8th Rifle Brigade - from Normandy to the Baltic - June 1944 - May 1945

PHOTO AND FILM – GROUP PHOTOS

It is believed photos of all companies, platoons and some other groups in 8th Rifle Brigade, were made in front of Beaumont Barracks’ Officers Mess, Aldershot, in May 1944, just before the battalion left for France. Many are still missing here. If you have one to add, please get in touch using the contact form on here!

Below is a collection of the Beaumont Barracks and other group photos. Whenever possible, ranks shown are those held when a photo was made. Otherwise ranks are those held by the end of the war.

COMPANIES (HQ, E, F, G and H Company)

H.Q. 2ND LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE (renamed 8th Rifle Brigade in early 1941), BURLEY CAMP – 1939 (Rfn. D.W.G. King collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. D.W.G. King, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

5th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -,-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

4th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -,-, -, -, -, -, –

3rd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -,-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

2nd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Lt.-Col. Bignold de Cologan, Capt. Stransom, Lt. Risdon, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -,-, -, -, –

1st row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -,-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

HQ COMPANY – HUNMANBY HALL, GIRLS BOARDING SCHOOL, HUNMANBY – JULY 1943 (Sgt. A. White collection)

Seated, officers (sporting shoulder straps): Lt. -, CSM -, Lt. Straker, -, Capt. Townshend, Lt. Maidlow, Isherwood, Dancy, –

The number of officers and men in this photo is about 179, well over HQ Company’s nominal strength of 99. It is believed to include the battalion’s first line reinforcements

F COMPANY – HUNMANBY HALL, GIRLS BOARDING SCHOOL, HUNMANBY – JULY 1943 (Rfn. Oliver collection)

G COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Jeltes collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

6th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Patience, -, -, Rfn. Douse, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

5th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Jenkins, -, -, –

4th row: -, Cpl. McEwen, Rfn. White, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, L/Cpl. Field, Cpl. Kingsmill, Rfn. Bloomfield, -, -, –

3rd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Sgt. Fruin, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

2nd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Elmes, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, L/Cpl. A.W. Austin, –

1st row: -, Sgt. Baldwin, -, -, Sgt. Carr, Whitaker, Macaulay, -, CSM Tedder, Lt. Morley, Oxley-Boyle, Lane, Capt. Bell, Maj. McCrea, Lt. Chabott, Stileman, Priestly, Yetman, -, -, Sgt. Kisbey, -, -, -, -, –

H COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Jeltes collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Webster, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Stormont, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Moss

6th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, L/Cpl. Gasper, -, -, Rfn. Affleck, –

5th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, Cpl. Connelly, Cpl. Triggs, -, -, -, Rfn. Gilder, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

4th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. W.J. Hill, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Buttress

3rd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Lee, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Manby, -, -, Rfn. Battson, Rfn. Turner

2nd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Kirkland, -, Rfn. Smith, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Hodges, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

1st row: Rfn. Gillate, Sgt. Millwood, -, Sgt. Rodwell, -, -, Capt. May, Lt. Coryton, -, -, Maj. Mackenzie, CSM Clifton, Lt. Osborne, Lt. Neill, Lt. Davies, Sgt. Macaree, -, Sgt. Reed, -, Sgt. Bowden, –

COMPANY HQs AND PLATOONS (5 – 21 Platoon)

COMPANY HQ, F COMPANY – CIRCA AUGUST 1944 (Musee La Percee du Bocage collection)

Top row: -, Rfn. D.M. Kelly, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Middle row: -, L/Cpl. Overy, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Seated: Cpl. Bottomley, (REME) -, -, -, Maj. Risdon*, Cunliffe (OC F Coy) , -, -, -, –

*): The reason for Major Risdon being in this CHQ photo is unknown; he was 2i/c of the battalion, until leaving to become instructor at Barnard Castle, on 9 September 1944.

5 ‘SCOUT’ PLATOON, F COMPANY – BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN ENGLAND, SPRING 1944 (Rfn. D.W.G. King collection)

Top row: -, -, –

Middle row: -, -, -, Rfn. H.T. Cox, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Seated: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Lts. Adams, Sedgwick, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

5 ‘SCOUT’ PLATOON, F COMPANY – BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN GERMANY, MAY-JUNE 1945 (Rfn. D.W.G. King collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Middle row: -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Pocock, -, -, –

Seated: -, -, Sgt. Cooper MM, -, Lts. -, Adams, -, -, -, -, –

9 ‘SCOUT’ PLATOON, G COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Sgt. White collection – rec.)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Grayson

Middle row: Rfn. Kedge, -, -, -, -, -, -, L/C J.D.W. Field, -, -, -, -, -, –

Seated: -, -, -, -, Sgts. -, Kisbey, Lts. Chabot, Priestley, Sgts. Whitaker, Baldwin, -, Cpl. Graham, L/C Austin, –

MEN of 9 ‘SCOUT’ PLATOON, G COMPANY – PHOTO TAKEN IN NORMANDY, BEFORE 18 JULY 1944 (Musee La Percee du Bocage collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, L/C Austin-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Middle row: -, -, -, -, Rfn. Kedge, -, -, –

Front: -, -, -, -, –

10 PLATOON, G COMPANY – ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Sgt. McEwen / Sgt. Fruin collection – rec.)

Top row: -, -, -, -, Rfn. Isham, -, -, -, Rfn. Elmes, –

Middle row: -, Rfn. Houser, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Pope

Seated: L/C Douse, -, -, Sgt. McEwen, Carr, Lt. Lane, -, -, -, -, –

11 PLATOON, G COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Jeltes collection)

Top row: -, Rfn. Patience, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Jenkins, -, -, -, –

Middle row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Seated: -, -, L/C Henegan, -, -, Lt. Stileman, -, -, -, –

12 PLATOON, G COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Sgt. White collection – rec.)

Top row: -, Rfn. Mansi, -, -, -, Rfn. Sutton, -, -, –

Middle row: -, Rfn. White, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Clapton

Seated: -, -, -, -, Lt. Oxley-Boyle, Sgt. Macauley, -, -, –

12 PLATOON, G COMPANY – BREE, BELGIUM – JANUARY 1945 (Sgt. White collection – rec.)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Middle row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Seated: -, -, Sgt. White MM, Lt. Yetman MC, Sgt. Telford, -, L/Cpl. Powel, –

13 ‘SCOUT’ PLATOON, H COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Jeltes collection)

Top row: Rfn. Denney A., Denney L., Wilson, Vicary, Barnes, L/C Beamont, Rfn. Gilder, Turner R., Bossom, Robinson, Salmon, Stormont

Middle row: Rfn. Gillate, Cpl. Boast, Rfn. Kirkland, Braine, Hodges, Williams, Crisp, Cpl. Birleson, Huckle, Read, L/C Wessel, Rfn. Day, L/C Holgate, Rfn/ Buttress, Brown

Seated: Rfn. Turner B., Shannon, Wright, Smith, Sgt. Reed, Bowden, Lt. Davies, Neill, Sgt. Millwood, Macaree, Rfn. Cuff N., Cpl. Triggs, Connelly, Rfn. Cave

PART OF 14 PLATOON, H COMPANY – THIRSK, YORKSHIRE – MAY 1941 (Rfn. A.W. Lupton collection)

Top row: Rfn. N.H. or W. Sims, White, Martin, R.F. Ault, H.F. Fitzhugh, L.C. Fielding, L/Cpl. Saunderson, Rfn. K.P. Slatford, Sainsbury, Cpl. A.R.A. Fordham, Rfn. Caplin, J.T. Mills (below Sainsbury)

Second row: L/Cpl. Woollard, Rfn. H. Fulton, N.E. Hunter, E.F. Ganderton, Parker

Front row: Rfn. Bloom, D.E. Matthews, Large, L/Cpl. J.W. Corsie

Seated in front: Cpl. Scruton

14 PLATOON, H COMPANY – ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Rfn. Affleck collection)

Back row: -, -, -, -, L/Cpl. Gasper, –

Third row: -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Second row: -, -, -, Sgt. S.D. Read, Rfn. Chroustchoff, -, -, –

Front row: -, Rfn. Affleck, -, -, Lt. Osborne, -, -, -, –

Seated in front: Rfn. H. Webster

On the back, this photo of 14 Platoon is signed by 30 of its members: Rfn. D.E. Affleck (w.), D., G., S.A. or W. Anderson, L/Cpl. B. Bertrand (w.), Igor Chroustchoff (signature in Cyrillic!), H. Fitzhugh, Sgt. E.H. Frankham, Cpl. H. Fulton, Rfn. E.F. Ganderton (w.), L/Cpl. S.I.D. Gasper (w.), Sgt. F.E. Hancock (†), Rfn. W. Hindley (w.), A.O. Jones, Rfn. D.E. Matthews (w.), Rfn. J.T. Mills (w.), Rfn. C. Moakes (†), Rfn. D. Murphy (w.), Lt. G.B.S. Osborne (w.), S.J. Powell, G. Pratt, DCM, Sgt. S.G. Read (†), Rfn. H.G. Restall (w.), L/Cpl. M.P. Richards (w.), Rfn. F.W. Richardson, Rfn. N.H. or W. Sims (w.), Rfn. E.J. Tuffin (w.), Rfn. J.R. Turner (w.), Rfn. A.E. Unwin (w.), Rfn. C. Warrington (w.) and two names unclear.

16 PLATOON, H COMPANY – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Rfn. Wheatley collection)

Back row: Rfn. W.F. Littlepage, -, -, Rfn. Manby, Moss, -, –

Third row: Rfn. Wheatley, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Second row: Rfn. Giddens, -, Rfn. Mealand, -, -, -, -, Rfn. W.J. Hill, –

Seated: -, -, Sgt. Rodwell, Lt. Coryton, -, -, –

LT. GOULD’S 8TH KRRC PLATOON, TO BECOME 18 ‘ANTI-TANK’ PLATOON, E COMPANY, IN EARLY AUGUST 1944 – ENGLAND – BEFORE 9 AUGUST 1944 (Lt. Gould collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Third row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Second row: -, -, -, Lt. Gould, -, Sgt. Docker, -, –

Front: -, -, -, -, -, –

19 ‘ANTI-TANK’ PLATOON, E COMPANY – ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Lt. MacGinnis collection)

Top row: Rfn. Robinson, Hall, Jones, Sweetman, Friend, Clark, Hadley, Hemming, Read, Howes, Briggs

Middle row: Rfn. Bindley, Barber, Baker, Duncan, Gill, Denham, Alder, Pullinger, Hewison, Sutton, Kemp, Bates, Brigstock

Seated: L/C Murrell, Buckley, Cpl. Pateman, Hughes, Sgt. Spong, Lt. MacGinnis, Ireland-Blackburn, Sgt. Page, Pedretti, Cpl. Barlow, Bint, L/C Guiden, Martindill

OTHER GROUPS

OFFICERS 8TH RIFLE BRIGADE – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Lt. MacGinnis collection)

Top row: Lt. Yetman, Priestley, Johnston, Adams, Sedgwick, Davenport, -, Fyffe, Hughes, Ireland-Blackburn, Capt. Hodges (RAChD), Lt. Sudlow, Oxley-Boyle

Middle row: Lt. Mac Donald (REME), Neill, Whitaker, Graveney, Coryton, Osborne, Mac Ginnis, Davies, Stileman, Lane, Dancy, Bowyer, Hodge, Morley, Paton-Williams

Seated: Lt. Chabot, Capt. May, Bell, Townsend, Maj. Rowan, Mackenzie, Risdon, Lt. Col. Treneer-Michell, Capt. Fiennes, Maj. McCree, Cunliffe, Capt. Maidlow, Bond, Isherwood, Willcox (RAMC)

OFFICERS, RSM AND RQMS 8TH RIFLE BRIGADE – SCHLESWIG – SUMMER 1945 (Lt. Stileman collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, Lt. Hughes-Onslow-, -, -, Lt. Sudlow, Phillimore, Adams, –

Third row: RSM Clifton, Capt. Straker, Lt. Davies, -, Lt. Hodge, Capt. Bond, -, Capt. Chabot, Lt. Bowyer, -, -, -, Lt. Whitaker, Capt. Sandell, RQMS Glasgow

Seated: -, Capt. Maidlow, Maj. Bell, Rowan, Liddel, Lt.-Col. Hunter, Capt. Fiennes, Maj. Bradford, Cunliffe, Capt. Townshend

Front row: Lt. Paton-Williams, -, Lt. Neill, -, –

OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS 8TH RIFLE BRIGADE – MADEIRE TERRACE, BRIGHTON – MID-1942 (RQMS R.W. Glasgow MBE collection)

SERGEANTS G COMPANY – BREE, BELGIUM – 21 JANUARY 1945 (Sgt. White collection)

Left to right: Sgt. White, Telford, Baldwin, Hart, CSM Scott, Sgt. McEwin, Austin, Grindley, Young, Eastwood, Whittaker

SERGEANTS H COMPANY – HUNMANBY, YORKSHIRE – JUNE 1943 (Sgt. Taylor Collection)

Back row: Sgt. D.N. Millwood, -, M.W. Hicks, S.T. Macaree, G. Clifton, -, -, A.W. Taylor, J.D. Aldred

Front row: Sgt. -, W.V.J Bowden, N.A. Reed, P.L. Rodwell

On the back, this photo is signed by 9 H Coy. Sergeants. Apart from Sgt. Bowden, Clifton, Hicks, Macaree, Millwood and Reed, these are Sgt. J.D. Aldred, F.E. Hancock and S.G. Read.

SERGEANTS 8TH RIFLE BRIGADE – GERMANY – SPRING 1945 (Sgt. Fruin collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, –

5th row: Sgt. Docker, -, Sgt. Fruin, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Sgt. White MM, –

4th row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Sgt. P.D. Read, -, –

3rd row: -, -, -, -, -, Sgt. McEwen, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

2nd row: -, -, -, -, -, Capt. Fiennes, Lt. Col. Hunter, RSM Clifton, -, -, CSM Millwood, -, –

Seated: -, -, -, -, -, -, – ,-, -, -, –

HQ COMPANY SIGNAL PLATOON – HUNMANBY, YORKSHIRE – JUNE 1943 (Sgt. P.D. Read Collection)

Back row: Rfn. E.E. Pritchard, Craig, Dick Goodman, E.T. Malyon, E.G. Rollison

2nd row: Rfn. G.H. Edwards, Bassett, Alcock, S.G. Spencer, A.W. Lupton, F.A.W. Goodliffe, W. Robbins

Seated: L/Cpl. E.G. Wadden, Cpl. S.D. Read, Sgt. J.H. Hobbs, Lt. J.J. Straker, Cpl. Saville, L/Cpl. Derrick Searle

Front: Rfn. Derrick Searle

G COMPANY SIGNALS – BEAUMONT BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT – MAY 1944 (Jeltes collection)

Top row: -, -, -, Rfn. Kedge, L/Cpl. J.D.W. Field, -, -, -, -, –

Front row: -, -, -, Cpl. Kingsmill MM, L/Cpl. Naish, -, -, –

8TH RIFLE BRIGADE GROUP (NOTE MIX OF UNIFORMS AND OF RB AND LRB BADGES) – PENINSULA BARRACKS, WINCHESTER – EARLY 1941 (Rfn. Elmes collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Middel row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Elmes, -, –

Front row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

FIELD MARSHALL MONTGOMERY WITH MEMBERS OF 11TH ARMOURED BRIGADE HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE C-IN-C CERTIFICATE, WEERT, HOLLAND, 22 FEBRUARY 1945 (Sgt. P.D. Read collection)

Top row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

3rd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

2nd row: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –

Front row: -, -, -, -, General Roberts, Montgomery, -, -, -, Sgt. P.D. Read (8RB), – (8RB)

FIELD MARSHALL MONTGOMERY WITH MEMBERS OF 29TH ARMOURED BRIGADE, AFTER INVESTITURE, YPRES, 10 MARCH 1945 (Sgt. White collection)

Top row: – (3RTR), – (23H), – (23H), – (23H), – (2FFY), – (2FFY), – (2FFY), -,(23H), – (?), – (8RB), Sgt. White MM (8RB)

Front row: Sgt. Jackson MM (23H), – (3RTR), Sgt. Kitto MM (23H), Brig. Harvey DSO (CO 29AB), Montgomery, Sgt. Smith DCM (23H), – (23H), Sgt. Cooper MM (3RTR)

G COMPANY FOOTBALL TEAM – ALDERSHOT, 1944 – all but three got killed or wounded later that year (Sgt. White collection)

Standing: Rfn. Brewer (wounded 8/7/’44), Rfn. Dodson (w. 24/7/’44), Cpl. Mansi (12 Pl.), Sgt. McEwen (10 Pl.), Cpl. Henegan (11 Pl., KIA 31/7/’44)

Front: Rfn. Fry (w. 8/’44), Rfn. Pope (10 Pl.), Sgt. Whitaker (9 Pl., w. 18/7/’44), Sgt. Baldwin MM (9 Pl., w. 28/7/’44), Rfn. Clapton (12 Pl., w. 18/7/’44), Sgt. Macauley (12 Pl., KIA 3/9/’44)

E Company, possibly HQ or one of E Company’s platoons (Rfn. Heron collection)

Standing: -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, Rfn. Batkin, -, –

Front: Rfn. Heron, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, –