Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Italy

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Ceri Stennett, Feb 1, 2022.

  1. Ceri Stennett

    Ceri Stennett Active Member

    Looking for some pointers on where to find information on the movements of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the Italian campaign from around 1943 onwards.

    I have recently bought some medals to a father and son from Cardiff. The dad served in the First World War with the Welsh Regiment and the son, seemingly with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Perhaps an unusual regiment for a Welsh lad to be in?

    The son's name was John Francis Rees, No: 3975538. His ID tags were with two medals - the Italy Star and the 1939-45 War Medal in a named box of issue to his family address in Cardiff. I suspect that a couple of medals are missing - at least the 1939-45 Star and probably a Defence Medal. The box size suggests that it would have been for four medals (sent from Infantry Records, South Methven Street, Perth, Scotland).

    A family scrap book came with the medals and there are many small images of John in Italy from 1943 and later in Austria. Sadly few of them are captioned, though one suggests that he may have been with the 8th Battalion later in Austria at the regimental HQ. I attach an image of him showing the cap badge. Members of his family stated that he had taken part in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

    John was born in 1922 and died in 2019, so I don't think I would be able to access his service records yet as he died fairly recently and I am not a next of kin.

    So, I am just looking to gain a general overview of the regiment's activities during that period, rather than an exhaustive history and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for reading material etc.

    Thanks in advance for any pointers.

    Ceri.
    JFR.20b. 1943. Image of JFR in Italy 2.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2022
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    The 8th Bn were in 78th Div.
    Have a read of Ken Ford's book "Battleaxe Division" for background info .

    Edit. He may not have been with them all the time.
    Service records will say when he joined that Bn.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2022
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  4. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    The number is from a block originally allocated to the Welch Regiment, which probably makes a bit more sense, but once he was in the system he would be sent where needed and I guess at some point the A&SH were considered the priority
     
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  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I'm currently at a service station a few hundred miles from home, but I think I have the Cassino section from the 8th A&SH's official history.

    I think they took over from 6th RWK who relieved 1/4th Essex and had a similarly bloody experience to those two battalions.

    Will check later.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2022
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  6. Ceri Stennett

    Ceri Stennett Active Member

    Thanks to everyone so far who have offered some very useful advice - as always on this site.

    Cheers,

    Ceri.
     
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  7. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    You could send Frank (minden1759) a message, I’m sure there’s not much he won’t know about their movements. I’ve learned much interesting info from him about my relatives’ time and movements in Italy. He may well be along shortly.
     
  8. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Ceri.

    8 A&SH were part of 36 Infantry Brigade in 78 Infantry Division. The Brigade included 5 Buffs and 6 Royal West Kents (RWK).

    The Brigade arrived at Cassino in time for the Third Battle in Mar 44 although they did no more than hold ground. Their role in the Fourth Battle was that of XIII (British) Corps reserve and they were committed once the river crossings had been secured by 8 Indian Division and 4 Infantry Division and the bridges were in. 36 Infantry Brigade were involved in the failed assault on the village of Aquino (birthplace of Thomas Aquinas) on 19 May 44 after the fall of Cassino. Aquino formed the eastern end of the Hitler Line and it was 36 Infantry Brigade's task to secure it. They failed.

    A lot of 8 A&SH were recruited from Northumberland. Regards

    1 A&SH were part of 19 Indian Brigade in 8 Indian Division - also at Cassino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  9. Ceri Stennett

    Ceri Stennett Active Member

    Thanks to Martin and Frank for some more very useful info.

    I am in the process of copying the images from the scrapbook and there are many that would be of interest to A&SH researchers, even though most are not captioned. If anyone would like some of the images, I would be happy to share them. My direct email is: ceristennettatgmail.com

    Cheers,

    Ceri.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2022
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  10. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Thanks Ceri, but the more useful info was definitely Frank’s ;)

    Oh, re your email address above, I quote here word for word a very helpful and wise post elsewhere on the forum by Tricky Dicky about putting your email address on here:

    I would also edit the post above to remove the '@' symbol from the email address and change it for 'AT' - the reason being this is a public accessible forum and as such 'bots' roam around and pick up any email address's they can fins and then use them to sell onto other companies”.

    :) :)
     
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  11. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Originals also from Frank--where he got them, I couldn't say.

    8th Argylls at Cassino 01.jpg 8th Argylls at Cassino 02.jpg 8th Argylls at Cassino 03.jpg 8th Argylls at Cassino 04.jpg 8th Argylls at Cassino 05.jpg
     
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  12. Ceri Stennett

    Ceri Stennett Active Member

    Once again, thank you so much to everyone for their help, it is really appreciated.

    Ceri.
     
  13. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    James.

    Down the back of the sofa.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  14. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure how legible this will be with the compressed images but this is an 8 A&SH 'report' from Cassino.

    WO204_8280_0010.JPG
    WO204_8280_0011.JPG
    WO204_8280_0012.JPG
     
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  15. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    That's very interesting to me--thank you.

    Assuming you have the diary, I've been searching for contemporary plans or images of the inside of the castle. Is there anything in there?

    We were discussing the possible routes up to Pt.193 here:
    Family Soldiers: 1/4th Essex (WW2) & 25 Field Regiment R.A.(Post-War)
     
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  16. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    This isn't from the war diary, it from a set of reports/articles written on various operations. the way they are written suggest they weren't for official military consumption.

    If I come across any plans in my WD copying I'll let you know.
     
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  17. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Here is a thought. Just to mention more of 1 A & SH that Frank has mentioned. Just in case that he served with them? Service Records will tell all of course (good luck with that one). It will be a faff & pain in the rear. Have a look at the file attached. Make that two. The front cover is from a original copy that was printed just after the war. The other is from page 153.

    Regards,
    Stu.
    3..jpg
    152 & 153..jpg

    Edit: I'm sure these two splendid battalions did histories. One may have two versions. Will check later. One has been shown. Need to check later when near my shelf.

    The 8 A &SH
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2022
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  18. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hi Ceri,

    here are the titles of the two books (Its three that I mentioned in my last post). One is The History of the A.& S. H. 8 Batt. 1939.47. By Lt.-Col. A. D. Malcolm O.B.E. First published in 1949. This is the tile of the book that Charley posted in his post 11. That nice chap being Frank found down his sofa.;)

    The other two are: History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion (Princess Louise's) 1939-1945. By Lt-Col. F.C.C. Graham D.S.O. First published in 1948. I did not know of the last until I was advised to obtain it via another forum member.

    History of The Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion, 1939-1954 By Brigadier R. C. B. ANDERSON, D.S.O., M.C. Privately printed by T. & A. CONSTABLE LTD. EDINBURGH 1956. I would try & obtain the last if you can.

    Regards,
    Stuart.
     
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  19. Ceri Stennett

    Ceri Stennett Active Member

    Once again, my thanks to all for suggestions on reading material etc.

    Cheers,

    Ceri.
     

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