Can anyone help me? 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment

Natasha · 28-03-2007, 04:17 PM

iam reseaching my great uncles history in the involvement with the Cassino battle in 1044 and would like to trace his actions and contributions to the balltle, so far i know he served with the 2nd battalion Northamptonshire regiment, and his name is on the Cassino Memorial in Itlay, but i cannot establish which sector this regiment was involved in. did the regiment become part of a division if so what division could this have been?
Please if anyone can shead some light i would be very greatfull

Natasha

spidge · 28-03-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natasha

iam reseaching my great uncles history in the involvement with the Cassino battle in 1044 and would like to trace his actions and contributions to the balltle, so far i know he served with the 2nd battalion Northamptonshire regiment, and his name is on the Cassino Memorial in Itlay, but i cannot establish which sector this regiment was involved in. did the regiment become part of a division if so what division could this have been?
Please if anyone can shead some light i would be very greatfull

Natasha

Welcome Natasha,

I am sure someone will be able to assist and I am sure you meant to type 1944.

Please post you great uncles full name if possible.

Ron Goldstein · 28-03-2007, 04:53 PM

Hi Natasha

I'm sure that you will get help on this site in your research but to increase your chances I'm going to suggest another site also.
Try the BBC Message Board at:
BBC - MESSAGE BOARDS - History - WW2 People's War
and start your message by addressing it to Trooper Tom Canning who you will find is quite an expert in these matters.
Although I was at Cassino myself (as a wireless-op) it is Tom who has a much broader knowledge of all the units involved and I am sure he will try to help.
Best of luck in your research
Ron

PeterG · 28-03-2007, 06:01 PM

Natasha

The 2nd Battalion Northhamptonshire Regiment wasn't at Cassino. Throughout WW2 they were in 17th Infantry Brigade, in the 5th Infantry Division, part of X Corps. From 17 January to 31 January 1944 they were in action at the Garigliano Crossing. On 22 January, part of the 17th Infantry Brigade was moved to Anzio where they were in action until 22 May, then from that date to 4 June they moved on and entered Rome.

Mathew Parker in his excellent book Monte Cassino (Appendix 2, Orders of Battle) lists the 17th Brigade (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2nd Northhamptonshire Regt, 6th Seaforth Highlanders) in the Battle order of the First Battle of Montecassino, but they were involved in bitter fighting on the Garigliano River rather than on the mountain. If he fell on the Garigliano this would account for his inclusion on the Cassino War Memorial which bears 4,266 Commonwealth servicemens' names.

The quickest way to find out which unit your great-uncle was in and where he fell is to enter his name here :: CWGC :: at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Kind regards,
Peter

Rich Payne · 28-03-2007, 10:01 PM

Natasha, My late Grandfather was RSM with 2nd Northamptons during the Italian campaign and the family has both of the published Battalion histories as well as a general 5 Div one. Unfortunately, I don't have them to hand at the moment.

One of the books has a "Roll of Honour" What was his name ?

You might find the "D-Day Dodgers" forum useful as they have connections with the Northampton's museum and have a project to record veteran's stories so are in contact with a number of them.

http://www.d-daydodgers.com/intropage.htm

The fighting at Anzio and on the Garigliano was extremely heavy and casualties were high.

Good luck with your research. Don't hesitate to ask if you get down to specifics.

Rich.

Owen · 29-03-2007, 12:49 AM

Hello Natasha
A break down of 5th Division here.
5th Division

Owen · 29-03-2007, 12:52 AM

Two photos from IWM of 2nd Bn from 1943.

Description: Reggio, 3 September 1943 (Operation Baytown): View of invasion preparations at the quay-side in Catania, Sicily. Troops from C Company, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment wait to embark on the landing craft moored at the quayside.

Description: Troops from 'C' Company, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment wait to go aboard landing craft at Catania, Sicily, 2 September 1943.

For some general views of the Garilgliano area visit here, IWM Collections Online: Search Photographs Archive
and in the subject box key in Garigliano, there are some amazing photos there.

Owen · 29-03-2007, 01:02 AM

I have this map of the Garigliano Crossing from The Wiltshire Regiment by Kenrick. The Northamptons were with the rest of 17th Brigade, who came ashore on lower left of the map.

Also found this other map with the help of Google.Shows 5th Div to the south.
http://www.romacivica.net/anpiroma/secondaguerra/sgmcampagnaitalia4d.htm

Owen · 29-03-2007, 01:07 AM

Another map from same book.
2nd Northants would have had almost same journey as the 2nd Wilts.

Owen · 29-03-2007, 01:30 AM

In case he was killed at Anzio here is another map from same book.
Excuse the colouring in of the sea. I've had it since I was younger.

28-03-2007, 04:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Natasha Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 14	Can anyone help me? 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment iam reseaching my great uncles history in the involvement with the Cassino battle in 1044 and would like to trace his actions and contributions to the balltle, so far i know he served with the 2nd battalion Northamptonshire regiment, and his name is on the Cassino Memorial in Itlay, but i cannot establish which sector this regiment was involved in. did the regiment become part of a division if so what division could this have been? Please if anyone can shead some light i would be very greatfull Natasha

28-03-2007, 04:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London, England Posts: 813	Hi Natasha I'm sure that you will get help on this site in your research but to increase your chances I'm going to suggest another site also. Try the BBC Message Board at: BBC - MESSAGE BOARDS - History - WW2 People's War and start your message by addressing it to Trooper Tom Canning who you will find is quite an expert in these matters. Although I was at Cassino myself (as a wireless-op) it is Tom who has a much broader knowledge of all the units involved and I am sure he will try to help. Best of luck in 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

29-03-2007, 12:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,313	Two photos from IWM of 2nd Bn from 1943. Description: Reggio, 3 September 1943 (Operation Baytown): View of invasion preparations at the quay-side in Catania, Sicily. Troops from C Company, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment wait to embark on the landing craft moored at the quayside. Description: Troops from 'C' Company, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment wait to go aboard landing craft at Catania, Sicily, 2 September 1943. For some general views of the Garilgliano area visit here, IWM Collections Online: Search Photographs Archive and in the subject box key in Garigliano, there are some amazing photos there. Last edited by Owen; 29-03-2007 at 01:15 AM.

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28-03-2007, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
PeterG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 174	Natasha The 2nd Battalion Northhamptonshire Regiment wasn't at Cassino. Throughout WW2 they were in 17th Infantry Brigade, in the 5th Infantry Division, part of X Corps. From 17 January to 31 January 1944 they were in action at the Garigliano Crossing. On 22 January, part of the 17th Infantry Brigade was moved to Anzio where they were in action until 22 May, then from that date to 4 June they moved on and entered Rome. Mathew Parker in his excellent book Monte Cassino (Appendix 2, Orders of Battle) lists the 17th Brigade (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2nd Northhamptonshire Regt, 6th Seaforth Highlanders) in the Battle order of the First Battle of Montecassino, but they were involved in bitter fighting on the Garigliano River rather than on the mountain. If he fell on the Garigliano this would account for his inclusion on the Cassino War Memorial which bears 4,266 Commonwealth servicemens' names. The quickest way to find out which unit your great-uncle was in and where he fell is to enter his name here :: CWGC :: at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Kind regards, Peter

28-03-2007, 10:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rich Payne Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 720	Natasha, My late Grandfather was RSM with 2nd Northamptons during the Italian campaign and the family has both of the published Battalion histories as well as a general 5 Div one. Unfortunately, I don't have them to hand at the moment. One of the books has a "Roll of Honour" What was his name ? You might find the "D-Day Dodgers" forum useful as they have connections with the Northampton's museum and have a project to record veteran's stories so are in contact with a number of them. http://www.d-daydodgers.com/intropage.htm The fighting at Anzio and on the Garigliano was extremely heavy and casualties were high. Good luck with your research. Don't hesitate to ask if you get down to specifics. Rich.

29-03-2007, 12:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,313	Hello Natasha A break down of 5th Division here. 5th Division

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