Green Howards

Hi it was my late farther in law 14675411 Pte Thomas Griffin he was posted to B Company 6th Green Howard's 8/11/1943 at the age of 18years thanks Dave

Take a look at this link which Paul Cheall has kindly posted on the website about his father. Wilf Shaw was in the 6th Green Howards.


Book, War Diary story and biography of Bill Cheall - WW2 soldier, Dunkirk, D-Day memoir and war diary, World War 2, army soldier

Lesley

 

Hi can anyone please give me any information regarding B company 6th Green Howard,s D Day my farther in law 14675411 served in this company and i would like any info or books available cheers Dave

Hi Dave, I'm Wilf Shaw, served with 6th Green Howards from June 1940 to June 1946, I was Company Signaller with B Coy from the action at Wadi Akarit to the end of operations in Sicily, For Overlord I was Platoon Signaller to the Anti Tank Platoon, wish I could say I knew someone by the name of Griffin but I can bring no one to mind with that name, If your Father-in-law landed on 'D'Day he would have had a pretty rough time,sorry I cant help you further but if you feel like asking me any questions I will be only too pleased to try and answer them, I'm a real old sweat now, almost 93 years of age.

Sincerely Wilf Shaw

 

Hi Wilf
Thank you for replying to South Lancashire's query.
I see you have managed to find your way around the forum at last.
I am sure other members will look forward to more of your postings.

Lesley

 

Hi Dave, I'm Wilf Shaw, served with 6th Green Howards from June 1940 to June 1946, I was Company Signaller with B Coy from the action at Wadi Akarit to the end of operations in Sicily, For Overlord I was Platoon Signaller to the Anti Tank Platoon, wish I could say I knew someone by the name of Griffin but I can bring no one to mind with that name, If your Father-in-law landed on 'D'Day he would have had a pretty rough time,sorry I cant help you further but if you feel like asking me any questions I will be only too pleased to try and answer them, I'm a real old sweat now, almost 93 years of age.

Sincerely Wilf Shaw

Good day Wilf and welcome to the forum.

[You should also be designated as a 'WW2 Vet' on your profile if you did military service between 1940 and 1946].

 

Good day Wilf and welcome to the forum.

[You should also be designated as a 'WW2 Vet' on your profile if you did military service between 1940 and 1946].

Hi Jos

I have already asked for his Veteran status now he has posted

Lesley

 

Hello Andy,

Oslo, Norway.

Fifty Div returned to the UK in December 1944 as a Training Cadre, with its manpower downscaled significantly. I am not certain that it would have had a 6th Bn Green Howards at the time it left for Norway, more likely a composite battalion; with 7th Bn Green Howards and 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

Graham has information that suggests that his father was in '50 Division Rifle Company' (whatever that was) - he had previously been in the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment.

I have next to no information on manpower complements during this period...

Best,

Steve.
Hi Both,

Yes my Uncle was posted to the 50th Division Rifle Company 8 August 1945 and was then posted to Norway until December of that year in Operation Doomsday. I can't find any reference to the 50 Div Rifles in the database and so can't locate the diaries.
I attach a page from his Service and Casualty Form showing the entry, it does mention being absorbed into another unit but I don't understand the abbreviations perhaps you can help?

Thanks
Graham

 

Hello Graham,

Your uncle was taken on strength 50 Div Rifle Coy (from HQ Second Army Defence Coy) on 8 August 1945 and was on embarkation leave - presumably for Norway - between 12 and 20 August 1945. Included in the narrative is merely the authority under which his posting was effected. Interesting is the '(AGIA)' - could this be a reference to an Army Group IA? I can't fathom what the IA stands for though...

I ran the whole question of what/who was 50th Division Rifle Coy past Wilf Shaw, but he couldn't assist with this one; link: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/user-introductions/51038-ww2-veteran-5.html#post557896 - see messages # 45 and 47.

Best,

Steve.

 

Thanks Steve,
It is a bit of a mystery, can't find anything that relates to 50th Division Rifle Company at the moment. Are you sure that is 1A or IA? I know he was with SHAEF for a time, could that be the reference to HQ?

Graham

 

Not AGIA and probably not relevant, but AGAI (Army General Administrative Instruction) is an acronym in use in the British Army today.

I'm not sure if it was current in 1945 though...

 

Hi Owen Farther in Law, he joined in 1943 age 18 years and was on gold beach D Day with B coy 6th Green Howard's wounded 17/6/44 stayed on duty. later tran's 4th k.o.s.b 10/12/44 until discharge 28/10/46 thanks for your help

 

Hello Graham,

I don't know if it is 1A or IA...

HQ Second Army was the Headquarters of the British (and initially Canadian) land forces in NW Europe. It served immediately under 21st Army Group - Monty.

I understand that the conceptual origin of British Land Forces Norway (BLFN) and other similar organisations, was at SHAEF; amongst their brief being the need to protect the civilian population and help restore civil affairs in liberated countries. I know Norway based German's (soldiers) accused of war crimes were arrested by the BLFN, stood trial and if found guilty were imprisoned or executed, as appropriate.

Best,

Steve.

 

Hello Graham,

I don't know if it is 1A or IA...

HQ Second Army was the Headquarters of the British (and initially Canadian) land forces in NW Europe. It served immediately under 21st Army Group - Monty.

I understand that the conceptual origin of British Land Forces Norway (BLFN) and other similar organisations, was at SHAEF; amongst their brief being the need to protect the civilian population and help restore civil affairs in liberated countries. I know Norway based German's (soldiers) accused of war crimes were arrested by the BLFN, stood trial and if found guilty were imprisoned or executed, as appropriate.

Best,

Steve.
Thanks for that Steve, Don't suppose there is any progress on war diaries for the period?
Cheers
Graham

 

Hello Dave,

Your best bet for finding out about the movements of 'B' Coy, 6th Bn Green Howards between the 8 November 1943 and 10 December 1944 is to acquire the War Diaries (as listed by Andy above and at Message # 8); although as they were training down in East Anglia at first you may decide not to go for the 'WO 169/10219 6 Green Howards 1943 Jan.-Nov. and WO 166/12556 6 Green Howards 1943 Dec.' War Diaries.

There are no guarantees that the War Diary will refer to 'B' Coy that often and it is rare for them to refer to 'other ranks' by name unless awarded a medal, mentioned in dispatches or similar.

If you are interested in acquiring the War Diary(s) you should refer to Message # 8 and Andy's signature (red).

Best,

Steve.

 

interesting,my grandfathers number was similar he was GSC in 42 then Loyals in 43 then South Staffs and finally 6th Green Howards June 44 until dmob in 46

 

Tiny little summary here that might help somebody:

 

I've been reading quite a bit about the Green Howards in Malaya (they spent a lot of time in Tampin, where my grandfather was with 54-bty) and recently came across and purchased three CD-Roms of the early issues of the Friends of the Green Howards Newsletter. I have only read Issue 5, on National Service and Malaya, but if anybody's interested in the material on these pages (most probably Issues 4 & 10: click cover image for contents), post here or drop me a line and I'll sort them out and upload them.

The Green Howard and Friends of the Green Howards Museum Newsletters

I seem to have Issues 1 to 6 & 10 to 12.

As you can see from these examples it's a pleasingly detailed publication.