Hi all, Another soldier I am researching on behalf of the family. All help much appreciated. I'm particularly interested in his service in Sicily. Here is what the family have told me: [FONT="]'His full name was Noel Kenneth Hyde Bailey. He joined up as a private and ended up an acting major in the Royal Artillery. His service number was 186591. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his time in Italy.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]His unit at the Anzio landings was the 90th Light Anti Aircraft regiment. He commanded 224 battery (might have been 244 - can't quite remember). I believe he was with 90LAA before Italy too as he spent time with the South Wales Borderers from which the regiment was formed.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]If you are into a little research, I can't pin his unit down in Sicily other than he was in Catania - someone called Fichera painted his picture there in 1943. Someone else too his picture on top Etna.[/FONT] [FONT="]90LAA wasn't in Sicily but 3 other LAA regiments were. I can also remember him whinging about the heat on the Catania Plain. Didn't complain about the Germans too much though![/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]After Sicily, he was with the 8th army on the east coast before being transferred to the American 5th for Anzio. He told one or two stories about towing 40mm bofors guns across the Appenines in the middle of winter.'[/FONT] [FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]All help much appreciated.[/FONT] [FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]Cheers,[/FONT] [FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]Mat [/FONT]
Hi Mat Welcome A few things on him- RA 1939-45 90 LAA His MID should be in the London Gazette- Search Results Had a quick look here and cant see him, sometimes you have to play round with his name, use letters etc to find him! Also his promotions should be in there too! The war diaries are at National Archives - here are a couple of links- Detecting your browser settings Detecting your browser settings Must be 224 as 244 is heavy - Detecting your browser settings Some people here may be able to help further and some can look these records up for you. regards Robert
Hi Mat, I found a small number of casualties for 224 Battery buried at Syracuse, Sangro River and Beach Head Anzio War Cemeteries, so the areas N Bailey served would match this unit. They were listed as being 31 LAA Regiment, RA. If he served in this unit, he will be in the Officer returns of the war diary. A couple of Forum members offer a copying service and this would be the quickest way to establish 31 LAA Regt is the unit he served in. Only found one mention on London Gazette of 20 May 1941. Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Cheers - Rob
And there's this one in January 1945: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36886/supplements/316/page.pdf (His name is in right hand column towards the bottom)
Mat. 224 LAA Bty was one of the three Btys of 90 LAA Regt RA supporting 1 BR Inf Div at Anzio. For the landing, 224 LAA Bty's task was to protect Peter Beach and then, when it closed, be prepared to be re-tasked. Regards FdeP
