1st Welsh Regiment 21.4.45

1945Welch · 30-08-2008, 01:14 AM

Hello, a member of my family died on the 21st April 1945 serving for the 1st Welch Regiment in Italy, i am trying to find out what happened that day and what action the regiment was involved in. Any info you may have would be greaty appreciated. Details are attached of Lance Corporal Daniel James. Thanks

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Owen · 30-08-2008, 01:26 AM

From 9th March 1945 they were in 1st Guards Brigade , 6th Armoured Division.
The two other Battalions were 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards, 3rd Bn Welsh Guards.

Back in a mo.

Just looked up in Gren Gds History,

Quote:

21 st April 1945
Already the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Regiment had reached the southern bank of the canal, and the 17th/21st Lancers, by brillaint use of an earthern causeway , had struck beyond it to capture the village of Poggio Renatico, six miles in the rear of the German frontline......evidence of the enemy's declining morale came with the desertion to the Welch Regiment of a complete German platoon...

The canal refered to is the Cembalina Canal or Fosso Cembalina roughly half way between Argenta and Ferrara.

1945Welch · 30-08-2008, 01:39 AM

Thank you very much for this info and quick reply thats a great piece of information. Thanks

Owen · 30-08-2008, 01:40 AM

Have a read of this for the bigger picture.

Battle of the Argenta Gap - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just checked Ken Ford's Mailed Fist, no mention of 1st Welch until 24th April,

1945Welch · 31-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owen

Have a read of this for the bigger picture.

Battle of the Argenta Gap - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just checked Ken Ford's Mailed Fist, no mention of 1st Welch until 24th April,

Thanks Owen, i'm looking into Argenta Gap, found the odd small reference to the Welch. The 6th (armoured) Division you mentioned they belonged to is spot on. I was trying to work out what "Divisional Flash" was on his grave cross we have a photo of (taken in 1945 we believe?) and looked up the 6th (Armoured) division and there it was. Thanks again.

Owen · 31-08-2008, 10:18 PM

Would it be possible to post a photo of his grave, please?
I'm always interested in seeing photos of original graves.

1945Welch · 01-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owen

Would it be possible to post a photo of his grave, please?
I'm always interested in seeing photos of original graves.

Yes no problem, i'll post it here as soon as i work out how to do it..not very tecnically minded i'm afraid

1945Welch · 01-09-2008, 07:27 PM

1945Welch · 01-09-2008, 07:27 PM

The War Graves Photographic Project

Here's his grave stone now in Faenza War Cemetery

Ron Goldstein · 01-09-2008, 07:36 PM

Hi 1945Welch

A little more background to the Argenta Gap story that I remember posting on another forum.

The date, as near as I can get it, was the 18th of April 1945, just a few weeks before the end of hostilities in Europe.

My unit was the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/03/a2310003.shtml
which, at that moment in time, was part of the "Kangaroo Army" of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. For the past few weeks we had been moving relatively slowly through a landscape that consisted of hills and rivers. Suddenly we came to the Argenta Gap and immediately it was 'pierced' we were able to see the plains and nothing seemed to stand in the way of our advance.

The order must have been given 'Brigade, in open order, Advance!' because all the vehicles in the column (which included my own “Honey” tank) literally fanned out into one straight long line and it was the most wonderful sight that I had ever seen in my (then) short life.

With coloured Squadron pennants flying from our aerial masts and with some of the tank crews even firing pistol shots into the air (a la the old cowboy films) we raced forward at high speed, relatively un-obstructed by an enemy who by that time must have realised that the Italian campaign was almost over for them.

It is sixty two years since I experienced this event and yet it still raises the hair on the back of my neck!

ps
As Wikipedia puts it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Argenta_Gap
"By the 18th the battle for the Argenta Gap was over, and much of the retreating German force had been destroyed before it could retreat across the Po River".

Good luck with your research

Ron

30-08-2008, 01:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
1945Welch Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 25	1st Welsh Regiment 21.4.45 Hello, a member of my family died on the 21st April 1945 serving for the 1st Welch Regiment in Italy, i am trying to find out what happened that day and what action the regiment was involved in. Any info you may have would be greaty appreciated. Details are attached of Lance Corporal Daniel James. Thanks CWGC :: Casualty Details

30-08-2008, 01:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,487	Have a read of this for the bigger picture. Battle of the Argenta Gap - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Just checked Ken Ford's Mailed Fist, no mention of 1st Welch until 24th April, Last edited by Owen; 30-08-2008 at 01:46 AM.

01-09-2008, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
1945Welch Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 25	Last edited by 1945Welch; 01-09-2008 at 07:32 PM.

01-09-2008, 07:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
1945Welch Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 25	The War Graves Photographic Project Here's his grave stone now in Faenza War Cemetery Last edited by 1945Welch; 01-09-2008 at 08:00 PM.

01-09-2008, 07:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London, England Posts: 849	Argenta Gap battle detail Hi 1945Welch A little more background to the Argenta Gap story that I remember posting on another forum. The date, as near as I can get it, was the 18th of April 1945, just a few weeks before the end of hostilities in Europe. My unit was the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/03/a2310003.shtml which, at that moment in time, was part of the "Kangaroo Army" of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. For the past few weeks we had been moving relatively slowly through a landscape that consisted of hills and rivers. Suddenly we came to the Argenta Gap and immediately it was 'pierced' we were able to see the plains and nothing seemed to stand in the way of our advance. The order must have been given 'Brigade, in open order, Advance!' because all the vehicles in the column (which included my own “Honey” tank) literally fanned out into one straight long line and it was the most wonderful sight that I had ever seen in my (then) short life. With coloured Squadron pennants flying from our aerial masts and with some of the tank crews even firing pistol shots into the air (a la the old cowboy films) we raced forward at high speed, relatively un-obstructed by an enemy who by that time must have realised that the Italian campaign was almost over for them. It is sixty two years since I experienced this event and yet it still raises the hair on the back of my neck! ps As Wikipedia puts it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Argenta_Gap "By the 18th the battle for the Argenta Gap was over, and much of the retreating German force had been destroyed before it could retreat across the Po River". Good luck with your research Ron __________________ If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? Rabbi Hillel circa 30 BCE I was "Called-up" in Oct 1942 Served as a Wireless-Op with the 49th LAA (78 Div) from Apr 1943 to Dec 1944 (North Africa,Sicily,Italy, Egypt). The Regiment was disbanded in Dec 1944 and I was retrained (in Italy) by the Royal Armoured Corps. Served as a Loader-Op with the 4th QOH from Mar 1945 to Jan 1946 (Italy, Austria, Germany) Finished up as Tech Cpl for "A" Sqdrn. I was "De-mobbed" in Apr 1947

30-08-2008, 01:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
1945Welch Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 25	Thank you very much for this info and quick reply thats a great piece of information. Thanks

31-08-2008, 10:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,487	Would it be possible to post a photo of his grave, please? I'm always interested in seeing photos of original graves.

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