Veteran looking for his mates grave.

JOHNB84 · 11-01-2008, 11:18 AM

I was talking to one of our village veterans yesterday, and he told me a story of when his best mate was killed, I didn't like to press him to much on the matter because he was getting himself a little bit upset.
However he did tell me that he was in a foxhole on the Anzio beachhead with his mate, when he himself had left get them both some grub, when he returned his mate was lying dead, having been hit by a shell, he said the following day they placed him in a blanket and laid him to rest on a small hill.
To this day he doesn't know if his mate has a grave. He the told me his mates name was Stanley Monaghan.
On returning home I checked the CWGC and found that Stanley does indeed have a grave in the Beach Head Cemetery, Anzio.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Could any members possibly point me in the right direction of trying to get my village veteran, whose name is Gordon Ingram, a photo of his friends grave.
And for myself I would be very interested to know what Bill and Stanley's unit was up to etc on the Anzio beachhead, the day Stanley lost his life.
If possible also please any history on their unit would be a great help too.
Like I said above I didn't like to press old Bill to much on the matter.
Any help please would be greatly appreciated.

All the best
John.

Owen · 11-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Hopefully, I will be going there in May.
If you've had no luck by then either Paul or myself will take a photo.

Paul Reed · 11-01-2008, 11:27 AM

No problem - we will make sure we visit this in May.

Owen · 11-01-2008, 11:41 AM

Is 80 Inf. Bde. Coy. RASC same as 80 Coy RASC ?
If so then he was a 5th Div man.
Manchester Eighth Army Veterans Association
Im just looking at their Div History.
John could you ask your friend if he was in 5th Division.

JOHNB84 · 11-01-2008, 11:54 AM

Owen/Paul
Brilliant, thank you so much, it will make old Bills day when I tell him. I will also ask him if he was with the 5th Division.

Thanks again
John.

JOHNB84 · 11-01-2008, 12:28 PM

Just popped round Gordon's house (he just lives round the corner), he is chuffed to bits with the news, and sends his thanks.
If its ok with you lads I will get Gordon a cross and poppy for him to write a few words on in memory of his mate, I could then send it onto one of you if thats alright, if you could lay it on Stanley's grave on Gordon's behalf that would be great.
I asked Gordon if it was the 80th Bde, 5 Division in which he served, at first he said no it was the 17th Bde, but then said that he remembers that the 80th Bde changed to the 17th Bde, or he transferred from one to the other, but he said it was defiantly the 5 Division he was serving.

Thanks again lads
John

PS...You may have noticed on my lasts posts I revered to Gordon as Bill also, got my wires crossed here a bit, as yesterday I was also talking to another veteran Bill Newby of the Royal Navy.

Owen · 11-01-2008, 12:56 PM

Nearer the time PM one of us our address and we'll put the cross there.
Has he any photos?
Love to see them.
Can you also ask him how long he was with 5th Div for?

Capt.Sensible · 11-01-2008, 01:44 PM

I've just had a look at the RBL website. Whilst they organise subsidised pilgrimages to various locations, they don't seem to offer much in the way of financial assistance to anybody apart from widows/widowers. I wondered if Gordon would like to go to Anzio and if anybody out there in forumland knew of any charity or means of supporting such a visit? H
The Royal British Legion - Can We Help You? - Grants & Loans

Paul Reed · 11-01-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt.Sensible

I've just had a look at the RBL website. Whilst they organise subsidised pilgrimages to various locations, they don't seem to offer much in the way of financial assistance to anybody apart from widows/widowers. I wondered if Gordon would like to go to Anzio and if anybody out there in forumland knew of any charity or means of supporting such a visit? H
The Royal British Legion - Can We Help You? - Grants & Loans

It's things like this we hope to address with the WW2 Society. Aside from the Veterans Return fund, there is very little help for vets who want to go back.

soren1941 · 11-01-2008, 02:11 PM

It should be paid for by the State, a small price for these Guys and Gals bravery, oh no I forgot, we give the money to Iranians so that they can go home and start Ostrich Farms!

11-01-2008, 11:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
JOHNB84 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 48	Veteran looking for his mates grave. I was talking to one of our village veterans yesterday, and he told me a story of when his best mate was killed, I didn't like to press him to much on the matter because he was getting himself a little bit upset. However he did tell me that he was in a foxhole on the Anzio beachhead with his mate, when he himself had left get them both some grub, when he returned his mate was lying dead, having been hit by a shell, he said the following day they placed him in a blanket and laid him to rest on a small hill. To this day he doesn't know if his mate has a grave. He the told me his mates name was Stanley Monaghan. On returning home I checked the CWGC and found that Stanley does indeed have a grave in the Beach Head Cemetery, Anzio. CWGC :: Casualty Details Could any members possibly point me in the right direction of trying to get my village veteran, whose name is Gordon Ingram, a photo of his friends grave. And for myself I would be very interested to know what Bill and Stanley's unit was up to etc on the Anzio beachhead, the day Stanley lost his life. If possible also please any history on their unit would be a great help too. Like I said above I didn't like to press old Bill to much on the matter. Any help please would be greatly appreciated. All the best John.

11-01-2008, 11:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,444	No problem - we will make sure we visit this in May. __________________ Webmaster - D Day Ancestors: The British Army in Normandy - http://www.ddayancestors.com/ Webmaster - Battlefields of WW2- http://www.ww2battlefields.info/ Webmaster - WW2 Cemeteries - http://www.ww2cemeteries.co.uk/

11-01-2008, 11:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 7,848	Is 80 Inf. Bde. Coy. RASC same as 80 Coy RASC ? If so then he was a 5th Div man. Manchester Eighth Army Veterans Association Im just looking at their Div History. John could you ask your friend if he was in 5th Division. Last edited by Owen; 11-01-2008 at 11:46 AM.

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11-01-2008, 11:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 7,848	Hopefully, I will be going there in May. If you've had no luck by then either Paul or myself will take a photo.

11-01-2008, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
JOHNB84 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 48	Owen/Paul Brilliant, thank you so much, it will make old Bills day when I tell him. I will also ask him if he was with the 5th Division. Thanks again John.

11-01-2008, 12:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
JOHNB84 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 48	Just popped round Gordon's house (he just lives round the corner), he is chuffed to bits with the news, and sends his thanks. If its ok with you lads I will get Gordon a cross and poppy for him to write a few words on in memory of his mate, I could then send it onto one of you if thats alright, if you could lay it on Stanley's grave on Gordon's behalf that would be great. I asked Gordon if it was the 80th Bde, 5 Division in which he served, at first he said no it was the 17th Bde, but then said that he remembers that the 80th Bde changed to the 17th Bde, or he transferred from one to the other, but he said it was defiantly the 5 Division he was serving. Thanks again lads John PS...You may have noticed on my lasts posts I revered to Gordon as Bill also, got my wires crossed here a bit, as yesterday I was also talking to another veteran Bill Newby of the Royal Navy.

11-01-2008, 12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 7,848	Nearer the time PM one of us our address and we'll put the cross there. Has he any photos? Love to see them. Can you also ask him how long he was with 5th Div for?

11-01-2008, 01:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Capt.Sensible Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Directly above the centre of the earth... Posts: 231	I've just had a look at the RBL website. Whilst they organise subsidised pilgrimages to various locations, they don't seem to offer much in the way of financial assistance to anybody apart from widows/widowers. I wondered if Gordon would like to go to Anzio and if anybody out there in forumland knew of any charity or means of supporting such a visit? H The Royal British Legion - Can We Help You? - Grants & Loans

11-01-2008, 02:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
soren1941 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 165	It should be paid for by the State, a small price for these Guys and Gals bravery, oh no I forgot, we give the money to Iranians so that they can go home and start Ostrich Farms!

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