Lost War diary's of 2 North Staffs Jan/June 44?

Hi all,

Just an update in case anyone else is looking for the 2 North Staffs WDs for Jan - May 44. They are there in the same file as the Jun-Dec 1944 ones; its just the description in TNA Discovery is wrong.

Regards,
Gary.

 

Gary,
I look forward to receiving them from yourself. I owe you a barrel of ale on the next study. Well, at least a good few bottles. You would get three likes from me if i knew how to do it? Patience pays at last & someone having a look on my behalf.

Thank-you.
Stu.

 

Gary,
can you please let me know what the relevant WO files Nos are? The only one that i can see is WO 170/1487. JAN-DEC. 44.
Sorry if I'm missing the obvious here.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Stu,

That's the one. It looks like they acted on my note to them that the description was wrong - it used to be Jun-Dec 44.

I'm still without internet and I'm having to use my phone as a hotspot; once it gets sorted I'll send over all of them.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

As a taster here are the company and platoon positions on 7th/8th February on Buonriposo Ridge before the attack that more or less overran the battalion. They could only muster 230 men later in the day including B Echelon. They were withdrawn to reform but while doing so were caught by shelling causing another 26 casualties. Not a good day for 2 North Staffords.

 

Gary.

Awesome map. Would you mind emailing me the WDs?

Frank

 

Frank,

Sure, as soon as I get broadband sorted.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

Fab.

F

 

Blimey, that's the only Regiment that used that map in the diaries that I've seen up to press. That puts them second to the [1 DWR ]
for overall casualty rates. Over time, its a shame that this Regiment / battalion never went to press. Its criminal.. You don't mind if I forward on to the museum?
Regards
Stu.

 

Hi Stu,

I'll be going to the museum in mid-February. My parents live within walking distance (okay a mile) of it.

7 Ox and Bucks have all the maps in their WDs btw.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

This is good news - thanks for the heads-up, Gary. Am I right in thinking the WDs are not digitised? My better half's grandfather was 2 North Staffs, killed in the action on 7/8 February, so it'll be one to add to the Kew wishlist.

Cheers, Pat.

 

Gary,

Another job not needed to do. Top job & thanks.

Is the museum on the north-east ring road out of Stafford & I think its the A 518 going east? A large barracks on the eastern side.

Stu.

 

Pat.

If you and your better half want to see what happened to 2 N STAFFS up on Buonriposo Ridge on that fateful night of 7-8 Feb 44, I am taking a group there on 7-10 Jun 18.

You will quickly realise why they got overrun so brutally by the Germans.

Regards

Frank

 

Hi Pat,

No, they aren't digitised but when I manage to get broadband I'll gladly send you them. What was the name of your better half's grandfather? I took photos of all the North Staffs graves when in Anzio with Frank last year.

I also have the WO361 2 North Staffs missing file which has a few eye witness accounts of the events of that night.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

Hi Stu,

It's at Whittington Barracks, just off the A51 between Lichfield and Tamworth. Quite a way from Stafford.

The barracks is now home to Defence Medical Services.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

Frank - thanks for the kind offer, PM sent.

Gary - thanks for your kind offer too, the WD and WO361 would be absolutely fantastic. I don't think there's a grave though: he was 5053528 Pte Frederick Neville Smith, originally posted as missing as I'm sure many men were; eventually someone on leave visited his wife to say he was seen to drive a carrier into a farmhouse courtyard, at which point the Germans threw grenades into it.

Cheers, Pat.

 

Pat.

You are right. Pte FN Smith is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial in Cassino. It is the place where the names of all those whose bodies have never been found are listed for the Italian Campaign.

I suspect that the farmhouse still exists though.

Regards

Frank

 

Pat,

I'll have a look through the WO361 file over the weekend see what references there are about Pte Smith.

Cheers,
Gary.

 

That's handy. Frank helped me take all of the 2/7 Middlesex graves Nos that I have in a book In both cemetery's in 2016.. I do look forward to getting the rest in the summer. Pat, if you get the chance to go on a study with Frank, then its something you should do..
It is rather cheap for what you see. A worth wile experience.

It will be a change to see Anzio in the summer has against February.

Regards.
Stu.

 

Hi Pat,

I had a look through the WO361 file and despite many comms being sent out to survivors and ex-PoWs there are no direct witness testimonies to the fate of Pte Smith. The closest I found is attached. Looking at the map above I'm guessing the location referred to would have been on the track between C and D Coys.

Cheers,
Gary.

PS I will also be on Frank's Anzio trip.