Hello. My grandfather was a member of the 6th Battalion (Cpl). I have his diaries from October 1944 to May 1945. I have come across some entries that I can't decipher and was hoping someone here could help. On the 9th of April he was at Voltlage, and then I can't read his writing until April 22nd. Does anyone know where the unit was from the 9th to the 22nd? He was Corporal William Pate.
Below are the pages from the Battalion history that will hopefully help, also the page from the Nominal Roll which includes him
Thank-you so much! I was wondering, if it isn't too much trouble, if you could also look in the Nomnal Roll for a John Gillies and a John (Jock) Connelly? They were my great-uncles.
Hi, Pages attached showing both (well I assume its them) - both have * next to them showing they were wounded so I have also included the casualty returns showing them both. As both are Sergeants its possible they may get mentioned in the War Diaries. Sounds like you're from quite a Cameronian family, as they were my local Regiment I am always interested in any threads on them, I don't suppose you have photos of any of them during their Army days that you could add to the thread?
Hello to all. I have chatted to some of you already but am back doing more research into my grandfather's participation in WW2. I have recently come across some old paperwork where he has referenced "6th Battalion Cameronians (S.R) No. 2 Platoon Support Cy". I know that he was in the 6th Battalion, and served in nth west Europe from October '44 (Ostende) until May/June '45 (Bremen & Delmonherst) but I can't find any information online that even mentions platoons or a support company. Any ideas what those additional details refer to?
Can confirm for VE Day 8 May 45 6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) of 156th (West Scottish) Infantry Brigade Battalion Headquarters: Caspari Kaserne later Vancouver Barracks, Wildeshauser Strasse, Deichhorst, Stadtkreis Delmenhorst west of Bremen with all companies 27 May 45 – Stadtkreis Magdeburg 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
For info on the Support Company of a battalion have a scroll down this post until you see the bit about it. 》Infantry Battalion 《 I'll quote this first bit to help you see what to look for.
Thanks Owen, so if my grandfather was in the support company does that mean he would not have been involved in combat? Say for example Nov 1 - Nov 5 when the 6th was at Walcheren, would the members of the support company been 'dispersed' to the A-D companies to join battle?
This is from "British Army Handbook 1939-1945" by George Forty. Hopefully someone can tell you which one was Number 2 platoon in 6 Cameronians Sp Coy.
Amanda, The support Company contained most of the heavy weapons assigned to a battalion. So they would see combat, and could be broken up and assigned to different coy for support in an operation or defense.