5th Northants

Paul Reed · 19-02-2004, 10:36 PM

Always interested to hear from people with information, photos or an interest in this unit - or any veteran contacts.

Thomas McCall · 23-02-2004, 08:12 PM

Are you interested in the Royal Welch Fusiliers as there is a military medal winner living only a few miles away from me. He won his MM in northen Italy in 1945.
From,
Thomas McCall

Paul Reed · 24-02-2004, 01:03 PM

Hi Thomas,

Yes; would be grateful if you could put me in touch with him.

Drop me an email?

Thomas McCall · 26-02-2004, 05:54 PM

The veterans name is Bill Oliver a Bren Gunner in the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment (sorry not the RWF). He won his MM by the Senio River in a place called Casa Rasponi in January 1945 for killing twenty Germans who attacked the hut where the platoon were staying. Ironically after driving most of the Germans away British armoured cars started to shell the hut wounding or killing half the platoon. Whilst trying to get in contact with the armoured cars he was wounded in the leg by a German Machine gunner.
P.S
I'm getting in touch with the journalist who wrote about Bill Olivers story in the local newspaper on how I can get in conntact with him.

Lustleighlad · 28-02-2004, 12:19 PM

Paul I was interested in what Mark Hone was saying regarding Jefferson and having details of the site of his VC action and I hope he fowards it to you.
Have you got the small boklet CO 2LF 78th Division by John Mackenzkie? he was Jefferson's CO at the time. He gives names of various farms in the Liri, whach show on the maps we got in Cassino
If you have not got iot, try ISBN 0 9531876 0 8 Pub by R M Porter Maulden, Bedford 1997

Lustleighlad · 28-02-2004, 12:34 PM

Hi Paul, me again, thought I ought to introduce myself to other contributers.
I am John Dray I served with the 5th Northants in Italy and was in the same Brigade as Fusilier Jefferson and the same actions up through the Liri Valley.

I have known Paul Reed for a long time and think he is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on the history of the Great War 1914-19
To my delight he is now studying the Italian campaign 43-44 and I am looking forward to a second trip out with him in May.

John Dray

Paul Reed · 28-02-2004, 11:52 PM

Thanks John!

You can read more about John and his trip to Italy with us last year at:

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/johndray.htm

19-02-2004, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,601	Always interested to hear from people with information, photos or an interest in this unit - or any veteran contacts. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

23-02-2004, 08:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Thomas McCall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carmarthen, Wales Posts: 131	Are you interested in the Royal Welch Fusiliers as there is a military medal winner living only a few miles away from me. He won his MM in northen Italy in 1945. From, Thomas McCall __________________ Gadair unig ei drig draw!- Ei dwyfraich, Fel pe'n ddifrif wrandaw, Heddiw estyn yn ddistaw Mewn hedd hir am un na ddaw. gan, R.Williams Parry

24-02-2004, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,601	Hi Thomas, Yes; would be grateful if you could put me in touch with him. Drop me an email? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

26-02-2004, 05:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thomas McCall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carmarthen, Wales Posts: 131	The veterans name is Bill Oliver a Bren Gunner in the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment (sorry not the RWF). He won his MM by the Senio River in a place called Casa Rasponi in January 1945 for killing twenty Germans who attacked the hut where the platoon were staying. Ironically after driving most of the Germans away British armoured cars started to shell the hut wounding or killing half the platoon. Whilst trying to get in contact with the armoured cars he was wounded in the leg by a German Machine gunner. P.S I'm getting in touch with the journalist who wrote about Bill Olivers story in the local newspaper on how I can get in conntact with him. __________________ Gadair unig ei drig draw!- Ei dwyfraich, Fel pe'n ddifrif wrandaw, Heddiw estyn yn ddistaw Mewn hedd hir am un na ddaw. gan, R.Williams Parry

28-02-2004, 11:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,601	Thanks John! You can read more about John and his trip to Italy with us last year at: http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/johndray.htm __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

28-02-2004, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lustleighlad WW2 Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9	Paul I was interested in what Mark Hone was saying regarding Jefferson and having details of the site of his VC action and I hope he fowards it to you. Have you got the small boklet CO 2LF 78th Division by John Mackenzkie? he was Jefferson's CO at the time. He gives names of various farms in the Liri, whach show on the maps we got in Cassino If you have not got iot, try ISBN 0 9531876 0 8 Pub by R M Porter Maulden, Bedford 1997

28-02-2004, 12:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lustleighlad WW2 Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9	Hi Paul, me again, thought I ought to introduce myself to other contributers. I am John Dray I served with the 5th Northants in Italy and was in the same Brigade as Fusilier Jefferson and the same actions up through the Liri Valley. I have known Paul Reed for a long time and think he is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on the history of the Great War 1914-19 To my delight he is now studying the Italian campaign 43-44 and I am looking forward to a second trip out with him in May. John Dray

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