Trying to find out anything about Ship or Convoy that transported men of 139 Inf Bgde from Liverpool to Algiers 23/24 Dec 1942 (embarked). Pretty sure from records my Grandad made that journey. Part of 46 Division.
The closest one that meets your dates is one that departed both Clyde (Glasgow) and Liverpool on 26th Dec 1942 Arnold Hague convoy database - KMF convoys Convoy KMF.6 Depart Clyde on 26 December 1942. Arrive Algiers on 3 January 1943. Hague's records contain 13 merchants and 8 escorts (9 ships TDS) BANFF ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 BOISSEVAIN (Du) 52 14,134 1937 2990 TROOPS ALGIERS CITY OF EDINBURGH (Br) 23 8,036 1938 STORES FOR MALTA GIB TO ALGIERS CITY OF PRETORIA (Br) 12 8,049 1937 STORES FOR MALTA GIB TO ALGIERS CLARE ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 DERBYSHIRE (Br) 22 11,660 1935 3184 TROOPS ALGIERS EGRET ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (Br) 32 21,833 1914 3566 TROOPS ORAN60 DAYS REPAIR EXE ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 FISHGUARD ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 HERANGER (Nor) 43 4,877 1930 STORES FOR MALTA GIB TO ALGIERS LANARKSHIRE (Br) 53 9,816 1940 STORES FOR MALTA GIB TO ALGIERS LOYAL ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 NEA HELLAS (Br) 31 16,991 1922 3651 TROOPS ALGIERS ORMONDE (Br) 21 14,982 1917 2385 TROOPS ORAN ORONTES (Br) 42 20,097 1929 3104 TROOPS ORAN STAFFORDSHIRE (Br) 11 10,683 1929 2165 TROOPS ALGIERS STRATHAIRD (Br) 41 22,281 1932 4065 TROOPS ALGIERS TEST ESCORT 26/12 - 03/01 VANOC ESCORT 02/01 - 03/01 WINDSOR CASTLE (Br) 51 19,141 1922 2397 TROOPS PHILIPEVILLE Formatting has gone a little array but I am sure you can work it out TD
Here is the one TD refers to: It is a tricky period for convoys generally. The Med had sort of become available again after Operation Torch, leaving the much longer troop convoy routes (WS Series) via South Africa more or less redundant. However, I think KMF 6 still lost two ships to enemy air attack during the voyage.
That’s brilliant. Really appreciate this info. Think that’s definitely the convoy he must have been on. Tried trawling the internet, but from what I’m seeing so far, this is the best place to try, am gradually putting his journey throughout war together. Thank you again, will mean a lot to my family.
Page 17 of the 46 Div history. 139 Bde embarked at Liverpool on Xmas Eve 42. The "Derbyshire" gets a mention.
Thanks again!! My Grandads records says he embarked 23/12/42, disembarked N Africa, 5/1/43. I’ve just been looking at images of Derbyshire, it’s lovely to be able to picture these things. As usual, he didn’t talk much about all this when I was younger, he passed away 2002. Now trying to find out as much as I can for my dad & myself. I was an armourer in RAF 85-2007, thanks again for the help. Thank you for taking the time.
Seeing these statistics, what immediately springs to mind is the heavy responsibility of the escort vessels; they had to protect the lives of roughly 27.500 troops.
My dad sailed to North Africa with KMF 06 on the Boissevain. They (164 Battery) lost all their equipment and a few of their colleagues when the SS Benalbanach (part of KMS 06) was sunk. For an idea of what it was like to travel with these convoys, and a few first hand accounts, take a look here: Sergeant ACK-ACK: Operation Torch convoys
Hi 139 inf Bde went to Greece from Italy in December 1944 and was part of ARKFORCE (23rd Armd Bde, 2 Para Bde, 139 Inf Bde, 3 Gk Mtn Bde) responsible for holding onto Athens until 2 Divisions of reinforcements could arrive from Italy and Egypt. 139 Inf Bde was tasked to defend the nearby port of Piraeus. My father was in Athens with 23rd Armd Bde at the same time. If if turns out your grandad was still with 139 Inf Bde by then, I have quite a lot of material you might be interested in. Gus - RAF Scopey (TG12) 1983-2005.
Harben1705. 139 Inf Bde had three Infantry battalions and a bunch of Combat Support and Combat Service Support sub-units in it. Do you know which Regiment or Service your grandfather belonged to? The Infantry Battalions were 2/5 Leicesters, 5 Foresters and 16 DLI. Regards Frank
Thank you. From what I can make out from my Grandads records, he was redesignated 520 Inf Bde Coy 7.4.43 (RASC) I know he went to Italy, probably Salerno landing with 46 Division. Think he was in Greece 16.3.44 - 27.6.44 part of MEF (Middle East Force?) then to Allied Army Italy 28.6.44 Have a picture of him on leave in Egypt (In his records says "Leave HRM (Sud?) Egypt. 6th to 10th April 44. We have a couple of shell cases with the 46 Div Oak Tree symbol etched into them, and "Africa, Italy, Greece, Austria" Just trying to get a more in depth picture of where he went in more detail.
He was a driver in RASC. 139 Inf Bde to start with for Torch, then got redesignated to 520 Inf Bde Coy RASC 7.4.43, from his records, went to Italy, Greece, back to Italy then up into Austria with 46 Division to Graz 25.5.46. Trying to find out more about his journey.
War Diary references for 520 Coy RASC 1943 - 1946 Royal Army Service Corps: 520 Company (RASC) | The National Archives Reference: WO 169/11941 Description: Royal Army Service Corps: 520 Company (RASC) Date: 1943 Apr.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Companies: 520 Coy. | The National Archives Reference: WO 170/2551 Description: Companies: 520 Coy. Date: 1944 Jan.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Companies: 520 Coy. | The National Archives Reference: WO 170/5792 Description: Companies: 520 Coy. Date: 1945 Jan.- Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Companies: 520 Coy. | The National Archives Reference: WO 170/8388 Description: Companies: 520 Coy. Date: 1946 Jan.- Apr., June Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) TD
I’m now wondering if my Grandad stayed with the 139 Inf Bde throughout the war. Unfortunately on his records there’s no movements recorded between 6-44 & 9-45. Even though he was redesigated 520 Coy RASC, thinking that unit may have stayed with 139 Bde. Think I’ll have to visit Kew, to see the 520s war diaries.