78th Division and 56th Division memoirs

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by selig33, Jan 17, 2021.

  1. selig33

    selig33 Member

    Hello all!

    I am new to the forum, having joined to see all this great info on these 2 divisions. Is there any memoirs from soldiers of these divisions?

    Thanks!

    Alex
     
    Chris C likes this.
  2. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tony56 likes this.
  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Forum poster Ron Goldstein is a Battleaxe Division veteran and posted quite a lot on the People's War website. I don't remember if he has other articles are posted elsewhere, but see here: BBC - WW2 People's War - Ron Goldstein's War
     
    Recce_Mitch, 4jonboy and bexley84 like this.
  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    The bibliography of Ken Ford's book on the division might yield some titles, though they might come up in searches here as well. Colin Gunner's "Front of the Line: adventures with the Irish Brigade" sounds like a memoir.
     
    bexley84 likes this.
  5. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Recce_Mitch, Tony56 and bexley84 like this.
  6. selig33

    selig33 Member

    Thank you all for your replies! I will definitely look into all your suggestions.

    I’m more interested in their drive up through Italy, but any memoir from North Africa would also be appreciated.
     
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Gunner's account, both with the Kensingtons and Irish Fusiliers in Italy is very unvarnished....clearly he was severely affected by his experiences in Austria in May '45 - Yugoslav/Croatian issues etc

    Front of the Line by Gunner, Colin: Good Paperback (1996) | WeBuyBooks
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2021
    4jonboy likes this.
  8. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Ron's accounts are splendid !! It's as though he was actually there at the time::D

    Ron Goldstein's Army Album
     
    Recce_Mitch and Chris C like this.
  9. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    A few that I've transcribed over the years - TNA held, not to be used for commercial distribution:

    Pat Scott: Irish Brigade In Italy – February 1944 to July 1945

    Out of interest, are you writing a book ?

    best wishes
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2021
    4jonboy likes this.
  10. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  11. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  12. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  13. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I would guess these two are both personal accounts (from Ken Ford's bibliography) but goodness knows where they can be found:
    J A Farrell, "My War", privately published
    Paul A Riches, "The Spirit Lives On", privately published

    Maybe also:
    Paul Bryan, "Wool, War and Westminster"
    Michael Hancock, "Lucky Signaller"
     
  14. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Not a memoir, but The Battle of the Peaks and Longstop Hill about the series of assaults in spring 1943 which led up to and included Longstop is pretty tremendous.
     
  15. selig33

    selig33 Member

    Wow you guys are awesome thank you all so much for your help, I have quite the list now for 78th Div memoirs. I am not writing a book, just very interested in these Divisions for some reason.
     
    bexley84 likes this.
  16. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    For a 56 Division memoir, you might like to try 'Blood and Bandages'. He was a medic in 214 Field Ambulance RAMC.
     
    Thistle746 and selig33 like this.
  17. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I have an electronic copy of 56 Inf Div’s Black Cats at War if that helps.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  18. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  19. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Recce_Mitch likes this.
  20. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

Share This Page