Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - Photos

When I first started to get interested in WW2 it was generally the history of the Irish Guards. My Grandfather and a few other relatives and family friends were 'Micks'. My secondary interest was the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. This was my local Regiment and one in which a number of my relatives have served. As time has gone on however it has become clear that the Irish Guards are a Regiment still very much in the public minds. A few others out there have an interest in them also and are doing a fantastic job on the research front - Diane being one of the main ones. With this being the case I have decided to concentrate more on the 'Skins'. I will however continute to research the 'Micks' as and when I get the time.

So, if anyone has any pictures concerning the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and WW2 I would very much love to see them and add them to my collection. Any pictures would be much welcome such as portrait shots of relatives, headstones, action shots or anything else that you might have/see. Just add them to the thread

Its early days in my Skins research but I have the following documents that I would be happy to look up for anyone interested:

WW2 History
WW2 Roll of Honour
A number of 'Sprigs'
War Diary of 2nd Battalion - Sep 39 to Jun 40 (Dunkirk)
War Diary of 1st Battalion - Feb 42 to Dec 42 (Burma)

Regards

Conor

 

Hi Di, Thanks for your response. I already have that thread with the casualties and citations saved to my computer. Valuable stuff, thank you. I will get a look at the other links, especially that one about getting citations for free,

Regards

Conor

First photo of the thread. Taken from 'The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the Second World War 1939-45 by Frank Fox OBE'.

HRH The Duke of Gloucester - Colonel in Chief

 

Taken from 'The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the Second World War 1939-45 by Frank Fox OBE'.

Lance Corporal J Doherty MM

 

Taken from 'The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the Second World War 1939-45 by Frank Fox OBE'.

CSM Glover DCM

 

Found this picture whilst doing a bit of surfing. Cant remember the site exactly but i think it was NRI (Non Resident Indians). It shows the final parade at Fort St George, Madras prior to the british withdrawal from India.

 

The thing about saving so many photos you have to try and remember where you got them lol. Think this is from the Belfast Lennon-Wylie site.

Fusilier 6981745 John McGuire - 6/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

Hi - not sure if you can help me out - I'm really new to all this but am trying to track down some more information about my Grandfather who served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - we know that he was taken PoW at some point and we have this record but I don't know where to start to find out what he was involved in prior to this - can you point me in the right direction?
Rachel

 

Hi Conor,

Attached is an Excel list of all the 'Skins' held in Rangoon Jail from 1942-45. Most were captured on the retreat toward the Sittang Bridge.

Hope this is of interest?

Bamboo.

 

Hi i am trying to find out information about my Grandfather who served with the Inniskillings during WW2. He never really spoke of it much but from speaking to other relatives i know he served in Burma. He was born in Dungannon but lied about his age to join up so not sure of his "dob". He survived the War and worked as a postman in Omagh until he retired.
I would be greatful for any info or anything that will help me find out more about him.
Thanks
Paddy.

 

This is the section 2nd Battalion of the skins on parade Villach Austria '45/46.
My father is third from left rear row, Fus. 3774195 A. Murrow

Correction to my picture attachement, should read Palace Guard, Vienna.

 

Hi another picture of dad's unit, taken in Austria, looking at the printers mark on the back, cannot quite make out if it is the Battle Axe isignia on the sleeves of the Corporal and one, two behind, extreme right.
What are the marking on the lowere sleeve of the same.
By the way dad is the face, partially obscured, next to back row, below the lower, fully open window, centre right.
Regards
James

 

Paddy, if you post somemoreinfo on your Grandfather then maybe someone can help.

Fantastic photos James. Thanks for posting.

 

Hi Conor,

My grandfather served in the 2nd skins at the outbreak of the war but was captured in May 1940 during the defence of the Dunkirk pocket. He spent 4 years in Stalag XXA, Poland and the final year of the war in Stalag III Luckenwalde, outside Berlin being liberated by the Russians. I have a few of photos of him in the camps and he is also mentioned a couple of times in Sam Kydd's book "For you the war is over". I often wondered where he was captured and recently was sent his capture card by the Red Cross indicating that he was taken near Ypres on the 27th May 1940. That was the day that the German's launched an attack by three divisions against the 13th Brigade on the Comines-Ypres defensive line so I presume he was taken prisoner during that action. I see you have access to the war diary of the battalion for that period and I was wondering if it contains any more information about the exact deployment / location of the battalion on that day?

 

Thanks Owen, that's a great help...I had read previously that they were positioned somewhere between Hollebeke and Zillebeke but this map certainly narrows it down a bit...Thanks again!

 

The Battalion Positions were very similiar to the above on the 27th May. Certainly the 2nd Royal Inns Fusiliers were in the same position.

The diary for the 27th May 1940: