Green Howard 7th Battalion Solerno & Monte Cassino

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Popswar, May 2, 2012.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi- These are all the war diary ref's at the National Archives. If you can't make it there yourself just drop me a private message and or click the red link below for more info.

    WO 166/4316 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment). 1939 Aug.- 1940 Mar., July - 1941 Apr.

    WO 167/752 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1940 Apr.-June

    WO 169/1726 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1941 May- Dec.

    WO 169/5023 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1942 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 169/10220 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1943 Jan.- Nov.

    WO 166/12557 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1943 Dec.

    WO 171/1303 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1944 Jan.- Dec.

    WO 166/17161 7 Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) 1945 Jan.
     
    Chris WIlletts likes this.
  2. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Grandad, Tommy Broadhead, Jimmy Bradshaw (left-right).JPG Jack Lennie (left) and the boys
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
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  3. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Duchess_of_Richmond_at_Algiers_1942.jpg


    Duchess of Richmond, docking Algiers.
    In the bay to the left of where the ropes attach to the stern - The 4 figures are left to right :- Jimmy Bradshaw, John (Jack) Lennie, Billy Bennett, Sgt Bert Cross.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
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  4. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Group Photo Moutreuil sur Mer.JPG
    Group photo at Moutreuil sur Mer prior to heading back home from France at the end of the war.Am trying to locate this building on google maps if anyone can help!
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    That is likely to be a school building with them in the playground. I went to French school as a child where that was the model.

    FdeP
     
    Charley Fortnum likes this.
  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Popswar.

    Did you ever get hold of his Service Record?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  7. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Yes I did get his records and managed to clarify some of our confusion. Sadly dad passed away 19.06.2015, aged 98 1/2 to the day.
     
  8. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    We were mistaken about Normandy landings, dad had referred to "the second wave" which between us we took to be second day...infact it was as he said. Landed at Arromanches 03.08.44
     
  9. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    You are right! Unbelievable! It is now "Nursery School Les Ramparts"
    On the group picture there is an arch to the left, you can just see the archway in the courtyard on google maps link below.
    Brilliant. Many thanks!

    https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.4...QLoRrSRyeJU9y0APCMhw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
     
  10. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    We know that dad was hospitalised Italy, believed to be from shellshock. there is an entry on his service record reads "02E/19/1/44 175 Coy P.C. posted to X (ii) ad to 14 C.C.S. 22.12.43."

    then on 24.12.43

    02E/X123/44 trans from 14 C.C.S. to 2 Gen hosp

    then

    02E/x59/44 Dis-2-Gen Hosp posted 175 Coy.

    Is there likely to be any information on what he was doing on 22nd or what was happening in general around that time?
    Also and information on which hospital?

    The story is that while in hospital the soldier in the bed next to dad left his bed to go to the toilet, dad went some time later and found the soldier had hung himself in the toilet.

    Thanks
    Stephen
     
  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Popswar.

    Could you post his Service Record so that we can see it?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  12. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Frank,
    Copy of service record attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Hello Frank, Hopefully these uploads work better.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Most helpful.

    Frank
     
  15. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Stephen,

    Your father was only posted to the 7th Bn Green Howards from 31 March to 25 July 1945. This battalion, along with all but two of the 9 infantry battalions of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, had been reduced to a training cadre in NW Europe around 1 December 1944 and the very reduced Division returned to the UK. Monty said that they had done enough.

    Your father served with them in the UK.

    From 1 August 1945, 50 Div HQ relinquished control of its units and was sent to Norway as HQ British Land Forces Norway for the latter stages of Operation Doomsday; the disarming and control of German forces there. I am aware from research that some 50 Div troops went to Norway as part of the HQ contingent.

    Your father missed this posting, as he was transferred out of 50 Div just beforehand.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  16. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    I
    Thanks Steve,
    6 years is enough in my books!
    He went to NWE 03.08.44 returning to UK 01.04.45.
    Norway was never mentioned though there was a story that at the end, when back in UK, they were earmarked for the Far East but the ship was full. It sailed and was sunk with all hands lost.

    I touched base with the Royal Pioneer Corps.
    Dad's own notes say in Italy he went via Sicily, Salerno, Monte Cassino, Portici,
    Roccamonfina, Vaglia Minturno, Sessa Aurunca.

    His service record says trans 14CCS 22.12.43, which I believe to be a
    Casualty Clearing Station, then to 2 Gen Hosp which I have read was at
    Caserta and am sure he mentioned but has not written it down.

    The extract from war diaries below fits in with the time when dad was hospitalised. Possibly not exactly
    this incident but clearly they were in difficult conditions and he was at
    Vaglie

    1 Dec 43 HQ moved to CALABRITTO
    15 Dec 43 HQ moved to LE VAGLIE – part of 19 Group and now under 56
    Division (from 46 Division). Still working under shellfire on roads in
    forwards areas
    28 Dec 43 Detachment at CALABRITTO caught by gunfire – 2 killed, 1 died
    of wounds and 15 wounded. This detachment was building at track to the
    River GARIGLIANIO under constant shellfire

    Stephen
     
  17. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Stephen.

    If you were not aware Calabritto is at the base of Monte Camino where two battles took place - one in Nov 43 and, when that failed, the second in Dec 43. The village was part of the last German defence line before Cassino. Vaglie is a hamlet slightly further back.

    At the time of his wounding on 22 Dec 43, the Second Battle of Camino had just finished and X (British) Corps, of which 56 Infantry Division was part, had pushed up to the banks of the River Garigliano - the large river obstacle that formed part of the Gustav Line at Cassino. He would have been building roads in appallingly wet and cold conditions so that trucks could bring forward the ammunition, water, fuel and food that the font line troops needed to survive.

    If you ever want to go out a visit Calabritto, get in touch. I am there quite often with groups looking at the First and Second Battles of Camino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  18. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

    Thanks Frank,
    It would be great to go sometime.
    We know pop was not "front line" and he never claimed to be, we are just trying to make sense of what little he ever told us and he only talked when he was very ill and thought he was dying, but everything was clearly still very real to him in his mind, we wonder what else he carried with him.

    On one particularly bad occasion he was very very upset and kept saying that they were told to "dig a trench", they didn't know what they were doing it for and just did as they were told. "We didn't know , we didn't know....we just dug it". Not sure where this event happened but it certainly sounded quite sinister.

    We cannot begin to imagine what reality was like for those serving at the time. Greatest respect to all.

    Stephen
     
  19. Popswar

    Popswar Junior Member

  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Looking at my copy of "Montreuil-sur-Mer au Coeur de la Grande Guerre" that I bought in 2010. That building looks like the Caserne Duval, the military school.
    book cover 2010.JPG
    Using the aerial photo from the book here it is on Streetview https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.4...4!1sco7y6XmVKi-xpFAPZzmi6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

    Click on this one then you can zoom in on it on the IWM website.
    Like this..
    barracks.JPG

    [​IMG] photograph. © IWM (Q 29214) IWM Non Commercial License


    [​IMG] THE ROYAL VISITS TO THE WESTERN FRONT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. © IWM (Q 3920) IWM Non Commercial License

    That's not the right place. That is the old orphanage that was used as an officers club in WW1. It's not where the photo of your Dad was taken.



    The barracks as shown on the aerial photo in book I mentioned.

    duval.JPG montreuil.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2018

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