7014139 Rifleman James WRIGHT, Royal Irish Fusiliers

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Graham64, Mar 23, 2018.

  1. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    The stamp and date is part of a 1944 Army Census taken for Post War demobilisation planning purposes. It is seen on most statement of service forms - check other files posted on the forum.

    I think the 28 refers to his Army Service Group classification and the 1/22 may refer to the fact that on the day of the census he had been overseas 1 year and 22 days.

    Steve

    PS

    I answered the same query for you in late March.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
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  2. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Apologies....I’ve misread the date...your correct it’s 1943...in which case the offence may have been committed when he was an unposted reinforcement as per Richards post.

    It’s Part II (2) orders which will have been destroyed a long time ago.

    Steve
     
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  3. Graham64

    Graham64 Member

    Thank you again for responding to my questions....I am confident he was in Italy because I know that he had been in Milan at the death of Mussolini April 45. He had mentioned this to my mother and had photos of Mussolini's body in Milan. I believe around this time the RIF had reached the Po and were celebrating the defeat of the Germans and finalities of the war. I also have the photos of him in Milan. He also spoke about being in Africa and Austria. Unfortunately I am not able to confirm his whereabouts between his injury and this time, even though his service records say he was a Fusiliers with R.IRF until the end of the war.
    He was also mentioned in despatches as he has an leaf on his medal, but I am unable to find any details of this also.
    Regardless thank you for your input and your knowledge.
     
  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    All good (or not)...

    As you say, the missing period is from October 1943 onwards...but unless you have any other personal details, the additional research may prove tricky...as you also say the Faughs were reaching the Po on 25th April 1945 but it's also true to say that the battalion (as a whole unit) didn't ever go through Milan at any time in 1945. They went "straight" from the Po river into southern Austria. He could, of course, have re-joined the Faughs at any time during their year of peacekeeping in Austria from May 1945 onwards.

    Having a continuity of service with the Faughs is one thing but it may not necessarily mean he re-joined them in the front line (after Oct 1943, 1 RIrF went onto the Sangro, Castel di Sangro, Caira, the Liri Valley, Trasimeno, Rome, Alexandria, Monte Spaduro, Forli and Argenta amongst other places) ....back to speculation so I should stop there.

    yours
     
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  5. Graham64

    Graham64 Member

    Thanks again.....unfortunately we may never know. The only other clue I may be able to follow up on on is the mention in despatches that he was awarded, however once again I am finding it difficult to find any record of this.
     
  6. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Whilst I haven’t searched the London Gazette I would expect to see an entry of the LG reference for the MID award on his service papers - usually within the box where his Medal entitlement is recorded.

    I would also have expected to have seen reference to the issue of a MID emblem when his medals were issued by the Army Medal Office.

    With the greatest of respect - as there is no documentary evidence of the MID award - it may simply be that it has been “self awarded” and attached to his War Medal. On the other hand as WW 2 medals are not inscribed with the recipients details it may be another family members Medal that has been passed down in the family.

    Steve
     
  7. Graham64

    Graham64 Member

    Thanks again Steve for you feedback. I am intending to contact the establishment that awards medals to clarify this also.
     
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