A selection of portrait photographs of Loyal Regiment soldiers that I have digitised and cleaned up from the original negatives. Some are named some not. Maybe of interest to those who research these chaps. The box they were in says Loyals 1940 although I don’t believe they were all taken at the same time and may have been added to over the years. Top row L-R :- Alker Barber Barnes Barrick Battersby Bickerstaffe Braine Clayton Dailey Fenton Gale+Kelly Griffiths. Middle row :- Handley Higgins ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Kenyon Leach Riley Roper. Bottom row :- Smith St Helens Taylor Thornton Turner Turner.
What a brilliant job that you have done. How did you come across them? It would be interesting from my point of view if any of these young men was from the 1 Loyals? Regards, Stu
My late father joined the newly-raised 7th Loyals in 1940. Do you know what battalion these pictures are from? They really are excellent.
Sorry there is nothing to determine which battalion they are from, the box just says Loyals 1940. They were taken by a photographer in the Blackburn area.
Well would you believe it? I was born& bread in Blackburn. I now live in Darwen which is to the south. Regards Stu.
The 10th soldier on the top row is 3861477 Private Robert Fenton. Robert enlisted into the Loyal regiment in June 1940, and was posted to 50th Holding Battalion on completion of his basic training. The 50th Holding Battalion was at the time located in Bolton. On 22nd April 1944, he was one a large batch of reinforcements to join the 1st Battalion Loyal Regiment in Italy. He was killed during a German attack on Monte Cece on10th October 1944; whilst serving with 'D' Company.
Jonas. 22 Apr 44 would place his arrival in 1 LOYALS during their last month at Anzio. He would have been involved in that last painful month in the fearsome wadis and then in the breakout that started on 23 May 44. Regards Frank
Hi jonas; I was just wondering if you had a source for the information that you have provided? Is Pte Robert Fenton, a relative of yourself? Will probably share the relevant war diaries & maps for both of the dates that you have mentioned. I do have a lot of time for 1 Loyals for what they put- up with in the Anzio Campaign. The diaries for the all of 44 are quite detailed. Some of the hand writing is not well written in parts, but they improve has the months go by. A type writer was used in time! Regards, Stu.
Good Evening Stu, Robert Fenton is not a family member but I have spoken to one of his relatives. The information regarding Robert comes from 3 sources. A newspaper article regarding his death published in the 'Lancashire Daily Post'. A routine order from 1 Loyal's war diary which states that 3861477 Private R. Fenton transferred from B to D Company June 1944; and finally his service record. Regards
Not sure if you knew that 1 Loyals typed-up a CAB FILE 106-599- Loyals-Italy? They must of left the decent typewriter behind in Italy. The opening page is crystal clear along with the contents page. They apologise for the poor legibility ( of certain pages) but you appreciate that the account was produced within the limited resources in Palestine 1945 whilst they was playing at being Police men that is. Not sure that any of 1 Division wanted to be there. They needed much rest & refit after 12 months of the Italian Campaign. I will post all the pages when i get the chance. Any-chance you can show the pages from the newspaper? Regards, Stu.
Sorry for the delay in responding. I am afraid I don’t have a copy of the newspaper article. The machine was not working in the library when I visit some years ago. I just jotted down the main points and added them to my notes on Private Fenton.