Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment

Does anybody know my dad please? His name was Leslie Kenneth Lewis. He served with PLKR in North Africa, Sicily, Italy (Monte Cassino) but not in France aftrwards. He drove bren gun carriers and was also a supplies/personnel driver. He may also have been known as Charlie, Chas or Lew Lewis. He was always singing and whistling I am eager to get any details of his army career as possible so if anybody can help please I would be most grateful, i.e company etc. I know he was in the Battleaxes. He sadly passed away aged 91 on Boxing Day 2013 unexpectedly after a short illness. Thank you.

 

Hi New Chap

My granddad was in 1st Battallion, Princess Louise's Regiment, 13th London at Cassino, where he died. I don't really understand enough about regiments/battallions to know how much of a far shot this is, but this is a photograph of him (back row, fourth from left). Would you recognise him if he were in it?

Best wishes



Carla

 

Carla.

What was your grandfather's full name?

Regards

FdeP

 

Hi, it was William Baxter, 6208434. But my husband, a former Lt Col and general know-it -all has really confused me now, saying there's no such regiment and that it's a TA regiment. Would it have formed part of the Middlesex regiment?

All best wishes



Carla

 

As an aside, my mum's talking about him on a programme by Melvyn Bragg on iPlayer at the moment - Reel History of Britain, Part 1, Evacuuees. Her name's Kitty and she's the first one interviewed. So very sad.

 

Carla,

I've just watched the episode, which included the section of your mother talking about her own father...the Camberwell area caught some major German bombings later in 1940 (the railway areas around Loughboro' Junction etc)...my grandmother/father lived in Shakespeare Rd, 'Erne Hill

You'll find quite a bit about the Kensingtons and how they supported the 78th Div further up on this thread...and this "should" explain the Regimental associations of 1st Kensingtons.

The London Regiment had, of course, been disbanded in the late 1930s (to be renewed in the 1990s) so the Kensingtons weren't then 13th Londons during the war as TNA try to suggest with their war diary markings....you can mention to your husband that some of the most outstanding actions carried out during this period was undertaken by "TA units".. the Kensingtons amongst them. Coincidentally, I was chatting last week to the chap who runs their small museum in Coulsden and about 1st Kensingtons.

The dates of your grandfather's death was during the period that the 78th Div were scattered far and wide across the Cassino massif - a dreadful few weeks (amongst so many) for all during Apr 1944....

BAXTER, WILLIAM

Rank: Private
Service No: 6208434
Date of Death: 05/04/1944
Age: 42
Regiment/Service: Middlesex Regiment 1st Bn. Princess Louise's Kensington Regt.
Grave Reference: I. A. 3. Cemetery:
CASSINO WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Husband of Henrietta Baxter, of Camberwell, London.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2608139/BAXTER,%20WILLIAM

I got the chance last May (along with Frank and many others) to walk the grounds of the CWGC cemetery near Cassino town - I spent half a day to pause at each of the grave markers to thank the many men who did not return to their families.

best

 

Carla.

I am out in Cassino next week guiding a group if you would like a photo of Pte Baxter's headstone.

Send me a PM with your email address and I will send it to you as a digital photo.

Regards

Frank

 

Wow - what wonderful things to come home to - thank you both so, so much. It's a lovely thought to have someone pausing for reflection at the grave markers.

Frank, thank you so much for that offer, and I would love to take you up on it. It will make my mum very happy too!

With so many thanks to you both



Carla

 

Carla,

You should try to get to Cassino CWGC cemetery one of these days....when you're there on your own and can listen to the tolling of the bells rolling down from the abbey, it's quite a thing. It can get quite busy in mid May but even then arriving at 8am or so, you can be on your own.

A number of my Dad's mates are buried in the cemetery there and I had a chance to go back with him in 1997 and this was perhaps the first time I had ever heard him speak about the events of 1944.

You might have spotted this Facebook page created by Jeffrey Hughes, who's contributed to this thread .. though not sure if it's a closed group (edit update - it is).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/232956486883253/

best

 

Carla

I echo what Richard has said about visiting Cassino War Cemetery.

My father fought at Cassino and although he survived the war, it was a very moving experience when I visited last May to pay my respects to his mates buried there.


Lesley

 

Carla.

If you do want to go, get in touch with me by PM and I will tell you when I am next going.

Regards

Frank

 

Yes Carla! I believe that my dad is the chap sitting next to the sergeant on the right-hand side of him as you look at the photo! Thank you so much for that.

 

Carla

Before - IF and when you go to the Cassino Cemetery you should google for " a Return to Cassino " by Stan Scislowski - which

will give you an idea of what to expect - and while there - listen to the Nightingales sing.

Cheers

 

What fantastic messages - thank you all so much.

Frank - will PM you.

Richard, jonboy and Lesley - thank you too!

Marion, that's pretty mind blowing if it is your dad! I suppose there are no records in existence that your'e aware of where we could cross-check that? Because that would be just amazing!

All best wishes




Carla

 

Carla

A little background here relating to the CWGC at Cassino.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/86/a4062386.shtml

Ron

 

I shall enjoy that Ron, thank you. By the way, the pocket-sized history of you is fascinating!

All best wishes



Carla

 

Is that you in it?




Carla

 

There really wasn't too much in that to make a adult cry, but it did! Thank you.




Carla

 

Carla

More Cassino pics here on the Forum Gallery under "Ron's return to Cassino"

http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/member/341-ron-goldstein/

Good luck in your research 1

Ron

 

Hi Carla, unfortunately I have no records but after a helluva lot of searching the internet I do have a copy of the PLKR book. I have a photo of my dad whilst he was serving and the resemblance to the chap in the picture is uncanny, hence why I think it's my dad. I have attached the photo.
Warm regards,
Marion