Any other contemporary unit histories at Company level?

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by 8RB, Jul 19, 2020.

  1. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Was the 8th Rifle Brigade unique in having published unit histories at Company level? With this, I mean contemporary unit histories, published by (members of) the unit. The E, F and H Company histories below were published in 1945, the one for G Company in 1947.

    8RB Company Histories.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2020
  2. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    No replies so far. Is that a "NO", in answer to the title of this thread?!
     
  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I think you mean "yes"? It may well have been unique in that.
     
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  4. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    "No" in reply to thread title, "yes" in reply to text first post. Got a bit confused myself... :D
     
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  5. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Sorry about that! :D
     
  6. Christian Fletcher

    Christian Fletcher Well-Known Member

    Just infantry?
    Charlie Company. (2nd Camerons) P.Cochrane
    First in! Parachute Pathfinder Company. R.Kent both of which I have and (that I don't have!)

    B Company arrived (Arnhem) 2 Para at Arnhem B.Buggnum
    An infantry company in the Arakan and Kohima (B Company, Queen's Royals) Maj M.A.Lowry
    No.1 Independent MG Company, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. T.I.Mather
    plus 18 (or there-abouts RE Companies, RAE, RCE and odds & sods)

    cheers chris
     
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  7. Sytzama

    Sytzama Member

    Leading the way to Arnhem (21st independant Parachute coy) Peter Gijbels & David Truesdale
     
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  8. Christian Fletcher

    Christian Fletcher Well-Known Member

    And - just for fun - I looked up the squadrons and batteries that I have (and don't have!) About 6 + 17 & 5 + 9 respectively. I'm sure there are a lot more small unit histories about, it's finding them that's the challenge.
     
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  9. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Sorry, I meant contemporary Company Histories, published by (members of) the unit itself, shortly after the war (will also edited my post #1). I know "Leading the way to Arnhem" (and a lot of other fine Arnhem books) is not, how about the others? Maybe nice to add a scan of the covers...
     
  10. Christian Fletcher

    Christian Fletcher Well-Known Member

    Here's a selection - none infantry I'm afraid! RAMC, RAOC, RASC & RE.
    cheers
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Christian Fletcher

    Christian Fletcher Well-Known Member

    Here's some Battery books! Stafford Battery, for instance, had a wide and varied existence!
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. John Greenwood

    John Greenwood New Member

    How can we read the F Company Unit History shown
     
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  13. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Book is very difficult impossible to find. If you get in touch through Contact - 8th Rifle Brigade, I might have a solution.
     
  14. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    One more: C Sqn. Inns of Court Regiment...

    Inns of Court C Sqn - We Were There - 3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
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  15. Christian Fletcher

    Christian Fletcher Well-Known Member

    Books I've heard of but not seen (and grabbed!).
    "A Squadron, 23rd Hussars War Diary June 1944 - May 1945."
    "Reminisences: 4 members of C Sqn, 3rd Carabiniers."
    "The history of A Sqn, 141st Regiment RAC (the Buffs) June 1940 - November 1945"
    "Playboys: B Sqn, 141st Regiment RAC (the Buffs) 1944-45"
    "A Sqn diary, 7th RTR"

    There's also at least 16 RE Company 'histories'.
     
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  16. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The compelling: "Company Commander" - by Charles B.MacDonald, though its more autobiographic and not a company history. It appeared shortly after the war and deals with his time as Company Commander (Captain) in the 2nd US Infantry Division from Sept 1944 until the end of the war.
     
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  17. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    By Company do we also include RA Batteries.
     
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  18. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    If that's the RA equivalent of a Company, I should think so...
     
  19. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Reminded me of this one, on my own book shelves:

    23H B Sqn.jpg
     
  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    RA Regimental Diaries certainly exist in NA but despite references to Battery Diaries by a previous writer in 1946, I have only located two half year portions deposited in a County Archive for two batteries, both of which were served in by the depositor. What happened to the others is a mystery and subject of letters post war by men who served in the Regt. wanting to write histories.
    Contacting the RA museum at Larkhill I understand that they were often placed in storage with local TA Centres which lets face it, have changed locations many times and mostly disappeared.
    The one in question in my search, has revealed the part Diaries that are to be found in the County Archive down the road but the other two Battery Diaries and the remainder of the third are not to be found. A sad reflection over the years of our appreciation of their endeavours. It also I feel, illustrates that many of the men did not want to remember their efforts until very late in life, when it was too late to do so in detail.
    The one saving grace was the 1990's use of audio recordings some of which are found on line under BBC Peoples War via the transcriptions in County Archives. Unfortunately the men had largely forgotten exactly what happened and when.
     
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