1st British Infantry Division Histories - Digital Versions

Thanks to the work of member Stuart Avery, who scanned the two rare divisional histories of 1st British Infantry Division, I am willing to share links to download the two histories.

They are:

History of the First Division: Anzio Campaign: January - June 1944

History of the First Division: Florence to Monte Grande: August 1944-January 1945

If any member is interested in downloading a copy, please start a conversation with me and I will send you the links. Both files are zipped archives and rather large, 247.5 MB and 227.3 MB. The maps have been scanned in excellent detail as well as the text and photographs. Kudos to Stuart.

David

 

I just want to bump this post up in case anyone missed it.

 

Hi to all,

firstly, i would just like to say a massive thank-you to David for setting up the links on my behalf ( me being a muppet) when it comes to things! Secondly, I would also have to make a small apology to Adam the administrator if i got on his case about these two books? He knows what I mean. Last of all, forum members m kenny & Charley Fortnum. m kenny provided me with a link that enabled me to marry the massive maps on the second volume. Charley also did a couple before I'd come across the app.

I will not try & sell these two books anymore because David has done it better than I could. I will just enclose some pages from each of the books. The last time I came across the Florence to Monte Grande it was going for £175.00 & still is.. These Divisional Histories may not mean much to a few people, or be of interest, but there rarity means they are worth having in any ones collection.

Bump.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Stuart, David,

Many thanks. These look fascinating.

Regards
Tom

 

Tom, I was going to throw in the towel when it came to the larger maps on the second Divisional History but I'd got so far, I just had to find a answer. I'm glad that my patience has paid off. The largest map is THE ADVANCE TO MONTE CECO MAP No 4, It is almost
22 inch square. I had to scan it in six parts. The mind can only be amazed has how these maps where printed in 1946. Most of the maps in both books are no less than A3 size!

Regards,
Stu.

 

Stu - glad you persevered !

Very much enjoying both volumes.

 

It can be interesting when relatives start pulling old photos & documents out of box, It normally leads to a very expensive ongoing hobby! Its a good job that my Great Grandmother kept things in order! I attach a couple of photos of my Grandfather.The first has a caption on the back. Cairo 3rd Sept 1945 To My Dearest Mother All My Love.

The second is of the 2/7 Middlesex Regiment 'B' Company 9 Platoon in Tivoli, Italy, August 44. I was given a small copy of the platoon photo off a aunt of mine. Another one that came out of a box! Not sure how she ended up having that one.My Grandfather is bottom right with a fag in his right hand.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Stuart thanks for providing scans of the Divisional Histories

Cheers
Paul

 

No problem Paul. Not the easiest histories to scan, the pages just fit on a A4 scanner. A bit tight to say the least. As long has David does not get over whelmed. It tuck a while to get the pages somewhat level.

The photo-mosaic in the Anzio Campaign was compiled in February 44. App scale: 1:50.000. I played about with it & added the blue. I also enhanced the roads & railway lines. My next mission is how to work out what David has kindly done on my behalf.

Regards
Stu.

 

I just thought I would show the Narrative below of the 2/7 Middlesex Regiment that got me going on this for ever expensive hobby!
I'm not sure how my Grandfather came across it & it will never be known! Clock his name in the top right hand corner. Another piece of gold that may Great Grandmother kept for many years. Its nice to put it out there for all to read. It is in the Regimental history.


Regards.
Stu.

 

I recently obtained the book below. So many copy's out there that are going for silly amounts & are in a rather poor state. I'd been after it for a while. What has struck me about this Regiment, is the use of M23, M24 & M25. Also, LF & RF. It does say Left Flank, & Right in some pages. See Map XX in the attached pages. I may have misted something. I will split these scans between two posts.

Regards
Stu.

 

Here are the rest of the scans. Resized (again) has to get them all in.. They will be spilt between Full Image & Thumbnail. In time to come, I do hope that the powers that be do not change the format. One gets used to how these things work, then they change it.





For the initial assault on the beaches the Divisional Commander, Major General Penney, had selected 2 Infantry Brigade Group..
In addition to the designated three battalions - 1 Loyals, 2 North Staffs & 6 Gordons - 2 Brigade had 1 Scots Guards of 24 Guards
Brigade under command, together with a composite force from 1 Reconnaissance Regiment. The brigade group also included
67 Field Regiment, 81 Anti Tank Regiment ( less one battery), 312 L.A.A. Battery, 238 Field Company, a medium machine gun
platoon (8) of the 2/7 Middlesex & a flight of 635 Air O.P. Squadron. Sources: History of the First Division & a chap who started looking into the 2/7 Middlesex Regiment in 1984. Its a book of 325 pages. Not something one will buy on the internet. Its priceless.








Regards
Stu.

 

For all them that are following this thread. The following extracts are from a rare book that is called 2nd Battalion The Sherwood
Foresters 39-45. Frank de Planta lent me this! Cheers Frank. 2 Foresters was part of 3 Infantry Brigade.I'm missing the War diaries of this Battalion.. Split again.

Edit: I jumped to 3 infantry Brigade because the regimental history of the 1 Loyals only has a few pages covering there time in the Anzio Campaign. I do have a copy of W. MILES book, THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS 1919-45.Its somewhat on the large size to scan & put it on the forum. If anyone requires the war diary of the 6 Gordons. WO.170 /1394. JAN / DEC 44. Then i will send on..



Regards
Stu.

 

We would like to keep this thread active.

 

Here is some more of the 2 foresters. There is another book that I would have scanned from 3 Infantry Brigade, but again it is rather on the large size. The History of THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S REGIMENT 1919-1952. C.N.BARCLAY. It is a worth while book for any-ones collection. I was quite lucky & only paid about £40 for it. If any one has the War diaries of the 1 DWR for the all of 1944 then I would be interested? The 1 DWR got smashed in the Anzio campaign! I'm boggled at how this regiment carried on..

 

The remainder of the Foresters.






Regards,
Stu.

 

Stu,

Many thanks for posting the Foresters history. Very interesting and rare!

Regards
Tom

 

Stu,

Any chance that you could scan the Scots Guards History for Salerno? I'd be very grateful.

Regards
Tom

 

Tom,

not a problem at all. If you wish to start a conversation with myself then it will not take long.. I will also throw in the all of the Foresters that I have. If my memory serves me correct, I think Frank's Grandfather was in the Foresters? Apologies if this was not the case..

Regards
Stu.

 

Thanks again to forum member Stuart Avery, I am willing to share the war diaries for the 1st Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry for 1944. The 1.6 GB zipped file also includes excerpts from the regimental history along with other pictures and maps.
If you are interested in getting a copy of this file, please start a conversation with me and I will send you the link to download the diaries.

David