Just picked up a nice little collection belonging to a Private in the KOYLI, includes (6) medals, photos and paperwork. some of the photos are copies probably picked up on his travels. India, Sicily, Italy and Palestine. Maybe someone (Owen) might be able to identify the officer in the photo taken in Palestine on Minden Day August 1st 1943, the other chap I think is the gentlemen of whom the collection belonged to.
Kieron - The officer could be MIles Dempsey - 5th (Globe Trotters) Div before they went to Sicily for the invasion of Italy - September 3rd '43... Cheers
The Officer on the left has the 5th Div Y on his sleeve. It can't be Palestine 1/ 8 /43 as they were fighting on Sicily then. It must be 1-8-1944
Looking in Div History I'd say if it is Aug 44 that would be Maj-Gen PGS Gregson-Ellis CB OBE . Is a portrait of him in Div History. 5th Infantry Division [British] 1939-1945 General Officer Commanding (GOC) 03.09.1939 Maj.Gen. H.E. Franklyn 19.07.1940 Maj.Gen. H.P.M. Berney-Ficklin 03.08.1943 Maj.Gen. G.C. Bucknall 22.01.1944 Maj.Gen. P.G.S. Gregson-Ellis 21.04.1944 (acting) Brig. L.M. Campbell 29.04.1944 Maj.Gen. P.G.S. Gregson-Ellis 24.11.1944 Maj.Gen. R.A. Hull
Typo on my behalf just come off changing the disc's and pads on the car so all fingers and thumbs It is dated 44 Picture attached is his medal entitlement, never worn in the original grease proof packets and original box.
These are acouple more of the pictures, as I said not sure if these are originals but copies he would have brought. Picture 2 Invasion of Sicily Picture 1 On the road to Palermo Allied troops welcomed
My Grandad served with 2/4th KOYLI 46th Div. prior to that 2nd bat RSF 5th div so its always nice to see some reference to either 5th div or the KOYLI. cheers for posting them up.
Kieron - the France and Germany star looks a bit odd as the 5th Div - and I would presume 1sr KOYLI - went off from Italy to Palestine in the July '44 - they were in crying need of a rest and re-fit after Anzio and went off to Palestine whereas 78th and 56th went off to Egypt and returned to Italy in the September '44 - the 5th stayed in Palestine under Maj.Gen Hull until the end of the war. So Owen would be right that this was a picture of Gregson Ellis in Italy Cheers
Tom not to sure if the KOYLI were with the Division at the time, but after the rest in Palestine they did a quick hop to Italy and then became part of "Operation Goldflake" which saw them join the 21st Army in Norht West Europe
Kieron That would explain the France and Germany Star then as I thought it was only the 1st Div that went on to NW Europe... Cheers
1st Div that went on to NW Europe... No Tom they stayed in Palestine. 1st Division Italy: 7.12.43 - 27.1.45 At Sea: 28.1.45 - 1.2.45 Palestine: 2.2.45 - 31.8.45 5th Div. 5th Division Italy: 3.9.43 - 3.7.44 At Sea: 3.7.44 - 9.7.44 Egypt: 9.7.44 - 13.7.44 Palestine: 14.7.44 - 8.2.45 At Sea: 9.2.45 - 15.2.45 Italy: 15.2.45 - 27.2.45 At Sea: 27.2.45 - 2.3.45 NW Europe: 2.3.45 - 31.8.45 They advanced to Lubeck. BU 4990 Infantry of 2nd Wiltshire Regiment, 5th Division, supported by Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade, clear a pocket of resistance south of Lubeck, 2 May 1945.
