4539363 L/Sgt William Henry FLETCHER, 1st Bn Green Howards: 02/01/1945, Italy

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by ggregg, Jan 30, 2011.

  1. ggregg

    ggregg Junior Member

    Thank you for the suggestion about contacting Glasgow. Without your help I wouldn't even suspect that there might be more information available!
    Perhaps you all now understand just how confused I was about trying to track his whereabouts through his service time!
    Would his medical records be at Glasgow too?
    G.
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    ggregg
    you are seldom given medical records - all you get is an X(ii) which indicates he was on the sick list - they never mention why or what with . etc .
    Give them a call and if they argue then ask them what happened to 1944- and too many empty spaces in the other years ...
    Cheers
     
  3. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    ggregg
    you are seldom given medical records - all you get is an X(ii) which indicates he was on the sick list - they never mention why or what with . etc .
    Give them a call and if they argue then ask them what happened to 1944- and too many empty spaces in the other years ...
    Cheers

    Tom,

    I received my great-uncles records, and reading this post leads me to ask you if you could look at this post for me: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/363929-post8.html and ask you if you could tell me what the other X(?) symbols are if you know.

    Thanks in advance
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  5. ggregg

    ggregg Junior Member

    Many thanks to Tom and Owen (and others)for their helpful comments. Beore I delve too deeply into what the 1st GH were up to during 1944/5, I really do need to try to track down where my uncle actually was during this timeframe.
    It's now crystal clear that I cannot assume that he was with his designated regiment, despite his records suggesting that he might have been! I really do need to get more information out of Glasgow (if it exists), and maybe find out which company he was with, since I doubt that he was being transferred aroung North Africa ON HIS OWN! Once again many thanks for your suggestions. Without them I certainly would not have been aware that Glasgow might have been short chaging me. (Are they in for one hell of a phine call).
    G.
     
  6. ggregg

    ggregg Junior Member

    Bad news gentlemen!
    I sent Glasgow a stiff letter, suggesting that the records sent out to me were considered a "disgrace" etc.
    I received an apologetic phonecall yesterday from the supervisor. She said that unfortunately what I received was all they had, and that lots of records were "that thin"! She suggested that the regiment's war diary might help, and that it might be at T.N.A. at Kew. I'm not convinced that knowing where the main regiment was will help me much, but at least I have (half) a lead.
    Thanks to all of you
    Granville
     
  7. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    BFBSM

    Mainly the X11 means the sick list - XiV means awaiting transfer - usually after hospital
    stays and reclining in a transit camp - then he would be SOS -Hospital and TOS camp etc
    Cheers
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just putting it out there- I now have a rather thick Green Howards WW2 history if you want me to look anything specific up?
     
  9. CO30223A

    CO30223A Slinger

    Welcome to the forum

    Cheers
    Paul
    Here's my first submission. My grandfather served with the Green Howards at Anzio (4 Platoon,B Coy, 1st Bn) from Dec'43 to Jun'44 when he was wounded, and then invalided out due to shell shock. He kept a simple diary which I have transcribed and included below. It includes names of those killed and wounded. Some of them were from the Berkshire Regiment with which the GH were merged due to combat losses. Actual images of the diary can be provided if required.

    I have also included a photo of 4th Platoon, B Company taken at Richmond. My gradfather is not included due to his being self conscious about his alopecia. If anyone can put names to faces it would be appreciated.

    Regards to everyone,

    John

    TRANSCRIPT OF A DIARY KEPT BY PRIVATE JOHN BOLTON, 14623873, B Company, 1ST BATTALION THE GREEN HOWARDS, 12TH DECEMBER 1943 – 10TH JUNE 1944
    Arrived Liverpool December 12th
    Sailed December 13th
    Landed Oran December 26th
    Arrived Phillipville December 30th (Ship NEA Hellas – Greek)
    Jan 5th Arrived Bizerta
    Jan 7 Left Bizerta
    January 10th Arrived Naples
    Jan 15 Left Naples
    Jan 18 Arrived Taranto via Salerno
    Jan 19 Left Taranto
    Jan 19 Camp San Basilio
    February 7 Left San Basilio
    Feb 8 Arrived Naples
    Feb 15 Left Naples Boarded ship
    Feb 16 Arrived Anzione (ACTION)
    Feb 18 Front Line
    HANKS WOUNDED
    H.Boodall Wounded
    Emmerson “
    Cpl BELLAMY Killed prisoner
    WARTIG KILLED
    CLAYON “
    J.SMITH “
    SMITH. LONDON “
    CLARK “
    FALSTON PRISONER
    SMALLWOOD KILLED
    FOUR OFFICERS, SGT MAG KILLED
    CPL WINTERS & CPL ANDREWS WOUNDED
    BETTS “
    DEATH VALLEY
    WENT UP LINE SECOND TIME
    CPL MAW KILLED
    Cut off in Waddy. No food for five days. Herman Goring Panzer troops
    Fed up.
    SLIGHT WOUND MYSELF
    HEMINGWAY WOUNDED
    WEEK IN R.A.P BLOOD POISON
    WENT UP THE LINE WITH STRETCHER PARTY
    GOT MORTARED OVER FIFTY CASUALTIES
    THIRTY KILLED.
    KILLED two Germans today
    DICK BARNS KILLED
    Got another Saturday
    Killed one in the Raid.
    70 GEN (Hospital?)
    Left Anzio APL 16
    ARRIVED POMPEI HOSPITAL APL 17
    SGT HOLIDAY WOUNDED
    LEFT POMPEI MAY 18
    2 gen (hospital?)
    ARRIVED CASERTA 18
    May 28
    Left Caserta. 2 GEN HOS
    ARRIVED NAPLES
    Boarded HOSPITAL SHIP ATLANTIS
    SAILED MAY 28
    ARRIVED GIBRALTAR MAY 31
    SIGHTED IRISH COAST JUNE 5
    WELSH COAST JUNE 5
    ARRIVED LIVERPOOL JUNE 6
    North Field hospital Birmingham June 7
    Home June 10

    In the back of the diary, my Grandad had written

    “Fus. A Taylor
    No. 14598937
    D Coy 2nd BATT RSF GMF
     
    Owen likes this.
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Great first post John.
    Bit confused by the timeline of events as didnt think 5th Div units went to Anzio until early March 44. 1st Bn Green Howards were with 5th Div already in Italy at that time.

    Edit: ah, I see a whole lot of Green Howards reinforcements get sent to 10 Royal Berks on the 18th Feb 44 at Anzio.
    War Diaries - The Wardrobe
    1944-02-18

    Regiment. 10th Royal Berkshire Location ANZIO Conc 8621, ITALY Entry 1000: Bn moves off 1200: Bn arrives conc area 819190 1420: Bn Tpt arrives 1405: Enemy infiltrating to Flyover Bridge. Be prep. move 1st dark to area 8328 1630: 10 Offrs & 115 Rfts (o.r's Green Howars) arrives Bn forms 2 Coys C Coy under Major R.C. Bohlen A Coy (Green Howards) under Major Warren. Also "Y" Coy 1 L.I.R. is under comd. 1800: O Gp for move 2300: Bn moves off by MT


    Wonder if this Smallwood.
    Listed as Royal Berks.
    CWGC - Casualty Details

    Maw.
    CWGC - Casualty Details
    also Royal Berks.

    Only 1 man of 10th Royal Berks killed that day.
    War Diaries - The Wardrobe

    1944-03-06

    Regiment. 10th Royal Berkshire Location 840288, ITALY Entry 0700: Sitrep to Bde. Fairly Quiet. 0730: Strength State from A. 1 man killed by enemy sniper and 4 men sick 1320: Comdr 168 Bde BHQ. Departed 1330 hrs. 1500: Vickers MMG DF Tasks set at Ref 84533033 and Ref 84903030 1600: 4.2 Mor DF Tasks Rec'd from 168 Bde 1800: 56 Lon Div Admin Instr No 1 Rec'd 2030: Porter Party under Comd Lt Blanche delivers Rations to A Coy safely. Y Pl in Reserve at BHQ Replaced Pl of A Coy who were fired on from Hse Ref 846299 on leaving Coy area Returned fire and cleared house with Grenades Etc Wounded and took two German PW's 2330: Situation Report on Previous action Rec'd from A
    Wonder if this Dick Barnes. Later & with 1 GH.
    CWGC - Casualty Details
     
  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    John.

    Owen is spot on with the time lines. As part of 15 Inf Bde, 1 GREEN HOWARDS were part of the 5 BR In Div/X (BR) Corps operation to cross the Garigliano on 17 Jan 44. 15 Inf Bde were in reserve but went across soon after the two forward Bdes. They then spent time on the Garigliano before being withdrawn to reinforce the Anzio beachhead in Mar 44.

    I am not sure exactly how 10 Royal Berks fit in because they were in 168 Inf Bde which was part of 56 BR Inf Div. They, like 5 BR Inf Div, were also moved up to reinforce the beachhead but they moved at the start of Feb 44. Despite their terrible losses on 8-9 Feb 44 to the east of Aprilia, 10 Royal Berks remained a major unit and were not broken up until after the fall of Rome.

    My belief is that your grandfather was a GREEN HOWARDS reinforcement who was diverted to 10 Royal Berks after 9 Feb 44 and then, when 10 Royal Berks were disbanded in Jun 44, they were sent to 1 GREEN HOWARDS.

    2 FORESTERS suffered badly at Anzio too and took in lots of GREEN HOWARDS which they then lost after the fall of Rome when they went to 1 GREEN HOWARDS.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    My belief is that your grandfather was a GREEN HOWARDS reinforcement who was diverted to 10 Royal Berks after 9 Feb 44 and then, when 10 Royal Berks were disbanded in Jun 44, they were sent to 1 GREEN HOWARDS.

    That's what I was trying to say. :)
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2067662/

    _68840547_68837810.jpg

    Hedley Verity: Ashes legend who died for his country

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23226523

     
  14. Anzac13

    Anzac13 Member

    Hi There
    I am new to this site and am looking for some help in finding out about my Uncle, Lewis Edward Styles (Ted) who served in the Green Howards. He passed away 2010.
    From his Pay book
    D.O.B 24.2.23
    Army Number 14205621
    Enlisted 19.2.42
    Promoted to W/S (?) Cpl 9 Feb.45
    On his Release Leave Cert its dated 13.11.46 as Cpl in M.T Section
    Transferred to the Army Reserve 3.3.47 (Cert no. 56542)

    I know he was in the occupying force. He was also in Africa ( I know he was in Palestine) and at ANZIO with the 1st bn. (Although my mum (Teds Sister) thinks he may have been at some stage in the 2nd bn. However upon release he was with the 1st bn.

    He had the following medals
    1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45

    I hope some one can help. I live in New Zealand so it is hard to do this from here.
    Cheers
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Welcome to the forum.
    May I suggest sending off for his full service records from the MoD in the UK.
    https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
     
  16. Anzac13

    Anzac13 Member

    Thanks Owen
    I will try this out.
    Cheers
    Simon
     
  17. Anzac13

    Anzac13 Member

    Hi There
    Was wondering if you have a nom roll for 1st bn GH? Am searching for my Uncle Lewis Edward Style joined in 1942.
    Thanks
     
  18. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Anzac13.

    If you discover that he was indeed at Anzio with 1 GREEN HOWARDS, I would be happy to share all the info that I have on their amazing diversionary attack as part of the VI (US) Corps breakout plan for 23 May 14. It is quite something.

    If he was in the Battalion at the time, he would have been involved.

    I am in Anzio at the moment.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  19. Anzac13

    Anzac13 Member

    Hi FdeP
    I know 100% he was in Anzio as we did chat a bout it when I first met him. His wife (my Aunty) was very surprised as she told me later it was the first time since the war he had spoken of it. His paper work I have that he had been issued back in the day all has 1st Gh. Any thing you have would be very much appreciated.
    Kindest Regards
    Simon
     
  20. Mike_F

    Mike_F Member

    Hi all.
    New member here.
    I have a zillion questions, give or take one or two, about the Green Howards in Italy.
    My dad was there but would never say much about Italy or wherever else he was whilst in the army. Now that he has sadly slipped away I cannot try and get more info from him so I took a peek in here.

    He used to mention the river Garigliano and how the Americans were slaughtered trying to cross it and he also talked about being in a town called Minturno.
    He also used to laugh whilst talking about sleeping (or trying to) in a football arena in the Naples area and getting the shock of his life as Vesuvius erupted.
    He also talked about Salerno but Im kinda confused about if was there at the landings or later on.

    My dad was in the 1st Battalion Green Howards. C company. 15th Platoon.

    Any hints, tips, tricks, about how to find out more will be much appreciated.. Your the experts guys.. Im relying on you :)
     

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