Thanks for all your replys i have attached a picture for you all to see ( if it works ) So far i have found out that they were invovlved in the battle for Hazebrouck in may 1940 then they were next in action at D Day and fought in the Normandy sector, during this action they were involved in the defence of Pegasus Bridge some days after its capture.
A thats says it all, they got the wrong capbadge for the Defence platoon, I will contact Roland Boekhorst about it ,and tell him of the wrong capbadge
Hi all, Here is a brief history of the battalion during World War Two from my website:- 1939. In June 1939 with the threat of war looming the Buckinghamshire Battalion was once again split this time into 1st and 2nd Bucks Battalions. The 1st Bucks Battalion being formed from the companies at Aylesbury, Amersham and Wolverton and the 2nd Bucks Battalion being formed from those at Marlow, Slough and High Wycombe. The Territorial Army was embodied on the 1st September 1939. 1940 The 1st Bucks Battalion still serving with 145 Infantry Brigade of the 48th Division Proceeded to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) landing at Le Havre on the 18th January 1940. On 10th May the Germans launched their Blitzkrieg, invading Holland and Belgium. On the 14th May the 1st Bucks along with 145 Brigade, 48th Division crossed into Belgium. On the 17th the battalion was ordered to withdraw during which it was severely hampered by sporadic artillery bombardment and dive-bomber attacks along with roads clogged with fleeing refugees. 48th Division’s role was to cover the withdrawal of the other two divisions of I Corps (5th & 50th) who were detached for the defence of Vimy Ridge and Arras. On the 24th May 145 Brigade were given the task of holding the town of Cassel, but on the way to Cassel the Brigade was also given the task of defending the important road and railway junction town of HAZEBROUCK. As the Bucks were the rearguard unit it was easier to detach them and they were given the task. HAZEBROUCK lay in the South West corner of the semi circle forming around DUNKIRK and was to be where the 1st Bucks Battalion would make its last stand. Of those who fought at Hazebrouck only 10 officers and 200 men succeeded in getting back to England. The Battalion received a rare compliment from the enemy themselves. In a German broadcast it was stated that: “the defenders of HAZEBROUCK not only delayed the advance, but resisted in a manner truly worthy of the highest traditions of the British Army” The Battalion reformed at Hereford and trained mainly in the South West of England. 1942 In December 1942 the Battalion finally left 48th Division and was transferred to 54th Division in Suffolk where it took up defensive positions along the coast. 1943 In 1943 the battalion was selected to form the nucleus of a “Beach Group”, this new formation was designed to land vehicles and stores across open beaches in the early stages of a seaborne landing. In April 1943 the battalion moved to Scotland for training in this new role. The Battalion eventually became part of 101 Beach Sub Area of No 6 Beach Group part of 3rd Infantry Division. 1944 The Battalion landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6th 1944. After fulfilling their Beach Group roles on SWORD Beach the Group was officially dissolved with many of the battalion’s officers and men being posted as reinforcements to the 51st (Highland) Division. On 30th July the 1st Bucks Battalion was put under the command of the 1st Canadian Army and 6th Airborne Division for operations. 1945 In February 1945 the Battalion was designated a “T” or Target Force Battalion designed to seize and hold targets of special importance such as radio transmitters, factories or secret weapons sites, this role the battalion carried out until the end of hostilities. After VE day the Battalion was stationed at Menden, Germany. The 2nd Bucks Battalion remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war. 1946 In June 1946 The 1st Bucks Battalion was placed into “suspended animation” and finally disbanded on 7th August 1946. Regards Steve
Steve - 2nd Bn Ox & Bucks did not “remain remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war” The only part of 2nd left in UK throughout the war was an admin & training Coy. At the time of the start of WW2 they were stationed in India (as 52nd Ox and Bucks LI) They were recalled to UK & attached to 31st Infantry Brigade on defence roles in various parts of UK. In Sept 1941 the powers that be decided they needed to expand the plan for the growth of parachute airborne from small scale commando force to a large scale strategic front line spearhead attack force. The plan was to develop heavier equipped troops using gliders able to carry these additional infantry to reinforce the para with heavy equipment including field & Anti-Tank guns. 2nd Ox & Bucks & 3 other battalion strength units were added; 1st Bn Border, 1st Bn Ulster Rifles & 2nd Bn South Staffs. Together they were renamed 1st Airlanding Brigade. As part of 1st Airlanding Bgd, 2nd Ox & Bucks was in North Africa 1943 supporting the planned invasion of Sicily. Before the Sicilly operation they were detached to begin training for the invasion of Europe & became part of the 6th Airlanding Bgd. D-Coy & part of B-Coy were tasked with the attack & seizure of the River Orne and Canal bridges Subsequently known as the Pegasus Bridge operation it was one of the outstanding airborne actions during WW2. They saw further action in 1944/45 in the Ardennes & Rhine Crossing in 1945.
Hi Mike, Please re-read my post, the brief history is that of the Buckinghamshire Battalion and the 2nd BUCKS did remain in UK. There is no mention on that post of the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Fifty Second) who's history I am well aware of being an ex Green Jacket. Regards Steve
Steve - 2nd Bn Ox & Bucks did not “remain remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war” The only part of 2nd left in UK throughout the war was an admin & training Coy. At the time of the start of WW2 they were stationed in India (as 52nd Ox and Bucks LI) They were recalled to UK & attached to 31st Infantry Brigade on defence roles in various parts of UK. In Sept 1941 the powers that be decided they needed to expand the plan for the growth of parachute airborne from small scale commando force to a large scale strategic front line spearhead attack force. The plan was to develop heavier equipped troops using gliders able to carry these additional infantry to reinforce the para with heavy equipment including field & Anti-Tank guns. 2nd Ox & Bucks & 3 other battalion strength units were added; 1st Bn Border, 1st Bn Ulster Rifles & 2nd Bn South Staffs. Together they were renamed 1st Airlanding Brigade. As part of 1st Airlanding Bgd, 2nd Ox & Bucks was in North Africa 1943 supporting the planned invasion of Sicily. Before the Sicilly operation they were detached to begin training for the invasion of Europe & became part of the 6th Airlanding Bgd. D-Coy & part of B-Coy were tasked with the attack & seizure of the River Orne and Canal bridges Subsequently known as the Pegasus Bridge operation it was one of the outstanding airborne actions during WW2. They saw further action in 1944/45 in the Ardennes & Rhine Crossing in 1945. I would bring in to question the reference to 2OBLI going to North Africa here is an extract from the Regimental War Chronicle:- "During this month (February 1943) the (1st) Airborne Division was warned to hold itself in readiness to go overseas. This news was received with tremendous enthusiasm by the 52nd and on the 26th March the whole Regiment went on embarkation leave, returning to Bul­ford on the 5th April. On the 6th April the very disappointing news arrived that, owing to lack of aircraft and gliders, only two battalions of the airlanding brigade would go overseas with the division. These two would be the two battalions belonging to the two senior regiments in the Army List—the South Staffordshire and the Border Regiments—while the 52nd and the Ulster Rifles were to be left to form the nucleus of the new 6th Airborne Division. Commanding officers of the battalions concerned had been warned some months previously that this might happen. Nevertheless, it was a great disappointment." Steve
Whoops ...... hmm yes you look to be right Steve, I just checked the 2nd Bn's entry in The Pegasus Archive www but .......... I have 2 variations of what they did 1: As per my post 2: Per your post & 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 2nd Ox & Bucks & 1st Ulster did not accompany the 1st Airlanding Bgd to N.Africa but instead moved to form 6th Airlanding Bgd What I do know is that some of 2nd did go to N.Africa. My Dad was due to go but he got moved to N.Ire as part of the new training unit Some (?) of his mates did go, I guess as an advance party. I have that written in a few notes in his diary.
Hi Mike, Yes some of the 52nd who were serving in the Divisional Defence Platoon would almost certainly have gone out with the Division to North Africa. On the whole the Fifty Second although not happy at the time about being left behind were luckier than those of the glider battalions of 1AL Bde who went out and who landed in Sicily with their high casualties! Steve
Did I get this right? The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry The regiment was formed in 1881 as The Oxfordshire Light Infantry. It was renamed The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1908. During ww2 the regiment had a total of 9 battalions: 2 regular, 1 Special Reserve and 6 Territorial Battalions, plus a some short lived holding and trainnig units). These battalions were: 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [regular] 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [regular] 3rd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [special reserve – not activated] 4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] 7th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] 1stBuckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] (own badge) 2nd Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [territorial] (own badge) WW2 Regular Battalions 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1881-1966] prev. 43rd (Monmouthshire Light Infantry Regiment of Foot [1741-1881] This Battalion was sent with the BEF 48th Infantry Division 1939-40. The 1st Ox & Bucks landed in Normandy in July 1944 as part of the 71st Infantry Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1881-1948] prev. 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot [1755-1881]. This was the airlanding Battalion in 6th Airborne Division 1944 (which also provided personnel for the 1st Airborne Division’s Defence Platoon). WW2 Special Reserve 3rd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1908-1953] Formed 1697 as the Oxfordshire Militia.Νot activated during WW2) WW2 Territorial Battalions 4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1908 -1958]prev. the regiment’s 2nd Volunteer Battalion with origins in the Oxfordshire Rifle Volunteers of 1860. (the 1st VB of the regiment was the 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion which had become an OTC unit in 1908). This Battalion was sent with the BEF 48th Infantry Division 1939-40. It suffered heavy losses. 5th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1939-1947] Formed as a duplicate of the 4th Battalion in 1939. 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1940-1945] This Battalion fought in N. Africa and Italy as part of the 56th (London) Division and suffered heavy losses. 7th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1940-1945]. This Battalion fought in the Far East. (1st)Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1859 - ]. prev. serving as the regiment’s 3rd Volunteer Battalion with origins in the Buckinghamshire Rifle Volunteers of 1859. However the Battalion always retained it’s own idendity within the OBLI as well as it’s own cap badge. It was desiganated 1st in 1939 on formation of it’s duplicate 2nd Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. The 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was sent with the BEF 48th Infantry Division 1939-40. In 1944 it became part of the 6 Beach Group and landed on Sword Beach on D-Day. (As I understand this is the battalion in question in this thread and not the regular 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry) 2nd Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1939-1947] Formed in 1939 as duplicate of the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. This is the one that remained in the UK throughout the war. Thanks.
Hi Mario, Thats generally on the right lines apart from you need to transpose the theatre information for the 6th & & 7th battalions:- 6th battalion served in the far east with 25 Div & 7th Battalion Tunisia & Italy. Further information can be found at my website LIGHTBOBS - HOME Regards Steve
Again-Another war diary I have covering the whole of 1944-Let me know if there is anything specific you want looking up.
2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry [1881-1948] prev. 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot [1755-1881]. This was the airlanding Battalion in 6th Airborne Division 1944 (which also provided personnel for the 1st Airborne Division’s Defence Platoon). Dear WW2Talkers I got a digital copy of a booklet concerning 52nd Light Infantry. It covers Operation Varsity. But I have the impression that there is also a part that covers the Normandy campaign. Does anyone have a copy of this booklet? Pls help. I bought several books but not the right one.
Hi Pen and Dagger, Would you be thinking of Gliderborne by Michael Massy-Beresford? If so it seems pretty hard to come by. Noticed there was one eBay now sold: GLIDERBORNE STORY OF 2nd Bn OXFORDSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LI (52nd) in WW2 - eBay Regards ...
As an ex soldier I don't think I have been more confused than the multiple names being applied to Battalions and Regiments than those who formed part of the 145 Inf Brigade. My understanding being there was 1st Bn Ox and Bucks, 4th Bn Ox and Buck and the 1st Bn Berkshire Regiment. The 1st Bn OX and Bucks joined the 143 Inf Battalion in Jan 1940. Who are the 1st Bucks as I assume no one on here served at that time, so is this some sort of 'slang' that was used at that time for Ox and Bucks or is it just a Light Infantry thing? I am trying to find out where the 1st Bn Ox and Bucks arrived in France and the locations they were at right up until the return of what was left of them at Dunkirk. (researching Pte Edgar Harcombe formerly of the Somerset LI transferred to the 1st Bn Ox and Bucks mid Nov 1939. He is buried at Gaurain Ramecroix War Cemetery, Tournai, Arrondissement de Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium
I am trying to find out where the 1st Bn Ox and Bucks arrived in France and the locations they were at right up until the return of what was left of them at Dunkirk. (researching Pte Edgar Harcombe formerly of the Somerset LI transferred to the 1st Bn Ox and Bucks mid Nov 1939. He is buried at Gaurain Ramecroix War Cemetery, Tournai, Arrondissement de Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium
The 1st AB Division's Defence Platoon, officialy Defence & Deployment Platoon was by Sept. 1944 mainly consisting of men of the 2nd Bn Ox & Bucks. Some were qualified as parachutists. The Platoon was 1 officer and 60 men strong but only 25-30 men saw action with the 1st AB at Arnhem with this platoon. The remainder of the Platoon was with the Seaborne Element of the Division. Appart from this group there were some other men serving with other units within the Division as well.
