Research on a soldier: John Heslington, 16 DLI, 15/09/1943

Hi all! I'm a new User in this forum. Somebody can help me? I ask if there is a photo or some documents about a soldier missing in Mediterranean area. His name was John Heslington, killed in 1943 and born in 1923.
Freesoldier

 

Is this him??

UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
Name: John Heslington
Given Initials: J
Rank: Private
Death Date: 15 Sep 1943
Number: 4469800
Birth Place: Durham (County)
Residence: Durham (County)
Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
Theatre of War: Italy
Regiment at Death: Durham Light Infantry
Branch at Death: Infantry

TD

Casualty
Private
HESLINGTON, JOHN
Service Number 4469800
Died 15/09/1943
Aged 20
16th Bn.
Durham Light Infantry
Son of John and Albertina Heslington, of Low Spennymoor, Co. Durham.

 

Seems there are still Heslington families in Spennymoor, that may be the best source of a photo.
He is commemorated in the Spennymoor War Memorial in the Town Hall (Column 2) as well as the Memorial in Cheapside.

 

16 DLI were part of 139 Infantry Brigade who were themselves part of 46 Infantry Division. At the time of his death on 15 Sep 44, 46 Infantry Division were fighting to break through the Gothic Line.

The Division had crossed the River Conca and stalled in front of Coriano Ridge. After a massive and successful attack by 1 Armoured Division and 5 Canadian Armoured Division on Coriano Ridge, the Division was pushed left towards Montescudo and it was in this operation that he was killed.

Regards

Frank

 

I am at the Cassino Memorial in May 18 if you would like a photo of his name on that memorial.

Regards

Frank

 

Apply for his service records
Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK

 

Yes, thank you.

 

Is there a photo on a document or a newspaper?

Like WW1; I saw some soldiers on newspaper of 1916

 

Welcome to the forum, Freesoldier.

You may wish to contact Jim who runs this Durham Light Infantry rememberance site: 16 DLI N.Africa & Italy

Best,

Steve.

 

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
28 South Terrace, Spennymoor, Durham
NAME DOB OCCUPATION
John Heslington 29 Oct 1888 Incapacitated
Albertina Heslington 30 Jan 1895 Unpaid Domestic Duties
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Raymond Heslington 01 Jan 1920 Incapacitated
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.

 

There's a good Peter Hart Voices From The Front account of the battalion at this time, helpfully entitled 16th Durham Light Infantry in Italy 1943-45; I got mine (in Kindle format) from Amazon for £4-odd I think.

 

I did some researches, he was in Salorno. But is there a Durham's regiment website ?

 

I've asked to an official website, for example a Veterans Association....I don't know how contact Jim

 

DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY 1920-46
"then please contact me at whoproudlyserved(at)gmail.com - replace (at) with @"


TD

 

Hi Freesoldier,
There is a Durham Light infantry Association and Friends Group they have a blog on it they link to the website mentioned above ?

DLI Museum Friends

When you ask for documents ? What type of documents do you mean or need?
Can you tell us a little more about your interest in 4469800 Pte Heslington ?

I sense a little reluctance in contacting Jim ? .....so I asked your questions for you...

Do you have any documents relating to 4469800 Heslington ?

Answer;- What kind of documents ? Service records ? Apply to the MoD. I have the casualty notifications that`s all.

Do you have a photo of Heslington ?

Answer;- No, well not knowingly I have group photos but these are un-named?

Do you know if there`s any newspaper reports featuring Heslington ?

Answer;- Not aware of any ? This isn`t someone selling medals is it?

There you have it

Kyle

 

Well, I'm interested to search more about killed in WW2 in my town and I haven't documents, any help is good for me

 

Freesoldier,
Thank you for clarifying your interest in 4469800 Pte Heslington , as this soldier has no known grave I am assuming you have already sourced some information to suggest he was killed in your Town ? I`ll ask for his listing to be sent over to me. What I wonder are you in possession of to suggest you know his place of death?

Kyle

 

Your previous enquiry was regarding Castel di Sangro, which the Allies reached in late 1943.

This enquiry mentions that Heslington was in Salorno, but that's in the Tyrol area where the Allies didn't reach in 1943.
Do you mean SALERNO,

Which is your home town, in Italy? What information do you have to connect Heslington with Salorno, and how did he get there, was he an escaped PoW?

The 16th Bn lost 4 men that day, 3 have known graves in Salerno
HORN, LAWRENCE HORACE. Private. 4464776. Wednesday, September 15, 1943. Age 29
SALERNO WAR CEMETERY. Durham Light Infantry

BROOM, CHARLES. Private. 4203718. Wednesday, September 15, 1943. Age 27
SALERNO WAR CEMETERY. Durham Light Infantry.

RICHARDSON, THOMAS. Corporal. 4466269. Wednesday, September 15, 1943. Age 31
SALERNO WAR CEMETERY. Durham Light Infantry

but Heslington has no known grave and is commemorated at Cassino
HESLINGTON, JOHN. Private. 4469800. Wednesday, September 15, 1943. Age 20.
CASSINO MEMORIAL. Durham Light Infantry

Broom and Richardson were originally buried at Pontecagnano. Horn was recovered, amongst many others from "isolated sites".
It probably needs someone to access the War Diary to see what happened and where.