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

Charlie

HF & Concs are indeed Harrassing Fire and Concentrations.

Phil

 

4th Essex (possibly C-Coy) on Ilford High Street c. 1940.

Is that Captain Noble on the far-right of the image?

The office in glasses beside him also looks a close match for one I have depicted in 1938.

 

Hi everyone, I’ve spent a fascinating Sunday afternoon reading through this thread, thank you!
My grandfathers brother served with the 1/4 Essex, he was a tank mechanic, he died on 16 Oct 1944 and is buried in CRWC, Pte William Edward Johnson. My grandfather rarely spoke about the war and his brother (my grandmother spoke about his devastation, and was aware of my searching), and I have been looking for years, but only recently discovered his resting place. Unfortunately, my grandfather has now passed, but I would like to continue with this, to honour my grandfather and the brother he idolised. Has anyone come across his name? And is it possible to request his records myself as he never married and his siblings have all now passed?
Thanks for any suggestions of where I can look next.

 

Thatcher,

Delighted that you've found this thread. I have a long days' work ahead, but I will try to send you a message ('a conversation') tonight.

I look forward to finding out more about your great uncle.

 

Thatcher,

William Edward Johnson's Service Number is 6021217, died 16/10/1944 and he is buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. See: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2050315/william-edward-johnson/

Neither his name or number have appeared here before your post.

Some context for his time in the war: Pte George Jackson DCM, 1/4th Essex Regiment. Plus: Essex Regiment North Africa / Italy

Wider context: 1/4th Bn Essex Regiment and @ Cassino: 1/4 Battalion Essex Regiment Monte Cassino

Looking at the CWGC data, for those buried @ Coriano there are fifteen others, in two groups. The date of death may not be the day they were wounded and they may have died later.

It is possible the battalion's war diary has that information; the diaries often do not name "Other Ranks" deaths by name.

I only rarely dip into this thread and have not looked to see if the diaries are available here already. Charley is your best guide for the 1/4th.

 

Thatcher.

I am in the Coriano Ridge CWGC Cemetery in Apr 25 if you would like a photo of his headstone.

Regards

Frank

 

The Sphere - 16 March 1946 spotted on FMP



Hope this helps

Gus

 

Gus.

Would you mind posting the other page - about General Adam. I would like to see what he looked like.

F

 

Apologies, I had no time to write as I said I would some days ago. What I have discovered is given below.

Your great uncle is listed as having 'died of wounds' in the shorter battalion history.

Unfortunately, I have no information about the specific nature of these wounds as the requisite page is missing from the casualty record.

It is very likely that he was one of the five ORs (other ranks) wounded by shelling at SCHIAZZANO (m.r. 497800) along with the battalion's Commanding Officer (CHAPPELL) on 16/10/44. The wounded were moved to S. LUCIA prior to evacuation.

At the time, B-Coy had just arrived in S LUCIA (joining their single platoon that had moved up the previous night) and C-Coy were at CIOLA, both companies having set out at first light.

Capt E. L. R. GILSON was also killed in this shelling incident. Given the fact that he was the 2 i/c (Second in command) of C-Company, and that Lieutenant Colonel Chappell was visiting both B and C-Company at the time, it is likely that all or most of the ORs wounded and killed were with C-Coy.

Battalion HQ received a report of the incident at 1230hrs, so it will have taken place shortly before that time.

The report below confirms that Cpl W A BRISTOW (6013961) also died of wounds sustained in this attack.

 

Thank you. If you have the time, that would be very kind, thank you.

 

Thank you so much for this information. This does align with some of what we had heard through family, that he drove tanks and was in one when he died. So it does sound like the tank was hit by shelling. I really appreciate you taking the time to look this up and post here. It’s so important that their stories are heard.

 

Do you have any photographs of your great uncle?

I'm always eager to put faces to names.

 

Apologies for resurrecting this but did you mean that you had a scan of the complete cover of this edition? Do you still have it and would you be willing to share a copy please?
Many Thanks.
Col

 

I have a physical copy of the pictoral cover of the Indian version of the Tiger Kills (i.e. I own the book), but only—I think—a poor quality scan of the text of the Tiger Strikes without the cover.

What are you looking for?

 

Hi Charley,

Many thanks for responding! Like you, I have the book version of The Tiger Kills but, sadly, without the wonderful dust-jacket. I am therefore trying to source a good quality scan of the dust-jacket even one with minor loss/tears. I appreciate that it's a big ask but it is a hard thing to track down. Would you be able to help please? The book is out of copyright. I would, of course, be happy to offer something by way of compensation for the inconvenience.

Kind Regards,

Col

 

The book is easy enough to find—it's on the shelf—but I'll have to take it into work to scan on the photocopier unless I can get a decent image with my camera.

I don't recall quite how good the condition is, but it's complete, I believe.

Message me your email address and leave it with me a few days and I'll see what I can do.

 

Many thanks indeed - message incoming!

 

I appear to have paid too much money for a copy of Denis Beckett's shorter 1/4th Essex history.

I have the text, of course, but this appears to be a copy presented by Bill Hawkins to RSM Johnson in 1978 with annotations to the text, including the companies of the men listed on the Roll of Honour and a 20pp account of a visit to Cassino in 1971.

Fingers crossed it will prove valuable.

 

Near Beas Stables, but not Beas Stables.

It's taken several years, but after accumulating copies of literally every file for every unit in 40th Infantry Division, I've found a passing reference (in the instructions for an exercise) that 25 Field Regiment R.A. had their Gun Park at Dodwells Ridge Camp beside the golf course in Fanling. They were accommodated there in a mixture of Nissen huts and tents.

Contemporary Map:



Modern Map:



In case I am hit by a bus tomorrow and a future researcher wishes to carry the torch forward, this reference is in:

RA 40 INF DIV EXERCISE INSTRUCTION NO.7: EXERCISE "HIGHMEAD" (8 Dec 1949)

Located in:
WO 268-290 - 40 Inf Div HQRA July-Dec 1949

The unit moved from there to Whitfield Barracks, Kowloon on 6 June 1950 as the result of the divisional reorganisation required in the wake of the movement of units to Korea.

(Like so many place names, Dodwell's seems to gain and lose its apostrophe according to the whim of the author—which must be borne in mind with digital searches.)

 

Best quality version I've found of this aerial photo of Warley Barracks from 1960.