7th Argyll and sutherland highlanders

Hi. I'm visiting Sicily in May and will follow the route taken by my father who served with the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. They landed on the south coast and proceeded north and were involved in a major battle at Gerbini.
Does anyone have a relative that served in the 7th A & SH and was involved in the Sicily campaign?
I look forward to hearing from you.

John Hood

 

John,

Welcome aboard and thanks for the offer. Just searched online with for known members with an interest: "7 Argyll and sutherland highlanders" site:ww2talk.com and "7th..." plus "7 A&S..." No threads here match. A couple of names mentioned when awarded medals for their actions.

I wonder if their museum would like to suggest names? See: The Argyll Sutherland Highlanders Museum

 

Thanks for your helpful reply.

 

Hi John

I have the battalion war diary covering 1943 inc all appendices = WO 169/10173 7 Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders Jan-Dec 1943

I'm donating my usual fee to a military charity this year so let me know if you'd like a copy.

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi Andy.
I've got the History of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 7th Battalion 1939 45 book which obviously covers the Sicily campaign.
Is the war diary a more detailed account of the Battalions activities in Sicily?
If so I'd be delighted to have copy.
What's would your fee be?

Regards.

John

 

Hi, my name is Antonio and I'm writing from Sicily. I'm looking for news about the 51st Highland Division. They entered my town, Linguaglossa, with the sound of bagpipes on August 15, 1943. I'd like more information about their presence, including the name of their commander. I only have the name of one soldier, Sergeant J. Hurren, and that's all. There's a war diary from their stay. Any information could be helpful. Thank you. I'm available if anyone needs news about Sicily. Thank you.

 

I often find 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders written but I'm looking for the 51^ Highland Division, are they the same thing? Excuse me for this stupid question but I am not very well versed in British military matters.

 

7th A&SH were just one battalion in many that made up the 51st Div.
See the order of battle for WW2 here.
51st (Highland) Division - Wikipedia

Battalions and Units of the 51st Highland Division

 

This 51st Highland Division passage identifies the brigade that liberated the town as 153 Brigade, which did not contain the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. From: After Sferro, August 1943 | 51st Highland Division

Wiki's Order of Battle shows which units were in the 153rd Infantry Brigade . See: From: 51st (Highland) Division - Wikipedia

I suggest Antonio's initial thread is the best place to help him: Hello from Sicily

 

History of 51st Highland Division, by J.B. Salmond, has 1st Gordons as entering the village.

 

Hi John, I am only seeing this post now a good while after your trip, I hope it went well. My Grandfather LCpl Peter Gunn was killed at the Battle of Gerbini in the early hours of 21.07.1943. I have a fair bit of info on this. Not sure if we can private message on here but I am happy if you want to get in touch to share any information. Cheers for now Kenny Clements.

 

Kenny,

John Hood has not logged in since March 2025. I wills end him a PM to alert him.

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Thanks for getting back to me Kenny. I visited the Gerbini battle area and tried to imagine it from a 1943 perspective. Obviously much changed but the roads are probably as they were then. Felt emotional standing where the Argylls probably launched their attack. Hard to contemplate what they experienced. Sorry to hear your Grandfather lost his life there. A hero to the last.

 

Thank you David, appreciate that

 

No worries John. Yes it is a very emotional experience indeed. We were at Gerbini train station knowing that Peter is lying within the industrial orchard adjacent to the station. As there was no body recovered he is commemorated at Monte Cassino which we managed to visit in 1993 on the 50th anniversary. Cheers for now Kenny

 

Cheers Kenny

 

Hi John

My father was at Gerbini with 7th A & SH. (2982736 John Thomson from Menstrie). He must have served with your dad. He talked about Gerbini as being hard going and he nearly "Bought it" there. I believe they came up against the Herman Goering Division, which put up a much greater resistance than the Italians they had encountered since landing at Cape Passero. I think my dad was in "C" company. He talked about being pinned down in an antitank ditch and cut off from HQ which ties up with Battalion diary and any personal accounts I've read on the Battle. I would be happy to share some photographs of my dads. I don't have any specific to Gerbini, but there are some of his company. I have attached one marked "Fort Alberto" which I think is near Messina. He was able to name every man. It would be interesting to know if our dad's paths crossed?

Kenny

 

Kenny,

Welcome aboard.

John Hood has not logged in since January 2026.

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