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Reginald Saych
Rank: Lance Corporal
Name

Reginald Saych


Nationality
British

Unit

2nd Battalion Essex Regiment


Location
Banneville-La-Campagne

Date
August 12, 1944

Survived the war?
No
Essex Regiment

Essex Regiment

An Essex gentleman

He was one of the first of Montgomery troops who landed on Sword Beach in 1944. Operation brake out was to circular navigate around Canes to Peguses Bridge and hold it to prevent the German army from leaving and entering Canes with supplies. My dad was a Radio Operator positioned between the advanced party and the main troop force tasked with securing the area and Pegasus Bridge.

He was positioned between Banneville-La-Campagne and Sanerville when a German sniper destroyed the communication vehicle he was operating in. Of course they were a prime target. He is buried in Banneville-La-Campagne war cemetery on 12th August 1944, a few days before my first birthday.

I have been fortunate to visit his grave on few occasions , my mum bless her never made it. Whilst I was in Normandy I went to Sword Beach and walked out on the sands and tried to imagine how those troops felt as they disembarked off the landing crafts as the German's were firing at them it must have been he'll God bless them all expecially those how never made it off the Beach. Please forgive my spelling mistakes but I must tell my dad's story.

Hopefully Mum and Dad are now reunited in heaven god bless you both for giving me life and making this country Hopefully a better place for all of us. RIP

His son Reginald Saych 

The Essex Regiment

The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot and the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot.

In 1958, the Essex Regiment was amalgamated with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment to form the 3rd East Anglian Regiment (16th/44th Foot). However, the existence was short-lived and, in 1964, was amalgamated again with the 1st East Anglian Regiment (Royal Norfolk and Suffolk), the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) and the Royal Leicestershire Regiment to form the Royal Anglian Regiment. The lineage of the Essex Regiment is continued by 'C' Company of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

The 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, was originally part of the 25th Infantry Brigade (containing the 1/7th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers) attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and served with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in 1940. The battalion was evacuated from Dunkirk after the short but fierce Battle of Dunkirk, part of the larger Battle of France.

After Dunkirk the battalion remained with the 25th Brigade until February 1944 when it became part of the 56th Independent Infantry Brigade, alongside the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers and 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, where it was to remain for the rest of the war. The battalion received large drafts of men to bring it up to strength and began training intensively for the Allied invasion of France. The battalion and brigade landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, from roughly 1:00 pm and immediately set off inland.

They fought through the Battle for Caen serving again with the 50th Division and briefly with 59th Division. The 56th Infantry Brigade were eventually assigned to the 49th (West Riding) Division, after the 70th Brigade of that division was disbanded due to an Army-wide shortage of trained infantrymen. The battalion and brigade would remain with the 49th Division for the rest of the war, serving mainly with the First Canadian Army. In 1945 they fought in the Second Battle of Arnhem. By the end of the war the 2nd Battalion had suffered over 804 men killed, wounded or missing, with 183 of them paying the ultimate price.

Veteran's personal medals
1939 - 1945 Star
1939 - 1945 Star
War Medal 1939 - 1945
War Medal 1939 - 1945
France and Germany Star
France and Germany Star
Veteran's personal file
49th (West Riding) Division
49th (West Riding) Division

Motto: Montis insignia calpe (Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar)

Personal photographs

Click on a picture for enlargement

Veteran's personal death record

  • August 12, 1944
  • Banneville-La-Campagne

Remember each and every sacrifice, made for your freedom!

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