39165 Col Leslie Edgar Alfred GWYNNE, RE - Italy: bridges location help from aerial photos

I am in the process of researching my Grandfather in Law's WW2 service and I am in need of some help from anyone that has a knowlwdge of the role of the Royal Engineers in Sicily and Italy. We have two small briefcases of lots of documents left by him which include aerial photographs of destroyed bridges, working drawings of bridges, operational orders, photographs of Royal Engineers at work, etc.

My aim is to trace his route from landing in Sicily through his time in Italy to the end of the war where he finished up in Austria. When the COVD -19 situation has calmed down we will plan a road trip through Italy visiting some of the places where he was stationed and viewing some of the sites where he built his bridges -something to look forward to.

I suspect the war diaries are the place to look for locations and I will need some help here but I will post a separate request in the RE section of the Forum. I will also post some reconnaissance photos and members may be able to identify from the reference on each photo the location of the bridges but I am not sure where to post these photos so advice here would be appreciated.

Fiinally a picture of the man himself:

 

Good morning and welcome, a great first post. Is this your man?
Recommendation for Award for Gwynne, Leslie Edgar Alfred Rank: Temporary... | The National Archives
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37386/supplement/6056/data.pdf

It sounds as if you know where you are going - have you sent off for his service records?
Get a copy of military service records

 

Julian.

That is an Eighth Army flash and he is a full Colonel so I suspect that he was on the staff of Eighth Army - probably Engineer Branch.

He has an OBE or MBE too.

Your best bet is to get his Service Record from www.gov.uk

Regards

Frank

 

Don't post a separate request in the RE section of the forum! Please do keep to this thread. If you do that, then the mods will merge them. Looking forward to you posting the documents of the two small briefcases.

It looks like that this could be a interesting thread.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Welcome to the forum.

If so -
Reference: WO 373/71/146
Name Gwynne, Leslie Edgar Alfred
Rank: Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: P/39165
Regiment: Corps of Royal Engineers
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia)
Award: Order of the British Empire
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 23 September 1943

 

Recommendation for Award for Gwynne, Leslie Edgar Alfred Rank: Major; Temporary... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/74/21
Name Gwynne, Leslie Edgar Alfred
Rank: Major; Temporary Lieutenant Colonel; Acting Colonel
Service No: 39165
Regiment: 22 Army Group Royal Engineers
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
Award: Commander of the British Empire.
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 13 December 1945

 

Personal Number: 39165
Rank: W/S Lieutenant-Colonel
Name: Leslie Edgar Alfred GWYNNE, CBE, MiD*
Unit: Royal Engineers


London Gazette : 7 February 1933
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33909/page/829/data.pdf
Hampshire (Fortress)—Lt. L. E. A. Gwynne to be Capt. 7th Oct. 1932.

London Gazette : 19 November 1937
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34456/page/7266/data.pdf
ROYAL ENGINEERS.
48th (Hampshire) A.A. Bn.—The .undermentioned ofrrs. are transferred from Hampshire (Fortress) R.E., retaining their rank and seniority, ist Nov. 1937:—
Capt. L. E. A. Gwynne.

London Gazette : 11 August 1939
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34653/page/5550/data.pdf
ROYAL ENGINEERS.
Capt. L. E. A. Gwynne, from R.E., to be Capt. 5th June 1939.

London Gazette : 1 July 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35204/supplement/3740/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:—
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —
Captain (temporary Major) Leslie Edgar Alfred Gwynne (39165), Royal Engineers.

London Gazette : 23 September 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36180/supplement/4213/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, arid appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa:—
To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:-
Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Leslie Edgar Alfred Gwynne, M.B.E. (39165), Corps of Royal Engineers (Lynton, Devon).

London Gazette : 23 March 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36436/supplement/1368/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition ol gallant and distinguished services in Sicily: —
Corps of Royal Engineers.
Maj. (temp. Lt.-Col.) L. E. A. Gwynne, O.B.E (39I65).

London Gazette : 22 June 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36574/supplement/2965/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to confer "The Efficiency Decoration" upon the following officers of the Territorial Army.
ROYAL ENGINEERS.
Maj. (T/Lt.-Col.) L. E. A. Gwynne, O.B.E. (39165).

London Gazette : 11 January 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36886/supplement/320/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy:—
CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS.
Maj. (temp. Lt.-Col.) L. E. A. Gwynne, O. B. E. (39165).

London Gazette : 13 December 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37386/supplement/6056/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the {following .promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy: —
To be Additional Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Colonel (acting) Leslie Edgar Alfred GWYNNE, O.B.E., T.D. (39165), Corps of Royal Engineers.

London Gazette : 8 February 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37459/supplement/855/data.pdf
TERRITORIAL ARMY.
The undermentioned to be Cols.:-
W/S. Lt.-Col. L. E. A. GWYNNE, O.B.E., T.D. (39165) from R.E.

London Gazette : 21 September 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38409/supplement/5097/data.pdf
TERRITORIAL ARMY
The undermentioned Cols are retained on the Active List, supern. to establ. :-
L. E A GWYNNE, C B E , T D. (39165), late RE, 17th Jan 1946

London Gazette : 13 February 1951
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39146/supplement/782/data.pdf
TERRITORIAL ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS.
The undermentioned Cols. (T.A.) are transferred to the T.A. Res. of Offrs., 13th Feb. 1951: —
L. E. A. GWYNNE, C.B.E., T.D. (39165) late R.E

 

That is impressive. MBE in 41, OBE in 43 and CBE in 45.

F

 

Hopefully the originator will be along soon to confirm that we are correct:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=l+e+a+gwynne&pageSize=30&style=list&filters%5BperiodString%5D%5BSecond+World+War%5D=on

 

Hi Julian, more detail has you will read. Welcome to the forum. He gets a mention on pages 21&24. Sources: HISTORY OF THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS VOL.IX 1938-1948 MAJ.GEN. R.P. PAKENHAM-WALSH INSTITUTION OF R.E. 1958. &
ENGINEERS IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN 1943-45.1945. Photos & map.




Meanwhile, work continued on a high-level bridge on Highway 16, called "Sangro Bridge." This was (the longest) Bailey bridge built during the campaign in Italy. See photos & map at the end of the files. Something to be proud of. Hats off to this chap.




Regards,
Stu.

 

You have correctly identified the right man.Thank you everyone in particular for the citations for his awards which we have never seen.

He was certainly proud of his achievement at Sangro which he mentions in his photographic diaries of his WW2 service. I have all the detailed drawings and operational report on this bridge in his files as well as for bridges over the River Po, River Tiber and a concrete ford known as Oued Mellegue at Muthul in North Africa. The quality and detail of the plans are exceptional.

My aim is to try and obtain copies of the war diaries that cover his period of service and not being familier with the orbat of Royal Enginners i am not sure what unit war diary would cover his movements and the operations as CRE Eighth Army in Sicily and Italy.

I have three bits of information to go on which are attached. A list of his appoitments, an extract from a small atlas he carried and a list of the locations where he was stationed.

Any help in this area would be appreciated.

Julian

 

I can't be certain, maybe these could be the correct TNA files and if not others will doubtless correct me

C.R.E. | The National Archives
[1st Army]
Reference: WO 175/44
Description: C.R.E.
Date: 1942 Mar.- Oct.

8 Army: Headquarters: Troops Engineers | The National Archives
Reference: WO 169/8529
Description: 8 Army: Headquarters: Troops Engineers
Date: 1943 July- Dec.

Headquarters: Troops Engrs. | The National Archives
[8 Army]
Reference: WO 170/213
Description: Headquarters: Troops Engrs.
Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec.

 

I would have to check the Regimental History The Royal Hampshire Regiment Volume 3. For his dates 15.2.28 to 7.10.32. If only my scanner was working.

Stu.

 

Looks like he was at Cassino on 7 Apr 44. Cervaro is just to the immediate south of Cassino town and overlooks it. It was a well trodden path as a Senior Officers’ viewing point.

He was at Mignano on 12 May 44 which is the day after the start of the Fourth Battle of Cassino. Mignano is further south than Cervaro and was mostly used for stores and fieldhospitals.

Pastinelle is the junction of Route 6 and the turning for Cervaro. The troops called it Shit Corner.

Regards

Frank

 

Thnak you

Is anyone able to identify the location of these destroyed bridges (in Italy) which come from his files as I don't know how to interpret the RAF reference numbers:

 

Not a response to your appeal for bridge identification I'm afraid, but perhaps these are of interest.
Recommendations forwarded and signed by Col. GWYNNE for men under his command:

• 233379 Henry Shepley BOOTH, MC, 22 Army Group Royal Engineers
• 232478 Charles Philip FRANKLIN, MBE, 22 Army Group Royal Engineers
• 2073588 Cecil George PURSE, BEM, 22 Army Group Royal Engineers
  
• 2072633 Cyril SMITH, BEM, 22 Army Group Royal Engineers
• 2123160 Daniel Whitelaw WRIGHT, BEM, 22 Army Group Royal Engineers

 

No. 682 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia

 

The first one is dated 17 Apr 45 so I think it is the railway bridge at Santa Maria Maddalena on the River Po.

Regards

Frank

 

The last one is dated 24.10.43. 18.10.43. He is at Serracapriola. How far did they travel in six days? It looks like a river to me, or a dried out one? Not likely has of the time of year.

What's the nearest bridge in a North, or east direction? Its hard work trying to have a butchers at google earth on ones phone.

R
Stu.

 

Might be helpful to check this resource
194138 Denys William ENGLAND, MC, 150 Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers,