1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Paul Reed, Feb 19, 2004.

  1. Melchy

    Melchy Junior Member

    I'll see if I can take a better resolution picture of the original so you can be sure. It's a tiny original photo and I took a quick snap on my phone which is why they're all a bit wonky too! It'll be great if it is your granddad, I love seeing people being able to put names to faces :)
     
  2. Stuart291107

    Stuart291107 Member

    Hi melchy thank you for responding I would be very grateful if you did

    Many thanks Stuart
     
  3. Melchy

    Melchy Junior Member

    Stuart291107 likes this.
  4. Stuart291107

    Stuart291107 Member

    Thank you very much melchy that's brilliant my dad is over the moon with this photo I should him...many thanks.
     
  5. Melchy

    Melchy Junior Member

    That's great Stuart, I'm really pleased to have been able to help out.
     
  6. Melchy

    Melchy Junior Member

    I was going through a few boxes of photos and came across a postcard from Saloniki in Greece, there were a few of the same place and they were all blank so must have been bought as a pack of postcards and brought back by my Grandad rather than posted. This one grabbed my attention:

    the more eagle eyed amongst you will probably see it but I blew it up for everyone to see something that my Grandad obviously didn't see, he'd probably have binned it if he had hahaha.


    It seems like a local Greek photographer managed to get rid of his stock of pictures with Germans in them by selling them among packs of regular scenes of the town to the unsuspecting allies. :lol:
     
  7. Stuart291107

    Stuart291107 Member

    Wow I love anything like this it grabs me everytime
     
  8. Telboy80

    Telboy80 New Member

    Hi, I have just recently found out that my Grandfather served with 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment between 1935 and 1949....I don't have much to go off, but was wondering if anyone knows how I might be able to confirm this and get more information on his service....His name was Alfred Tucker...Any help would be much appreciated
     
    dada49nz likes this.
  9. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

  10. dada49nz

    dada49nz New Member

    My dad Leonard Smitherman was in the 1 Royal Sussex regt from 1944 to 1966 when it became the 3rd Queens He retired after leaving the 3 Queens in 1969 then a stint with the SAS until emigrating to Aussie in 1971
    He died here in NZ in 2008 and I live here. I have his army records etc. ( my brother has them in Aussie). Dad only got to where he trained in Syria and the ship journey with King Peter of Yugoslavia. He did talk about some of what he did and where he was ie Cassino on his 20th birthday 3rd March 1944 and that he was in kavalla. Any information on how I would be able to access the war diaries listed above since I live in NZ. Are they online?
     
  11. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I have copies.

    If you could message me an email address, I'll try to help out.
     
    Enigma1003 likes this.
  12. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    Hi dada49nz - although I was only a lad at the time I remember your father Len when 3 Queens were in Lemgo. My father was David Russell, who was CO at the time. Small world. Best wishes to you.

    John
     
  13. dada49nz

    dada49nz New Member

    I'm new at this, how do I message you? Couldn't find anywhere to send one!
     
  14. dada49nz

    dada49nz New Member

    Hi John, I remember your parents, didn't you have a sister? Best wishes to you.
     
  15. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Click my username (Charley Fortnum), which is below my avatar (picture) to the left of all my posts.

    This will bring up a small 'letterbox'.

    From there, click on the words 'start a conversation' and you will be taken to a separate screen.

    There, you can send a private message in the same way as you make posts on the board.

    Your own messages--those you receive--are located in the inbox at the top right of every page:

    USERNAME - INBOX - ALERTS
     
  16. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I've sent you a message back.
     
  17. Mark Cook

    Mark Cook Active Member

    Hello Melchy, sorry I'm a bit late to the party. I also have a photo from Salonika, marked as under German rule. My Father was with the 1st. Royal Sussex I think. I'm trying to find out what he got upto.

    Mark Under German Rule.jpg
     
    Melchy likes this.
  18. Mark Cook

    Mark Cook Active Member

    Hello everyone, sorry I posted before I introduced myself. Like so many I have a collection of WW2 (holiday snaps) Pictures. My father never spoke much about the war and never about any fighting. Just odd comical stories and the odd warning. As a small child walking in the fields he taught me how to make weapons from the hedgerow along with traps for anyone following. I'm sure he forgot who I was and was just trying to keep me alive! Like it's never been useful, how to take a tank single handed!. For such a meek and mild man dead against any kind of violence I was puzzled how he survived.
    I have recently read the 4th Indian book and the pictures make sense now, what a hell these poor souls had to endure. Also the lack of respect they had and now forgotten, buried in fanciful american history.
    For some time it was thought we never had his service number, until it was noticed on his marriage certificate. I have sent his details to Glasgow in hope. I'm sure he signed up in Devizes Wiltshire. Some of the pictures have badges to suggest this. He said he was in the 7th army, got a "Boil on his bum" and after a stint in hospital was taken on by the 8th Army. And as many of you will know it makes little sense considering the numbers of troops and divisions involved in the 8th. I think he spent much of his time in small groups. Also with Gurkha's. He did manage to bring home Nepalese prayer bells. He called them Camel bells! My Mother said he had a lot of medals, but he threw them away shortly after coming home. I wonder if he was shamed for having an easy time and not taking part in D-day. No one mentions Sicily!
    I'll post the pictures in a later if anyone is still maintaining this page.
    So just to prove he was part of the 4th Indian.

    scan0011.jpg
     
    Melchy, Charley Fortnum and Owen like this.
  19. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Mark.

    Easy time - I think not.

    1 R SUSSEX were in 7 Indian Infantry Brigade along with 1/2 Goorka Rifles, 2/11 Sikhs and 4/16 Punjabis.

    If your father was in the battalion for the Second and Third Battles of Cassino of Feb-Mar 44 then what he endured is something to behold. 1 R SUSSEX were on Snakeshead Ridge in Feb 44 and conducted some unbelievably courageous assaults on Point 593 which, in military speak was the Vital Ground - ground of such importance that whoever holds it dominates the rest of the battlefield. The Germans held Point 593 and were not dislodged from it until 17 May 44. Where 1 R SUSSEX attacked in Feb 44 with, firstly, a Rifle Company and then the battalion, the Poles attacked with an entire Division.

    I am not remotely surprised that your father never spoke of his time in Italy. It was utterly grim.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  20. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Defensive battle plan (dated 27 Dec 44) and map found in Military Command Athens (MCA) War Diary for January 1945 (WO 170-755)

    Plan was drawn up just in case ELAS trouble flared up again in Salonika, but was never put into action.

    Shows how many units were at Salonika at the time.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page