Lancashire Fusiliers - Sangro

as to Drews post, #15, what is a NoK?

 

Next of Kin

 

Truebrit -
it appears that you have a fixation over Tripoli - so let me give you another scenario

- after the fighting in North Africa finished in the early May - the 78th Division were scheduled to take part in the Sicily invasion on July 10th --- so they had time for some rest and recreation...many units were spread all down the Tunisian coast close to the beaches which line that coast - and leave passes were issued - usually for places like Tunis - Souse - Sfax ( I had a whole week in Tunis before going to Italy) - and even as far down as Tripoli - and at that time there was NO fighting anywhere near Tripoli. Fighting there finished in March '43 with the battle for Medenine !

SOME units of 78th Div may have embarked at Tripoli for the journey to Sicily but I believe most embarked through Tunis - Bizerta and Souse.

His service records will not show this but it will show if he changed regiments - but I doubt that he did change !

Cheers

 

its good now to also know what he began as, in the pioneer corps, ty drew... and ty everyone for giving me a clearer view of what he did, and how alas, in the end he gave his life... I wish i had have known him, but I know I am extremely proud of him

 

any idea of why, he would have started as a pioneer corp and then become a lancashire fusilier ?

 

truebrit -
Many motives could change a man's thinking - he might have thought that weilding a pick and shovel were not too much of a contribution so he wanted to fight back - possible revenge for an Air Raid ....many motives !

Cheers

 

I watched a very good/intersting programme today called 'Churchill's German Army' (Report to follow).

Basically the Germans that came to Britain just before the outbreak of war were only allowed initially into the Pioneer Corps building Camps etc.

The four who I took notes on in the programme went onto serve in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Army and Marines. So like Tom says a change is as good as a rest

Regards
Andy

 

ooh ty tom and drew, I assumed that he, didnt choose to change regiment, but that he would have hmmm, been seconded into another unit? I hadnt thought about him changing, out of choice, sorry, but I just assumed in ww2, you would basically go where told? I didnt realise, or just didnt think... about him choosing, a different regiment

Yes I read somewhere today or yesterday about the polish german and I think russians?...moving into the pioneer corps, so the pioneer corps were more or less hmmm builders of the army so to speak? (sorry i hadnt heard of them before yesterday lol )

 

Ive emailed the Pioneer corps and I have more news!
Harry was with them after enlisting at birmingham and joined the 4 centre pioneer corps in May 1940 (anyone know where that is) he then was transfered into the west yorkshire regiment in Oct 1940 (Is there a west yorkshire regiment website or association?)

 

Truebrit -

you mean ....DUH.....the Lancashire Fusiliers came from Yorkshire - looks like someone is confused here ...it could be me of course.....but living in Canada I still recognise that there isn't much love lost between Lancashire and Yorkshire ?

Cheers

 

but there two totally seperate regiments arent they?
this is what the pioneer corps fella said...
Your uncle enlisted at Birmingham and joined 4 Centre Pioneer Corps on 9 May 40 for training. He was transferred to the West Yorks Regt on 16 Oct 40

 

True brit -
the sooner you get the service records for this chap the better as we are already starting to go around the circus - it may be that when he left the pioneer Corp - he then joined the West Yorkshires, if there is such a regiment ! - then finally finished up in the Lancs Fusiliers - and the reciords will show that - meanwhile - we are just guessing....

Cheers

 

All the Yorkshire Regiments like the Green Howards, PWO's Duke of Boots etc are now called (Imaginatively) The Yorkshire Regiment if that helps.

A google search of the above should return a fair few hits.

Regards
Andy

 

Owen -
You have pin pointed the reason I queried this regiment - they were in the forgotten army out in Burma - and it looks like they were in 4th Indian Div at Ethiopia - didn't know that !

Cheers

 

They were in Bosnia in 2004 too....But they were all from Humberside and Fiji. They found out on that tour they were no longer going to be the PWO and were mighty upset by it. I remember everyone giving them a wide birth for a while

Cheers
Andy

 

Neither did I. The only time I see the Falklands mentioned during WW2 was when one of the damaged cruisers retreated their during The Battle of the River Plate.

Sorry back to Italy

 

Ive had the papers come thru this morn to apply for his service recors, so fingers crossed we'll all know soon lol and Owen? in your post #37, whats an ITB? Thank you all so much for helping me to find out as much as I already have now it really is appreciated

 

True brit -
ITB - Infantry Training Battalion !

Cheers