British 10th Infantry Brigade in 1945 - war diary?

My father was the intelligence officer in 10th Infantry Brigade while they were in Greece during 1944 and 1945. I have a pretty good idea what he was doing until February '45 (using information from Henry Williamson's 'The Fourth Division' and the 1944 war diaries). I also have some photographs from 1945 (link) but no firm information about where they were taken and what he was doing until sent back to England in October '45. I do know that, while driving a jeep in Athens at some point, he almost ran over a young Greek woman who later became my mother

Can anyone help me to fill the gap, please? For example, to save me a trip to the National Archive, does anyone have the war diaries for 10th Infantry Brigade for the period January to October 1945?

Alec Fearon

 

Alec.

Was he with 10 Inf Bde during their time at Cassino in May 44, their move up through the centre of Italy from Jun-Aug 44 and then their part in the attack on the Gothic Line at Rimini in Sep 44?

Regards

Frank

 

Frank,

My father joined 22 Field Regiment in France in April 1940 and served with them - as part of 4th Division - through Dunkirk, on home defence duties, in North Africa and then in Italy. During the Italian campaign he was the regiment’s Intelligence Officer until June 1944, when he was promoted to become the Intelligence Officer in 10 Brigade. Then of course in December 1944 4th Division was sent to Greece ...

Alec

 

Alec.

In case you were not aware, these are the movements of 22 Fd Regt RA during the war:



22 Fd Regt RA was one of the three Fd Regts that directly supported 4 Inf Div - the Regts went wherever the Div went.

Regards

Frank

 

Thank you, Frank.
Alec

 

HI Alec

Extracted from Official History of RAMC in WW2.

After the truce in Jan 45, 10th Bde moved to Khalkis, 12 Bde remained in Levadhia and 4 Div HQ went to Thebes.

Later (no date) 12th Bde was relieved in Levadhia by 28th Bde, who then went to Khalkis to relieve 10th Bde.

By end of Feb 4 Div were in Provinces of Phthiotis, Boeotia and Northern Attica, with HQ at Thebes and based in Piraeus.

From 1 to 3 Mar 45, 4 Div, less 28 Bde, moved North. Based in Lamia, Volos, Thebes and Levadhia.

By 31st March 4 Div were in Eastern Mainland Greece, based at Volos and Athens.

In Feb 46, 13th Infantry Division (179th, 180th and 181st Brigades) was formed out of 3 Inf Regs, 3 Arty Regts and 1 LAA Regt from 4th Indian Inf Div and 3 Inf Btns from 4 Div.

By spring of 1946, 4 Div were in Kavalla, Salonika and Veroia.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Alec,

some members charge a small amount for copying war diaries at a average of about (10 pence a page) it will save you a rather long journey to Kew! Others will provide the links to these chaps has ( I'm not able to show you them!) Williamson's book is rather good, if you can get a original copy? Another book that you may like to obtain, is the account of the operations of 12 British Infantry Brigade in Italy. Mar-Nov 44. Printed in Athens 45.Edit, Its not 10 Infantry Brigade that you have asked for.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Thank you, Gus, that helps to fill in the picture.
Alec

 

Hi Stu,

Thank you for the pointers. I've made contact with one of the members you suggest.
I remember reading my father's copy of Williamson's book when I was in my early teens and regret that he did not keep it to pass on to me. But I was lucky enough to pick up an original copy on Amazon for a few pounds. As you say, it paints a vivid picture.

regards
Alec

 

Hi Alec,

I'm glad that you have made contact with one of the members that provide this service. They are rather good at what they do. I must have been looking in the wrong places for a original copy of Williamson's book. In quite a few years of looking for it, I've only come across two copies. 1 being a reprint which i obtained & 2 being a original which was not a (few pounds.) Some you win etc.

Edit, I do think that there was two copies of the original? I was once lent one & it seems to have been somewhat thicker than the one that I've got.
Regards,
Stu.

 

Hi Stu,

I was just lucky, searching online for the book from time to time and on one occasion it popped up through Amazon for £25. My edition has a plain red cover and looks to have been published in 1951; I seem to remember that my father's edition had a photograph on the front cover - similar to the copy now on sale through Amazon for a mere £362 ...

Alec

 

Hi Alec,

see the image below, its the image below which is on the front cover that i have & continues onto the back cover has well. You must have a edition that I've not come across before (plain red cover?) Can you please show a copy of the front & back covers if possible? I was looking at the last page of the book that i have & it says; THE COVER DESIGN The photograph on the cover of this book shows an infantry battalion of 4 Division moving forward through an Italian village! You have been rather lucky at £25.00 & has for the chap / bookshop that wants a (mere £362) he, or she can go & take a running jump.

The reprint that i mentioned has a white cover that has a slightly different front cover. It shows the the Divisional sign & has the authors name on it. The maps are of a poor reprint & the illustrations are not much better.

Stu.

 

Stu,
As requested. It's a well-printed edition, formerly owned by Ealing public library.
Alec

 

Alec.
thank-you for posting them attached files. Looks has if it had a front cover in the past? It is nice to see it. Thanks.

Stu.

 

Can anyone tell me what the '56' indicates in the attached photo, presumably taken on 11 May 1945 atop an unknown mountain in Greece?

Alec

 

Each unit in the Division was given a number and that number was written against the background of a colour or more that one colour.

This allowed the planning staff to allocate the unit to its position in the Movement Order and allowed the Royal Military Police controlling the convoy move to easily identify the unit as it rolled passed.

Regards

Frank

 

Just out interest, what does the HPIT, or BPIT mean in the above photo? I've not seen that acronym before. Nice photo by the way.

Regards,
Stu.

 

BRIT!

 

Thank-you Charley.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Alec.

This is what you need.

Regards

Frank