21 Beach Group, 2/4 Hampshire Regiment

Discussion in 'Allied Units - Others' started by Kevin Williamson, Jul 19, 2022.

  1. Morning all,
    Thanks to your help here I've managed to find out from my father in law service history that he was in the 21 beach group which landed in Salerno in September 1943. Was wondering if anyone has any info on this group. He was in the 2/4 Hamphire Regt. Have managed to gleam some information from a book of the history of the Hampshire Regt. Any other information would be greatly appreciated. Trying to trace his war service from his embarkation in North Africa ( 1st Army) to his demob in Greece.
    Thank you very much.

    Regards

    Kevin Williamson.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    If you haven't already got copies, the War Diaries held at Kew would probably give more detail for the battalion than the Regimental History.

    Some of these files might not apply to his service history but linking all available years (that I could find) for the record:


    21 Beach Group 2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 169/10228
    Description: 21 Beach Group 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1943 June, July, Sept.- Nov.




    INFANTRY: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment. | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 166/4326 [Home Forces]
    Description: INFANTRY: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment.
    Date: 1939 Nov.- 1941 Dec.

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 166/8715 [Home Forces]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1942 Jan.- Oct.

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 175/501 [North Africa]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1943 Jan.- May

    20 Beach Group 2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 169/10227
    Description: 20 Beach Group 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1943 June, July

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 169/10226 [Middle East]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1943 Aug.- Dec.

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 170/1399 [CMF ; Italy]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 170/5014 [CMF ; Italy]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1945 Jan.- Dec.

    2/4 Hampshire Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 170/8000 [CMF ; Italy]
    Description: 2/4 Hampshire Regiment
    Date: 1946 Jan.- June
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2022
    Kevin Williamson likes this.
  3. dbf,
    Thank you for that information and the work you have done to get the links to the war diaries. Hopefully I will be able to follow his way through Italy. Greatly appreciated.
    Regards

    Kevin.
     
  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Kevin

    I have their diaries for December 44 and January 45 if you want a copy.

    2/4/ Hamps were part of 28 Brigade (4 Division)

    4 Division movements 1945 and 1946.

    Extracted from Official History of RAMC in WW2.

    After the truce in Jan 45, 10th Bde moved to Khalkis, 12 Bde remained in Levadhia and 4 Div HQ went to Thebes.

    Later (no date) 12th Bde was relieved in Levadhia by 28th Bde, who then went to Khalkis to relieve 10th Bde.

    By end of Feb 4 Div were in Provinces of Phthiotis, Boeotia and Northern Attica, with HQ at Thebes and based in Piraeus.

    From 1 to 3 Mar 45, 4 Div, less 28 Bde, moved North. Based in Lamia, Volos, Thebes and Levadhia.

    By 31st March 4 Div were in Eastern Mainland Greece, based at Volos and Athens.

    In Feb 46, 13th Infantry Division (179th, 180th and 181st Brigades) was formed out of 3 Inf Regs, 3 Arty Regts and 1 LAA Regt from 4th Indian Inf Div and 3 Inf Btns from 4 Div.

    By spring of 1946, 4 Div were in Kavalla, Salonika and Veroia.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
    dbf and Kevin Williamson like this.
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Kevin.

    I have a lot of information on 2/4 Hampshire at the Fourth Battle of Cassino where they were responsible for running the 28 Infantry Brigade river crossing operation and then their initial breakout towards Mass Vertechi.

    They were tasked with getting 2 Som LI and 2 KINGS across.

    Regards

    Frank
     
    Kevin Williamson, dbf and vitellino like this.
  6. Gus,
    Thank you very much for all the information you have posted and all the work and effort you have put in too. It is greatly appreciated.
    The diaries for them daye would be great if you could send me a copy. I am willing to pay foe them if that is necessary.
    Once again thank you and kind regards.

    Kevin
     
  7. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Kevin,

    It's also worth noting that due to the casualties suffered at Salerno by 56 Infantry Division the 2/4 Hamps were withdrawn from the Beach Group on 11 Sep 43 and placed in the front line under 167 Infantry Brigade just south of Battipaglia.

    Regards

    Tom
     
    Kevin Williamson likes this.
  8. Thank you very much for you info Tom. I had read somewhere about them being moved to different operations after the landings but didn't know the reason why! I will now look to see what 167 infantry brigade were up to at that time. Thanks again Tom.
    Regards
    Kevin.
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Kevin Williamson likes this.
  10. Thank you Owen, I will read that later after work. I'm still trying to find out what company my father in law was in. Any ideas?
    Regards

    Kevin.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2022
  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Kevin.

    You will struggle with that one.

    Regards

    Frank
     

Share This Page