New User asking for help please. 60 Anti-Tank Regt RA

Hi,
I am searching for info on my husband's Uncle - Eric Welch. He was killed 13th September 1944, Italy. Buried Gradara War Cemetery.
He was Bombardier 1454194 with The Royal Artillery. 60 (5th Bn the Royal Welch Fusiliers) Anti-Tank Regt.
The family believe he was killed during the battle of Monte Cassino but i think that is the wrong timeline.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to finding the correct battle in which he was killed. I have searched all the battles online unsuccessfully,
I would be very grateful for any help supplied.
Many thanks
Chris

 

Chris,

From a mix of Wiki and other sources, I believe the 60th A/Tk Regiment RA were with 1st British (edit) Armoured Division from April 1944 to the end of Sept 1944. The period that your husband's uncle was killed would have been during the bitter fighting at the Gothic Line, which took place during August/September 1944...

A number of lads on this forum served during this battle..

WELCH, ERIC
Rank: Bombardier
Service No: 1454194
Date of Death: 13/09/1944
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 60 (5th Bn.The Royal Welch Fusiliers) Anti-Tank Regt
Grave Reference: I, B, 31.
Cemetery: GRADARA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Edward George and Edith Welch, of Shotton, Flintshire.
edit - the CWGC list 110 men who are buried at Gradara and who were killed on 13th Sept 1944.

best

 

Richard

Can't find the connection of 60 AT regiment with 1st Div but they MIGHT have been with 18th Bde over with the Polish Division near Ancona at the time

this chap was killed to be buried at Gradara which was one of two open at that early stage of the Gothic Line battles…

Cheers

 

Tom,

Yes, thanks. I misread !!

Seemingly, the 76th A/Tk Regiment was "redesignated" as the 60th A/Tk on 1st April 1944 within 1st Armoured Div and obviously there was a fair amount of reorgn therein until the end of Sept.

best

 

Richard
1st ARMOURED makes more sense as they came up through Ancona with the Poles on our right until Cattolica when 1st AD were heading for Croce and

Gemmano - after which the 1st AD was broken up…...we lost a lot at the Gothic…

Cheers

 

Thanks Tom and Richard for your replies.
It's helped to clarify that he wasn't killed at Cassino

I found a reference to Eric Welch's regiment - 60 (Royal Welch Fusiliers) Anti Tank Regiment RA on :-

http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/atk/page17.html

where it listed the 60 Anti Tank Regiment was with 1st Armd Div in May 44 Italy and with 8 Army in Sep 44 Italy.

This is why I wasn't sure exactly which battle Eric Welch served in when he was killed.

Do you think I would be able to obtain either his service records or the war diaries. I have seen reference to these on this site but don't know which would be the best option for me to apply for.

Eric's brother and 2 sisters have now passed away and his nieces and nephews are in their 60's and 70's. I would like the younger members of his family to know of him and remember him.

Once again, thank you for your help

Regards
Chris

 

Hi Owen

Thank you for the link. Ive just clicked on it and will complete the order form.

Many thanks
Regards
Chris

 

Thank you Owen.
I will wait and see if anyone else replies re the WO link you gave me. ( Just realised the National Archive copying would be expensive.)

Yes I have seen the Service Records link so will look for that again.

Thank you
Chris

 

Chris,

Good luck with your Research.

Obtaining the Service Record is always the best way to start, even if you have to wait a while.

That way you can see exactly which unit he was with and then pehaps obtain the Units war diaries.

Regards
Tom

 

Thanks Tom

I am beginning to understand all the terminology etc a bit better now.

Will def apply for Eric's Service Record.

Regards
Chris

 

Chris
The 1st Armoured Div was always a part of 8th Army all through the desert and their last action in Tunisia was as right flank guard to the combined

attack by the joint 1st and 8th Army to take Tunis in May '43 - they were left in Tunisia for whole year until called forward to Italy where they crept

up the Adriatic coast with the Poles and as the Poles dropped out at Cattolica - they made their way towards Croce and Gemmano where they took a bad

beating which caused the Division to be disbanded around October..google for the Battle of Gemmano but only the Italian chaps account - but by then of

course your friend was dead and buried ..so I would say that he was killed at Gemmano ( near Riccione) on the 13th September '44

Cheers

 

Hi Tom.

Thank you so much for this detailed description - It is all starting to piece together now. The current family were unaware that Eric was in North Africa but a photo of him has surfaced which is probably taken in North Africa judging by the background scenery, local people and Eric's uniform.

I will google the Italian account of the battle of Gemmano as you suggest.

Many many thanks for all your help
Kind Regards
Chris

 

Hi Chris

Give me a shout if you are interested in a copy of the war diary. Looking at the CWGC entry I think you'll be fairly safe getting a copy of the 1944 diary regarding the correct unit. However if you want to find out about all of his military career I would get a copy of his service records from the MoD. They will list all of the units he served with and when.

Cheers
Andy

 

Hi Andy

Thanks for the offer. I have applied for Eric's Service Record and will get back as soon as received.

Regards
Chris