1st British Infantry Division Histories - Digital Versions

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by dryan67, Jan 11, 2018.

  1. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Tim.

    Anzio was brutal. Did you go down into the wadis to see how the soldiers lived an underground existence?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  2. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Major DCL Shepherd living in relative luxury in a culvert Anzio 1944.
    Courtesy the Shepherd Family Collection.
     

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    Owen likes this.
  3. Tim Lee

    Tim Lee Member

    Yes we visited the Wadis, I always wondered what they were like having heard so much about the area, now I understand … so much my dad mentioned makes sense now I can grasp the intensity of the fighting ? It also explains much of his approach to life in later years … it’s interesting to connect with the families of the men who shared dads experiences too ?
    Cheers. Tim
     
  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Apologies if I am going out of sync but while I have the pages open, here are photos of Major DCL Shepherd BC 266 Bty 67th Field Regt who was awarded an MC calling in the Divisional Artillery from the Gordons Battalion HQ 4 Feb 1944 Taken some time later, after the fighting was over. On the same night Capt Ken Jupp
    C Troop 266 Bty earned the MC for breaking up the attack under fire and returning with wounded on his Carrier to their new position.
    Posting #25 etc. (I wasn't on here then). I think everyone might be interested to see them.
    Photos courtesy Shepherd Family Collection.
    The photos are of Major Shepherd standing in the ruins of the farm. His OP Assistants and a Sherman tank advancing to contact.
    I have titled the photos as Horror Farm as that is the name given in Edward Grace's book A Perilous Road to Rome.
    The photos came untitled in Major Shepherds briefcase returned after his death in 1944 remaining unopened outside the family until 2019.
     

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    Last edited: Sep 24, 2022
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  5. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Some times in life, any one has to give up in trying to highlight a aerial map has can be seen with the two files. Its probably taken me around two or so years to complete it on and off (probably more). Stuart, that bit is wrong, this bit is wrong. At times, I was left most frustrated with it. Stuart, leave it and come back to it when you are in the right frame of mind to complete a part of it of which happened a few times. I've recently had the completed aerial printed off in some posh photographic paper at A3 size. Don't ask what it was called? It was thick paper that had a gloss shine to it. Will be taken it to a Hotel that we stay in Anzio (framed of course). Its going to a good home.
    The Albano Road Sector. 44. Original. (1).jpg
    Taken from a original copy of: ANZIO BEACHHEAD. HISTORICAL DIVISION. DEPT OF
    THE ARMY (22 January- 25 May 1944) WASHINGTON, D.C., 1947. Reprints are about.

    The Albano Road Sector. 44. Original..jpg
    I've used various period maps to highlight this aerial. Some show more detail than others.
    The list is many. What is shown on one map, is not on another. Is it Frustrating, not half
    when you keep looking at different maps. The Albano Road Sector Feb 44.Will had all of
    the caption in the frame when its completed with all of the 18 place names.

    Tim, I will email you in time.

    Edit: I think I've nearly got it spot on? I'm not doing it again. I would lose the plot.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2022
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  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I was in the Argenta Gap CWGC Cemetery yesterday and stumbled on Maj Shepherd’s headstone.

    Regards

    Frank
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Good photo, I have a few of the Cemetery taken by a friend who went there in 2019. Seems to be a rather isolated location.
    Pity they couldn't have taken him to Faenza to be with a few of his friends.
    Have you bought "Some Corner of a Foreign Field" he is mentioned in it. The book seems to be selling well online.
    I bought a copy when it came out. It was mentioned on this forum on the "Coming Soon on a Bookshelf Near You" thread.

    Attached is a photo relevant to this thread probably taken at Anzio or soon after.
    Major Shepherd MC with Lt Col Clapham 6th Gordons. On the night Maj Shepherd disappeared Lt Col Clapham was in hospital with Dysentery.
    Photo Courtesy The Shepherd Family Collection
     

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    Last edited: Oct 6, 2022
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  8. djbamforduk

    djbamforduk Member

    Thank you very much for this! Any more scans from this book would be greatly appreciated. Yes, this book seems to be very rare. Copies do not seem to come up for sale very often. Elsewhere on this form, someone mentioned that it took eight years of searching before they found a copy up for sale!
    Just to be absolutely clear, here are the full bibliographical details:
    (Captain) John W. A. Masters, The Story of The 2nd Battalion The Sherwood Foresters 1939-1945, Gale & Polden, 1946. (109 pages).
    "The history is centred around Italy, with two short preliminary chapters dealing with the Battalion's exploits in Belgium and France in 1939-40 and its part in the victorious Tunisian Campaign of 1942-43. There is also a final chapter on its achievements in the Middle East during 1945-46."
    I think that John Masters was commander of the battalion's Carrier Platoon.
    The story of the 2nd Battalion the Sherwood Foresters 1939-1945 | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)
     
  9. djbamforduk

    djbamforduk Member

    Thank you for the above book recommendation. :)
     
  10. djbamforduk

    djbamforduk Member

    Thank you for this.
    This US Army study has now been put online including all the maps:
    ANZIO BEACHHEAD (22 January-25 May 1944) (army.mil)
    Also, it can be downloaded as a PDF from Archive.org
    CMH Pub 100-10 Anzio Beachhead (22 January - 25 May 1944) : United States. Department of the Army. Historical Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
     
    Stuart Avery likes this.
  11. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hi David, I do hope you are all keeping well?

    During the 28-30 June, 2022 I managed to get out to Anzio on ( my own ) little battlefield study of the Anzio Campaign. I managed to take some quality photos of every headstone (all 1038) that are in the Anzio War Cemetery. My thighs where killing after doing 2076 squats from one headstone to the next.. Plus it was rather hot. The first day was hard work seeing has it was cloudy, but red hot. I was thinking about starting my own separate thread, but I thought It would be best if I started showing them on your thread? What do you think? I've not even got them off my phone has yet (get a wiggle on Stuart.)

    I don't know how this is going to pan out.. I think the title of the thread should be changed somewhat. Perhaps one of the Mods could make a suggestion before it is. Or anyone else for that matter who is following this thread. Thoughts please to all before it is...

    Probably one of the most satisfying studies that I've been on ( If only for the time to be on your own,) and do what I wanted to do. I also managed to take some photos of some memorials that I never new about. Even the Squire that is Frank did not know of three of them that was in the port of Anzio.

    May need some guidance with some links to start with. That's a certain. These headstones are no use on my phone...

    I called into the little Cafe for a well earned beer or two after the first day. My forehead was wet through.:)

    Edit: A correction on my part. 1056.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2023
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  12. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Certainly, feel free to add them here.
     
  13. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    I must thank Mr Gary Tankard for the following war diary.. He's cheap has chips for his brilliant service. Join his long list for him to copy what you would like. Other members are probably still doing it. Here (are all 160 pages) of HS/ C.M.F. 373 /1/A H.Q. 3 INF. BDE. From 1 JAN 1944 TO 31 JAN 1944. APPENDICES 1-18 Includes Field Returns of LAD And DEF. PLAT. Not sure if all the APPX etc are in this one. I think they are rather good for detail. They are... 2 INF BDE are just has good and I've not read all of them.. In time of course.

    I regret not getting all of these diaries of both brigades from Apr- June 44. Drat. Gary, put me down on the list when you have the time please.

    Did anyone write a book on any Brigade in WW2? They did. I've got one of them at home. Someone should on these two. 24 Guards Bde is not has detailed has I've read of the former two. Gary had little time for copying what he did of the latter. Join the list Stuart. I've a slight problem with J.G. James. Brig, Comd, 3 Inf Bde with what he wrote in the diary of 2 Foresters. Probably for another post. This Brigadier may have been a sleep on the job when he wrote some lessons to be learnt.

    More to follow in the next pub when I've parked up on my travels.:cheers:

    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0001.JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0003.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0004.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0005.JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0007.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0008.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0009.JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0012.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0013.JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0024.JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0026 (2).JPG
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    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0030.JPG
     

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    Last edited: Feb 8, 2023
  14. djbamforduk

    djbamforduk Member

    Great stuff! Thank you! I will be particularly interested to see Appendix 18 regarding the attack launched by 2 Sherwood Foresters at 10:30 hours on 31st January 1944.
     
  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    djb.

    I have made a study of that 2 FORESTERS attack on Campoleone which I am happy to share with you. Start a Conversation and will share what I have. If it grabs you, and you want to see and understand the attack for yourself, I am guiding a group to Anzio on 14-17 May 23 - which includes Stu Avery. You are welcome to join the event.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  16. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    djb, have a butchers from the War diary of 2 FORESTERS. I'm getting away from the war diary of which I've started to show of which is not a problem. Sometimes its wise to read all of any diary that seems to give little detail. That was the case of the Foresters before I read all of it. Some are useless of course. I can think of the 2 Field Regiment, R.A. for Jan-Mar 44 which is for sure. Its has well to buy the book UBIQUE by A.M. Cheetham M.C. He gives a detailed account of his time being a F.O.O. for the Sherwood Foresters. I quote his words from page 90 of his book: I also acted as chauffeur for Lt. Col. Lennox-Boyd, pushing his wheelchair round the wards when he recovered sufficiently to visit the Grenadiers. Nice chap.

    Gary Tankard doing another fine job in copying them. Not sure how he does it? Going back some years, I'm sure he found some missing pages of the 2 North Staffs war diary. Sure I started a thread on them some time ago. He's a ferret.

    Edit. Need to add one page. The last page is for another post from the same diary. Don't do it on your phone Stuart. Done. Also added the last three pages 158-160 Appx 18.
    2_Sherwood_Foresters_Feb_440564.JPG
    2_Sherwood_Foresters_Feb_440565.JPG
    2_Sherwood_Foresters_Feb_440566.JPG
    2_Sherwood_Foresters_Feb_440567.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0158.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0159.JPG
    3_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0160.JPG
    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2023
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  17. djbamforduk

    djbamforduk Member

     
  18. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Here are some of the pages of CMF/369/1/A WAR DIARY of Headquarters, 2 Infantry Brigade From 1 Jan 44 To 31 Jan 44. I know I'm getting away from what I've started, but they are just has detailed probably more than 3 Infantry Brigade especially when it comes to some of the sketch maps. The later sketch maps are fabulous of which I'm thinking they used to create the maps in the Divisional History? Just like the latter, it has many pages (157 in total.) Will post each has and when depending on the server in the next pub I land up in.;) One of the sketch maps I've never seen before and is the best I've seen when it comes to the landings. A work of art.

    Edit: Bingo.. I've worked out to show many files at once that saves much time. Its only taken me many years. Happy days. It was a piece of cake in the end.

    Regards,
    Stu.
    2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0001.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0002.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0003.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0004.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0005.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0006.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0007.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0008.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0009.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0010.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0011.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0012.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0013.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0014.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0015.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0016.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0017.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0018.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0019.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0020.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0021.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0022.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0023.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0024.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0025.JPG
     

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    Last edited: Feb 4, 2023
  19. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Part two of my last post will follow. Look out for page 110-113. ANNEX-I F019 OPERATION SHINGLE VI CORPS 15 January 1944 Map Ref Italy 1:50,000 Sheets 158- I,II,III,IV Lucas Maj Gen. The detail changes between all three on the right hand side which is hard to read on the first two. The trick with uploading many files is: upload all the files you need, then insert every image as thumbnail or full image then post reply. It has been staring me in the face for a while of which I've not noticed.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2023
  20. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    There are few landing tables which provides much detail. Only kind of 57 pages to follow. Can anyone explain the meaning of the signals diagrams that will follow with the acronyms etc? Frank, would you mind explaining them if you can? Did you not have something to do with this in your later time in the army? I may be wrong on the last question.. Someone will give a answer in time.
    Edit.. Only 40 pages on this post.

    2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0061.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0062.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0063.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0064.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0065.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0066.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0067.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0068.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0069.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0070.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0071.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0072.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0073.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0074.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0075.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0076.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0077.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0078.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0079.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0080.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0081.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0082.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0083.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0084.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0085.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0086.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0087.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0088.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0089.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0090.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0091.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0092.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0093.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0094.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0095.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0096.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0097.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0098.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0099.JPG 2_Infantry_Brigade_Jan_44_0100.JPG
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2023

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