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Ricketts, Jack Dillion "John"

Date of death:
November 22nd, 1992 (Birmingham, United Kingdom)
Service number:
66129
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Major
Unit:
1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, British Army
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1945
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

War Diary mentions

18 November 1944 WO 171/1396 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Moved to F.U.P. GILLRATH - NEIDERHEIDE having been taken by 7 Som. L.I. Bn. commenced attack on RISCHDEN - minor opposition and objective successfully taken by "A" & "B" Coys. Lt.-Col. R. E. Osborne-Smith received leg injuries and was evacuated. Major J. D. Ricketts assumed comd. of Bn. "A" & "D" Coys attack TRIPSRATH and encountered very severe opposition from large wood on left. Objective was taken although a few enemy remained in North end of village. Bn. consolidated with "A", "C" & "D" Coys in TRIPSRATH and Bn. H.Q. & "B" Coy in RISCHDEN. Heavy enemy Mortar & shelling.

18 March 1945 WO 171/5292 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Rest. Voluntary Church Parades. At an investiture Maj. J. D. Ricketts was awarded the D.S.O. and Sjt. R. F. Edwards and Pte. Dayus were awarded the M.M.

4 April 1945 WO 171/5292 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Major G. G. Reinhold M.C. left Bn for temporary posn at Div H.Q. Major J. D. Ricketts D.S.O. assumed 2 i/c of Bn. Instructions received that Bn would move to and occupy NORDHORN (5427) tomorrow following advance of 51 (H) Div.

27 April 1945 WO 171/5292 - 1 Worcestershire Regiment
Moved off 03.15 hrs and settled in new location by 06.00 hrs - Area buildings North of BURGER PARK. Bn was given the task of clearing some 6,000 sq. yrds of BREMEN with the rly line as the boundary between us and 52 (L) Div. Final "O" Group 10.20 hrs and with "A" Coy leading Bn moved at 11.45 hrs and established themselves in the triangle of railway lines and "C" Coy passed through. The opposition was light consisting of snipers and hastily constructed rd blocks. By 17.00 hrs Bn was firmly established in Northern BREMEN as far NORTH as the railway loop. Lt.-Col. A. A. Grubb M.C. was injured (and evacuated) from fragments of a petard which was destroying a road block. Maj J. D. Ricketts D.S.O. assumed command of Bn with Major J. Clover as 2 i/c. Very slight shelling NORTH of town and some trouble with displaced persons - otherwise BREMEN was quiet. Total P.W. for day - 47.

Sources

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