An officer with a map

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Owen, Aug 1, 2017.

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  1. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I was thinking this, as I stated before in the Beds and Herts book he's mentioned by name but no MC, other officers in the book have award references after there name. ( DSO etc )

    Alex.
     
  2. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I'll check the book to see if it mentions the MC or puts it after his name ( looks like it is him as mentioned in the 4 Div book )
     
  3. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Lt. A.R.A Wilson joined the 5th East Yorkshire Regiment 10th June 1942.
    5 East Yorks had returned to the U.K. on 5th November 1943 aboard the Troopship Otranto, in prepartion for D-Day.
    Major A.R.A. Wilson transfers to the Beds & Herts and was wounded in action in Italy 1944, actual date not recorded.

    WILSON WIA.png
    WILSON WIA*.png
     
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  4. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    It always makes me chuckle when soldiers scoff at an officer who is struggling with a map. Rest assured that most soldiers with maps are even more clueless. Map reading is an art that takes years to develop.

    F
     
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  5. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    Here's our man getting wounded....
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Thought you might like this episode which occurred on the Trasimene Line at the end of June. It comes form 'The Wasp'- Journal of the 16 Foot' p 239.

    The C.O. was Lt. Col. (later Brigadier) B.A. Burke and the I.O. was Capt. Derrick Calvert who was later killed in Greece.

    beds & Herts Pozzuolo.jpg
     
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  7. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I wonder if the MC is short for 'Map Coordinates'? :D

    He won his MC with 50 Div during the Gazala Gallop, when the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, with the DAK to the north, south and east (between them and the rest of the 8th Army, and sanctuary) actually attacked the enemy situated to west, gave him a bloody nose and made a path through his defences that allowed the whole of its own 69th Infantry Brigade to escape west, then turning south around Bir Hacheim and then east towards the 'wire' and safety (for the time being). Amazing action, with astounding results.

    Wonder why he transfered out to the Beds and Herts; perhaps promotion took him away to a different outfit?
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  8. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    In my experience looking in war diaries etc co-ordinates are usually referred to as MR ( map reference) nowadays Grid or grid reference.

    Alex.
     
  9. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I'll get the date tomorrow.
     
  10. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I thought the wasp was a journal? Is this a big book?
    Alex.
     
  11. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Looking at this from a 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment perspective. As Guy states, he joined the battalion as a Lieutenant on 10 June 1942. He was still serving with the battalion as a T/Major on 3 July 1943; that's just 1 week exactly before the Operation Husky landings (Sicily). He was no longer serving with the battalion on 31 May 1944; a week before the Normandy landings.

    No information on him yet in the 11 months inbetween 3 Jul 1943 and 31 May 1944.
     
  12. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    I was sent some photocopied pages (237-240) by the museum's historian way back in 2000 when researching my book The Trasimene Line June-July 1944'.

    He had written in pencil above the title 'The Wasp'

    PUB 1945 REVAMPED FOR 1985 HISTORY.

    With regard to Maj. Wilson, the episode on the Trasimene Line was 30 June 1944.
     
  13. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    Was that Nigel Lutt?
     
  14. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Yes, it was.
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Back off holiday to a huge file from PsyWar.Org
    Here is our man listed in the war diary.

    wilson name in war diary 1  july 44.JPG

    wilson name in war diary 15  july 44.JPG

    wilson name in war diary 22 july 44.JPG

    wilson name in war diary.JPG
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2017
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  16. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Map reading was an endemic challenge pre GPS.

    There were numerous instances in the Normandy campaign - starting with the US force that landed a mile away from where they were supposed to. Finding front line units wasn't easy, particularly form small groups of gunners suhc as Op Parties and anti-tank gun troops. Front line units were too busy trying not to be seen by the enemy to make it easy for their own side to find them.
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Extracts from war diary page for 21.7.44 & map to go with it kindly supplied by PsyWar.Org showing D Coy location .
    Map is Italy 1:100,000 Sheet 114 Arezzo Second Edition

    war diary page extract 21744.JPG extract company locations.JPG map extract from 2 bedsherts WD.JPG
     
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