Hello all, Can anyone tell me if the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, served on Malta during the war? If so any detail of when they arrived, where 'A' Company might have been, or what they were doing, would be very much appreciated. I have a blank for what this sub-unit was doing from May 1940 to April 1943 ... All the best Skip
Skip, "2 RIrF were part of the the Malta Infantry Brigade, which commanded all the infantry units deployed on the island. It was the original Regular Army formation that was based on the island. It was known pre-war as the ‘Malta Infantry Brigade’. On the 7th August 1940, with the creation of a second infantry brigade on the island, this brigade became known as the ‘Southern Infantry Brigade’. On the 14th July 1942, the brigade was again re-designated, this time as the 1st (Malta) Infantry Brigade (later re-re-designated as 231st Infantry Brigade) The Faughs transferred to the 234th Infantry Brigade on 6th April 1943, and travelled with the brigade to the Aegean Islands where it was captured with the surrender of Leros on 16th November 1943." This is merely desktop research - no doubt, the Faughs' museum people (and their historians) will know chapter and verse... I know that they travelled to Leros on the 70th anniversary of the disaster there. best
Five pages on the battalions time on Malta from the regimental history by Cuncliffe. There's also a couple of war diaries but they don't start until 1942.
Gents this is absolutely bob-on. Just what I needed so thanks very much. Very much appreciate you taking the time to reply. All the best Skip
