2 RUR Gallery

 

2 RUR drilling at the Ballymena Barracks 8 November 1940 - none of men have more than 3 months service (IWM)

2 RUR drilling at the Ballymena Barracks 8 November 1940 (IWM)

2 RUR drilling at the Ballymena Barracks 8 November 1940 (IWM)

Commander in Chief chatting to 2 RUR personnel 13 November 1942 (IWM)



Montgomery inspecting 2 RUR personnel - Hawick - 9 February 1944 (IWM)


Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - St Patrick's Day 17 March 1944 visit Major General R.H.Lorie C.B  C.B.E. 
(Image courtesy of Donlea family - copyright protected)


St Patrick's Day 1944 - Major General R.H.Lorie C.B  C.B.E. presenting the shamrock to Major de Longueuil (later awarded the MC). On the Major's right is Lieutenant Campbell; on the Major's left is Captain Watson, Lieutenant Diserens and Lieutenant Rand.


9th Platoon of 'A' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Platoon leader Lt D H Walsh centre of front row (wounded at Cambes 09/06/44), Rifleman Hugh McCauley (7015312) is second from left on second row from front.



'B' Company Headquarters 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Major J W Hyde centre right of front row, Rifleman Michael Kevin Ryan MM (6197005) is far left on front row (KIA at Cambes on 4th July 1944).


Officers of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Lt R C (Bobby) Diserens, Lt C C (Cyril)  Rand
Capt N R V (Norman) Watson, Maj. J S C G (Stuart) de Longueuil, Lt R D (Roy) Purcell.
Lieutenant Diserens and Captain Watson were both KIA as a result of shelling at Cambes (see Fallen Officers page),



Unknown Platoon of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Lt C C Rand sat in centre with Sgt Hammersley on his left.

Unknown Platoon of 'C' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Lt R D Purcell sat in centre

Unknown Platoon of 'D' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Rifleman William John Hill is first on left, second row down. Rifleman William Mcveigh also believed to be in this Platoon photo.


Unknown Platoon of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (possibly 'D' Company)  - Hawick - 1944
Possibly Lt S M Lennox MC in centre (based on Officers group photo - see top of page)


18th Platoon 'D' Company 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Hawick - 1944
Back Row - Rifleman Harry Brown ; RFM Stevenson ; RFM Desmond Bradley ; RFM Jack Allshire ; RFM Richardson ; RFM Gallagher ; RFM Lomax

Middle Row - RFM Richard Keegan ; RFM Rawnsley ; RFM Williamson ; RFM Bradley ; RFM Faulkner ; RFM McAllister ; RFM Smythe ; L/Cpl O'Halloran

Front Row - L/Cpl McIlroy ; Cpl Killeps? ; Sgt Teague ; Lt H Greene ; Cpl Kohler ; L/Cpl Fitzgerald ; L/Cpl Houghton
Sat at Front: ?????? ; RFM Smith



Signal Platoon 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles  - Hawick - 1944
Front Row - Third from left - Sgt David Taylor
Lt F W McFaull in centre


D Company - 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Possibly Hawick -1944
Front Row Officers believed to be:
RSM Fleming ; Lt S C N Beavan ; Lt G P Flack ; Capt W E S Sturgeon ; Lt/Col I C Harris; Capt J R St J Aldworth; Capt J G Guinane RAChD ; Maj J W Hyde
Sgt D Taylor - Front Row - third from right




L/Cpl E. B. Bunston second from right in middle row
 Lt/Col J Drummond DSO (Battalion Commander from January 1945) in centre of front row 



Officers 2nd L.T. A.A. REGT R.A. (2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles) - 1944


Officers of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Droxford - 19 May 1944
Front Row Left to Right:Maj. J S C G de Longueuil, Maj J W Hyde, Maj C R P Sweeny M.C. , Capt W E S Sturgeon ; Lt/Col I H Richards, Lt/Col I C Harris, General Sir Bernard L Montgomery K.C.B D.S.O , Maj B J FitzG.Donlea M.C. , Maj W D Tighe Wood , Capt M D G Ryan , Capt J R St J Aldworth , Capt (QM) C H D Henniker
Second Row Left-Right:Lt G P Flack , Lt L F Laving , Capt J G Guinane RAChD , Capt N R V Watson , Capt H M Gaffikin , Capt K G Perona Wright , Capt C R Gray , Capt J Montgomery , Capt W H Baudains M.M. , Capt A C Bird , Capt C R Wright R.A.M.C
Third Row Left-Right:Capt H M Sheane , Lt R D Purcell , Lt H Greene , Lt F W McFaull , Lt R C Diserens , Lt R S Hall , Lt E J Bourke , Lt S E Frost , Lt S C N Beavan , Lt R Lyttle , Lt S M Lennox
Back Row Left to Right:Lt C C Rand , Lt H D D O'Neil , Lt W E Palmer , Lt D H Walsh , Lt D R R Greer , Lt M P Scanlon , Lt J H St.J.Cooper , Capt F Kirk M.C.



NCOs of 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles - Droxford - 19 May 1944
Front Row Left to Right: CQMS Patterson, CQMS McCartney, CSM Turner, CSM Lutton, CSM Long, Capt(QM) C.H.D. Henniker, Lt/Col I.C.Harris, RSM Fleming, General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, KCB, DSO, RQMS Connell, Maj. B.J.FitzG. Donlea, MC, Cap J.G.Guinane,RAChD, CSM Watson, CSM Walsh, CSM Kelly, CQMS Cherry, CQMS Cooke. 
Second Row Left-Right: CQMS McEnhill, Sgt Brown, Sgt Teague, L/Sgt Hodgkinson, Sgt Murray, Sgt Woolford, Sgt Tipper, CSM Bennett, Sgt McConville, Sgt Morris, Sgt Gunn, Sgt Stirling, Sgt Gilmore, L/Sgt Young, Sgt McConville(ACC), CQMS Daly. 
Third Row Left-Right: Sgt Somerville(ACC), Sgt Fryer, CQMS Mitchell, Sgt Nixon, Sgt McGrady, Sgt McCutcheon, Sgt Patterson, Sgt Corbett, Sgt Dickens, Sgt Creaney, Sgt Knight, L/Sgt Close, Sgt Birmingham, Sgt Montgomery, L/Sgt McCann, Sgt Millen.
Back Row Left to Right: Sgt Martin, Sgt Blight, Sgt Taylor, Sgt Toms, L/Sgt Bennett, L/Sgt Hughes, Sgt Kavanagh, L/Sgt Dunkling, L/Sgt Ross, Sgt Hammersley, Sgt Dyer, Sgt Daly, Sgt Rainey, Sgt Young, L/Sgt Stewart, Sgt Drumgoole.


War Diary

View Video Footage

Visit by Montgomery at Droxford 19th May 1944


Montgomery greeted on arrival by Lieut Colonel IC Harris - Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery chats with Lieutenant Colonel Harris 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Major Donlea MC, Montgomery and Lieutenant Colonel Harris - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery inspects Guard of Honour at Droxford - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to matron Sister I Patrick at Camp Reception Station - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to nurses at Camp Reception Station - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery inspecting personnel - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery inspecting personnel - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to Captain WE Sturgeon of Newry - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to Colour Sergeant Paterson of Belfast - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to Left to Right to Sgt W McCatchin, Sgt J Patterson, Sgt Corbett and L Cpl J Curran all from Belfast


Montgomery speaking to Lance Corporal Nolan or Tampo, Inniskillen - 19 May 1944 (IWM)



Montgomery speaking to Lieut DH Walsh of Dublin - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to Rifleman Michael Ryan of Birmingham who was awarded MM for action at Ypres 1940 and was one of those responsible for the safe arrival of the 2nd Battalion on the beach on D-Day by securing a line to the beach (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to RSM S Fleming of Belfast who had 25 years service with 2 RUR. Lieutenant Colonel Harris is in the background. Fleming would later be awarded the Military Cross for his actions in near Troarn, Normandy (IWM)


Montgomery speaking to Sergeant Cook McConville of Armagh who served with him at Brigade HQ in 1939 (IWM)


 Montgomery talks to CSM Kelly (second from right) during visit and inspection at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


 Montgomery speaking to Sergeants drawn up for inspection - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery inspects Rfn McCracken wearing contents of D-Day landing kit list  (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


 Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


 Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)



Montgomery addresses troops of 2 RUR at Droxford 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery takes salute from 2 RUR at end of visit - Droxford - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


Montgomery takes salute from 2 RUR at end of visit - Droxford - 19 May 1944 (IWM)


2 RUR on Sword Queen beach 6 June 1944 (IWM)


 2 RUR pause in La Brèche d'Hermanville during their move inland 6 June 1944 (IWM)



 Riflemen of 2 RUR patrolling through ruins of Caen - 10 July 1944 (IWM)


 British troops in ruins of Caen with 2 RUR member in Caubeen on right - 10 July 1944 (IWM)



 Troops of 2 RUR passing through Caen on the way to secure bridges over the River Orne - 10 July 1944 (IWM)



Rifleman B Armstrong of Collyhurst, Manchester and Private Bannister of 1 KOSB of Newcastle read newspaper in
the ruins of Caen  - 10 July 1944 (IWM)


Rifleman E Willis of Hounslow and Lance Corporal BJ Smith of Birkenhead from HQ Company 2 RUR in Observation Post on the banks of the Rhine  - 22 March 1945 (IWM)


 2 RUR with South Lancashire Regiment clearing a street in Bremen - 26 April 1945 (IWM)


  2 RUR with South Lancashire Regiment clearing a street in Bremen - 26 April 1945 (IWM)



Major Charles Sweeny
Killed in a road accident on 9th May 1945 after the German surrender on the north flank had taken place. Whilst escorting a German Admiral back to Kiel and the car left the road and crashed into a tree.


Major Charles Sweeny
Major Charles Sweeny MC with other Montgomery Liaison Officers on 12th April 1945 just before he died.

Funeral of Major Charles Sweeny - 13 May 1945










10 gun salute at Major Sweeny's funeral


Montgomery giving a final salute at Major Sweeny's funeral

Honours and Awards Photos

Corporal O'Reilly 7020028 receiving his Distinguished Conduct Medal from Montgomery 27th July 1944 (IWM)


Rifleman Jeremiah Long MM (7014577) and Rifleman Hugh Henry McGlennon MM (7012171), just prior to being decorated by Montgomery on 27th July 1944 for their bravery at the battle of Cambes (see IWM Video footage on separate page)


Company Quartermaster Sergeant WJ Sharkey 7010920 receiving DCM from Montgomery (IWM)


Corporal W Reid receives Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) from Montgomery - 18 November 1944 (IWM)


Corporal Reid DCM, Rifleman Charles MM and Sergeant Sharkey DCM having just received their awards from Montgomery

6986230 Rifleman Andrew Charles MM 


Major John Charles Stuart Grant de Longueuil receiving the Military Cross from Montgomery 28th April 1945 (IWM)
The award was for action with the 2nd Battalion at Troarn and presented after he had transferred to the 1st Battalion.

Major John Charles Stuart Grant de Longueuil of 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles at Buckingham Palace Investiture with his mother & sister 28th June 1945 for award of MC for action with 2nd Battlaion Royal Ulster Rifles at Troarn in 1944 (see Awards page)

Other Photos of Known 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles Members



Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neill (far right) - Unknown location
(Descendants would welcome any information relating to area where photo taken and/or other persons in photo)


Lieutenant H.D.D. O'Neill's modified Jeep



Rifleman Arthur Desmond Bradley - Killed in Action - 17/06/1944


Rifleman Arthur Desmond Bradley - Killed in Action - 17/06/1944



Rifleman Hugh McCauley (7015312), wounded at Cambes 28/06/44


Rifleman Edward Francis Bailey (7016406)


Rifleman Hugh Maguire - Awarded Legion d'Honneur in 2015


Lance Corporal Patrick O'Hagan





Rifleman John Shanahan



Lance Corporal Robert Daly, 2 RUR


Rifleman Sam Lowry, 2 RUR


Rifleman Hamilton Lawrence, 2 RUR



 
Rifleman Stanley Burrows, 2 RUR


 Rifleman Hugh Crangle, 2 RUR



Corporal Hugh Henry Millar (7014297), 2 RUR
Corporal Hugh Millar served was killed in action on 7th June 1944 (most likely as part of D Company during the first attack on Cambes Wood).


Corporal Frank Thomas George Wallis (7019327), 2 RUR
Corporal Frank Wallis 7019327 was killed in action on the 19th July 1944 during the advance on Troarn.


Rifleman William Millar (7016788) from Ballymena, NI
Rifleman William Millar served as a Bren Gunner with 2RUR during the Second World War and his brother Robert is also believed to have served with 1RUR. Their father, William Snr, served in the First World War with the 12th Royal Irish Rifles.
William Jnr subsequently went on to serve with the RUR in the 1960s and the UDR in the 1970s. His son served with the UDR in the 1980s and Royal Irish Regiment in the 1990s and his grandson served with the Royal Irish Regiment from 2006 until 2016.

Rifleman William John Hill, 2 RUR
Rifleman William Hill served with 2RUR during World War 2 and experienced a lucky escape when a penny he had in his breast pocket deflected shrapnel or a round into his upper arm (not removed until the 1960s). 
In later years he became Provost Sergeant of the 6th (TAVR) Battalion and was also a council member of the RUR association club in Waring Street. His father, also William Hill, was a veteran of World War 1 with the 15th RIR / 1st Batt RIF. 



Lance Corporal Edward Brandon Bunston 7021050, 2 RUR
Rifleman Bunston 7021050 (on left above) was a stretcher bearer in C Company who was Mentioned in Despatches and also received a Commendation Card.


Below, Lance Corporal Bunston 7021050 in Palestine.



Rifleman William Sargent 14443269
Rifleman Sargent was with 2 RUR until he transferred to 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in Holland in 1944 (pictured with Min Sargent who served with the RAF).


Rifleman George Williamson 7022501
Rifleman Wiiliamson came from Park Street, Ballyclare and landed with the 2nd Battalion O D-Day. He was killed in action on the 30th November 1944 when a man in his platoon stood on a mine and killed 3 men including George.


Lance Corporal William S Holmes 7045707
Lance Corporal Homes was the eldest of three brothers involved with the D-Day Landings. Bill was the eldest and landed with 2 RUR, his younger brother Fred was a Royal Marine Coxswain on LCM 154 landing craft that landed on Juno on the 6th . The youngest brother Tom was a seaman on HMS Cockatrice, one of the many minesweepers clearing the channel for the invasion. Bill was killed in action on 21st July 1944 outside Troarn aged 29.


Rifleman Robert Glass - A Company - 2 RUR
Rifleman Glass was born and lived in Cogry and enlisted in Belfast 1941. He landed in Normandy on D-Day and was later taken Prisoner of War in late 1944


3778633  Rifleman William Fred Grindrod
Killed in Action 30th November 1944 during attack on Wanssum


7020024 Rifleman Kenneth Erskine, 2 RUR
Killed in action 14th October 1944. Age 22



7011515 Serjeant George Robert Schofield from Armagh.
Serjeant Schofield served with the Royal Ulster Rifles between 1931-38, was recalled to the colours in 1939, was part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 and was recommended for the Military Medal for his part in action at the railway station in Louvain prior to escaping via Dunkirk. He returned to action via Sword Beach on 6th June 1944 and was platoon Serjeant of the Mortar Platoon, S Company that was part of the successful but costly Battalion attack on Cambes Wood on 9th June. He was killed in action on the 1st November 1944 during action around Venray. 
Born in Kent, he was the son of George William and Margaret Schofield, of Laleham, Middlesex.  


7021619 Corporal Eric Boyd, 2RUR.
 Died of wonds 1944 6th October 1944.  


7020380 Rifleman John Walton, 2RUR.
KIA 3rd November 1944 aged 33.  


1772964  Rifleman Joseph Robinson, 2RUR.
 KIA 30th November 1944 during attack on Wanssum.  


3778633 Rifleman William Fred Grindrod from Bury
 Died 30th November 1944 aged 25 years old, killed during the first attack on the Wanssum pocket, initially reported as missing presumed Prisoner of War, he was subsequently confirmed to have been killed in action..  


14691055 Rifleman Melvern Roy Guy from Risca near Newport, 2 RUR
 Went to France a week after D Day and died 13 October 1944 during an attack to secure two woods to the west and south west of Overloon. Although they achieved their objectives, whilst in the wood, he was killed by an almost direct mortar hit and died instantly. He worked for a haulage contractor and was in the Home Guard for three years before joining D Company 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles 


Rifleman Derick Birch 2 Royal Ulster Rifles


6197005 Rifleman Michael Kevin Ryan MM,    WO/373/15/355
Rifleman Ryan MM of B Company speaking to Montgomery prior to DDay. He was later killed in action as a result of shelling at Cambes on the 4th July 1944.





Life in 2 RUR Barracks
Centre of Back Row: Sgt David Taylor




2 RUR Football
Far Left of Back Row: Sgt David Taylor



Band of Brothers - The Beck Family circa 1940
Bottom Left: Robert William Beck  - 7020200 ; Bottom Right: William Beck - 7018156
Top Right - Johnny Beck - 7018164 ; Top Left - Unknown friend of Johnny.


Another Band of Brothers - The Magill Family from Belfast
LEFT - Rifleman Andrew Magill, 2nd Battalion RUR, survived the war and served in Korea where was a POWcaptured at the lmjin River on 25th April 1951.
RIGHT - Rifleman Nathaniel Morton Magill 1st Battalion RUR, killed in action 11th June 1944 when came under fire from snipers at Longueval.
Two other bothers served, Rifleman TJ Magill with 2 RUR and another in Italy.




Another Band of Brothers - 2 RUR Band



Other (Unknown) Members of 2 RUR During World War 2






























 1948 05 01 Amalgamation of Officers of 1st Battalion & 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles