You are welcome, Sarah. Your great grandad’s arm patch, which signified to all that he was a member of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, was as per my avatar. ‘Northumbrian’ meant the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria, which stretched from the Rivers Trent to the Forth. However, in 20th century army recruitment area terms meant the Rivers Tyne, Tees and Humber. The sign of the double ‘T’, stands for the Tyne and Tees, but if you look carefully you can also see an ‘H’ for the Humber. The indigenous infantry brigades were the: 149th, being 3 battalions of Royal Northumberland Fusiliers; 150th, being the 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 4th & 5th Bns Green Howards; and 151st, being 6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry. In 1938, the 50 Div was converted into a Motorised Infantry Division and lost one of its Brigades. The 149th Infantry Brigade left, excepting the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, which became the 50 Div’s reconnaissance battalion. The 50 Div was never used as a Motorised Division and on its return from ‘Dunkirk’ in June 1940, had the 69th Infantry Brigade added. 69th, being the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 6th & 7th Bns Green Howards; 150th, being the 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 4th & 5th Bns Green Howards; and 151st, being the 6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry. It stayed like this for nearly two years, until the 150th was overrun by the Axis forces in the Western Desert in June 1942 and was struck off the nominal role. 69th, being the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 6th & 7th Bns Green Howards; and 151st, being the 6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry. The 50 Div fought on with many different brigades being temporarily added from time to time, Free French, Greek, 201st Guards Brigade in the Western Desert, then 168th Infantry Brigade in Sicily. It only got a permanent replacement for the 150th Infantry Brigade when the 231st Infantry Brigade joined them at the close of the Sicily campaign in September 1943. 69th, being the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, and 6th & 7th Bns Green Howards; 151st, being the 6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry; and 231st, being the 1st Bn Hampshire Regiment, 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment & 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment. So, it was by a strange quirk of fate and geographical challenge that a Wessex Brigade joined the Northumbrian Division. From what I have read they were very proud of their association with the 50 Div; which were referred to by the top brass as ‘The Geordies’. Hope this brief history is useful, but you may wish to read this: 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - Wikipedia They had a very eventful WWII and were the most experienced and battle hardened British Infantry Division of WWII, winning four Victoria Crosses. Also: 231st Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia Best, Steve.
Hi All, I just thought I'd share these photos with you, the first is Papa with his wife and daughter, I'd imagine in 1942 or 3 in Bradford. The second photo is Papa with his wife, daughter and new baby boy who was born 22 July 44, so whilst he was serving with the Hampshires. The photo was taken in Bradford (where his wife and daughter evacuated from Guernsey to) and must be after he was injured in Holland....
Hi everyone, I was wondering what it means that papa was transferred several times for 6 month periods to the army reserve.his record says ‘released from industry and relegated to class W reserve for a period of 6 months’ granny mentions him having been in Coventry during one of these periods... I’d love to know what he was doing and why!
Hi, The Class W Army Reserve was initially introduced during WW1. It was a system that permitted men with civilian skills of importance to the war effort to be redeployed to civilian employment. I note your grandfather was a greenhouse worker and his redeployment to Class W was during the winter months so it might be reasonable to surmise that he was employed in his civilian employment - perhaps “bringing on” vegetables ready for planting in the spring thus assisting in the Dig For Victory scheme? Steve
Hi Everyone, I'm still hoping to find out where the following deployments took Papa 50th Holding Battalion (Straight away on enlisting in the DCLI June 1940) 30th Holding Battalion (coming back from being released to industry) 14th Infantry Training Company (again, coming back from W reserve) and 14th Holding Battalion (coming back from injury sustained in Holland September 44). I'd love to know where these Battalions were and what he would have been doing whilst with them, if anyone has any insights, please share!
