1st Hampshire Battalion

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by DavidW, Oct 2, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Can anyone fill in some gaps for me please?

    I have 1st Hampshires at El Daba on 1st September 1939.

    But need a location for 10th June 1940.

    I have them leaving North Africa for Malta on 21st February 1941, but did they ever return there?

    Thanks, David.
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    According to Wiki: 2 June 1940 the 1st Battalion was moved to Moascar in Egypt, then to Mearsa Matruh. One of their duties was to look after the large number of Italian prisoners after the fall of Sidi Barrani.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Regimental History says this for 1st Bn Hampshires.

    After six months the Battalion left Palestine , on a memorable date, 2nd June 1940- the day when their comrades of the 2nd Battalion were making their way home across the Channel in an assortment of craft from Dunkirk.
    The 1st Battalion's move was one of extreme urgency ; their new post turned out to be Moascar , in the Suez Canal Zone, with one company up at El Duda for railway protection. At that time the gigantic arsenal and garrison of the Middle East , which was to play such a vital part in the great pattern of vistory , was taking shape. Defence duties included boat patrols in the Canal , and the shadowing of Italian and other suspect ships through the Battalion sector.
    A week after the Battlaion arrived in Moascar came news that Italy had declared war on Greta Britian and France.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    From the Regimental History of the Hampshire Regiment by D S Daniell
    [​IMG]
     
    stolpi likes this.
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Dam you, Sir !
     
  6. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys.

    I assume that the Hampshires were a standard Middle East War Establishment Infantry Battalion?

    Dam you, Sir !


    Why?
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Owen beat me to it.
     
  8. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Can anyone fill in some gaps for me please?

    I have them leaving North Africa for Malta on 21st February 1941, but did they ever return there?

    Thanks, David.

    Hello David,

    Yes, they did return to North Africa on about the 3 April 1943 for combined ops training in preparation for Operation Husky - the Sicily landings on the 10 July 1943. They were then part of the Malta Brigade, soon rebadged 231st Infantry Brigade. They set sail for Sicily from the Suez Canal.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  9. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks go out to all of you.
     

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