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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: liver007 on Thursday 16 October 25 09:12 BST (UK)
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I am afraid this is a shot in the dark. I am researching who lived in my row of houses and I have come across the following person.
Maurice E Elms, DOB: 14 April 1925, Littleton Winchester Hampshire
I know he took part in D Day on the 6th June 1944. I am guessing living in Winchester he may have served with the 1st Bn The Hampshire Regiment.
Before I visit the Hampshire Regiment museum, I would like to try to find his Regimental number or confirmation that he did serve with the Hampshire Regiment.
I understand if it is a long shot, but alas I do not have any more information.
Thank you
Keith
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A Maurice E Elms of the right age turns up as a crew member on the Queen Mary in 1948, so maybe he was in the Navy. Somehow he acquired a scar on his right buttock
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If you have access to Ancestry he appears in trees, he would appear to have 3 living children. There is also a photo on a family member's tree
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Hi LizzieL thank you for your reply.
Interesting regarding the Queen Mary.
I think you may have seen my tree I have created for the Elms family on ancestry 👍
Keith
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Hi LizzieL thank you for your reply.
Interesting regarding the Queen Mary.
I think you may have seen my tree I have created for the Elms family on ancestry 👍
Keith
The home person on the tree I saw had the surname Elms and looks like a close family member
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Yes, There is another tree, I have tried contacting them to ask about Maurice.
This all comes about because i am writing about the 8 houses in my street and who lived in the houses
So far what I have found is fascinating
Keith
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Keith,
What evidence do you have to tell you he was in the 1st Hampshires? He couldn't have joined before April 1943 and so he would probably have seen his first action on D Day itself, as his battalion returned to the UK from Italy in November 1943. The 1st battalion suffered quite high casualties on D Day and during subsequent fighting in Northern France and the Netherlands, such that by October 1944 they were no longer operationally viable and were withdrawn to the UK where the remaining members of the 1st battalion were used to reinforce other units. In the 6 months from 6 June 1944, the 1st Hampshires suffered over 1,281 casualties, including 231 officers and men killed in action, the rest being either wounded or missing in action. For comparison, from 1943 the nominal strength of an infantry battalion was 36 Officers and 809 other ranks. Maurice Elms does not appear on any of the casualty lists for the period 6 June 1944 - 6 May 1945. It is possible that he spent the last 6 months of the war either in a different Hampshire Battalion, or with another Regiment altogether.
Before going to visit the Hampshire's museum, I would give them a call to see if it is likely that they hold any information about him. Their number is 01962 852933 or you can email using: enquiries@royalhampshireregiment.org
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Hi Andy,
I have surmised he served with theHampshire Regiment only because most men who lived in the row of houses and living in a village close to Winchester all served with one of the Hampshire Regiments. I will take your advice regarding the Hampshire Regiment museum.
I suppose I could send an email with the very little detail I have on Maurice, if anything.
I do appologise for not having much more detail, I will keep searching online, I know a Regimental number will help.
Keith
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Andy,
I have managed to find someone in the family, I have messaged them to confirm who Maurice served with during WW2. It might be awhile before I receive a reply. Or not.
Keith
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I think it would be unwise to proceed on the basis that he joined the 1st battalion because some other local inhabitants did, without further evidence. There was a total of 12 battalions of the Hampshire Regiment during the war, six of which served overseas. Three of those which remained in the UK were converted to other capbadges, one becoming a Royal Artillery Anti-tank Regt and two joining the Royal Armoured Corps.
If it helps, there was a Pte DH Elms in the 2nd battalion who was taken prisoner in 1942 in North Africa; a Sergeant IS Elms of the 7th battalion who was wounded in Groesbeek-Mook area on the Dutch-German border on 4 Oct 1944, and Pte SE Elms was killed in action with the 2nd battalion in Italy on 13 October 1943.
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Andy,
Understood, hopefully the person who I have messaged will get back to me.
Thank you for the information you have provided, I shall save it for my folder of information.
I will hopefully be able to update you on the information I may glean from the person i have messaged.
Keith