5 Hampshire Regiment italy

Discussion in 'Italy' started by mark abbott, Jul 24, 2022.

  1. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    Does anyone have a copy of the war diary for this battalion? Especially looking for 1944?

    many thanks

    mark
     
  2. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Mark.

    I may have. I will check to tomorrow.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  3. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    I do. What specific info are you looking for?
     
  4. mark abbott

    mark abbott Junior Member

    Thank you very much. Apologies for the delay in replying. Laid up with covid!!
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Mark.

    Gary T has WDs for 5 Hampshires and I have WDs for 128 Infantry Brigade - the Brigade to whom 5 Hampshires belonged.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  6. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Hello Frank,
    I have just joined the Forum.
    I wonder if you can help...
    My father - Major J.E. ("George") Gower - was in the 5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment in WW2. He was in North Africa, Salerno, Cassino and San Marino etc.
    It would be wonderful if I could find any of his unit's War Diaries. Do you know if they available anywhere by any chance?
    Kind regards
    Rob Gower
     
  7. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Hello Gary,
    I have just joined the Forum.
    I wonder if you can help...
    My father - Major J.E. ("George") Gower - was in the 5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment in WW2. He was in North Africa, Salerno, Cassino and San Marino etc.
    It would be wonderful if I could find any of his unit's War Diaries. Do you know if they available anywhere by any chance?
    Kind regards
    Rob Gower
     
  8. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Rob.

    The person to ask for the 5 Hampshires WD is Gary Tankard who is on this site. If you cannot get hold of him, get me through www.Cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will link you up with him.

    Being an Officer, he will be mentioned a lot.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  9. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Many thanks for your help, Frank.
    R
     
  10. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Rob.

    I have the WDs for 1944 for 128 Infantry Brigade if that is any help. 5 Hampshires were in that Brigade.

    If you use Dropbox, I will happily send them to you.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  11. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    Rob,

    He was the Intelligence Officer for the 128 Infantry Brigade, at least from January 1944 onwards. The 128 Infantry Brigade WDs from Sept-Dec 1943 don't have the officer returns, so he could have been in that role from an earlier date. He joined 5 Hampshires in May 1944 when the battalion was in the Middle East. He was wounded on 27th August 1944 while serving with A Company. It's not clear if he left the battalion, but by 30th September 1944, he was commanding D Company.

    Regards,
    Gary.
     
  12. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Frank
    That would be fantastic. Thank you. I do use Dropbox and my email address is ...
    He was 'Mentioned in Despatches' and had the oak-leaf clasp on his medal.. What 'Despatches' would he have been mentioned in?
    Kind regards
    Rob
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2023
  13. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Thank you so much for this, Gary. I'm not sure which unit he was in before he joined the Hampshires - that's more research I have to do.
    He was awarded the MC while commanding D Company during the winter of 1944 - although he always said that it was earned by his men rather than by him. He always wore his Hampshire Regiment tie with great pride!
    Kind regards
    Rob
     
  14. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Rob.

    A Mentioned in Despatches is given when the Theatre Commander tells the King what his men have been up to.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Rob.

    I am not sure if you have ever seen his Military Cross citation.

    I will Dropbox you the 128 Inf Bde WDs now.

    Regards

    Frank

    PS. As IO in Jan 44, he would have been heavily involved in the disastrous assault over the Garigliano on the night of 19 Jan 44 when 128 Inf Bde was tasked with seizing Sant Ambrogio.
    No reflection on 128 Inf Bde though. It was a tough task.

    The Rocca d'Evandro castle that 128 Inf Bde had as their HQ is quite something.

    upload_2023-12-18_14-43-59.png

    upload_2023-12-18_14-44-42.png
     
  16. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Many thanks for sending me this, Frank. Yes, I actually managed to get a copy from the Regimental archives. His medals were sent by post after the war, and neither he nor my mother ever saw the citation. Fortunately I was able to get the copy before my mother died. Needless to say we were all very proud and there are many names on it that my mother can remember my father mentioning - both places and officers. It really brings it home and makes it so real.
    I remember him talking about the Garigliano crossing. The weather was absolutely appauling. As you say, a tough task.
    I've just looked up Castello di Rocca d'Evandro. Absolutely stunning!
    Thanks again
    Rob
     
  17. Robert Gower

    Robert Gower Member

    Hi Gary,
    Many thanks for this info.
    Do you possibly have any of the WDs for the 5th Battalion for September to December 1944? This was the period when he won his MC.
    Many thanks
    Rob
     

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