The Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1939-1946

04/09/2026

Remembering Today 🌺

Major Geoffrey Makins MC

At the beginning of July 1944 a young major from the Royal Dragoons, Geoffrey Makins, joins the Sherwood Rangers and takes command of A Squadron.
He is the third and youngest son of Brigadier-General Sir Ernest Makins.
He has served all through the fighting in North Africa and Sicily, was twice wounded, receiving the MC for gallantry, and was selected for the Staff College.
A serious car accident left him with injuries that handicapped his work at the college but he completed his course.
Before joining the SRY he was a staff officer at Canadian Army HQ.

During A Squadrons attack on Hottot, Normandy on Tuesday 11th July, Major Makins, in his first action with the Regiment, was seriously wounded and evacuated to England where he succumbed to his wounds at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, on 4th September 1944.
He was 28.
He lies in St. Nicholas' churchyard in his hometown of Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire.

He was described in The Times newspaper as “a young officer of great promise… winning golden opinions on every hand… Possessed of unique charm of manner and of a goodness of heart utterly selfless, he made devoted friends wherever he went; his death will be a true grief to many in all walks of life. Only those who knew him intimately realized the intense pluck which carried one whose health was never robust not only through the fiercest fighting but, with the same superb courage, through the last long struggle with death. It is on such men that the brightest hopes of England depend, and now it can only be said that multis ille bonis flebilis occidit (he died to be mourned by many good men).

Loyal unto Death

03/09/2026

3rd September 1939

Great Britain declares war on Germany.

The Sherwood Rangers war diary reads...
'Newark 3.9.39 Straight return, 24 Officers, 620 OR, War Declared 11 AM.'

Loyal unto Death

03/09/2026

Remembering Today 🌺

Trooper William Connell

William was badly wounded during A Squadron actions at Mook, east of Nijmegen, on 21st September 1944 during Operation Market Garden.

Three years later on 3rd September 1947 the twenty-seven year old died as a result of his wounds and was buried by his family in his native city of Liverpool.
He lies in Anfield Cemetery.

MY SWEETHEART
YOU ARE MINE TO REMEMBER
WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD
FORGETS

Coincidentally his younger brother, Able Seaman Mark Connell, also died on 3rd September, in 1944, and lies in Cumbria.

Loyal unto Death

02/09/2026

Saturday 2nd September 1944

'At Doullens word that Sgt. Cribben of Recce Troop killed on flank axis about 1 1/2 miles from main route in village of Flesselles.
Stanley at first refused permission to go and see, saying likely too many odd pockets of German infantry still between the two roads.
Finally agreed to me going.....also added something rude about a damn fool - whether it was meant for me, or to himself for letting me go i didn't wait to hear.
All worked out OK until Flesselles. Left driver and truck, entered village via ditch and farmyard. Made way to village parsonage near. Sgt. Cribben's tank still there 200 yards away near village churchyard....Bodies of Sgt. Cribben and Tpr Sharp beautifully laid out out in parsonage in white shrouds having been washed etc.
Graves have been dug in churchyard under nose of Germans..Farmer produced some hessian and I stitched the bodies up.
Cure in robes led the funeral cortege down street to churchyard as I watched from window.....left by back door the way I had come.
The Germans had watched the funeral procession and seen the service 30 yards from their tank without interference.
When I got back to my driver, down in ditch 10 yards from truck with r***e at ready, he was more then glad to see me.
Long day from before 0600 to 0300 with only two meals.'

---Padre Leslie Skinner - The Man Who Worked on Sundays

Loyal unto Death

01/09/2026

Jack Whiting filmed on top of the OP in Tobruk in February 1941.
Jack lost his life on 1st September 1942 during the Sherwood Rangers' baptism of fire as a tank regiment at Alam Halfa, Egypt.
With no known grave he is immortalised on the Alamein War Memorial alongside 25 other Sherwood Rangers killed at Alam Halfa and later at Alamein itself.

Loyal unto Death

01/09/2026

Disaster for C Squadron at Berjou discussed here from Al Murray and James Holland of WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk ....
I even get a mention towards the end !!!
Loyal unto Death

British Band Of Brothers: Disaster At Berjou (Part 8) by WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk on Patreon. Join WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk's community for exclusive content and updates.

01/09/2026

Remembering Today🌺

Sherwood Rangers who lost their lives, and the many men wounded, on 1st September 1942, during the Battle of Alam El Halfa.

Lieutenant John Masefield
Captain Jack Whiting
Sergeant Jean Henry Baggott
Lance Corporal Ernest Charles
Trooper Jim Andrews
Trooper Cyril Fenwick (DoW 7th Sept)
Trooper Bert Lewis
Trooper Eric Richards
Trooper Jim Thorpe
Trooper Ben Throstle

01/09/2026

Remembering Today 🌺

Trooper David Flaherty of B Squadron Sherwood Rangers who lost his life during the attack on Doullens, Somme on 1st September 1944.

He lies in London Cemetery, Longueval.

Loyal unto Death

01/09/2026

Remembering Today 🌺

Sgt.Laurence Cribben MM and Trooper John Sharpe of Recce troop Sherwood Rangers and Rifleman Harold 'Bill' Ruffell of the 12th KRRC who lost their lives on 1st September 1944 in Flesselles, Somme.
They lie in Flesselles Communal Cemetery.

Loyal unto Death

31/08/2026

Who Is Attending WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk Fest This Year?
I Will Be There on Saturday and Sunday, My First Time, And Will Be Wearing My Sherwood Rangers Cap, So Look Out And Please Say Hello!! It Will Be Amazing To Meet Those Whose Names I Know But Have Never Met.
I'll be buzzing about, but really looking forward to the Band of Brothers' chats.
What are you looking forward to!?
Say Hello Please...
Karl

Loyal unto Death