Hi all could anyone give me any details at all on the 3rd Bn Welsh Guards in WW2, ive tried all avenues at present with little success any information would be of great help Division brigade anything many Thanks in advance coops
Coops, As a starter for ten, the 3rd Bttn Welsh Guards served as part of 1st Guards Infantry Brigade from March 1943, replacing 2 Hampshires, and stayed with them for the duration until May 1945 in Tunisia and Italy. 1st Guards transferred from 78th Infantry Division to 6th Armoured Division during the same month. There's the war diaries, of course, and the published history of the 6th Armoured (Ken Ford) would also enlighten you for that period - sufficed to say they were involved in a number of engagements. Fondouk and Monte Piccolo in the Upper Liri are two that come to mind. I can't immediately vouch for the period prior to March 1943. best,
Hi There's also the WG's regimental history which I have. Not sure what the content is like after 1940 though.
Coops. 3 WG were at Monte Cassino with 1 Gds Bde in Apr 44. They occupied the ruins of Cassino town in awful conditions. Regards FdeP
This may be of interest. BBC - WW2 People's War - The Commander’s Speech: You are there; May 3, 1945
The summary of the 3rd Battalion's battle honours from this BBC posting gives you the overall route, including ferocious fighting near to the Garigliano River in Feb 1944, and north of Perugia in June 1944. FONDOUK-HAMMAMLIF-CERASOLA-MONTE PURGATORIO-MONTE GRANDE-MONTE PICCOLO-CASSINO-PERUGIA-MONTE BATTAGLIA-MONTE VERRO and the crossing of the River PO. 72 Welsh Guardsmen are buried in Tunisia - including 3 who were serving with 2 Hampshires. 131 are buried in Italy.
Hi all could anyone give me any details at all on the 3rd Bn Welsh Guards in WW2, ive tried all avenues at present with little success any information would be of great help Division brigade anything many Thanks in advance coops Are you interested in any particular timeframe?
HI, A good read about 3rd battalion is, an ensign in Italy, a platoon commanders story . ( by philip brutton.) lots of detail in there,from 1943 until the end of the war. my great uncle served in 3rd battalion until his death at san marco 1944. this book is dedicated to him and two others.it was his platoon commander who wrote the book. great read.
