I have my Grandad's war records and would like some more information about where he was in the war. I know he was in North Africa, Italy and Egypt, but not exactly where. How can I find out about this? Family members say he landed at Anzio and in Normandy on D Day, although his records do not mention France at all. He was awarded the Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp and the Italy Star. This is the information that I have: John James Forshaw 2382783 Royal Corps Signals 56 (LONDON) Div Sigs 25/8/42 embarked for Iraq 17/10/42 disembarked Egypt 19/11/42 entered Iraq 22/3/43 SOS Paiforce to MEF 7/9/43 SOS MEF to BNAF 29/3/44 SOS BNAF embarked for MEF; order BNAF 162/44, MEF 1441/44 11/7/44 SOS MEF to BNAF; order MEF 2338/44 16/9/45 Granted 28 days leave, entrained Milan
Kathynok You have it about right as the 56th Div fought their first battle at Enfidaville Tunisia in April '43 - didn't do so well and Monty sent them off to the Xth Corps and they landed with the 5th US army at Salerno then moved North with 46th Division to near Cassino then a spell at Anzio followed by a month for recuperation in Egypt - returning to 8th Army in September'44 where they took a bad beating - along with 46th and 1st Armoured at Croce / Gemmano- you might "google" for that but only read the article by the Italians as it is the best account …. Cheers
Ignore what the family say , wonder where they got that idea from. Here are the reference numbers for 56 Div Sigs war diaries at Kew. WO 166/719 DIVISIONS: 56 DIVISION: Signals.1939 Aug.- 1940 Dec. WO 166/720 DIVISIONS: 56 DIVISION: Signals.1941 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/6410 DIVISIONS: 56 DIVISION: Signals.1942 Jan.-July WO 170/488 56 Infantry Division: Signals1944 Jan.- June WO 170/489 56 Infantry Division: Signals1944 July - Dec. WO 170/4377 56 Infantry Division: Signals1945 Jan.- Apr. WO 170/4378 56 Infantry Division: Signals1945 May - Dec. WO 170/7728 56 Infantry Division: Signals1946 Jan.- June
Kathyn. 56 Inf Div were part of the X (BR) Corps attack across the River Garigliano on 17 Jan 44 as part of the assault on the enormous Gustav Line that centred on Monte Cassino. Having got across and established themselves on Monte Damiano, they were then withdrawn and moved as reinforcementsr the lands at Anzio that had started on 22 Jan 44. The Div arrived in dribs and drabs during the first week Feb before being withdrawn in Apr 44 to Egypt. Regards FdeP
Kathryn, I think you are my cousin Gerrard's daughter and you're talking about my Uncle John here. If I am correct with this assumption, then your Grandfather was my Mother's only brother. Your Grandparents visited our home almost weekly, when I was growing up. Anyway, I have it from my family info, your Grandfather had been in a protected occupation during the early years of the war. He actually volunteered to join up. My Mother and her sisters often spoke about their brother, having been a Desert Rat, serving in Africa and Italy during WW2. There was never any mention of him being in France though. That is the first I have heard of that. Please feel free to contact me, if and when you read this.
