The Great Italy Veterans Thread

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:31 PM

As myself and Owen have mentioned elsewhere, we were pleased and delighted to meet a number of veterans of both sides during the recent Italian Battlefields trip. This thread is dedicated to some photos of them, and further information we glean on them in due course.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:33 PM

John Dudley.

John served with the East Surrey Regiment and 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, in 4th Division. he was wounded three times, and ended the war in Greece.

I was especially please to bump into John, as I see him every year at War & Peace.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:33 PM

Men from John's platoon, 2nd RF, taken in 1945.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:36 PM

Burkhard Hogspiel.

We met him outside the German War Cemetery at Caira. He served with Geb. Pioneer Btl 818, according to what he put in the cemetery visitors book. Anyone know any more about this?

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:36 PM

Burkhard in 1944.

Owen · 30-05-2008, 08:37 PM

Paul, these photos are so much better than mine.
I think I need another new camera.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:38 PM

Ted Doyle MM.

Ted served with the 2nd RF, 4th Division, 1943-44 and was badly wounded in September 1944 on the Gothic Line when a Tiger took out the house he was in, killing his mates and badly wounding him. His MM appears to be for the September 1944 period, according to the battalion history.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:40 PM

Owen, I need you to add the details of this Beds & Herts veteran who was travelling with John and Ted.

EDIT by Owen:This is George Bayliss, a Chelsea Pensioner.
He joined the 2nd Bn Beds & Herts Regiment in 1938 in Hemel Heapstead.
He was demobbed in 1946.
I've written to him and sent him a picture very similar to this one.
I've also asked him if he'd care to tell me about the 1940 campaign.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:44 PM

Otmar Bolldorf.

This was one of our most amazing meetings - we literally bumped into him and his friend, as we were walking back from Snakeshead Ridge. He casually remarked he was a veteran, and seemed quite pleased when we spent half an hour questioning him about his experiences!

Otmar fought with a Panzer Grenadier Regiment in 90th Panzer Division; he originally fought with the Afrika Corps and came up against the NZ troops quite a lot in Italy. He was attached to the defences at Cassino, and fought in the area around the Station and also up on Snakeshead Ridge. He was wounded near Aquino in May 1944.

EDIT by Owen: Otmar was in 361 Panzer Grenadier Regiment.

Paul Reed · 30-05-2008, 08:45 PM

Otmar in 1945; as you can see he has the EK 1st and 2nd Class, and a wound badge.

30-05-2008, 08:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	The Great Italy Veterans Thread As myself and Owen have mentioned elsewhere, we were pleased and delighted to meet a number of veterans of both sides during the recent Italian Battlefields trip. This thread is dedicated to some photos of them, and further information we glean on them in due course. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	John Dudley. John served with the East Surrey Regiment and 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, in 4th Division. he was wounded three times, and ended the war in Greece. I was especially please to bump into John, as I see him every year at War & Peace. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Men from John's platoon, 2nd RF, taken in 1945. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Burkhard Hogspiel. We met him outside the German War Cemetery at Caira. He served with Geb. Pioneer Btl 818, according to what he put in the cemetery visitors book. Anyone know any more about this? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Burkhard in 1944. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,696	Paul, these photos are so much better than mine. I think I need another new camera.

30-05-2008, 08:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Ted Doyle MM. Ted served with the 2nd RF, 4th Division, 1943-44 and was badly wounded in September 1944 on the Gothic Line when a Tiger took out the house he was in, killing his mates and badly wounding him. His MM appears to be for the September 1944 period, according to the battalion history. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

30-05-2008, 08:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Owen, I need you to add the details of this Beds & Herts veteran who was travelling with John and Ted. EDIT by Owen:This is George Bayliss, a Chelsea Pensioner. He joined the 2nd Bn Beds & Herts Regiment in 1938 in Hemel Heapstead. He was demobbed in 1946. I've written to him and sent him a picture very similar to this one. I've also asked him if he'd care to tell me about the 1940 campaign. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm Last edited by Owen; 30-05-2008 at 08:57 PM.

30-05-2008, 08:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Otmar Bolldorf. This was one of our most amazing meetings - we literally bumped into him and his friend, as we were walking back from Snakeshead Ridge. He casually remarked he was a veteran, and seemed quite pleased when we spent half an hour questioning him about his experiences! Otmar fought with a Panzer Grenadier Regiment in 90th Panzer Division; he originally fought with the Afrika Corps and came up against the NZ troops quite a lot in Italy. He was attached to the defences at Cassino, and fought in the area around the Station and also up on Snakeshead Ridge. He was wounded near Aquino in May 1944. EDIT by Owen: Otmar was in 361 Panzer Grenadier Regiment. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm Last edited by Owen; 30-05-2008 at 09:05 PM.

30-05-2008, 08:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,854	Otmar in 1945; as you can see he has the EK 1st and 2nd Class, and a wound badge. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

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