Robert James Hubert Spencer - Rifle Brigade

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Harry Spencer, Jun 24, 2022.

  1. Harry Spencer

    Harry Spencer Member

    Hello all,

    I am researching my grandfathers footsteps during the latter part of the war.

    Thankfully, he bought a metal box from Klagenfurt, Austria and filled it with documents, photographs, and patches. I have most of the info I need apart from one - when he went to Italy.

    A bit of background, in 1940 he was an apprentice and tried to enlist with his brother, Jack Spencer, but was told to finish his apprenticeship first. Jack ultimately ended up in Singapore and was a POW to the Japanese, ending up in a camp in Vietnam (named his cottage “Saigon Cottage”) So Robert joined the home guard in June 1940 - 1944. He finished his apprenticeship and enlisted on 29/06/1944. He then was assigned to the Rifle Brigade on 10/08/1944. His papers lead me to believe he was assigned to B Coy, 2nd Btn.

    I have his Service Book, which includes schools and qualifications he had. These courses happened over the last few months of 1944, with the last course being on 20/11/1944. Furthermore, I know he was in Britain during January and the first few days of February as a document confirms this. In his service book it states he’s entitled to a Defence Medal, War Medal, and Italy Star. The one crucial piece of info i’m missing is when he arrived in Italy. He has a lot of 6th Armoured stuff including insignia, newspapers with the fist on, amongst others.

    He drew a sketch of italy on the back of a cinema ticket, with a line going up the country (I believe this is the route he took). The line goes up from Rome to Bologna, the line then goes west around the side of Bologna before heading towards Austria. He left the Army in 1947.

    Unfortunately passing away in 2003, I never got to ask him about it as I was too young to understand. My Dad says he didn’t say much about his experience. There’s always been a strong emphasis on Bologna however. I know the 6th Armoured did indeed go west around Bologna and encircled the Germans inside, while the Polish went in. He also mentioned a interaction with some partisan forces during the last few days of the war and some pot shots were fired at them. Not sure if this can be verified however.

    I’ve never seen his medals, Dad says he felt bad showing them off due to arriving to the war effort later. I believe he was involved in the Spring Offensive during April.

    If anyone is interested seeing his box i’m more than happy to show you. He has great photographs of him and his friends in the RB, patches, German patches, documents, 6th Armoured newspapers, letters from the Commander of the 15th Army group as well as letters to the Fifth and Eighth Army to mark the end of the war in Europe.
     
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  3. Harry Spencer

    Harry Spencer Member

    Hi Clive,

    we are in the process of getting his service records. Of course, I will post some now :)
     
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  4. Harry Spencer

    Harry Spencer Member

    Here’s some photos from his box. There’s quite a few if you scroll down. If you have any problems let me know.

    Grandads Box
     
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  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    One potted history of the 2nd Battalion:
    From: Infantry Regiments Page

    A 2018 book with a chapter of one Radley-educated 'gentleman ranker' story (plus two others) for when they were in Italy: History, Cultural Memory, and the Veteran-Memoirist (Chapter 8) - The Veterans' Tale

    There are three threads here for 2nd Bn., they all refer to activity before your subject joined them.

    You may be able to plot their movements - as 61st Brigade - alongside two other battalions the 7th RB and 10th RB. The brigade changes towards the end. Expand to readable size to get details from: https://uktankmarkings.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/complete-armoured-divisions-timeline-v0.3.pdf

    There are many threads on the 6th Armoured here, most appear to refer to other units. They can be id'd using the 'Tag' for the 6th.

    There is a divisional history: Ford, Ken. Mailed Fist: 6th Armoured Division at War, 1940-1945. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 2005
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2022
  6. Harry Spencer

    Harry Spencer Member

    Thank you for your help David. I know he worked under the 6th Armoured due to being apart of the 61st Infantry Brigade. I’m just not sure which month he went, i’ll likely never know. He does have the sketch which perfectly mirrors 6th Armoured’s movements, especially around Bologna during the Spring Offensive. Again, thank you for your help.
     

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