Can anyone help find the enlistment/service history of my friend's uncle; Bernard A. Rossi, 5120442 2nd. Bn. Hampshire Regiment who died 7th October 1944 and buried at the Assisi War Cemetery. Thank you.
There is only one place where you can obtain his service records and that is the MOD: Get a copy of military service records For others: Casualty Details | CWGC PRIVATE BERNARD ANTONIO ROSSI Service Number: 5120442 Hampshire Regiment 2nd Bn. Died 07 October 1944 Age 33 years old Buried or commemorated at ASSISI WAR CEMETERY II, G, 7. Italy Son of Joseph and Maud Rossi, of Leicester; husband of Ada Rossi, of Leicester. Personal Inscription MY MISSION AND FATE WAS NOT UNKIND IF YOU PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE I LEFT BEHIND From 10 May 1942 the regiment served in the 128 Infantry Bde in the 46 Infantry Division.
As a point of interest his service number, 5120442, means that he enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. You will need his records to trace his timeline.
Assisi was quite a way behind the front on 7 Oct 44 so it is very likely that he died there in a Field or General Hospital. He would have been wounded sometime between the start of the massive assault on the Gothic Line on 31 Aug 44 and the arrival at the River Marecchia beyond Rimini on 24 Sep 44. Regards Frank
I suspected this might be the case, is there any easy way this can be confirmed? Many thanks for your interest
Searched on CWGC for Hampshire Regiment deaths on 7.10.44. There are 11 in Assisi Cemetery. Search Results | CWGC
The casualty lists say killed in action - no recent wounded or died of wounded entries. Incidentally he had been previously wounded on 9th September 1943 - the day the battalion landed at Salerno.
Just to confirm - if you look at the grave concentration report you can see he was initially buried just not far from the area of combat described in the history Owen has posted. Why these graves were concentrated at Assisi and not at any of the closer cemeteries would probably require a look at the 10 GRU war diaries.
Thanks to Owen’s copy of the Regt History and GaryT’s Graves Concentration Report, it looks like he was killed in the crossing of the Fiumicino and the subsequent attack on Montigallo. He was then buried in the immediate area before being moved to Assisi along with a lot of other men from 2 HAMPSHIRES. Regards Frank
Thanks so much again. Is there any way, other than Bernard's service record, to discover when he left The Royal Warwickshire Regiment? and when he re-joined his unit after being wounded on 9th Sept 1943?
I thought so, I understand there is a backlog at the MoD and it would take several months. Thanks again, really appreciated.
It will, possibly more, but I am afraid there is no shortcut especially when you know for certain he was in more than one regiment. He was in the UK in November 1940 and possibly with the Royal Warwickshire, but by no means certain. Warwick & Warwickshire Advertiser, Friday, November 22, 1940 Leicester Chronicle, Saturday, 16 October, 1943