3957405 Private Harry HILL, 1st Bn. Welch Regiment: 28/01/1942 - 20/05/1942

Remebmering Today

Casualty Details | CWGC
3957405 Private HARRY HILL
1st Bn., Welch Regiment
who died age 27
between 28 January 1942 and 20 May 1942
Son of Henry John Hill, and of Gertrude Hill, of Caerphilly, Glamorgan.
Remembered with honour ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Memorial Reference: Column 64.
Location: Egypt
Additional Info: Son of Henry John Hill, and of Gertrude Hill, of Caerphilly, Glamorgan.

 

Any further info on the date range would be useful

thank you

 

I am struggling here, it has taken me ages to work out that:

1st Welch Regiment - January to April 1942 was in the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 4 Indian Infantry Division

29 November 1941 - Spring 1942 Western Desert as part 4th Indian Infantry Division
Spring 1942 - 14 March 1943 Alexandria; South Barracks, Khartoum




As to why this casualty has such a large date range for his death……….

 

No shortage of blokes from that unit with similar dates:

001 ARNOLD C 3971316 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
002 ARNOLD AF 3961572 1ST BN 27/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
005 COLE ST 3958041 1ST BN 08/02/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
006 CRAIG D 2753055 1ST BN 27/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
007 CRAPPER A 3970628 1ST BN 13/02/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
008 CRAZE CA 3962498 1ST BN 29/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
011 DONNELLY J 3952719 1ST BN 29/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
013 EDWARDS VC 3908413 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
014 FLETCHER EW 3972586 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
015 GORDON A 3914501 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
016 HANNAFORD AE 3967214 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
017 HILL H 3957405 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
018 HOPKINS TJ 3911847 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
019 HOPKINS GT 3913805 1ST BN 21/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT 1. C. 13.
021 JONES ARM 3966380 1ST BN 27/02/1942 - - 28/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT FACE 6.
022 JONES WJ 4074321 1ST BN 02/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT 3. B. 2.
024 JONES WT 4080575 1ST BN 14/02/1942 - - 28/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
025 LEWIS DDO 3963252 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
027 MCCLOSKEY S 6976565 1ST BN 11/02/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
028 MCGUFFOG DJ 3910763 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
030 MOORE GC 3971937 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
031 PATON J 3969634 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
032 PICTON TJ 3964186 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
033 PROBERT AH 3966845 1ST BN 20/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
035 RANSOM SW 3908259 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
036 RILEY J 7605512 1ST BN 27/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT 5. G. 6.
038 SAMUEL J 3959691 1ST BN 27/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
039 SMART HT 3959919 1ST BN 28/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
042 THOMAS JT 3959806 1ST BN 27/02/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
044 WAREHAM PW 3956261 1ST BN 18/01/1942 - - 27/04/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
045 WATERS JH 3964254 1ST BN 28/01/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
046 WILLIAMS VF 3957411 1ST BN 28/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
047 WILLIAMS RJ 3970229 1ST BN 11/02/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 64.
048 WILLIAMS I 3967901 1ST BN 28/02/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.
050 YEMM JW 3967460 1ST BN 29/01/1942 - - 20/05/1942 WELCH REGIMENT COLUMN 63.

 

For most of this period the (4th Indian) Division was dispersed with units temporarily attached to other formations much to the disgust of Major General Francis Tuker who assumed command of the Division in December 1941.

Notable at this time was the break-out at the end of January by 7 Brigade, having been cut off at Benghazi during the Germans' counter-offensive from Agheila and moving 200 miles avoiding the enemy to rejoin the 8th Army.


(Taking into account the following extract, I wonder if the above comment should maybe read 5 Brigade, or even better just refer to the whole Division)

*****************************************

25/01/1942 German troops capture Msus, which threatens the 4th Indian Divisions position at Benghazi. Lieutenant General Ritchie, orders the 4th Indian Division to withdraw to a line running from Derna to Mechili, but this order is countermanded by General Auchinleck who wanted the 8th Army to counter-attack. However, the 8th Army was to widely dispersed and Rommels forces were advancing too quickly.

27/01/1942 German troops launch a feint attack from Msus, towards Mechili. This successfully deceives the British in to believing that the Germans will attempt cut the coast road far to the east of Benghazi and so they begin to hurriedly evacuate the 4th Indian Division from Benghazi along the coast road.

29/01/1942 German forces capture Benghazi, along with a large quantity of supplies.

30/01/1942 The 4th Indian Division continues to withdraw along the coast road towards Derna.

*****************************************

A lance corporal in the 1st Battalion Welch Regiment, he was captured in the third week of January 1942.

His sergeant major had sent him to check out a street in Benghazi, in Libya.

“Suddenly a tank with a black cross on came around the corner with an officer standing up on it,” Ron said.

Staring at them from behind the gun the German said in perfect English: “Come on boys. The war’s over for you.”

They dropped their guns and were captured.

“Then they circled and caught the whole Welch Regiment,” said Ron.

First they were taken to Tripoli. Then they spent nine months in Italy.



Read More WWII veteran who was the goalkeeper in a Welsh Sunday league team – in Auschwitz - Wales News - News - WalesOnline


& more info here of what happened to the 1st Bn at Benghazi -

BBC - Mid Wales Newtown Life - Captain Silvester's Long March

 

Hello Dave as ever thank you for your help

regards
Clive