Re Villa Paolozzi yes it is mentioned see extract in italics below.I will shortly post the other extracts I have together with some photos - some with identified colleagues- others unknown.There are over 100 letters from April 1944 as they left Egypt en route to Italy until father was demobbed in Feb 1946.I have taken out the personal and family detail and will post the rest which obviously does not give great detail about operations- censored at the time ! but does give a lot of detail about war time life in Italy and Greece The local people are now working as hard as they can go getting in the overripe crops. Until the Germans went, they didn't turn a hand to the fields as the Germans would only have pinched the stuff as fast as they gathered it. The swines have been carrying out atrocities in this area-yesterday we had a woman and her daughter in here and they told us that her husband had been murdered in their sight and the daughter’s baby had been snatched from her and bayoneted to death-that's the Boches for you. Thank God they have never set foot on our soil. The hatred of these Italians for them has to be seen to be believed, and I think lots of Germans are beginning to realise what will happen when all these people can get at their throats inside Germany and they are not finding it a pleasant prospect. Several days ago we set up shop on a big private estate-a most beautiful place-where the family a count, his wife and two children were still living. I sat out on the lawn with them, drinking their wine and listening to their stories of the German occupation and I found the most charming people who were genuinely pleased to see us and the back of the Germans and were as happy as sand boys to be able to talk and breathe freely once again. Next day we left and just afterwards the whole place was blown up by a mine that the thoughtful Germans had left behind with a delayed action. The whole family were killed except the count and I next saw the poor devil raking over the rubble of his once beautiful house looking for his family-half demented. That incident really touched me and together with the atrocities I spoke of I formed an opinion of the “master race” that I shan't easily forget. Today by chance I have also met up with the widow of K.C.P "Pat" Ive, 4 Recce, and then 17/21 Lancers who died in 2011. Unfortunately at present she cannot locate any memorabilia but some may emerge as she moves house shortly. I have also emailed Nick Preston and will be sending photos of his grandfather in Greece and Crete. My father served as his ADC and was present in Crete for the German surrender.
Judy. Many thanks. I have driven passed the villa and it seems to have been rebuilt after the war. I had not realised that the Count lost most of his family. Regards Frank
I have attached edited letters with photos covering the period from March 1944 en route to Italy until he was demobbed in Greece in Feb 1946.In the main my editing has removed the personal content of these letters. I have added in red the locations from the war diaries on the forum. If anyone can add any more detail then I would be delighted to hear. For a while my father was responsible for the War Diary and it is strange to see his handwriting on the internet!!
Hi, I think that my grandfather, Donald Scase, was in 4th recce, just waiting to get his service records back from the MoD. This is all very intersting reading as he never mentioned anything about his combat action with anyone. I have attached a picture of him but don't know where he was or whom he was with. He is the one sat in the chair. Rich
Hello and welcome to the forum - Just shout if you want a copy of the war diaries complete with all the appendices Just click the red link below. Good luck Andy
Thank you for all of the warm welcomes and offers of help. My Gran always said that he was in the 4th. However, I also have his insignia from the 15th/19th Hussars and the more I read the more it makes me think that he was probably in the 3rd. I do know that he spent quite a bit of time in North Africa though.
3 Recce did not serve in Nth Africa. They were formed in April, 1941, mainly from the 8th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. They fought in the invasion of Normandy and throughout the campaign in NW Europe. Cheers Paul
RM, When the Reconnaissance Corp was incorporated into the RAC there was wholesale movements of men transferred to Tank Regiments and perhaps this is where your father picked up the Hussars Insignia. Before being demobbed in 1947 my father had three transfers. Regards Tom
Hi Guys, I am researching the men killed during both wars from my village of Killearn near Glasgow. The first man killed in WW2 was a Sergeant Frederick Barclay of Reconnaissance Corp 4th Battalion, No.3316703 died on the 16th September 1941 aged 22. Can any of you help me with any information on him or his unit. What they were up to on the date of his death. He is buried in the old Kirk grave yard in Killearn Cheers Rab
Thanks to Christopher Hine, a new member, for bringing my attention to files lost on the War Diaries posts. This occurred on the system change over. Hopefully January to June 1944 are again complete. Regards Tom
My grandfather (A/Sgt Douglas F Brough) was in the five man patrol on the 24th September. He was put forward for the DCM for his actions but was awarded the MM. According to his citation he went forward from the patrol to a house where he found an officer and a soldier. He fired on these, at least seriously wounding the officer, before coming under Spandau fire from only 40yards away. He was able to rejoin the patrol, where despite the Spandau fire penetrating the walls he killed two German reinforcements. He then armed with a T.S.M.G he exposed himself to the enemy, leaning right out of the window to kill one of the Spandau gunners from 35 yards. A few minutes later anti tank fire destroyed the house the patrol was in killing 2 of the patrol. Does anyone know how I can find further information, such as other patrol members and location of the incident. Regards Andy Lovatt
Welcome to the forum - is this the incident that was posted earlier in the thread? 4th Reconnaissance Regiment war Diaries.
