September 1943.
The first casualty of WWII suffered by the 43rd Wessex Reconnaissance was Leslie George Allen on 19 June 1942 (now interred at Greenbank Cemetery, Bristol) who suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head whilst out on patrol on a small boat off the coast of Dover.
Organisation and equipment
By the time of D-Day in June 1944, all reconnaissance or "recce" regiments were organised into a headquarters squadron and three reconnaissance squadrons. HQ Squadron included a troop of eight 6-pounder anti-tank guns and a troop of six 3-inch mortars, whilst the 43rd recce regiment had the 11th Parachute Battalion as an attachment during the Battle of Arnhem. The recce squadrons each had three scout troops equipped with Humber Armoured Cars, Humber Light Reconnaissance Cars and Bren carriers, and an assault troop of riflemen in M3 Half-tracks. The total establishment was 41 officers and 755 other ranks. In the months before the Normandy landings the regiment was based at Eastbourne on the South Coast of England and trained in the area.
Wreck of the Derrycunihy
On 18 June 1944 HQ, A and C squadrons embarked at West India Docks, London, aboard Motor Transport Ship (MTS) T72, a general purpose cargo ship named the . T72 joined a convoy off Southend-on-Sea and arrived off Sword Beach on the evening of 20 June. High seas and enemy shelling prevented unloading for three days and it was decided to move T72 to Juno Beach for disembarkation. As the ship started engines at 07.40 on the morning of 24 June it detonated an acoustic or 'Oyster' mine dropped by one of the nightly Luftwaffe raiders. The mine exploded under the keel, splitting the ship in two, and the after part, packed with men of 43 Recce, sank rapidly. Worse still, a 3-tonner ammunition lorry caught fire, and oil floating on the water was set alight. Landing craft and the gunboat quickly came alongside and picked up survivors, most of whom were evacuated to SS Cap Touraine, a former French liner. The Regimental War Diary records that 'Great gallantry was displayed by all troops in the two aft holds' and lists 183 men of the regiment lost and about 120 others evacuated wounded. In addition, 25 of the ship's crew (including Army gunners) died in the disaster, which represented the biggest single loss of life off the invasion beaches.
In the days following the sinking, the survivors were formed into a composite squadron and most of 43 Recce's vehicles were landed from the beached fore part of the "Derrycunihy". B Sqn arrived from England, together with the first reinforcements. A complete squadron was transferred to 43 Recce from the replacement unit, 161st Reconnaissance Regiment.