7014139 Rifleman James WRIGHT, Royal Irish Fusiliers

That would be great. Also the W3016/Nov 7 which appears in his injuries report. Also if any other method may be used to determine his location during the time of his service, including any identification of him during his time in Italy.
Of interest are the letters of Major Lawrence as it follows what I believe is a similar path to James, being that he would have embarked on the same ship on the 8-Aug-43 to Africa, and was presumed to also be injured at San Salvo, and therefore possibly in the same hospital as Lawrence who was also injured then.

 

I think your summary seems to be correct, however as mentioned the service records are very broad and do not give any real depth of the service. I really don't know when the photos of Milan were taken. Possibly during the end of the overseas service when heading home? But only guessing. Also again not sure what the irregular behaviour related to. Anyone being able to decipher some of the information on the service records, or provide any other way of determine a serviceman's presence during this time would be appreciated.

 

Thank you Lesley.....you are right I have his medals including the Italy star. It has a small leaf attached which I understood to mean he was mentioned in dispatches, but I am unsure. Here they are.

 

I think I have attached the two main pages of his service records. Let me know if you cannot see them. Thanks again for your interest in my Grandfather.

 

Milan is perplexing...I dont think it was normal for men "to stop off" on their way home..and it's pretty clear he was pretty friendly with the group in the photo. I can only surmise that he wasn't actually with 1 RIrF at that time, given that the man body of Faughs were 300 miles away at the time.

I guess you mean Major Lawrence Franklyn-Vaile.. his letters are fantastic, especially the detail about the events of 27th October 1943 near San Salvo.

I think that unless you have some additional personal information/photos you'll continue to find it tricky to pin point more specific details about your father's service.

Good luck,

 

Graham-unfortunately that's not the Italy Star with the oak leaf attached. It is the 39-45 War medal.

Lesley

 

Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - GOV.UK



War Medal 1939 to 1945 front and back



The Italy Star

TD

 

Yes you are correct. It doesn't say Italy. His service records do say Italy Star though?

 

Yes Graham the record shows he was awarded the Italy Star. He must have gone to Italy even though his records show he was in North Africa for nearly 3 years!

 

Hi,

That reference will likely refer to the official War Office Casualty list and the date of publication. The full run are on FMP so if my supposition is correct he should be listed there.

Hi,

You often see that box and calculation on service records. IMHO it is a calculation the Army used circa 1944 in the early stages of planning for the post war demobilisation process.

Steve

 

FMP? Do you know if this available to the public?

 

Could it say N.A. As this is where he disembarked just prior to moving to Sicily?

 

Graham

FMP (FindMyPast) is available to the public if you subscribe to it

N A would be short for North Africa in this case

TD

 

Found this showing the record for James Wright injured. Not sure what 604 means?

 

Lists were produced on a daily/weekly basis and each one was numbered so that the sequence could be filed properly, if you note they are sequential

TD

 

Wondering if anyone can assist with these questions.

A post on my Grandads service record states, "xList 56/44; R.IRF; Deprived of 14 days pay by OC Capt Hunt for irregular conduct on 9-10-44; Fus; 30-10-44".
I have attached the page with this service record entry.

I have not been able to ascertain the meaning of the xList 56/44. Could this be a reference to a document with more information? If a document exists how could I find it?

I have tried to find who Capt Hunt was at this time and who he was in Operational Command of. The only reference to a Capt Hunt at this time in the British army being located in Italy is a TCapt Ken Hunt ..."served, Africa, Italy, Austria, with Honourable Artillery Company, 12th Royal Horse Artillery ". ref.. British Army Officers 1939-1945  -- H . Does anyone know if the 12th Royal Horse was linked with the Irish brigade at this time in Oct. 44?

Also interestingly I found the following information from the IrishBrigade.co.uk web site relevant to the location and battles in Oct. 44 by. John Horsfall Monte Spaduro, 19th October 1944
"Part of this time, we had spent on Monte Codranco, the Faughs being separated from the rest of the brigade by the Santerno river, which flowed down the glen between us and was now a raging torrent. Here, on Codranco, we were in the attentive and unforgettable care of the United States 88th Infantry Division and, here, we were temporarily under their command."

Could the Capt Hunt be an OC with the U.S.?

Another interesting entry is that on the morning of 9-10-44 an incident occurred between the Irish and US. Could this be relevant to my Grandads irregular conduct entry?

"Unfortunately, that night in the aftermath of the action, one of the American signal detachments collided with one of our own posts in the darkness and were shot down and killed to a man. We were not then used to the American helmets, whose outline in the darkness so nearly resembled the enemy’s and there were other near misses for similar reasons as well as to the fact of stray Americans being liable to be found almost anywhere when operations were in progress.

The following morning, I went round to the regimental commander of the 351st US Infantry and, expressing my regrets, he received me like a brother. ‘Think nothing of it – it happens every night,’ he said, patting me on the shoulder and pouring me out a stiff gin. I prefer to remember his generosity rather than the possible truth of the comment."
Monte Spaduro, 19th October 1944
Also this from the war diaries of the Irish Fusiliers
0200 C Coy patrol reached area 014208 and were engaged by fire from American line party. Casualties – Private J Kovalchock (US) killed. Fusilier Hall killed. All casualties brought in.

Appreciate any information on this.

 

Hi,

I think your first question has already been answered previsouly by Bexley84.

Richard said -

“30/10/1944 - "deprived of 14 days pay by OC Capt Hunt"
Throughout the 1 RIrF's war diaries I've never ever seen a reference to a "Capt Hunt" so wonder where he might have been in October 1944? The battalion itself were still in the mountains north of Castel di Rio. There is a reference to the X list so it might seem that he was at that time awaiting posting to a unit.”

The offence was committed 9th October - so you may be correct in your asssumption that it was connected to the friendly fire incident - with the sentence imposed 30th October. The entry comes from the Battalion Pt II Order 56/44 (Pt II is in small writing above the numbers).

Mention of the X list may refer to the fact that by 30th October he was absent from the Battalion, likely proceeding down the casualty evacuation chain, after being injured 27th October rather than him being on the X list (un posted reinforcement) 9th October 1944.

Sorry I can’t help re your other queries.

Steve

 

Just wondering why you believe he may have been injured 27 Oct? His service records indicate an injury in 43 only. Also are you aware of any other documentation related to Batallion PT II order 56/44. What does PT II mean? Thank you

 

Graham,

Only to re-add to Steve's comments to say that we still have no service record "evidence" that James Wright was actually with 1 RIrF in October 1944.. of course, we certainly know that he was with the battalion in October 1943 when he was wounded near San Salvo after which there are no clear details of his movements.
The reference to a Capt Hunt suggesting that he is "OC" certainly adds to the belief that he wasn't with 1RIrF in October 1944 - I've just re-looked at the weekly officers' listing and no Capt Hunt appears with the Faughs in Italy at that time...and it's unlikely that an officer from another unit would have been effecting disciplinary actions at this time.

best wishes