Battle Of Leros, 4th Bn The Buffs (East Kent)

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by B Barton, Apr 12, 2021.

  1. B Barton

    B Barton New Member

    Hi, Chaps

    A great uncle of mine served with 4th Buffs during WW2. I am trying to establish which company he was in. His name was John Edward Philip Bishop (J.E.P. Bishop) 6287753. He was taken prisoner after the Battle of Leros, and spent the remainder of the war in Stalag 7a and Stalag 4b. I want to know if he was aboard the HMS Eclipse when it hit a mine. kind regards to you all.
     
    Nikos Nikolaou likes this.
  2. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I have studied the Battle of Leros i immense detail and have never come across any files that list members of any of 4 Buffs's Companies. The War Diary lists officers because there was a requirement to submit a Monthly Return of Officers, but Other Ranks do not get the same attention. ORs are just listed as numbers - 3 x WOs, 12 x SSgts etc.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I doubt if he was on HMS Eclipse when it was cut in half by a mine off Kalymnos on 24 Oct 43. 134 men from A Coy 4 Buffs went down with the ship. A Rifle Company, at full strength, was 108 strong and so, if you discount the remainder as added support troops - pioneers, recce, mortars, I think that there were no survivors from 4 Buffs on that ship.

    It is more likely that he was part of the mass surrender once Brigadier Tilney had run up the white flag. He would more likely have been one of the 3,200 men who were ordered to surrender.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  4. B Barton

    B Barton New Member

    Thank you very much, Frank
     
  5. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    These two images from the British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 database on FindMyPast, show the date he was reported missing was 16 November 1943.

    GBM_WO417_069_0431.jpg GBM_WO417_070_0494.jpg
     
  6. Hi B. I hope you are fine. I'm from Leros and I research island's military history since 2000. I have an archive of 357 Commonwealth soldier who fought in Leros. It would be an honour if you could send me any copy of any photo of your great-uncle, to add in the archive.
    If you are on facebook, you can join a "meeting place", a group that i manage, dedicated to the battle of Leros (is named "The Battle of Leros 1943").

    Also, kindly be informed that this summer, from 24 till 29 September, a couple of commemorative events will take place in Leros, for the 80th anniversary of the Battle. In case you are intersted, or for any inquiries, you can reach me by email:
    kafentzis_nikos@hotmail.com

    Best regards,
    Nikos
     
    dbf likes this.

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