My neice's Grandad was Sgt. Basil Baker , Served WW2 with North Irish Horse. North africa , landed Feb. 1943. Fought through Italy until 1945. He was in C Squadron. He was a great character, I was at his funeral and remember how he was honoured by former soldiers. Does anyone have any more info for us? I found the War Diaries. I don' know the name of his Churchill tank, but it must have been named with a C and after an Irish town. Remembering Sgt Basil Baker on remembrance day.
hello his service records are a start Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK have a look through here North Irish Horse
Italian Campaign Casa Riccibiti, Jan 1945 Back Row L-R Basil Baker, ?, Boyd, C. Hamilton(?), ?, Terry McGrath, Lt M Bexon, Winyard. Front Row L-R Parfit, Millson, Wardle, Jefferson, ?. Casa Riccibiti, Jan 1945 Back Row L-R Basil Baker, ?, Boyd, C. Hamilton(?), ?, Terry McGrath, Lt M Bexon, Winyard. Front Row L-R Parfit, Millson, Wardle, Jefferson, ?.
Kikaoshea. If you would like to see what happened to the North Irish Horse on the Hitler Line on 23 May 44, I am taking a group there 17-20 May 18. Your niece's grandfather was one of the very lucky ones - he survived. I was out there earlier this year with officers and men from what is now the NIH Squadron of the Scottish & North Irish Horse and they laid on a very moving ceremony to honour the men who were killed that fateful day. Regards Frank
Thank you for your replies. Here is Basil, front right. C Squadron. I wish I knew more about these things at the time. I would have loved to ask him. Basil often returned to the WW2 battlefields. I heard he was at Monte Cassino one time. I would dearly love to go , but I'd need to save. Basil's granddaughter, Paula, said he was mentioned in despatches around that time. Thanks again everyone
My cousin, Bruce Leighton Squires was in C Squadron. He was killed 23rd May 1944. I wonder if there might be any pictures with him in them?
Peter. Strangely enough, I was standing on the Hitler Line on Thu explaining the NIH attack that supported 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade. It was a truly brutal day. Regards Frank
B and C Sqns were allocated to support the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. A Sqn was allocated to support the PPCLI. The 2 Cdn Inf Bde attack was two battalions up and one in reserve - Seaforths left, PPCLI right and the Loyal Edmontons in reserve. Oliver Leese disapproved of the original 1 (Cdn) Corps plan and insisted that the single Brigade attack was increased to two Brigades. This caused a 24 hour delay during which time the Germans brought 50 more tanks to the area. Coupled with the already dug in Panzerstrums - tank turrets dug in with concrete, this made the Hitler Line more formidable. Despite 810 guns firing in support of the Canadian attack, the casualty figures were brutal. Regards Frank