Family Soldiers: 1/4th Essex (WW2) & 25 Field Regiment R.A.(Post-War)

Got him.

6013850 Pte. C Townsend.

Shrapnel wound to left shoulder -- sustained 3/7/42: evacuated to the UK.

As this was--surprisingly to all concerned--the only casualty suffered by the battalion that day, there is more in the War Diary. For the past few days the battalion had been some disarray as they'd been forced to break out of MATRUH when the plan to defend the place had fallen foul of enemy moves and the position to which they were supposed to be retreating was learnt to be in enemy hands. By July 3 they had reached RUWEISAT, but hundreds were missing and many similarly fragmented units were thrown together into improved formations known as columns. Pte. Townsend's company was fighting with ROBCOL (start of commanding officer's name plus COL for column), as detailed below.

At 09:25 they moved up in concert with a weakened battery of 11th RHA and came under fire south of RUWEISAT RIDGE near a place named BAOSHAZA. 11 Field Regiment R.A. and C-Company of the 1/4th Essex were shelled continuously for six hours and ordered to withdraw to a safer spot. Their new position was much more to their liking and was held until tanks of their own 1st Armoured Divison could arrive and engage a large number of enemy tanks 1000 yds to the WEST.

I have photographs of Sgt (later CQMS) WYNN as a member of 'C-Coy' in autumn 1943, so given the information above it is highly likely that your husband's grandfather was also a member of C-Coy--commanded by Major Chappell.

My grandfather was a member of B-Coy, but as he was involved in the organisation of the Old Comrades Association and attended reunions, it is highly likely that he knew Pte. Townsend.

So we have the end of his war nut-shelled--although I can add much more. What I'd really like to know now is when he enlisted/was conscripted. As this fighting is some of the first engaged in by the battalion, it is unlikely that he arrived as part of a draft from the UK, which suggests he was one of the original battalion back in the UK in 1939. If that is true, he had been in CYPRUS, PALESTINE and SIERRA LEONE prior to his wounding.

We need to see his service records; I will write to explain.

 

In case anybody else is interested, I'll add this excellent account of the experience by Major-General Denis Beckett, who died this year. It is extracted from The Eagle, Vol. 43 (Spring 1993).



The breakout with 19th NZ Infantry Battalion mentioned on the first page of this article was a rite of passage for many of the men who took part. The atmosphere was said to be electric (fixed bayonets by full moon across the desert) and none who took part ever forgot the experience.

The story is told best by the official NZ historian:

[.pdf File Attached]

 

A Historical Perspective on Light Infantry by Major Scott R. McMichael (U.S.) [1987]

This study seeks to clarify the nature of light infantry. General characteristics of light infantry forces are identified, and an analysis of how light forces operate tactically and how they are supported is presented. In the process, the relationship of the light infantry ethic to its organization is evaluated, and the differences between light infantry and conventional infantry is illuminated. For the purpose of this study, the term conventional infantry refers to modern-day motorized and mechanized infantry and to the large dismounted infantry forces typical of the standard infantry divisions of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The study concludes that light infantry is unique and distinct. A light infantry ethic exits and manifests itself in a distinctive tactical style, in a special attitude toward the environment, in a freedom from dependence on fixed lines of communication, and in a strong propensity for self-reliance. The study is based on a historical analysis of 4 light infantry forces employed during and since World War II: The Chindits, in the 1944 Burma campaign against the Japanese; The Chinese communist Forces during the Korean War; British operations in Malaya and Borneo 1948-66; and the First Special Service Force in the mountains of Italy 1942-44​

I'm wasn't sure where to post this as it covers varied periods, but here will probably suffice as the third chapter, 'British Operations in Malaya and Borneo 1948-66' is very useful.

A historical perspective on light infantry : McMichael, Scott R. (Scott Ray), 1951- : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

Charts, photographs and maps abound--surprisingly detailed--much on tactics.



Example:

 

James.

Would you mind posting the chapter on 1 SSF in the mountains of Italy. They feature just before Cassino on Monte La Difensa which overlooks the Mignano Gap and then at Anzio on the right flank of VI (US) Corps.

Regards

Frank

 

I am having trouble getting the images to an acceptable size for the forum (there's a limit).

This link should take you straight to the .pdf file. It's slightly slow to load, but it'll work.

https://ia801800.us.archive.org/12/items/historicalperspe00scot/historicalperspe00scot.pdf

Edit: have emailed it to you direct.

 

James.

Got it. Thank you.

F

 

A few new acquisitions for my 4th Ind Div reading. E.D. 'Birdie' Smith (nose like a beak) was an officer with 2/7 Gurkha Rifles. The Cassino book is a good read but rather brief; the memoir is brilliant, full of vivid impressions and striking vignettes.

I bought the Solah Punjab book as it was the only publication that really covers 4/16 Punjabis, whose War Diary is frustratingly terse. Alas, although it is a lovely book, the extensive service that battalion gave throughout North Africa and Italy is--again--frustratingly brief in the telling.



The IWM have a great interview with Birdie Smith here:
Smith, Eric David 'Birdie' (Oral history) (14589)

 

'Nice' piece of Cassino related propaganda here:

 

James.

Even the Brave Falter is very good. His description of the attack on Tavoleto up on the Gothic Line on 1-3 Sep 44 is superb.

Frank

 

There's some serious number crunching in this study of Operation Lightfoot.

For my purposes, the OOB for 4th Indian Division on 23/10/42 is useful.



Large file, very slow loader:

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a465098.pdf

 

An unexpected find on eBay:

4th Indian Division tie.



It came factory-packed and in pristine condition, but I can't find any indication of when it was produced. The fact that it is tagged for sale suggests that it wasn't a private order for a divisional association. It can't be very old, but beyond India, who would be buying divisional ties this late in the day?

 

In a similar line, I now have this.



It's a bit flimsy in the production, but it looks interesting. Notably, he has included a number of period newspaper clippings in a central section and there is a short addendum penned by a comrade of his, Thomas Samuel Hutchings.

The author was a Bren-gunner with 159-bty, 26 Field Regt R.A.(1948-51) and, hence, spent time on the same kind of 'infantillery' operations as my grandfather in and around Negri Sembilan.

 

Another book in the post today, one that I didn't know existed until very recently. The author was an officer with No. 17 Indian Field Ambulance attached to 7th Indian Infantry Brigade from 1942 until--I think--late 1944. It's fairly breezy in tone, but has a number of little details that you don't get in 'history books'

 

Have added another regimental history to my collection of long-serving 4th Indian Division units:



As you can see from the contents page, the material is a little thin. Nonetheless, 3rd (Queen Mary's Own) 10th Baluch Regiment was with the 5th Indian Brigade from April 1942 (transferred from 8th Indian Division in Iraq) until February 1943 and there's much to learn (I don't have any of their War Diaries).

The battalion subsequently returned to the division in April 1944--first with 7th Indian Brigade--and then in June it moved back to 5th Brigade when the decision was taken to move 1/6th Rajputana Rifles to rest outside the theatre.

 

James.

If I remember correctly, 17 Ind Fd Amb was commanded by the grandfather of Rupert Penry-Jones the actor.

That 3/10 Baluch book could be useful. I am following the actions of 4 Ind Div at Monte Calvo in Sep 44 and they feature heavily.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank, will have a look for you.
Of course, I have the Brigade HQ diaries as well if they might help.

 

While I remember, what do you think of this?



Painted in 1944 by a German in Feb '44 (apparently). It was up for sale on eBay, but it has vanished.

I can't quite get my bearing here: are we viewing from way back with Troccio centre-right and Cassino and the massif beyond it in the top-right corner?

 

James.

I think that this was taken from the Monte Maggiore area looking towards the sea. Maggiore is at the back end of the La Difensa feature and overlooks the Mignano Gap from the south side.

The chimney pot in the centre of the picture is the castle at Rocca d'Evandro. The urban area in the top right hand corner is San Andrea.

If I am right, this would have been done prior to La Difensa being secured by the Special Service Force in Dec 43.

Regards

Frank

 

Good call--I've just played around on Google Maps & Earth and I think you're right.

Interesting stuff--that terrain looks ankle-breaking.

 

Charley,

If my thinking is correct regarding the above, there is a book out there that is called The Devil's Brigade. By R. H. Adleman & Col G. Walton. Published by Chilton books. the First Special Service Force. The Yanks & the Canadians made up this splendid out fit. I'm in the middle of reading it again! They was selected to hold a 13 KM section on the southern flank of the 52 km of the Anzio- Nettuno front. They did it quite well. Lt Col R .T. Frederick was something else.

Stu.