Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Captain

Army Number : 251256

Unit : 1st Bn

Biography :

Percy Gardiner was commissioned into The Leicestershire Regiment on 5.11.1942, and served in 1st Bn in England and NW Europe. He served in 13 Platoon D Company and received an Immediate award of M.C. (L.G. 3.5.1945) for his actions as Platoon Commander, 1st Leicesters, Zetten, The Netherlands on 18.1.1945. In May 1945 he became 2IC D Company. He relinquished temp rank of Captain on 9.9.1945 and was regranted temporary Captain on 5.3.1946. He was for a time the Unit Education Officer in 1st Bn in Germany before leaving the Army in late 1946.

Further information from 'Fred Fox' of the WW2 Talk website: https://www.ww2talk.com/index.php

Percy Alec Gardiner was born on 18 November 1918. He was the son of Percy Gardiner, a foreman/engine driver with the Midland Railway and Annie Mary Gardiner. His mother died when he was eight years old but his father remarried two years later.

He "progressed by scholarships" from Stapleford Boys School and the Henry Mellish School to the London University where, at the outbreak of war, he was in his third year studying for a B.A. in languages. He joined the army in November 1939 on his 21st birthday and was posted to the Sherwood Foresters where he rose to the rank of C.Q.M.S.

He was with the B.E.F. in France in 1940 during which time he was attached to the staff of Colonel Maude, the officer commanding the Sherwood Foresters. He was evacuated from St. Nazaire. Gardiner trained at the Officer Cadet Training Unit, Sandhurst, was commissioned on 5 November 1942 and posted to the 1st Leicestershire Regiment.

"It (the battalion) landed in Normandy on 3 July 1944, came under the command of 147th Brigade of the 49th Division. After taking part in the fighting in the bridgehead, it advanced to the Seine and took part in the capture of Le Havre. From there it carried out some short, sharp engagements against the retreating enemy in Belgium and Holland. Such places as Merxplas, Stonebridge, Brembosch and Rosendaal are names that will be remembered."

I have every reason to believe that Gardiner would have been with the battalion during this period but he was certainly at the Battle of Zettin, 18/19 January 1945, where he was awarded the Military Cross. Capt. Gardiner served as the Unit Education Officer with the battalion in Germany before leaving the army in 1946. He then resumed his university course and secured a B.A. with first class honours in French and went on to take a teachers' training course.

Date of Birth : 18.11.1918

Period of Service : 1942-46

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : France, Netherlands, Germany