Leonard Booth

The 2nd & 5th battalions had been in France in 1940 and were evacuated from Dunkirk. Back in England they were eventually reformed, re-trained and re-equipped. The 2nd bn became an Infantry battalion and the 5th was formed into the 43rd Reconnaissance Corps (43rd Recce). Equipped with Humber Armoured Cars, Humber Light Reconnaissance Cars, Bren Carriers and an assult troop in M3 Half -Tracks. The full complement was of 41 men and 755 other ranks.
On the 24th June, whilst waiting to be landed on Juno Beach, their ship, M V Derrycunuhy hit an acoustic mine which exploded beneath the keel. The ship split in two with the aft section full of sleeping men from the 43rd Recce swiftly sank. A truck on board also exploded and coated the sea with a film of burning oil. 183 men lost their lives and a further 120 men were returned to England due to their injuries. It wasn't until the end of July that the regiment was back up to full strength, having lost nearly haly their force in the incident.
It was on the 3rd of August that they were involved in their first action when they came under heavy fire near Caen. Over the next few days they fought their way from Ondefountain up Mont Pincon. From the 10th to 15th August the 43rd worked it's way from St Jean Le Blanc, seizing bridges, clearing mines and taking prisoners.
On the 24th August they were involved in Operation Loopy, an assault on Verdun. They crossed the Seine on the 25th by raft, reducing the German attack so that the Royal Engineers could construct a bridge across the Seine. On the 27th August they were clearing both banks of the Seine and pushing through into the surrounding forests. Leonard was killed during this operation.

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