7897287, Sergeant, Herbert Henry GREAVES
Aged 31


2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
Died of his Wounds on Sunday 25th June 1944

Born in Q3-1912 [Newmarket 3b:864], the son of George Henry and Nellie GREAVES (née RIDGEON) of 29 Nat Flatman Street, Newmarket. He had lived in Northampton. In Q3 of 1936, in Medway, Kent, he married Eileen May SNELLING, later of Bishop Monkton, Yorkshire. They had two children, Sheila and George


In the 1939 register Eileen M [19-6-1915] was at Pytchley Cottage, Cold Asby, Brixworth,Northants with daughter Sheila M [15-3-1938] (later Mrs WHITEHEAD) there are two closed records, one of which would be George. His parents (transcribed as GREWES) were at 29 Nat Flatman Street, Newmarket, father George H [13-8-1887] a stableman, mother Nellie [14-6-1894] and two lodgers, no closed records.

His widow Eileen married Reginald STOCKTON in 1948 in Claro, Yorkshire.


The 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry had been part of the "Desert Rats" in the North African campaign. In June 1944 they were part of the D-Day invasion force in Normandy.

The Derbyshire Yeomanry landed in Normandy during D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Derbyshire Yeomanry was serving as a divisional Reconnaissance Regiment, attached to 51st (Highland) Division. After landing in Normandy, 51st (Highland) Division was moved across Pegasus Bridge to the east bank of the River Orne. There it was to strengthen the bridgehead of the 6th Airborne Division, which had been under extreme pressure since D-Day from 21 Panzer-Division and the freshly-arrived 346 Infanterie-Division. After a disastrous first battle at Breville on 10 June, the division was moved in on the southern flank of the bridgehead and into the Escoville Triangle. The 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry guarded bridges but took part in the bitter fighting for the villages of Escoville and Herouvillette, being employed mainly in an infantry role. In four days, casualties were almost 50, including the CO, Lt Col RH Palmer, but three MCs and four MMs were awarded.

click here to go to a site devoted to the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry

Access to WW2 records being restricted, his medal awards here are assumed to be 39-45 Star, Africa Star (8th Army), France-Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal


extract from war diary on http://www.madrecce.moonfruit.com/#....see above link


© Commonwealth War Graves Commission


Herbert is buried in Hermanville War Cemetery, France Ref- 1.P.4
also commemmorated on the grave of William Greaves (grandfather) in Newmarket Cemetery


click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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