Seaforth Highlanders and 51st Highland Division

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by Toni, Mar 15, 2012.

  1. Toni

    Toni Member

    Looking for information about seaforth highlanders and 51st Highland Division movements between 8th May 1943 and 12th July 1946.

    My Poppa (George White) was in the Seaforth Highlanders during this time and would love to find out some information about what he done during the war.

    I have been told he use to Clear Tanks???
    Got no Idea what that means though.

    I have also been told he had something to do with the Black Watch but am still trying to confirm that.

    Any information would be amazing :)
     
  2. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Briefly, there were 2 battalions of Seaforths with 51st HD during the time frame you have stated. 2nd and 5th battalions of 152nd brigade. May 43 they were in North Africa, July 43 Sicily. Returned home November 43 to ready for D-Day. June 44 they landed Normandy and fought through to Germany.
     
  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  4. Toni

    Toni Member

    Not sure which Battalion sorry.
    He got the 8th Army Clasp for his Africa Star medal if that helps at all
     
  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  6. Toni

    Toni Member

    This is some info I have on the Poppa's time in the Seaforth Highlanders, the area's he was in the and the dates.
    Its properly not going to help much either but Hey its worth a shot, Right?

    UK 21/5/42 - 29/8/43
    BNAF 30/8/43 - 27/11/43
    NWE 28/11/43 - 3/6/44
    UK 22/6/44 - 12/7/46
     
  7. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Toni-As I just posted on your other thread, I am not sure if it is BNAF !
    It cannot be BNAF as the dates 30/8/43-27/11/43 surely put him in Italy !:unsure: (One of the vets will probably put me in my place about this!)
    I wouldn't get too hung up about the abbreviations as my dad's records had the dates recorded wrong-don't forget that all the army records were done by hand, probably months later by tired office people who were probably sick and tired of seeing them!

    Lesley
     
  8. Toni

    Toni Member

    Might need to go back to the drawing board with the whole MNAE/MNAF/BNAF things lol

    But I think at this stage Im going to crawl into bed and sleep, after all it is 5.30am and I have been sitting in front of my computer for WAY TO LONG.
     
  9. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    This is some info I have on the Poppa's time in the Seaforth Highlanders, the area's he was in the and the dates.
    Its properly not going to help much either but Hey its worth a shot, Right?

    UK 21/5/42 - 29/8/43
    BNAF 30/8/43 - 27/11/43
    NWE 28/11/43 - 3/6/44
    UK 22/6/44 - 12/7/46

    If you are sure he was with 51st HD, then ignore the above abbreviations and dates. The dates and places I have given you are correct.
     
  10. Toni

    Toni Member

    I dont have any paperwork to say what division. Im going by what has been suggested by people on this forum and by doing alot of reading.

    Its all to confusing :(

    Why do UK service records have to take so long :(
     
  11. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    I dont have any paperwork to say what division. Im going by what has been suggested by people on this forum and by doing alot of reading.

    Its all to confusing :(

    Why do UK service records have to take so long :(


    They are WELL worth the wait-believe me:D.
    Night night

    Lesley
     
  12. Toni

    Toni Member

    Toni-As I just posted on your other thread, I am not sure if it is BNAF !
    It cannot be BNAF as the dates 30/8/43-27/11/43 surely put him in Italy !:unsure: (One of the vets will probably put me in my place about this!)
    I wouldn't get too hung up about the abbreviations as my dad's records had the dates recorded wrong-don't forget that all the army records were done by hand, probably months later by tired office people who were probably sick and tired of seeing them!

    Lesley

    I didnt notice your post. But it has made my head spin in circles again because Poppa was in Italy.

    WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN :confused:

    It means Toni is off to bed :goodnightsign:
     
  13. Toni

    Toni Member

    Mobile Naval Airfield (MNAF) Units

    But Poppa wasn't the Navy
     
  14. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    Mobile Naval Airfield (MNAF) Units

    But Poppa wasn't the Navy

    I think it will be best to wait until you get the UK records to find out re: MNAF, they will be much more detailed than what you already have, meanwhile concentrate on what you do know, ie seaforths, 51st Highland etc, as 4Jonboy said: They are WELL worth the wait-believe me. :D
     
  15. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    He would have the Italy star for being in Sicily NOT Italy as in the Italian mainland.
     
  16. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    He would have the Italy star for being in Sicily NOT Italy as in the Italian mainland.

    The dates 30/8/43 to 27/11/43 put him on mainland Italy
    The Sicily campaign only lasted a month July-August 1943(please correct me if I am wrong:D)

    (I'm not querying the Italy Star entitlement by the way!)


    Lesley
     
  17. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Mobile Naval Airfield (MNAF) Units

    But Poppa wasn't the Navy

    Best wait for the records-it can drive you nuts trying to work out where he was. It's like genealogy, best start with WHAT you already know, then work from there!

    Lesley
     
  18. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Are you STILL up Toni?!!!

    Believe me, I couldn't sleep for days with my brain going round in circles-it drives you crazy. When you get the records it will all become clear and you will see where he was on what dates, then forum members will be able to help you more. We have some vets on here who were in Italy, their input WILL help you-they helped me a lot.

    Lesley
     
  19. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Toni - et al

    Lots of guessing going on - and errors of dates etc

    It may very well be correct to state that he was in either 2nd or 5th Batt Seaforths - as his Africa 8 clasp ensures - BUT - he may also have been wounded in MEF and NOT BNAF- and landed in the transit camp at Tripoli when the idiotic cock up of reinforcements for X corps took place after Sept 9th '43 - and he was then transferred to either 46th OR 56th Divisions - in ITALY.

    Another point to consider is the fact that a battalion of SEAFORTHS were involved at both the Garigliano and Anzio - but I can't find them anywhere !

    The nearest contact with the Black Watch would have been with the 6th Battalion in 4th Division who came up for the final battle - "Diadem" at Cassino

    So it would appear that family legend is getting in the way of true facts and so the only remedy is the Service records -so you will have to just suck it up - and wait for Glasgow to get more staff - which is very unlikely.....
    Cheers
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    6 Seaforths

    5th Div Tom.
    ;)
    >>> 5th Division

    It's the ones you mentioned here...
    Tom C
    Another point to consider is the fact that a battalion of SEAFORTHS were involved at both the Garigliano and Anzio - but I can't find them anywhere !
     

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