2/4 Hampshire Regt Cpl William Lewis, North Africa

Morning All,
Firstly let me say a big thank you to all who have helped me in tracing my father in laws passage through Italy from the Salerno landings.
I now have to see if I can get any info on his time in North Africa. He landed in North Africa on the 17-1-43 and landed in Salerno September 1943.
I have read the Royal Hampshire Regiment volume 3 which gives a good description of the campaign in North Africa but was wondering if anybody had any more detail on this part of his journey.
This all for a history of my children's Grandfather's service in the 2nd world War which I hope to give them very soon.
Thank you very much.

Regards

Kevin.

 

Hello Kevin, I've been tracing my father-in-law's service in North Africa from Jan 1943. He was 1/4 Hampshire Regt, part of the 128th Brigade as I believe were 2/4 Hampshires. They served in North Africa as part of 46th Division and I found 'The Story of the 46th Division' helpful which someone (don't know if they're a member here) very generously posted online http://daimler-fighting-vehicles.co.uk/The Story of the 46th Infantry Division Part 1.pdf (from page 18/19 onwards covers from 128th brigade's arrival in January 1943).

 

Hello and thank you for posting your reply. Yes the 2/4 were part of the 128th brigade. He has the 1st Army bar on his Africa star. I have a good history of his Italy campaign so just trying to get a view on his North Africa campaign. Got a few war diaries from his time in Italy off some kind people on here. Will give that link you posted and fingers crossed.
Regards

Kevin.

 

Hello, Kevin. I have just come across this website, and may be able to help if you (or others) are still interested. My late father was Major R H Stevens MC, 2/4th Btn. The Hampshire Regiment, and I have his memoirs of his lifetime including the period in the Hampshires from October 1939 to November 1944 (et seq) when he was invalided out just before the battalion went to Greece. The wartime recollections run to some 20 pages and cover the regiment’s duties in the UK, through North Africa, Sicily and Italy, and include the King’s VC ceremony for ‘Gunner’ Wakeford where my father was the Officer Commander of the Guard of Honour. If this is of interest, please advise how the Word document can be uploaded here it alternatively I can e:mail it if preferred.

 

Nigel,

Welcome aboard. Kevin has not logged in since August 2022, so I will send him a message next. As a new member you cannot send messages until you have posted five times. GeorgyB has not logged on for a month, so as she declares her interest a message to her too!

We would welcome you uploading your late father's memoirs here. It has to be in PDF format, not Word and follow 'Upload a File' instructions beneath.

 

Yes, I would be very interested too.

(Think I'm logged in permanently David!)

 

Nigel,
Thank you very much for your reply to my posting. I would be very much interested in your late father's memoirs of his time in the 2/4th Btn Hampshire Regiment. I have read about your father in the history of the battalion in a book I have. If you could email it to me that would be great.

Kind regards

Kevin

 

Nigel.

I have been helping a South African chap whose father was awarded the Military Cross for manning one of the two 2/4 Hampshires river crossings at Cassino on the night 11-12 May 44. The chap has researched the whole period and his father would have known yours. It would be great if I could send him your father’s memoir.

I am taking a group to Cassino in May 24 for the 80th Anniversary. If getting your head around what your father endured at Cassino in Apr and May 44 grabs you, do get in touch via Start a Conversation. It promises to be quite an event.

Regards

Frank

 

I attach a file containing part of a book of his life story written by Major RH Stevens MC for the benefit of his grandchildren, so that they will “learn of some of the memorable events during our exciting lifetime and perhaps, after reading, they will come to the conclusion that we weren’t the ‘old fogies’ that they may have first thought”.
I hope that the contents may be of interest or even help others in their research of the 2/4th Btn, The Hampshire Regiment during the Second World War.

 

Such an interesting and detailed account, thank you so much for sharing it - and to your late father for taking the time to write it.

It certainly helps with understanding the likely experiences my father-in-law in 1/4th Btn Hampshire would have taken - from Autumn 1939 when he also enlisted, and then later making the same journey from Glasgow to Algiers and Bone in January 1943.

 

This account is so interesting. Thank you for sharing. I am trying to find details of a Sergeant Robert Beech 2/4th Hampshire Reg, specifically the period when he was based in Styria Austria 1945. Any ideas please??
Ive just read 'Naples 44' by Norman Lewis, his account of the landings at Salerno anfd subsequent time in Naples...really great read and echoes much of the account of major Stevens.

 

Nigel, This account is so interesting. Thank you for sharing. I am trying to find details of a Sergeant Robert Beech 2/4th Hampshire Reg, specifically the period when he was based in Styria Austria 1945. Any ideas please??
Ive just read 'Naples 44' by Norman Lewis, his account of the landings at Salerno anfd subsequent time in Naples...really great read and echoes much of the account of major Stevens.

 

Limpo.

If Sgt Beech was at Cassino in May 44 then I have a lot of information on what 2/4 Hampshires got up to. You are welcome to read what I have and see all the mapping that traces their steps.

Over this period, 2/4 Hampshires were in 28 Infantry Brigade in 4 Infantry Division and their task was to run the river crossing operation for the Fourth Battle of Cassino.

Regards

Frank

 

Thank you Frank, yes I would be very interested to read more.