Mod edit: Posts split from RSM (later Lt QM) Freddie Archer Scots Guards MBE MM to create a dedicated thread. Reference no.1 IRTD above. Does anyone know where this exactly was. Apparently near Naples. I assume this was where my Father was placed in September 1944 when he was transferred from 100 HAA to 6th Bn Black Watch. ps. (cant find where to raise a new post. can someone point me in the right direction please). I first posted on here in 2009. TIA.
UnitedSound, Welcome back. The best place to start a new thread in my opinion would be: British Army Units - Others Add in that your previous posts on 100 HAA are on: 100 HAA Regiment, RA, 1940-43 IRTD via Second World War Abbreviations and Acronyms - Researching WW2 is Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot. Tullybrone explains their role in Italy (not 1 IRTD) to be: From: Last Piece of the Jigsaw Inn 2016 there was a post: From: Lancashire Fusiliers: 2 Bn or 11Bn? This book has a reference to 1 IRTD @ Cervinara and 6 IRTD @ at or near Paolisi. From: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Sergeant_Jiggy/b6zjDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq="IRTD"+++"Cervinara"&pg=PT287&printsec=frontcover A Birmingham University thesis states: From: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/5632/1/Kavanagh15MA.pdf
Hi, Thanks for posting. I wonder, does anyone know when 1 I.R.T.D. (1 Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot) located to Italy? (It seems RHUs (Regimental Holding Units) would re-locate as the war progressed and front lines advanced, and I think the same applies with IRTDs) In researching my own grandfather’s WW2 service with the Irish Guards during WW2, I’ve tried to locate 1Bn IRTD (also written as BN No:1IRTD) as it appears on his service record. I’m interested in period between July 1943 and February 1944. He, Guardsman Richard Eames, disembarked in N Africa 28 July 1943 and was posted to 1BN I.R.T.D. Some digging around has revealed that he likely travelled with convoy WS32 KMF20 (Embarking UK 17July 1943). (Arnold Hague’s Allied Convoy system and Convoy Web). Following a period on X(ii) list (possibly ill?), my grandfather returned to 1 IRTD in February 1944 until posted to 1 Battalion Irish Guards in March 1944, when they were resting on Sorrento Peninsula until transported back to UK in April 1944. Unfortunately, my visit to the National Archives only revealed one document 1 Bn. (Guards) I.R.T.D. (WO 170/7335) which starts March 1945 at Fano, Italy A number of sources indicate the ‘Guards Reinforcement Camp’ was at 1IRTD in ‘Philippeville’, in Algiers around the time he was present: Source 1 = 1 Irish Guards War Diary (WO 169/10168): 1943 October 1 The Commanding Officer and Captain S.H. COMBE left for ALGIERS today by car. The plan to visit the I.R.T.D. at PHILIPPEVILLE on route. 1943 October 7 The Commanding Officer and Captain S.H. COMBE returned this evening from their visit to the I.R.T.D. and to ALGIERS. They brought with them Captain G.P.M. FITZGERALD. 1943 October 9 The following appointments of Officers are announced today:- Major J.D. BLOIS will assume command of IRISH GUARDS troops at No. 1 I.R.T.D. with effect from 10th October 1943. Captain G.P.M. FITZGERALD will assume command and financial responsibility of No. 2 Company with effect from 9th October 1943. Captain C.D.P. O’COCK will be attached to No. 1 I.R.T.D. as Training Instructor with effect from 10th October 1943. Source 2 - THE IRISH GUARDS JOURNALS - British Army Pages 1-11 - Flip PDF Download | FlipHTML5 (unfortunately this is the only record of these journals I have, but they appear authentic) THE IRISH GUARDS JOURNALS: These articles have been extracted from the Irish Guards Journals published since 1948. They provide an account of the Band’s arrival at N Africa and service in Italy from 1943 to 1944, written by Bill Winter after he left the band. I found this an interesting and vivid account of the band’s train journey on board the, ‘Philippeville Special’, train over the mountains from port of Algiers to Philippeville and the Guards Reinforcement Camp‘ (Oct/Nov1943) Source 3 - BBC - WW2 People's War - My Dad's War Memories Part 1 War Memories of 2664080 Cpl. Turner W. (2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards) 25 August 1943 - Phillipeville On going on deck this morning we discovered that we were approaching land fairly quickly and we knew that our journey was at an end and at 9.30 a.m. we finally docked at the small port of Phillipeville which is midway between Algiers and Bone and my first impressions of North Africa were definitely very low [content removed by moderator] Troop Carrying Vehicles were waiting to convey us to the No. 1 (Guards) S.R.T.D. and we finally arrived there during the hottest part of the day (3.30 p.m.) and after various parades we were tented down with our mosquito nets suspended. 30 September 1943 - Bizerta This morning at the very unearthly hour of half past two we were roused by the platoon Sergeant and after eating a cold breakfast we left the I.R.T.D. at 4 o'clock and after traveling 250 miles through the country which the First Army had fought its way through we finally arrived at Bizerta at 7 o'clock at night very tired and dirty and after being tented down at No. 4 Transit Camp I fell asleep wondering where the morrow would take us. Source 4 – Thornton, Leslie (Oral history) | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) (NCO served with Durham Light Infantry DLI) - IWM Catalogue Number 10421 Reel 15: Very useful description of army life on board convoy to Philippeville, Algiers and living in I.R.T.D. Philippeville. (August/September 1943) Includes: - Tent accommodation; fly problem and prevalence of dysentery; food rations; water supply - witnessing several Guardsman who were based at Philippeville drowning while swimming. - Sending fruit home Source 5 - Bland, George (Oral history) | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) (NCO served with Durham Light Infantry DLI) - IWM Catalogue Number 17619 Reel 6: Describes journey on convoy to Philippeville and life at I.R.T.D.
