7th Battalion Duke of Wellington West Riding 1944

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Trevhse, Nov 8, 2018.

  1. Trevhse

    Trevhse Member

    I hope I am posting in the correct area, my apologies if not. I am researching my husbands father who was in the 7th Duke Of Wellington West Riding. He was wounded on 16th November 1944 but it doesn't say where although it looks as if he was only in action since 30th October 1944. I have searched but can not find anything for this period of time as to where in Western Europe they were. Also I am a little confused that he would have been 20 years old at this time which seems very late for call up.

    I have gained this information from forces-war-records and hope I have understood it correctly. It states date of Action: 30/10/1944 Incident Date: 16/11/1944. Does this mean this would have been the first action that he was involved in?

    It would be lovely if I could find out which area he was in when wounded so any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    He probably was on The Island, the low lying polderland between the Neder-Rijn at Arnhem and the Waal at Nijmegen.
    I do not have the War Diary, but this will give the location where the battalion was at the time.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
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  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Don't bother with FWR.
    Apply to the MoD for service records.
    If you post his name & number up here the members can help you out with further info.
     
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  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here are two pages from the Regimental History by Barclay that cover the period. 7thDWR01.jpg 7thDWR02.jpg
     
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  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Dryan67 - Upon reading the fragment, on 16 November 1944 the battalion probably was somewhere in between the actions at Willemstad/Moerdijk (clearing the enemy bridgehead at Moerdijk, which fell on on Nov 9th) and The Island (recce parties enter The Island on Nov 31st).

    Map of the operations of the West Riding Division in SW Holland (Sept - Nov 1944):
    De-route-van-de-bevrijders.jpg

    Map Courtesy: WO II: Bevrijding | Canon van Moerdijk
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
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  6. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

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  7. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    War Diary for November 1944
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    War Diary for 29/30 October. It makes it much more likely that he was wounded during this action
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    A report about the fighting at that time
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Trevhse

    Trevhse Member

    Wow everyone thank you so much. I have actually now found I had it all wrong. He enlisted March 1943 into the Dukes April 1943 into 7th Battalion (West Riding) August 1943 and into action 10th June 1944. This seemed a decent period for training so would this be right? He was actually injured on 30th October 1944 so I got that bit wrong, went to Pinderfields and discharged August 1945. When researching the West Riding Dukes - it never really mentions these just the 7th Battalion, would he have been included in all the 7th Bat Dukes action?

    I am really grateful top everyone, this means I can give my hubby an amazing Christmas present.
     
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  11. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    30 Oct 1944 would put him in the operations in SW Holland.
     
  12. smdarby

    smdarby Well-Known Member

    Nice map Stolpi, but I'm not sure what some people might think of the 15th and 53rd being labelled as "Engelse" (English) divisions!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Nov 21, 2018
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  13. Trevhse

    Trevhse Member

    thank you,
    His Name: Kenneth John Russell Service Number: 14555630
     
  14. Trevhse

    Trevhse Member

    This is amazing reading and must have been so terrible for everyone. Thank you so much for this.
     
  15. Trevhse

    Trevhse Member

    Hi everybody. It has been three months since I have posted about this but I have now found out more as I have KJ Russell's army records from MOD. I am still a little confused about things and hope you don't mind me asking these questions. I intend to have a photo book ready for my husbands birthday in March and what a surprise he will have.

    In April 1943 he trained at Brancepeth and was posted to 7th DWR in August 1943, but it doesn't actually say where to.
    It never mentions whereabouts his training is until he embarks on 10th June 1944. Would he have stayed at Brancepeth?
    August 1943 to June 1944 seems a long time during the war years for training, is this the norm?
    I actually have him in March 1943 at No. 5 Primary Training Wing
    April 1943 posted to 54th Primary Training Wing
    August 1943 posted to 7th Battalion
    But I can't find out where these 'training wings' were.

    I can make most other things out but researching casualties of the 7th DWR I came across a lot buried at Bergen Op Zoom between 28th October 1944 to 31st October 1944. My Father In Law was injured on 30th October 1944 so I am suspecting he was very near this area and lost a lot of friends at this time.

    Just a little snippet but he was made, prior to embarkment, a L/A/Cpl and then Cpl but after embarkment requested to revert to rank of Private.

    Everybody has been so helpful at my first requests so I thank you for these and for any further help you can give.
     

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