10th Battalion Rifle Brigade Italy 1943-44

Discussion in 'Italy' started by 10Battalion, Mar 5, 2014.

  1. ben rippin

    ben rippin New Member

    Dear All. This is fantastic. Does any one know anything about the 7th battalion of the Rifle brigade, who were also part of the 61st Lorried Infantry brigade. A relative of mine served with them and sadly died in January 1945 whilst in Italy. Apart from a service number and the location of his grave, we sadly know very little about him.
     
  2. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Dear Ben,

    What is his name? And where is he buried? Have you sent for his records from Glasgow? (See earlier post on this thread)

    Have you looked on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website to see if there is a concentration form for him? (Look under FIND WAR DEAD). If he was buried in a non-battlefield cemetery (see my earlier post) there will probably be a concentration form which will tell you where he was buried temporarily and which other men from his regiment were brought into the cemetery with him. You might also like to request copies of the 7 Rifle Brigade War Diary from the National Archives - two researchers who offer this (paid) service can be found on this forum,

    Best of luck with your research,

    Vitellino
     
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  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    61 Inf Bde was formed on 21 May 44 immediately after the Fourth Battle of Cassino when it was recognised that 6 Armd Div needed an Infantry Brigade.

    They fought up Italy for the remainder of the war.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    From the start of October '44 onwards, the 61st Infantry Brigade were in the mountains north of Florence - fighting near Tossignano up to mid December, and thence on "defensive" duties until February '45... as Ford says: "The only British mobile division in Italy was now as static as a division could be."

    edit addition for war diary reference:
    7 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
    Reference: WO 170/5063
    Date: 1945 Jan.- July

    Casualty
    Corporal RIPPIN, JOSEPH FREDRICK

    Service Number 6146022

    Died 11/01/1945

    Aged 25

    7th (1st Bn. The London Rifle Brigade) Bn.
    Rifle Brigade

    Son of Alice Mary Rippin, of Walthamstow, Essex.
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2019
  5. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    You could also try & obtain The History of 61 Infantry Brigade May 1944-June 1945: Printed BY FERD. v. KLEINMAYR, KLAGENFURT (AUSTRIA). It starts from the (23th) May 1944.The Brigade was created in seven days. Its a tidy book of 146 pages.
    Its interesting to note that one man is Field-Marshall (then General) Sir Henry MAITLAND-WILSON, GCB GCB DSO ADC, then Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean. It would be ultimately be his decision that a new Brigade should be formed and he would naturally take a special interest in a Brigade to contain three Battalions of his own Regiment, the Rifle Brigade. The above is from the page 5 of the Introduction.

    Regards
    Stu.
     
  6. jln

    jln New Member

    Do you know where I can find about the 2nd Battalion of the RB and an action on 21 June 1944 near Monte Renella and Corciano. My father's cousin in 2 Bn RB was killed in action there ? He was R'man Lawrence Nedas 6924623
     
  7. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Has & when i get the chance to copy: Chapter 5 OPERATIONS WEST OF PERUGIA then i will post them. It starts with 10 RB on the 18/19 June & ends with them on the 30 June. 2 & 7 RB do get a mention in between. It may give you a answer?

    This chapter is from page 31 through to 39. If you shop about then you will find a reprint of the original that is about. You could also try & obtain the war diaries for a more detailed account. I don't have them. The diaries will probably not give you the answer to your Father's cousin.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
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  8. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Hello JLn,

    Whilst you are waiting for the War Diary from Stu, I can give you some information about where you father's cousin died. It was almost certainly in a field hospital in Perugia, given that his death took place three days after his battalion was last in action.

    According to my notes, made from the diary:

    On 18 June 2 Battalion The Rifle Brigade were trying to cross the River Caina.
    On 19/20 June 7 Battalion were in action on Mt. Malbe.
    On 21-22 June 10 Battalion were in action on Mt. Rentella.

    Lawrence would have been buried temporarily at Grid Ref. 695909 (see concentration form) adjacent to the hospital (see my website) from where was transferred to Assisi War Cemetery.

    Kind Regards,

    Vitellino

    Perugia-Sheet 122-1943.jpg

    Nedas Assisi.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2020
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  9. jln

    jln New Member

    Thank you very much
    jln
     
  10. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    jln,

    here are the pages that I've copied. Has i mentioned, i don't have the war diaries. With the information that Janet, has provided from her excellent (web site) that i did not know that she has, then i don't think you need the diaries. Click on images if required?

    rsz_30.jpg
    rsz_31.jpg
    rsz_32.jpg
    rsz_33.jpg
    rsz_34.jpg
    rsz_35.jpg
    rsz_36.jpg
    rsz_37.jpg
    rsz_38.jpg
    rsz_39.jpg

    Regards,
    Stu. Edit: Not the best copies re my phone.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2020
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  11. jln

    jln New Member

    Many thanks
    JLN
     
  12. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Thanks Stu,

    I have made a short summary from the pages you have posted which might mean I should revise my earlier post:

    SUMMARY
    The first of these operations was on the night of 18/19 June and involved 10RB in a major attack and 2RB in an important but subsidiarY role....2 RB to their south west were to move forward to cover 627 Fd Sqn constructing bridges...An attempt by 2RB to move on to the next bridge in daylight met SA and mortar fire and had to be abandoned.

    The third night...A silent attack at night which gave the enemy no warning of one's intentions had been very successful two nights running and it was now obviously 2RB's turn but not necessarily that very night.


    The Lothians had on the 20th met demolitions and A/Tk fire...and the first objective of 2RB was to clear these positions and cover 627 squadron getting the road open...having made a late start and had this first task to perform (and it was the shortest night of the year) 2 RB had little chance of establishing themselves on their final objectives by dawn unless they were unopposed. This was not the case, and on the right of the road fire came from the church of Corciano ...while on the left Spandaus opened up...at dawn some fighting was still going on...The relief of 2 RB by 10 RB went quite smoothly and did not appear to attract undue attention from the enemy.

    From this detailed account it is clear that Rifleman Lawrence Nedas could have been mortally wounded on 18/19 June, as I previously believed, or killed on the 20-21st. What is needed is the Daily Returns page from the War Diary, or better still , his service record, which is possible that his nephew has.

    In any case, as the concentration form shows, he was buried in 6 Armoured Division's temporary cemetery in Perugia before being transferred to Assisi.

    Vitellino
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2020
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  13. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Any-chance you can provide his Service records? If you are not sure how to do so, then start a conversation with myself & i will do?

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
  14. GANDALF

    GANDALF Member

    Hi,
    The attempt to cross the Caina River happened on 18th June in 6188, approx 1,5Km south of S.Mariano (fosso Il Rigo, instead of Caina river but bvery close). A Coy was protecting engineers while they were building a bridge in 6289. A Coy was stopped by mortars, snipers and small weapons fire from North and Nort-West. 2KIA and 4 WIA included Lt.WATTS.

    On 19th June 2RB was in 6485 (Pila)
    On 20th June moved toward Perugia in 6690 (approx) and then joined the start area in 6392 (Olmo) before moving on 21st June towards Rentella
     
  15. Joanne Davies

    Joanne Davies New Member

    Hi all, I recently followed my grandads footsteps whilst fighting in 10th rifle brigade tower hamlets in the final battle at monte cassino. It was amazing and we even located where they were stationed before receiving their orders. It was unbelievable. However I am unable to upload the picture and war diary reference due to the file size
     
  16. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Hello Joanne,

    How recently? Here in Italy we are all supposed to be self isolating....Pleased you managed to do what you wanted to,

    Vitellino
     
  17. Joanne Davies

    Joanne Davies New Member

    Hi we went 27th jan to the 31st 2020. But just found this site and wanted to share our experience. Hope you are safe? Due to being in self isolation I am able now to carry out further research and found this excellent site. I hope you are well?
     
  18. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    I'm very well indeed, thanks. There are no cases in the llittle town where I live and very few in the Province.

    Pleased you were able to do what you wanted.

    Vitellino
     
  19. Dickie

    Dickie Member

    Hello Everyone, I am new to this site so forgive me if I have got anything wrong or blundered into anything. I am researching the 10th Battalion as my uncle (14556573 Rfn Herbert Pettet) was killed on 23rd Jun 44 and is buried in the Assisi war cemetery. Covid willing I am going to go back to Assisi next year but who knows. The records from Assisi suggest he was killed at Corciano. Talking to my Mum (90 but with all her marbles thank goodness) she seems to remember a letter from the CO or some correspondence suggesting Bert was an OCs radio op and was killed in a mortar attack although she really is not too sure. I have sent off for the 'Jackets of Green' book and hope to do some more reading - can anyone give me a few pointers as to the movements of the Brigade and specifically around Corciano in early Jun 44 - any advice and guidance gratefully received. Dickie
     
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  20. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Hello and welcome.

    If you look at Stuart Avery's post above you will see that he has downloaded information regarding the movements of 10 Rifle Brigade during the night 22/23 June, which is when the Brigade was in the vicinity of Corciano.

    Regards,

    Vitellino

    Edited to add in Herbert's Concentration form and a map to show the spot from where he was recovered. It appears from the concentration form that he was the only soldier who fell at MR 607938, which lies on the uphill slope leading to the town.
    Herbert Pettet.JPG txu-pclmaps-oclc-6540719-perugia-122-ii.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
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