Thorpe Salvin - St Peter Church, Harthill Road, Thorpe Salvin
SERGT HORACE UNWIN 49 RECCE REGT
|
Additional Information
Horace Unwin (4858225)
Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C - 49th (West Riding) Regiment
29 June 1944, aged 24
Died in the Normandy Campaign
St Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux
Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C - 49th (West Riding) Regiment
29 June 1944, aged 24
Died in the Normandy Campaign
St Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux
Horace Unwin - 4858225
Horace Unwin was the second child of joiner John Henry Unwin and Margaret Annie (nee Burr). His birth was register in the first quarter of 1920, and he was baptised in Harthill on 11 January 1920. By 1939 his parents had moved to High Street, Barlborough. Horace was married, aged 20, in Thorpe Salvin on 23 February 1940, when Horace was already described as ‘on active service’. A daughter was born a couple of years later.
Horace joined the Army prior to the Second World War, originally enlisting with the Leicestershire Regiment on 14 December 1936, he later went to serve as a Serjeant with 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, which he joined on 8 January 1941, service number 4858225. The 49th were an immediate follow-up division, part of XXX Corps, in the Normandy landings in June 1944. On 25 June Operation Martlet (also known as Operation Dauntless) was launched as a diversionary operation by the 49th in the Odon River Valley. The battle raged for a number of days without any decisive progress. By the 29th, the 49th Division remained in a defensive line around Rauray, being sporadically shelled and fired at. The main German attack took place further south, so the division's front was largely quiet, except for continued reconnaissance missions.
Horace Unwin was killed in action near to Le Haut de Bosq on 29 June 1944, aged 24 and now buried in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux.
Also listed on the Barlborough war memorial.
Horace joined the Army prior to the Second World War, originally enlisting with the Leicestershire Regiment on 14 December 1936, he later went to serve as a Serjeant with 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, which he joined on 8 January 1941, service number 4858225. The 49th were an immediate follow-up division, part of XXX Corps, in the Normandy landings in June 1944. On 25 June Operation Martlet (also known as Operation Dauntless) was launched as a diversionary operation by the 49th in the Odon River Valley. The battle raged for a number of days without any decisive progress. By the 29th, the 49th Division remained in a defensive line around Rauray, being sporadically shelled and fired at. The main German attack took place further south, so the division's front was largely quiet, except for continued reconnaissance missions.
Horace Unwin was killed in action near to Le Haut de Bosq on 29 June 1944, aged 24 and now buried in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux.
Also listed on the Barlborough war memorial.