1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Hello,

Apologies for resurrecting a long-dead thread, but I was hoping to get some more information about the movements of the 1st Battalion at the start of the Battle of Crete.

My great uncle Second Lieutenant John Rollo Large (190307) died on the 23rd of May 1941 fighting for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Crete.

According to the above (many thanks to dryan67) and what I have read elsewhere this likely means that he died around Tymbaki:

I am due to visit Crete in August and would ultimately like to pay my respects to my uncle and the many others who died. To my shame, being the 21 year old brother of my grandmother and twin of my great uncle, both who have passed, John's memory has faded. This is something that I would like to rectify.

Does anyone have or know where I can find more details as to the movements of the Battalion on the 23rd to help me pinpoint the right place to pay my respects?

Thanks,

Luke

 

Here are a few more details from Graham's regimental history of the 1st Battalion:

 

Luke,

I would just like add that Brigadier R.C.B. ANDERSON, D.S.O., M.C. did another battalion history of the [1 A& SH .] On page 42, APPENDIX To Chapter III -- Casualties In Crete Officers Killed ( 2/Lt.J.R. Large!)

I'm only speed reading at the moment, but things do not seem the same between each others narratives. I will have to check.

Stu.

 

Many thanks to you both, I appreciate the insight that your knowledge and experience allow.

I will endeavour to pick up copies of both of these books, it is great that a record exists of his final movements to ensure that his sacrifice is not forgotten by the family.

For many that lost their lives, their tender age means they didn't have children. With their parents long gone and their brother's and sister's slowly passing, indivually memories of them are fading. Having such extensive records available is a great way to ensure that their memory lives on, despite the passage of time.

 

Luke,
if you don't mind me asking, are you only interested in Chapter III, The Battle for Crete, or Chapter II, Sidi Barrani and after as well?
It seems a hell of a lot of money to folk out for both copies. If you shop about, you may get both of them for a reasonable price? If you cant get Anderson's book for a decent price, then come back to me & I will copy the the two chapters for you. I would go for that book.

The image below is from page 42 has i mentioned in my last post. More detail than Graham's book. Click on image if required.

Taken from the last paragraph on previous page.

Of the 655 all ranks that embarked at Alexandria on the 18th May, only 312 disembarked on the 29th May, besides those wounded and killed in action, over 300, stranded on the south coast, fell into the hands of the enemy, and these included the Second-in-Command, Major G. A. C. Macnab, and 11 other officers, including the Quartermaster and his staff, the medical officer & his stretcher bearers, and the Padre. The R.S.M., 2 C.S.Ms., 2 C.Q.M.Ss., signallers, pioneers, carrier and transport drivers, Intelligence section, pipe-major and pipers and half the anti-aircraft platoon were also numbered among the prisoners. As will been seen in the next chapter, these crippling losses were to prove a tremendous handicap for a long time to come. Poor chaps.

Some details are in one version, but not in the other.

Regards
Stu

 

Thanks. I managed to get both for a reasonable price (£25ish), and am happy to buy despite the brief mention, it will be nice to have a mention to show my children and eventually their's when they hit that part of the education. I have Dutch grandparents who were part of the Resistance, it was a shame that John didn't make it out f the other side too.

I will read up around it to get a bit more of an idea where as it doesn't seem that the Kaireti Farm exists anymore.

Looking forward to visiting over the summer and trying to trace the final steps.

 

Luke, you have done rather well to obtain both of them for that price ( I've seen some of the battalion histories) of the A&SH go for silly amounts of money. More pics below from the Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-1945.