WW2 Medals to James Nicholson

[leon21]

Bought these medals about 3 years ago at auction, because they are unnamed I never bothered with

them until now. I put his name and address into ancestry and it came up with his service No 4278673

and his regiment.

James Nicholson of 1 Lechwell Villas Forest Hall Northumberland enlisted in the Royal Armoured  Corps

of the 3rd Royal Northumberland Fusiliers ( Recce ) Regiment part of the 3rd Infantry Division until 1945.

The Division landed at Sword Beach on 6th June 1944-D Day and fought through The Battle of Normandy

(Caen, Bouguebus Ridge, Mount Pincon ). The Netherlands and later the invasion of Germany.

The roll of a Reconnaissance Regiment was to gather tactical information for the Infantry Divisions, they

scouted ahead and screened the flanks of these formations as they advanced.

The Reconnaissance Corps were equipped with various vehicles such as universal carriers, armoured cars,

light tanks, jeeps, and lorries to carry out these tasks.

The Recce Regiments including those of the British Ary during ww2, somtimes operated behind enemy lines,

their tasks could include recce attacks against enemy recon units or advancing troops, screening the front 

and flanks and other actions that required them to operate in enemy territory.

The 3rd Division captured Caen on the 9th July during Operation  Charnwood, and the took part in Operation

Goodwood.

The division was extracted from the stalemate and assigned to Caumont Sur-Orne in Operation Bluecoat in the

drive past Vire, The Division Captured Flers on the 18th Aug.

On the 3rd Sept the Division began a move forward which was to take it 150 miles with it's major action at the

crossing of the Meuse- Escaut canal on the 18th Sept.

The Division took part in Operation Market Garden and then in the Battle of Overloon and Venray  on 18th Oct.

Nickname the Reccies, the Recce Corp Motto's ( Only the Enemy in front ) active 1941-1946.

James Nicholson was listed as missing on the 6 Aug 1944 later reported as killed in action.