1/4 Essex Regiment - Arezzo - 1944 - William Maiden

Discussion in 'Italy' started by malcmere, Aug 29, 2012.

  1. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

  2. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Gary,

    In tandem with Lesley's excellent link.. you'll note that 10 men from 1/4 Essex Regiment died on 13th July 1944 ... Results

    you'll also know that your grandfather's army number is linked to

    ยท Monmouthshire Regiment 4070001 - 4103000

    best
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2018
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello

    This is the units war diary at The National Archives. It's quite rare to find an individuals death mentioned but it should cover what the unit was doing on the day of his death so may have details on the battle etc.

    WO 170/1386 1/4 Essex Regiment1944 Jan.- Dec.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  4. G p Lewis

    G p Lewis New Member

    Thank you all for your help...and my apologies for getting the abbreviations wrong
    Gary
     
  5. CJB203

    CJB203 New Member

    Also a new member and only 6 years late to this thread! So hopefully those involved are still monitoring and can help?
    I am researching a member of my family who also was with the 1/4 Essex, was also killed in action on 13 July 1944 and is also buried at Arezzo (Plot 4, Row C, Grave 29).
    His name was Warrant Officer Class II CSM William Adams (Service No 6008570).
    Family folklore has it he died at Monte Cassino, but it always made no sense that he would have died there and be buried more than 200 miles from where he fell and from what little I have found so far, it would appear it was indeed at Arezzo where he met his fate.
    Any help in finding out whatever info is about would be gratefully received.

    PS. Not sure if it of help or if anyone can decifer it, but in answer to the question where they were originally buried, I found the attached. William Adams was originally buried at 2CGRU/CBM/2214 Gr.1 (whatever that may mean as a location) and was not re-buried at Arezzo until 15 June 1945
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I've sent you a private message about this.

    Welcome to the board.
     
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    I might feel 6 years older, but in fact it was only 4 years and 8 months ago...

    Nothing specific here about 1/4th Essex on 13th July 1944 (with 5th Brigade in 4th Indian Infantry Div) - check the war diaries if you can (see Lesley's link) - but this excerpt might provide some background to that period:

    The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946. Chapters 10-12.

    This is the area:
    Google Maps

    best wishes
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2018
  8. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles


    From named photographs, I can confirm that CSM ADAMS was with A-Coy 1/4th Essex in Sept 1943 (at that same rank). Of course, he may well have been with the unit much longer, but there are hundreds of pages for me to check before I can say more for certain.

    General:
    The date you have for his death is supported by the entry in the battalion's casualty book--and the location MONTE SANTA MARIA is correct. On the 13/7/44, the battalion (the lead battalion of 5th Indian Infantry Brigade) was tasked with moving through 7th Brigade and taking Pt. 558 (GR 490295) & Pt. 560 (GR 505297), which they did shortly before midnight. 1st Sussex (7 Bde) had had a bash at this and reached the high ground, but were quickly withdrawn as their positions were not well defendable. This was all part of a divisional effort to seize MONTERCHI (GR: 4734) and, ultimately, threaten AREZZO from the east. Casualties sustained by 1/4th Essex in taking MONTE SANTA MARIA were 7 Killed and 10 wounded (according to the brigade diary) .

    Specific:
    Prior to that success, A-Coy (which your great uncle had a strong chance of being with) moved ahead of the main battalion and suffered two casualties (that could be either killed or wounded) at 14:00 from mortar fire at GR 518278. A & B-Coys were in the lead and advancing on the aforementioned objectives at 20:00. By 00:01 on 14/7/44, the Medical Officer reported four more casualties to A-Coy. This may not seem like many men to lose from the roster, but after Cassino and before rest and reinforcement later in the year, any company that could muster more than 50-60 men was fortunate.

    The diarist from 1/2 Gurkha Rifles (7th Brigade) records:

    Worth recording that in all the houses round this area there were terrible tales of rape and murder committed by the retreating Bosche. Women tied to trees and raped in front of their husbands etc.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2018
    4jonboy likes this.
  10. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce


    (Almost) duplicate thread here, with replies
    1/4 Essex at arezzo 1944
     
  11. G p Lewis

    G p Lewis New Member




    Hi, was he one of the guys killed by a landmine, whilst they travelled in a truck. 13 July 44. My grandfather was one of those lost.
    Private Philip Lewis.
     
  12. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Welcome.

    Is this information passed down through the family or do you have a source for it?

    KIA for 13/3/44:

    WOII Adams, William 6008570
    Cpl Davis, James Alfred 6012523
    Pte Lewis, Phillip 4080271
    Pte Maiden, William 14540173
    Pte Perkins, Norman 3911474
    Pte Purrington, Henry Morris 5623583
    Pte Randall, Arthur Edward 5618850
    Pte Sear, James John 6031922
    L/C Webb, Keith 4079043
    Pte Wilson, Edward 14659809

    WIA for 13/7/44 (some names hard to read):

    Pte Burton, G(?) 6021320 GSW to the head.
    Pte Baker, L(?) 14374625 Blast to eyes.
    Pte Bentley, A 14660181 Multiple GSWs to legs.
    Pte Cornelius, G G 7959409 Wounded: to R.A.P.
    Cpl Fowler, H 6016679 GSWs to arms, chest & buttocks
    Pte Grimwade, K 6012853 GSW to face & right eye
    Pte Meatyaid(?), R H 6021590 GSW: to R.A.D.
    U/LC O' Donoghue, J 6018296 GSW to right buttock.
    P/L/C Puce, F 4079475 GSW to left hand.
    Pte Summerbell(?), J 5824132 GSW to left chest.

    There will be more wounded, but I have an incomplete copy of the document and my best efforts have not managed to get a better one.

    Happened to notice also 14/3/44:
    Pte Leek, E [6014561]: WIA: Gunshot wound to right forearm.
     
  13. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Merged two threads by request.
    Trimmed one duplicate post.
    Hope that's OK.
    ~A
     

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