12 Platoon D Group , 1st Bn The Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Ian Doyle, Oct 21, 2017.

  1. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    Hi

    New member here

    Trying to find any info on my father who was called up at Chester , Dale Barracks 16 07 1942

    He never mentioned the war other than suggesting three countries that he visited and the fact that he learned to drive in the army, and that i'm afraid was my sum knowledge of his wartime career.

    Following his death a few years ago we cleared out his house and moved lots of paperwork up to the loft at my house, it was only during a further clearout 3 years on that it I discovered an envelope marked army.

    In amongst invoices for hoover repairs and insurance were all his war records and three service ? medals .

    Images from Italy , Austria and Greece as well as a clipping from Union Jack which I assume was a wartime Army publication covering close quarter combat.....he had sent the clipping to his mother suggesting

    "...I was there"

    Somewhat understated !

    This incident took place at Pucciarelli ?

    I have referenced the quotes from the unit.

    I was astounded

    I have enclosed an image of the battalion etc but would welcome any further
    references with specific reference to the platoons movements ?

    12 Platoon D Group 1st BN Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment.

    Is there a records where i can trace where he went from Chester ?
    His service and paybook suggests ;

    N Africa 25 12 43

    Italy 5 1 44

    Austria 11 5 45

    Greece x 4 46

    Any info re movements of the unit would be welcome.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2017
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Ian
    Welcome - are you certain the dates you mention are the correct way around?

    In order to answer some of your questions you would need to scan and upload the service records you have for him. These may not be his full service records but lets see what you have.

    TD
     
  3. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    DULY CORRECTED. ...quite right :)
     
  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    1 Kensingtons were the Machine Gun battalion for 78 Infantry Division and, having arrived in Italy on 5 Jan 44, he would have joined the battalion on the River Sangro side of Italy before the Division was sent to Cassino for the Third and Fourth Battles.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  5. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    Many thanks

    Is that Monte Cassino The Monestry ?

    Re often referred to the stoicism of the Germans holding out up he never said he was actually nearby!
     
  6. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a summary of the service of the 1st Battalion, The Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) M-G:


    1st Battalion, The Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment,
    The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) M-G (T.A.)



    6th London Infantry Brigade – 3 September 1939 to 19 November 1939
    The battalion was titled as the 13th London Regiment (Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment) until August 10th, 1939, when it was retitled as The Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment. The battalion was titled as the 1st Battalion on March 31st, 1939 and located at 190 Hammersmith Road in Hammersmith.
    On November 19th, 1939, the battalion had Battalion HQ at Addison Road, Kensington. It moved to Illminster, Somerset on this date.

    GHQ Troops BEF – III Corps – 5th Infantry Division – Attached – 8 April 1940 to 1 May 1940
    It was sent to France as a Machine-Gun Battalion of the III Corps and landed at Le Havre on April 14th, 1940 and became part of 5th Infantry Division.

    51st (Highland) Infantry Division – 1 May 1940 to 12 June 1940
    It moved to the Maginot Line on May 1st, 1940 and became attached to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. It moved from the Saar to the Somme with the division on May 29th, 1940 and then moved to the coast at St. Valery on June 3rd/4th, 1940. It was captured at St. Valery with the division except for some survivors who escaped.
    Approximately three hundred fifty survivors were reformed at Mill Hill on June 15th, 1940 and the battalion moved to the Kent and Sussex coast on July 5th, 1940.

    56th (London) Infantry Division – Attached – 5 July 1940 to 11 November 1941
    On arrival at Ashford in Kent, the battalion joined the 56th (London) Infantry Division. It moved to Shorncliffe on July 22nd, 1941.

    56th (London) Infantry Division – 11 November 1941 to 20 May 1942
    The battalion left Shorncliffe for Bury St. Edmunds on November 15th, 1941.

    56th (London) Infantry Division – Attached – 20 May 1942 to 25 August 1942
    It moved to Colchester on December 12th, 1941 and to Westcliffe in August 1942, on leaving the division, which was shipped to the Middle East.
    At Westcliffe, the battalion was converted to a support battalion on November 13th, 1942. It moved to Doncaster in February 1943 to prepare to join the 78th Infantry Division in North Africa. It embarked at Liverpool on May 16th, 1943 and arrived in North Africa on May 27th, 1943.

    78th Infantry Division – 16 June 1943 to 31 August 1945
    It joined the division in North Africa on June 16th, 1943. It was located in North Africa until July 23rd, 1943 and then embarked for Sicily. It landed there on July 26th, 1943 and served in Sicily until September 22nd, 1943. The division then crossed into Italy and served there until July 18th, 1944. The battalion was reconverted to a M-G battalion on July 13th, 1944. It then moved to Egypt to rest and refit until September 9th, 1944. After that date it returned to Italy and served until May 8th, 1945 when it crossed into Austria.
     
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  7. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I do have a copy of the Kensington's regimental history:

    Anon. “The Kensingtons’ Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment, Second World War. Regimental Old Comrades’ Association, 1952. (Includes the 1st Battalion (compiled by B.V.C. Harpur, B.R. Wood and J.J. Evans) and the 2nd Battalion (compiled by S. Jacobson and R.J. Cannon)

    If you post your father's name, I can see if he is mentioned. The book has an index, role of honour and a list of awards.

    It also has details of the Battalion's service though I did not see any mention of Pucciarelli in the index. I did find Pucciarelli on a map of operations on the Trasimene Line. I will attach the map and entries from the history for June 1944, when the battalion was in action in the area.
     
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  8. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

  9. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Kens02.jpg Kens03.jpg Kens04.jpg Kens05.jpg Kens06.jpg Kens07.jpg Kens08.jpg
     
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  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Last edited: Oct 22, 2017
  11. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    Fanstatic stuff . Many thanks

    Many thanks

    Many thanks his name was Arthur Doyle Pte. Although he attained Corporal Status.
     
  12. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    There was a Captain Doyle in the index but no Arthur Doyle.
     
  13. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    I have his medals but I suspect they were campign medals. Ill send an image later.

    I have a group platoon image but currently to large to post.

    Hi again many thanks for those images.

    I actually have the original copy of the Union Jack and the hairs breadth encounter at Pucarelli.

    My father sent the clipping back to his mother. " "I was there" is written on the clipping.
     
  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Ian,

    Very good stuff.

    Not going to add too much here to add into the detail that you already know - and that your Dad saw plenty during his time with D Group (nicknamed Dog Support Group), who were assigned to 38th (Irish) Brigade in Italy.

    A couple of things:

    - In Jan 1944, the Kensingtons were with the Irish Brigade in the snowdrift mountain tops near Castel di Sangro.

    - I've walked the area near Sanfatucchio and Pucciarelli...a defining battle period that helped to break the Trasimene Line west of the lake. Fellow forum member 'Vittelino' knows the area very well indeed.

    - A particularly evocative account of the Kensingtons' time in Italy during 1943/44 is contained in a book written by Colin Gunner "Front of the Line"..

    I attach a random photo contained in the war diaries for May 1944.

    best wishes
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 23, 2017
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  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Ian.

    Yes, that is the monastery at Monte Cassino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  16. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Ian,

    The only thing I would add is that I've not seen any reference to "12 Platoon" within D Group at Cassino/Trasimeno during May/June 1944, usually noted are just 5/6/7 Platoons, so there might be a question whether your father was still in 12 Platoon during those battle periods.

    Separately, I've found Sgt Patrick Ganley's MM citation (initially raised as a DCM citation) - attached here - for actions during D Group's support to 6 Innisks at Pucciarelli.

    best wishes
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 24, 2017
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  17. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    The Bn supported a Div and Groups were farmed out to Bdes. 38 Inf Bde would have consistently worked with the same Group.

    At the time, a Group was the same as a Company. It was only later that Group was dropped and Companies were reintroduced.

    FdeP
     
  18. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    And lastly, the position of Sgt Ganley's action. (MR 4090) according to the MC citation.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Ian Doyle

    Ian Doyle Member

    Hopefully this will help someone.

    This is 12 Platoon, D GROUP. My Father Arthur Doyle is top right rather helpfully pointed out by my late Grandma. :)

    One more. This is a newspaper clipping that my father sent to his Mother.

    Its an original clipping of the Union Jack referenced earlier in the thread.
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. Headancer

    Headancer Member

    Anyone here in N West England had relatives in this unit ?
     

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