Researching family history I have discovered my uncle was killed in Italy in 1944. He was guardsman Ernest Edwin Smith sn 2663623. He is honoured on the war memorial inHorndean in hants where it has C Dsm against his name. I'd like to know what his means ? Thanks
Welcome to the forum. I'm sure that you'll get plenty of background from those knowledgeable about the Guards and the Italian Campaign. Are you sure on the memorial that it's not just a worn 'G' from 'Gdsm' - the abbreviation for Guardsman ?
Your uncle served with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2380438/SMITH,%20ERNEST%20EDWIN
Looking at the units war diary it seems to record Other Rank casualties quite well so I suspect he may have died from his wounds. Researching where he is buried in relation to the units locations and other casualties may help to strengthen this theory
Many thanks for all your replies. @rich Payne - you are undoubtedly correct and I should have thought of this but I'm not atuned to commonly used abbreviations. I think though rather than a worn memorial, the stonemason may have got it wrong.. ! See attachment. @drew5233 - many thanks, once I found the service number I found this myself. The war diary is amazing. So you think he might have been wounded on the 3rd and died of the 4th? Is that right? What does OR mean? Can anyone recommend any reading material to find out more about e war in this area of Italy and role of Coldstream Guards?
Or wounded earlier - As I mentioned look at his burial location to where the unit was in the war diary. See if you can ID the chaps killed the days before his death and look where they are buried. ORs means Other Ranks which can be pretty much anyone who isn't an officer. For further reading you could get a copy of the regimental history or the war diaries. Do you know when he joined the battalion?
Hi, Below link should take you to a free digital copy of Coldstream Guards Regimental History 1920/46 by Howard & Sparrow. Sir Michael Howard is now recognised as an eminent historian. He served 3 CG in Italy and was awarded an MC. You should consider applying for his service papers from RHQ CG at Wellington Barracks. Cost £30. The papers will provide his date if enlistment and his movements until his death. Regards Steve Y http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015048995396;view=2up;seq=8;skin=mobile PS My avatar is my father (on left) serving with 3rd CG on active service in Palestine in early 1939. He was taken POW at Antelat, Libya 22nd December 1941.
