Alan Gardiner “Alan” Redfern

Captain · #291976 · S1 Patrol · MBE

What this roll records

London Gazette, 12 October 1943, Supplement 36210, page 4552: “K.R.R.C. Capt. Alan Gardiner REDFERN (291976), from Southern Rhodesian Forces, to be 2nd Lt., 22nd Apr. 1943.” It confirms his forenames against his number, names his regiment as THE KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, and — more useful — records the route by which he reached it: he came FROM THE SOUTHERN RHODESIAN FORCES on 22 April 1943. His M.B.E. does not appear in this notice. Source: The London Gazette.

From Rhodesia roll: AKA/nickname "Alan". Source: Rhodesia Nominal Roll (Brendan O’Carroll).

Killed in action, Leros, 12 November 1943. Source: Brendan O’Carroll.

Dodecanese operations, 1943: killed in action 12 Nov 1943. Source: Roll of British & Rhodesian PoW and KIA (Appendix V), compiled by Jim Patch, LRDG (UK) Association.

LRDG Roll of Honour (Aegean 1943): killed in action 12.11.43, S Patrol. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, "The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean" (Appendix III, LRDG Roll of Honour: The Aegean Operations 1943). Master retains more specific S1 Patrol.

Spelling/rank per LRDG Roll of Honour, The Aegean Operations 1943 (Brendan O'Carroll).

CWGC: Captain Alan Gardiner Redfern, service no. 291976, King's Royal Rifle Corps and Long Range Desert Group. Died 12 November 1943, aged 37 (Battle of Leros). Buried at Leros War Cemetery, grave 3.C.9, Greece. Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Led the LRDG group opposing the German paratroop landing between Gurna and Alinda Bays during the battle of Leros; killed by a parachutist, 12 November 1943. Source: ‘Invasion of the Dodecanese Islands’ (Battle of Leros / Assault on Levita), Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (NZ official war history).

Aegean/Dodecanese operations, 1943: listed as Captain Redfern, service no. 291976; killed in action, 12 Nov 1943. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, ‘The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean’ (Appendix V, Roll of British & Rhodesian PoW and KIA).

LRDG Roll of Honour, the Aegean 1943: Captain, killed in action 12 November 1943, S Patrol. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, ‘The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean’ (Appendix III, LRDG Roll of Honour: the Aegean Operations 1943).

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Where this comes from

• Missing info added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll.

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