Durham L.I. background info (excluding CWGC) sort on the following ; Frederick Leonard Williams of Pembrokeshire KIA D.L.I. 21 Mar 1943 on the Mareth Line. He was born I believe at Martletwy in 1917 the son of of William & Elizabeth Thomas nee’ Howells of Martletwy who mrd in the locality in early 1916. Frederick was the 2nd man from the village to die in W.W. 2. Slightly out of this thread but hope this is permissible, looking for info on his service with the 1st Batt D.L.I. Captain George Foley Philipps of the Ridgeway Narberth, 2nd son of Charles E.G. Philipps. George served with the 1st Batt Durham L.I. during W.W. 1 and the Welsh Guards. Died of double pneumonia at the age of 51 in 1930 and had preivous mrd the widow of Baron de Rutzen who was KIA, in 1916. He is buried at Slebech Pembrokeshire Pvte Iorwerth Jones, CWGC place the man with the 16th Btn D.L.I., nbr 3969349 KIA 13 Sept 1944 buried at Coriano Ridge War Cem. However local research suggests he was a member of the Welsh Regt. He does not appear to be Pembroke born. Can anyone ascertain his correct regiment or did he transfer, possibly to serve with his brother David. Major James William Douglas Armstrong buried Maldon St John the Baptist. CWGC shows ; East Surrey Regt attached to Durham L.I., aged 25 died 22 Feb 1945 nbr 149357. Born in the Wandsworth area he was the son of Leslie Douglas Armstrong and Mary Anne Armstrong nee’ Woods mrd in the Kingston area in 1916, but of New Malden at the time of his death, James W., had mrd Gwendolene Edna Vare in the High Holborn London area in 1943. James died from gun shot wounds received on exercise in Yorkshire. An Accountant before the war he saw service at Dunkirk and had only just returned from the Western Front spending a short time at Penally. His wife had been the Sister in Charge at Woodlands Emergency Annexe Tenby Cottage Hospital. Where was he stationed (at a guess Catterick) and what was the excerise? Tks in advance Rgds Owen Ap Benfro Pembrokeshire Military Headstones 1722 to 2008
Durham L.I. background info (excluding CWGC) sort on the following ; Frederick Leonard Williams of Pembrokeshire KIA D.L.I. 21 Mar 1943 on the Mareth Line. He was born I believe at Martletwy in 1917 the son of of William & Elizabeth Thomas nee’ Howells of Martletwy who mrd in the locality in early 1916. Frederick was the 2nd man from the village to die in W.W. 2. Tks in advance Rgds Owen Ap Benfro Pembrokeshire Military Headstones 1722 to 2008 Hello Owen, Pte. Frederick Leonard Williams served with the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division. He is reported as KIA on 22 March 1943 at Mareth, the last full day of the battle, in the battalion history 'The Gateshead Gurkhas' - H Moses (County Durham Books). This accords with the CWGC information for the same soldier. CWGC has his parents as Thomas and Elizabeth Williams, of Landshipping, Pembrokeshire, his age as 26 and his service number: 4199333. This service number is from the Royal Welch Fusiliers batch of numbers. There is no known grave for this soldier, but he must have been seen KIA for the reported date to be so specific. Best, Steve.
Hello Owen, Pte. Iorwerth Jones service number: 3969349 is from the Welch Regiment batch of numbers. It would appear his service started with this regiment, but that he was transferred. There is no mention of him in 'The DLI AT War' - D Rissik (N&M Press), but this book is not as detailed as battalion histories; so not surprising. Assuming he was with the 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Brigade, 46th Division, it looks like he was KIA in the Gemmano battles. Best, Steve.
I would check to see if the officers are in the same cemetery via CWGC or Geoff's Search Engine-if they are then you man was probably killed by the Mortar Fire mentioned in the diary.
Hello Owen, Maj. JWD Armstrong joined the 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, on 'The Island' at Nijmegen on 8 October 1944 as CO of 'B' Company. On 30 November 1944 the 50 Div was informed that it was being returned to the UK as a Training Cadre, Monty saying that it had 'done enough'. Only those with long overseas service records started the journey back to the UK on 14 December 1944, others being dispersed as replacements to other units. It looks like Maj. Armstrong returned to the UK as part of the Training Cadre in order to train men from other areas of service as Infantry. The 8DLI was billeted at Keighley in Yorkshire and training ex-RASC men in fieldcraft at Keighley, street fighting in Hull, etc. They also went out onto the Ilkley and Harden Moors to put some of what had been taught/learned into pratice, using live ammunition. It was during one of these exercises on Ilkley Moor that Maj. Armstrong was fatally wounded. Source: '8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry 1939-1945' - PJ Lewis (N&M Press). Best, Steve.
Many thanks for all the info from you all, I now need to get my head round it all, understand and assimilate into my research. Rgds Owen Ap Benfro
