Wiltshire Regt December 1944

[The Guardroom]

Researching a Pte J Hunt who was killed 27th Dec 1944 and buried in Brunssum War Cem.
Found that both the 4th and 5th Wilts served in the 129th Inf Bde in Holland during the Ardennes battle.

Is anyone able to tell me which of these Bn's Hunt would most likley have been with and where when KIA.

Many thanks,
Alan

[Donnie]

Name:HUNT, JOHN
Initials:J
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Private
Regiment/Service:Wiltshire Regiment
Age:18
Date of Death:27/12/1944
Service No:14770278
Additional information:Son of William George and Ethel Rachel Hyde Hunt, of Winnersh, Berkshire.
Cemetery:BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY


Donnie

[Philip,ABRG]

Best change would be checking WDs of both Battalions

[Donnie]

Or contacting the Wiltshire Regiment museum

https://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/

They hold extensive records on soldiers.....would you like me to check the war diaries for that day?

Donnie

[The Guardroom]

Yes please Donnie, that would be a great help if you could check the WD.
I have had a look at the Rifles website but only WW1 diaries there.
Rgds,
Alan

[Donnie]

ok mate...will do...i will try tommorow.

Donnie

[Owen]

I've got both War Diaries upstairs will just have a quick look.



4th Bn 27/12/44
Russon Belgium
Advance party moves off for a new area NE of Maastricht(K55).
Bn location to be area K6657.
Bn coln arrives in new location about mid-day.
Bn established AALBEEK (6757)


5th Bn 27/12/44
Tongres, Belgium
0745hrs: Explosion of ? [written as ? in diary] 75 HAWKINS grenades in 'C' Coy area at operational post.
1 man killed , 2 slighty injured.
0900 hrs : Explosion in 'A' Coy area caused by ? flying bomb.
2 men killed.
Bn move from area Tongres.
1300hrs: Bn HQ est area WIJNANSRADE [sic] [WIJNANDSRADE] 698578- NORTH EAST of MASSTRICHT,
'A' Coy HQ est HOLLEBREEK 708588,
'B' Coy ESSCHEN 739872 ,
'C' Coy KESTEEL 727561,
'D' Coy ZWEIR 710579,
'S' Coy RETERSBEEK 720564
Bde HQ est 678564


so I'd say John Hunt served & died with the 5th Bn.

Originally Posted by Donnie

ok mate...will do...i will try tommorow.

Donnie

Donnie,
IIRC aren't there some Battalion Rolls of Honour on the wall of one of the Galleries at The Wardrobe?
Could you have a check there?

[Owen]

Just used Geoff's Search engine to look for " Wiltshire Regiment " on 27/12/1944.
Geoff's Search Engine
Have 4 results.

001 ALLAM, HHR 14753122 27/12/1944
002 FRENCH, SL 6017703 27/12/1944
003 GLOVER, G 5351838 27/12/1944
004 HUNT, J 14770278 27/12/1944


The first three are listed as 5th Bn men.
Another two are buried in same cemetery as Hunt.
Allam is in grave next to Hunt.
So I wonder if those two died at same time?

[The Guardroom]

Thanks again Owen, thats great info
Rgds,
Alan