There are references to William Nangle in Peter Kemp's 'Ten Years At War: The Peter Kemp Trilogy', in the first book: 1) pg. 23 a meeting with Lieutenant Noel Patrick (possibly Irish Guards) and Nangle serving in the 5th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion, after their participation in the relief of the Alcazar 2) pg.69 Nangle and Fitzpatrick were moved to the 'Irish Brigade', a formation that was prone to quarreling and was disbanded in the summer of 1937 3) pg. 86 another meeting, Nangle now in the 4th Bandera, sketches in his history and refers to him leaving Spain for family reasons in December 1937 - Nangle was then suffering from "cafard", acquired in the Sahara, which made an awkward, sometimes dangerous companion Then in the second book on pg. 65, six years later, a meeting with Nangle in Cairo, after the war in North Africa had finished. He was then trying to join SOE after the ILRS, but he refused to be civil to senior officers and was returned to the LRDG / ILRS.
There is now a Facebook group for the ILRS: https://www.facebook.com/groups/367477725591308 This thread is shown and they are appealing for information, photos etc.
Currently working on an updated edition of my ILRS article, for publication next year in a specialist military history magazine. A few bits of the jigsaw have been found and the biggest gap is the identity of the small number of British Other Ranks (BOR) and two officers. Online searching done and now seeking help. Later today I will add a list of them (revised edition added 30/12/22).
Since the last post slight movement on two of the BOR: 1) George Collings, aka “Pat” of the Kings Liverpool Regiment. Served as an ILRS Navigator. Post-war home 17 Lothair Rd L4 and was a Liverpool City fireman. Possible line of inquiry with grandson, no reply by 10/1/23.. 2) Fred Smurthwaite, 4446993 , Durham Light Infantry. Served as an ILRS signaller. From Bishops Auckland. NT DLI records so far.
Reply from the LRDG Archivist, Hereford has added a little more. I have posted the table as an attachment and knowing that relatives etc can sometimes encounter the form when searching online I have added their limited details as follows: 3. Second Lieutenant D. G. A. Fitzgerald, Parachute Regiment; joined 21/7/1945. 4. Roy Haslam, Royal Signals 2319382, awarded BEM 14/10/1943 for his service in the Middle East 5. "Jock" Cox, ex-Scots Guards and 51 or 52 Commando 6. Todd Lever, Middlesex Yeomanry 7. Patrick Norman John Kearney, b. 1918 Kent, Sergeant Royal Signals 2323988, died 22/2/1943 in an accident @ Basra, Iraq. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...-details/2394077/patrick-norman-john-kearney/ 8. Alistair E. Braine, Royal Signals 6141536, from London. 9. Corporal Tuthill, Middlesex Regiment 6200867, possibly died at home 1956. 10. Arthur William Wichelow, RAF Airman 1680583. Only details for Jesop surname ; Owens surname ex-Welch / Welsh Regiment; Gregory surname, Royal Signals; and Sheffield surname, Royal Signals.
Finally found General Montgomery's letter of 3/4/1943 to Colonel Prendergast, then the LRDG commander The full letter states (my bold for the ILRS sentence): We are sending back the Indian Long Range Squadron to-morrow. They have done some useful jobs here — road recces, protective patrols for aerodromes, etc. — but I feel that there will be no further scope for them in the country we are now entering. I would like you to know how much I appreciate the excellent work done by your patrols and by the S.A.S. in reconnoitring the country up to the Gabes Gap. Without your careful and reliable reports the launching of the " left hook " by the N.Z. Division would have been a leap in the dark ; with the information they produced the operation could be planned with some certainty and, as you know, went off without a hitch. Please give my thanks to all concerned and best wishes from Eighth Army for the new tasks you are undertaking.
Thanks to Jim Herriott for the clue and posted on a small, active thread today re WDLO. See: WDLO (Western Desert Liaison Officers) Jim made reference to WO 208/5589/3 and in particular this passage:A report from Captain P Grandguillot on escape activity in Cyrenica. He reports the activities of an Indian Patrol in the search for escapees they picked up.[/QUOTE] From: A report from Captain P Grandguillot on escape activity in Cyrenica. He reports the... | The National Archives Given the reliance on the LRDG for transport and other help for such missions I am convinced the 'Indian Patrol' will be the Indian Long Range Squadron (ILRS). So, another file to get a copy of and an update in 2024. Liz, author of the WDLO thread has provided the two pg. report - see attachment, alas no names or a callsign referred to. On reviewing my ILRS notes this report contradicts my original information, with different dates and additional details of this patrol.
Thanks to help on FB two other TNA (Kew) files known to them: WO 218/95 War Diaries 1942 July- Dec. for ILRS: Indian Wing Long Range Sqn - See WO 169/14944 | The National Archives See also WO 172/4605 and 7360 WO 218/95/1 War Diaries 1943 Feb-July for ILRS: Indian Wing Long Range Sqn - See WO 169/14944 | The National Archives There are eight other files @ Kew, found by searching with: Search results: Indian Long Range Squadron | The National Archives Been awhile since I this project was active, so added for reference and others who visit.
