5th Grenadier Guards War Diary Feb to Apr 1943

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by crab79, Feb 21, 2014.

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  1. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Hi,

    Researching a Great Uncle WIA 27th April 1943 with 5th Grenadier Guards. I have some high level campaign info from the internet but would like to have more detail on 5th GG from Feb to April 43. I see that their war diary is in the National Archives, before I go down the expensive road of getting it photographed, I wondered if anyone has done that already, or has used the diary and can give an estimate as to how many pages it is (which would be a guide to the cost for copying).

    Thanks and regards, Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #1
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've not copied it, I only did 1944 diary for someone. The WO 175 files are not usually that thick if I'm honest, but you never know:

    WO 175/486 5 Grenadier Guards 1943 Feb.- Apr.
     
    Drew5233, Feb 21, 2014
    #2
  3. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Thanks for your quick response, that is very helpful.

    Regards, Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #3
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I've got the Regimental history I can scan some pages from that if you like.
    There is also a map marking 5GG's route late April 43.
    I thought I'd posted it on the forum somewhere before.
     
    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #4
  5. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    Thanks, thats would be brilliant, much appreciated. I did have a hunt around on the forum for 5GG materail but could not find any scannned pages.

    Regards, Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #5
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    To start off with here's the map showing the route of 5GG April 23rd-27th 1943.
    I'll scan the chapter for this action up to the date your Great-Uncle is wounded.
    If I started in Feb I'd be here all night. :)
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #6
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here's pages 319-326 from The Grenadier Guards In The War Of 1939-1945: Volume Two by Nigel Nicolson.
    Hope this is ok.

    If you would like anymore pages copied it'll be quicker for me to take photos in daylight than the slower scanner.
    May I suggest you save these images to your own computer in case they go missing from the forum.
    I did a load of scanning once before & three years later the same chap came back & asked me to do it again as the images had been lost as I had deleted my Photobucket account.
    He hadn't bothered to save them for himself.
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #7
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #8
  9. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    That's brilliant, thank you very much indeed, I will download those now.

    Much appreciated.

    Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #9
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    no worries.
    I'll do more next week if you like.
    Have you got your Great-Uncle's service record from the Gren Gds Regt HQ yet ?
     
    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #10
  11. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    Thanks, I have, it arrived today, only took two weeks, I'm really chuffed. GG Archives staff very helpful. My Gt Uncle did not see action again, his wounds did not heal, he came back to the UK and was discharged in 1944 as unfit for further service.

    Regards, Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #11
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just checked the book, I see they dont arrive in Tunisia until page 311.
    That's only 7 more pages to scan.
    Come back in 10 minutes I'll put them on here.
    :)
     
    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #12
  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Pages 311-318.
    That's all the pages of Nicolson that fit the dates of your Great-Uncle's time with 5 GG.
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #13
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  14. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    I can't thank you enough, that is really very kind of you. I read about the Battle while having supper, it's pretty detailed and does you make think. My Gt uncle was from a Cotton town in the north, he lost a brother in WWI, another lost his leg in WWI, another was a WWII POW in North Africa and a nephew POW in Italy. This all adds to the picture.

    I'm going to push your generosity with a final question... Does the book indicate the number of KIA and WIA for the period up to the end of April? I have a list of KIA from CWGC, but would like to know the WIA if possible.

    Thank you for your help.

    Regards, Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 21, 2014
    #14
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here's the last few pages.
    Sorry for not doing the whole lot in one go.
    Bit daft of me really.
    I should have posted every page now from 311 to 330.
    Bottom of page 329 lists casualty numbers.
    6 officers and 54 other ranks killed.
    8 officers and 208 other ranks wounded and 17 other ranks missing.
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen, Feb 21, 2014
    #15
  16. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    You are very kind, I was anticipating that you might give me the numbers, but you have given me the pages instead which is great and allows me to see the end.

    Thank you again.

    Steve
     
    crab79, Feb 22, 2014
    #16
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Sorry about not doing it all in one go earlier.
    I didnt look properly at first & see what needed to be done.
    The other two GG battalions were in Tunisia alot longer .
    Glad to help now let's hope you can get the war diaries too.
    Any chance you could post a photo of Great-Uncle on here ?
    It'd be good to see who we're talking about.
     
    Owen, Feb 22, 2014
    #17
  18. crab79

    crab79 Member

    Owen,

    No need at all to apologise, what you have done for me is great. I have a photo of the man in question, I just haven't figured out how to post photo on here yet!!
     
    crab79, Feb 22, 2014
    #18
  19. crab79

    crab79 Member

    And here is the man in question,

    2620284 Guardsman Walter Hill, 5th Bn. Grenadier Guards.

    Enlisted 24th June 1940 at Stockport. Moved with the 5th Bn to North Africa early 1943. WIA 27th April, Battle of the Bou, GSW to his left leg. His wounds took a long time to heal, returned to UK 1944, discharged september 1944 as no longer fit for military service.

    Walter was my Great Uncle.

    Regards, Steve
     

    Attached Files:

    crab79, Feb 22, 2014
    #19
    Owen likes this.
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Super photo , thanks for showing us his pic.
     
    Owen, Feb 22, 2014
    #20
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