Irish Guards Photographs

[ Ihave many of these pictures of the Irish Guards,and I wonder if any of our members can put names to some of the faces.Here is picture one:-

 

Bob.

Do you have any that refer specifically to 1st Battalion? I am interested in names for their time at Anzio in 24 Gds Bde in Jan-Mar 44.

FdeP

 

I will take a look at the disc for you.I know many Micks so I will ask if they have anything. I think the Micks were at Monte Camino acting as bearers for the Grenadiers.

 

Diane.

Fantastic. I will tip my hat to Gdsm Bradley when I am in Anzio next year. It is always good to put a face to a name.

Bob. There were no IG at Monte Camino. 1 IG were in 24 Gds Bde and Camino was a 201 Gds Bde battle. 6 GREN GDS, 2 SG and 3 COLDM GDS.

Regards

Frank

 

My late friend Fred Yates was at Monte Camino in the Grenadier Guards and was captured in the winter.I have a written written account from him that there were Irish Guards with them acting as bearers carrying ammunition and food up the mountain as the African bearers had ran away when the Germans starting shelling the mountain.Other grenadiers in the same association have said the same thing.They were there as labourers not as actual fighting troops,so you can add this to your record about the Micks in Italy.

 

Bob.

That is very odd. The only thing that I can think of is that they were there as individual reinforcements - it was very commonplace in the Foot Guards to borrow men from other parts of the Household Division. This was because they would not accept temporary reinforcements from Line Regiments and so had to rely on each other. This would have been a deal between Commanding Officers.

24 Guards Brigade were in North Africa at the time so it is highly possible that men of 1 IG would have been sent as individuals to support 201 Guards Brigade.

Regards

Frank

 

Diane.

You may well be right. Do you have a date for the photo?

Frank

 

Frank,

Yes it is odd because not many people know that the African bearers deserted and ran off when the shelling started.The Grenadiers did not have
any bearers so some Micks were sent to help out.It was a terrible battle on the mountain and freezing cold too I believe.

Best regards

Bob

 

Bob.

It certainly was. I walked the whole terrain this Summer and had a really good look at what 201 Gds Bde were asked to do. It was quite a challenge. All the advantages were with the Germans.

A very British challenge - too big an ask for so few troops. Thinking of Iraq and Afghanistan, we seemed to have learnt nothing.

Regards

Frank

 

Hello Frank, I haven't been on this site for some time but I can tell you that my Dad Frank Mears is in that photo - he's 3rd right in the back. I was on here a couple of years ago and wanted to start a write up about my Dad. I found it quite daunting and have recently decided to look at it once more. But having got his movements from someone on here I have decided to keep it personal and for the family. But that doesn't mean I am not interested in his movements in the Army, I am. I have a few photos of 1st battalion with him and I will look this one and and try to date it for you. It's hard for me to see properly but it's definitely him. I met some lovely helpful people on here the last time but I feel a bit inadequate when it comes to the military understanding of his time. He was in Norway, (disaster) Tunis and Italy. He was a sergeant and mentioned in one of the write ups as one of seven who returned, five of them wounded, I think it was Recce Ridge. He was in the 2nd company. I was unsure how to post rather large images of the 1st Battalion last time and I've been sidetracked by other things. I know one of the photos identify's all of the men in the photograph, I will endeavour to look them out. Thanks Hyacynth

 

Hyacynth.

Great to hear from you.

Which photo are you referring to?

Regards

Frank

 

Oops I think it's above and part of a conversation you were having with DBF, sorry it's a while since I was on and I thought you had posted it. I do have one photo which states the names in it. I would like to post them but they are mostly large and long, one in a frame. Thanks for responding

 

I'll have a go at putting a photo on here - one of my favourites - home after Norway and happy!

 

This one lists the names - Hyacinth

 

Frank
- as you say - the 24th Guards were in North Africa at about the time of Monte Camino- specifically with 6th Armoured Div -

however Alexander called for another Guards Bde to come to Italy - and the 24th moved to Italy - this was in very early January

so its quite possible they took part in that Battle with the 201st bde

at the same time - 16/5th Lancers - somehow went with them to Italy BEFORE the rest of 6th Armoured - and supported the Kiwi

Maori's 28th battalion at the Cassino Station - then the rest of 6th Armoured followed in dribs and drabs…

Cheers

 

Tom.

24 Gds Bde came to Italy for Op SHINGLE as part of 1 BR Inf Div in Jan 44. The attacks on Camino by 201 Gds Bde took place in Nov-Dec 43.

Given that Foot Guards insisted that only Foot rds could serve in their Battalions, it may have been that Irish Guardsman were attached - but I can find no reference to this in anything that I have read.

Frank

 

Hyacinth.

Cracking photo of the WOs & Sgts Mess. Thank you for posting.

At last, I can see what Capt DJL Fitgerald looked like. He wrote te IG Regt History and considered to be the best Regt History to come out of the war.

Regards

Frank