Hope someone can have a look at these photographs from the IWM collection;- http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conMediaFile.61570 http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conMediaFile.61577 They are catalogued under British Army in Malta (No unit identified) I have a magazine with similar photographs (same roll?)captioned 1st Durham Light Infantry in Malta. The photo credits show them shown courtesy of National War Museum Association. My query is are there any markings on the carrier etc where the unit can be positively identified.I know the infantry in the first photograph have a stencilled badge on their `Tin Lids` but I cannot make it out.I am aware that 1 DLI were on Malta 42-43. Regards Verrieres
Verrieres - I always thought that 1st DLI were in 10th Indian Div - the main Infantry brigade in Malta at that period was that of 231 Independent Infantry brigade commanded by Brig Roy Urghuart - which then took part in the Invasion of Sicily before heading home to land on D Day alongside the 50th TT division - and Urqhuart joined the paras for Ahrnem ??? Cheers
Hi, Tom 1st DLI arrived in Malta during January 1942 (27th I think)they were stationed in the Verdalla/Rabat/Dingli area near to the airfield at Takali at this time they belonged to the Central Infantry Brigade which undertook several changes (3rd (malta)Infantry Brigade,233rd Infantry Brigade)(4th (Malta) Inf Brigade,234 Inf Brig under Brigadier F G R Brittorous) they were given 400 bicycles and called the Garrison Mobile Reserve! The battalion was wiped out on Kos later in 1943 with only 60 men and 8 officers escaping the Island with the help of the SBS .It was a brand new battalion which joined the 10th Indian Brigade at Tarranto on the 4th May 1944 for service in Italy. Regards Verrieres
It might be worth contacting the IWM as they often have more detailed captions on the old record cards than they show on-line. I don't know if it helps at all, but according to Hodges & Taylor the AoS '92' which the carrier seems to display was used in the MEF from September 1941 on green by the junior battalion of the middle brigade of an infantry division and on a red background by the middle M/G battalion of Corps troops. The infantry division use was certainly still effective in October 1942. If you can place 1 DLI as the junior battalion within their brigade at this time then the probability increases...
I'd agree with that Rich, you beat me to it. BTW the carrier is a little unusual in that it has a Boys rifle in the front gun 'slot' with a bren mounted above it on an extension to the armour. Not seen that before.
I like the stonewall pattern lids... very nice. There was so little armour on Malta that I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already catalogued it somewhere.
Its strange you should say that but one of the magazine photographs I received from Malta is captioned with two DLI soldiers one with a boyes rifle I`ll try and post it but it may not be clear. The magazine is Malta at War published by Wise Owl Publications Photo credit is the National War Museum Association. It is captioned ` A Soldier of the 1st Durham Light Infantry at Boschetto prepare their Bren Gun Carrier for a patrol as a second soldier arrives with a boys anti tank gun...end quote Thanks for your help so far..its much appreciated Regards Verrieres
Thanks to those nice people at the IWM they have confirmed that the carrier photographs do relate to the 1st Durham Light Infantry however one of them was taken in Greece ,the Mortars are those of the Manchester Regt according to the IWM files.Thanks for the pointers. Verrieres
