Unit help. 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers

[scottiow]

Can anyone tell me how i can find out what companies there were in the 2nd battalion south wales borderers.

Had a look on the net and cant find much about the companies.

thanks for any help

scott

[morse1001]

Originally Posted by scottiow

Can anyone tell me how i can find out what companies there were in the 2nd battalion south wales borderers.

Had a look on the net and cant find much about the companies.

thanks for any help

scott

What sort of period are you looking at? Also, have you tried finding the official history of the uni or contacting the museum?

[scottiow]

Mainly 1944. I have not tried that yet but will do.

thanks

scott

[Owen]

2 SWB were in 56th (Sphinx) Independent Brigade who were with 50th div on D-Day then went to 49th Div.
From The Polar Bears by Patrick Delaforce page 126.

The 2nd Battalion South Wales Borders had served with the Polar Bears in the ill-fated Norwegian Campaign in the spring of 1940.
On D-Day, four years later, they were the only Welsh Battalion to land with the assault troops on the beaches at Asnelles. Their first serious battle was at the Chateau de Sully, and the next was on 8 July at Granville and the Boix de St German,where they sufferd 130 casualties. Early in August they again suffered heavily at Courts Genets and Fourneaux-le-Val. When they joined the Polar Bears they were commanded by Lt-Col Barlow.

[scottiow]

Thats interesting as the family member im researching died in September 10th 1944 and is buried in Rouen. On another post about this under south wales borderers, Paul Reed mentioned that many of the men buried at Rouen died in hospital there.

Maybe he was one of the casualties mentioned

Thanks for your help

scott

[Owen]

Sept 10th they fighting at Le Harve.
Good map in the book.
Get it and see pages 140 to 142.
Can't copy it as Mrs has digi-camera and she's out.

2 SWB had a much harder time and suffered heavy casualties. Their objectives were three woods on a ridge. In each wood was a huge concrete dug-out some 30 ft deep, surrounded by trenches and protected by mines and wire. D, A and B companies, aided by flails, flame-throwers and tanks were ordered to capture each wood.
D company led, crossed minefield under heavy fire, went over the wire and forced the enemy in trenches and dug-outs to surrender.
A company followed through but were disorganised by heavy fire from the second wood.
The support vehicles suffered badly so Maj. Collins brought up B company to take the second wood from the flank with flame-throwers and then captured the third wood. Pte Gallagher won the MM by stalking and capturing six Germans.

[scottiow]

That was my initial thought, being killed on the first day of fighting. Still doing research to try and find out how he died.

That would be interesting to have a look at if you could post it, if you get a chance to sometime.

Thanks for the help Owen

Scott

[scottiow]

Having a look at buying some books so will add that one to the list.

Thanks again Owen

scott

[Owen]

Here are maps from the book.
Sorry first one a bit blurred, must still be hungover.
Here some more on the attack.

The 56th Brigade attack.
Their objectives were the strong points in and around Fontaine-la-Mallet, and then to seize the bridges spanning the river Lezarde, which ran at right angles from the Foret-de-Montgeon. Itwas a textbook attack with two squadrons of flail tanks of 22nd Dragoons, followed by two squadrons of 7 RTR's Shermans and assault squadrons RE with their bombards. Through huge minefields, nine lanes had to be cleared, which intense rain had turned into bogs. The SWB were on the RIGHT and the Glosters on the LEFT, supported by 'gun' and crocodile flame tanks. Then the 2nd Essex mounted in Kangaroos with tank and AVRE support would pass through.

[scottiow]

Thanks Owen.

Don't worry have had a few of them myself this Christmas!

Thanks for that there interesting to have a look at.

Scott