Service history: Gibraltar, Malta, Italy - Lancs. Fusiliers

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by ElsieTanner, Mar 14, 2012.

  1. ElsieTanner

    ElsieTanner Junior Member

    This a very long shot but here goes:

    I'm trying to research the service history of my late grandad (service records awaited from Glasgow some time this millenia...).

    We think he was in the 11th battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (he was recruited from Bury, Lancs).

    We know he was in Gib. and Malta and he has the Italy star (as well as the Africa star) although we didn't know he was in Italy (!).

    Question: were there lots of units/battalions etc that had a service profile of Gib, Malta, Italy or does this history mean he probably was in the 11th, Lancs Fusiliers?

    Apologies if this is a very stupid question but until/if we get his records we're stumped as we've no more info and the pics we have of him in uniform don't offer any clues.
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    I know the Lanc. Fusiliers were in Malta, Africa and Italy, but not sure which battalions. He could have called at Gib sometime on his travels.
    Other Units would have had the same profile of Gib, Malta, Italy.
    I'm sure someone will be along soon to add more info. Service records take a while to arrive but are well worth the wait and will clarify where/when your Granddad was. Try searching this forum for 11 Lanc Fusilieres and see what turns up.
    Good luck with your research.
     
  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Hi.

    2 Lancs Fus were part of 78 Infantry Division in Italy. They fought at Cassino, Trasimeno and beyond.

    He may have been transferred to 2 Lancs Fus although only looking at his Service Record would confirm that.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  4. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    I know from experience how frustrating the wait for delivery of the service records can be! I'm sure you will get plenty of further good bits of info here but may I suggest contacting Joe Eastwood at the following website also?:

    The Lancashire Fusiliers

    Best of luck

    Jonathan
     
  5. 51MMO

    51MMO A Very Proud Grandson

    Hi,

    Welcome to the Forum; you're definately in safe hands here as there an awful lot of members that know their 'stuff' and always keen to offer a helping hand.

    For general info about what the 11th Bn The Lancashire Fusiliers got up to on Malta, I would recommend visiting the Malta: Way Diary website (maltagc70.com) as it offers a daily account of activities (including those of the 11th Bn) on the island during 1942.

    Good Luck with your research.

    Mark
     
  6. ElsieTanner

    ElsieTanner Junior Member

    Thanks to everyone for their responses, links & encouragement. Everything points to 11th batt. Lancs Fusiliers but I'll have to wait for the service record - maybe a nice Xmas present!
     
  7. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a brief summary of the service of the 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers:


    50th (Holding) Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers

    The battalion was raised in May 1940 and retitled as the 11th Battalion on October 9th, 1940 at Rochdale. After fromation the battalion moved to Dursley, Gloucestershire. In the spring of 1941 it moved to Scotland and was stationed at Cruden Bay, Peterhead and Frazerburgh.

    WO Control – 11 July 1941 to 25 July 1941
    On July 11th, 1941 it set sail for Malta, and after a brief stop in Gibraltar, it landed at the Grand Harbour on July 25th.

    HQ Malta Command – 25 July 1941 to 27 July 1941
    It moved to billets in Birkichara and Hamrun on arrival in Malta.

    Central Infantry Brigade – 27 July 1941 to 13 July 1942
    3rd (Malta) Infantry Brigade – 14 July 1942 to 31 March 1943
    233rd Infantry Brigade – 1 April 1943 to 20 May 1944
    The battalion served in Malta under the Central Infantry Brigade, which was renamed as the 3rd (Malta) Brigade and the 233rd Infantry Brigade.

    HQ Allied Armies, Italy – 21 May 1944 to 28 August 1944
    It left Malta and landed at Naples on 21 May 1944 and moved to Afragola. It was to be disbanded but instead spent the summer in the south of Italy at Taranto and Brindisi. It then moved to No. 1 Guards Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot at Cervinara. The battalion then moved north in August.

    66th Infantry Brigade – 28 August 1944 to 28 August 1945
    The battalion served with the brigade in Italy. It was disbanded on August 20th, 1945 and completed disbandment by the 28th.
     
  8. bdmalta

    bdmalta Junior Member

    You can read a daily diary of events in Malta WW2, including highlights of 11 Lancs War Diary, at www.maltagc70.com.
     

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