Hello, Interests 6th Gordon Highlanders, Anzio and Palestine

Hello,

I'm interested in tracking down any information on my late father-in-law (who I sadly never met), John Younger Russell, who served with the 6th Gordons in Italy and Palestine. I think (or rather my wife and brother-in-law think!) that he was a driver, but that's about as much as they know. I've read Edward Grace's book "The Perilous Road to Rome", and I've got a small paperback booklet describing the 6th's activiites in North Africa and Italy, but he isn't mentioned in either.

Regards,

Robert Struthers

 

Hello and welcome to the forum

Lesley

 

Glengavel

You shouldn't hold your breath waiting for any book to mention anyone's name unless he won the V.C. etc - only Officers are mentioned mostly - so the nearest you will get is the diaries of 6th Gordons in 2nd Bde of 1st British Infantry Division and their activities in North Africa in 1st Army- Italy including Anzio with 8th and 5th US armies - and Palestine
with PIAF and MEF

Cheers

 

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

Thank you all for your replies.

 

hi Robert,
I too have been trying to find more details about the 6th Gordons as my Dad was at Anzio, Monte Cassino and Palestine, Gaza, etc. I have just finished the same book and found two names I recognise - who were close friends of my Dads and both of whom I have met - the Adj Temple Nimmo and Sgt Major "Willy" McHardy. My Dad was Lt Low and later Major.
I have a lot of photos which my Dad left me of his mates and I will have a look for your father in laws name on any of them - its a very long shot but you never know. If you have any more details it might be helpful.
Just for the record Temple Nimmos son was born at the same time as me and both of us were named after the regiment!
regards

Gordon

 

Hi Gordon and welcome to the forum. You may want to send Robert a Personal Message as he doesn't appear to have come back since the 2th.


Just for ref incase anyone is interested the battalion has a fair few war diaries at the National Archives:

WO 166/4304 6 Gordon Highlanders. 1939 Sept.- Dec., 1940 July - 1941 Dec.
WO 167/747 6 Gordon Highlanders 1940 Jan.-June
WO 166/8703 6 Gordon Highlanders 1942 Jan.- Dec.
WO 166/12552 6 Gordon Highlanders 1943 Jan., Feb.
WO 175/503 6 Gordon Highlanders 1943 Mar.- June
WO 169/10216 6 Gordon Highlanders 1943 July- Dec.
WO 170/1394 6 Gordon Highlanders 1944 Jan.- Dec.
WO 170/5008 6 Gordon Highlanders 1945 Jan.
WO 169/20052 6 Gordon Highlanders 1945 Jan.- Dec.
WO 169/23205 6 Gordon Highlanders 1946 Jan.- June


Cheers
Andy

 

hi Andy,
thanks for that. I have sent him a PM. You never know what might turn up.
All the best for 2013

regards

Gordon

 

Gordon.

As promised, here are the dispositions of the 6 GORDONS's rifle companies at Anzio on 3-4 Feb 44.

Regards

FdeP

 

My father, Capt. Arnold Neale, fought at Anzio and was later in Palestine with the 6th Gordons. If there is anyone connected with this forum who was also there, and might have known Arnold, I have sad news: he died on 19 May, in Launceston Tasmania. So far as I know he kept in contact with HQ in Aberdeen all his life. If anyone would like to contact me, his eldest son, I am Ian Neale and can be emailed directly: ian@ariesinsight.co.uk.

 

Hi, this is my first ever posting to a forum, so please excuse my ignorance if I haven’t posted correctly. I’m also on a huge learning curve when it comes to military terms.

My father was also In the 6th Gordon’s in North Africa (briefly), Italy and Palestine.

I have read Edward Grace’s book which detailed how Companies A, C and D were captured at Anzio. Is there anyway to find out what company my father was in? I can’t find it on his War service record. I’m assuming because he survived Anzio that he may have been in B company.

We’re there any survivors from from A,C and D companies who were not captured? Only asking because my father, who passed away in 1986, told my eldest brother that he and a couple of mates being captured by Germans at Anzio but then let go. I don’t know when, where or how. Could be “lost in translation” over the years though.

Also does anyone know how many platoons to a company in the 6th Gordon’s? And were they stable units where you stayed with a platoon for the duration of your service or would men be transferred between platoons regularly?

Kind Regards
Maryanne

 

Hi Maryanne and welcome to the forum.

All I will say on War Forces is stay clear and make sure your direct debit is cancelled.

Ref identifying a Company somewhere served in is very hit and miss. It's a bit of a Holy Grail as far as Infantry units go and in most case you can't find this information. The two most obvious places to look would be the units war diary and the regimental missing men file covering the campaign in Italy but the odds are stacked against you finding this info I'm afraid.

 

Thanks Drew,
At least I know what I’m up against now and what options might be available.
Regards
Maryanne.

PS: thanks for the advice about direct debits

 

I'm a bit late to the party but I can tell you your father was cap badged the Border Regiment and joined the 6th Gordon Highlanders on the 12th March 1944. It looks like he was 11 Platoons Commander until June 1944 and then became the battalion SO (Security Officer?) for the rest of 1944.

 

Maryanne.

In a Battalion in Italy at the time, there were four Rifle Companies, a Support Company of heavier weapons and Headquarters Company of administrators. Each Rifle Company had three Rifle Platoons.

Regards

Frank

 

Hi Maryanne,

Welcome to the forum.

I appreciate you mention you have your fathers “War Service Record” but if that doesn’t mean you have his copy service file from UK MOD you may wish to apply via this link -

Get a copy of military service records: Apply for the records of someone who's deceased - GOV.UK

Good Luck in your search.

Steve

 

Thanks Frank. I noticed in his book The Perilous Road to Rome Edward Grace mentions 10 and 11 Platoons of B Company. So your info really helps.

Regards
Maryanne

 

Thanks brilliant Steve!

I will see about getting a copy.

Thank you so much for the info.