Service Number Request - Douglas Aird 5th British Infantry Division

I'm looking for the service number of my great great uncle Douglas Gillespie Aird who served in the 5th British Infantry Division from 1939.

I'm not sure how best to find this out but my idea is that there may be a record of his injury which someone may have that has a service number associated.

The circumstances of his injury:
He was (to the best of my knowledge) part of the heavy mortars of the support company of the 17th Infantry Brigade of the 5th British Infantry Division and was Injured on 2nd April 1944 at Anzio by shrapnel when his ammunition dump exploded. He was evacuated via Naples to the UK.

He was in the 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders so his service number should correspond to that as I understand it.

Other info: He was in France and Belgium 1940 as a Bren Gunner, Dunkirk, promoted to Lance Corporal, South Africa, Invasion of Madagascar, India, demoted to Private, Iran, Middle East, assigned to brigade heavy mortars, Invasion of Sicily, Invasion of mainland Italy, Garigliano, Anzio.

If anyone knows how I could learn of his service number or has any relevant war diaries for his brigade etc I would be very grateful, thank you. (Note: I have read the book "5th British Infantry Division 1939-45")

 

Hello Akulluka,

There is a 2821826 Pte. D. H. Aird, 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.
W.I.A. 2nd April 1944, Italy.
Initials may be a typo?
Hope this is your great great uncle.

 

He was also at the epic 6 SEAFORTHS crossing of the Garigliano on 17-18 Jan 44 - before the battalion was rushed to Anzio.

Regards

Frank

 

Thank you very much that must be him. You may be right about the typo as G and H are adjacent on the keyboard. Anyway that's exactly what I hoped for and so soon, I appreciate it!

 

Hi there, do you have any more information about the seaforths experience here? He wrote briefly about being on a boat crossing the river and worrying about drowning but if you have anything more to add it would be great to hear. He was on the heavy mortar crew of the brigade support company which was made up of men from the various battalions so I take it he would not necessarily be amongst the 6 seaforths at any given time, however I'm not an expert on the unit organisations.

Relevant excerpt from his memoir: "we crossed in small boats and while in the middle of the river the Germans started shelling. The river banks were on fire and as the grass and trees were so dry the flames were pretty high. Being stuck in that little boat carrying all that equipment was anything but pleasant and I could not reach the other side quick enough. If we had been forced to leave the boat I think it would have been a case of drowning."

 

Start a Conversation with me and I will happily send you what I have. I am a battlefield guide for that crossing so I will include mapping too.

Regards

Frank

 

?? you sure, medal card states Douglas Haig Aird with that number??

Also Search results: 2821826 | The National Archives

 

Why dont you apply for his service records
link below explains everything you need to do and you dont require his service number
Get a copy of military records of service

 

Excellent advice from Clive and as Tony has pointed out that soldier is a D H not a D G . Stops all the guesswork . From the medal cards I could find only one more Douglas Aird but from your initial narrative this isn`t your man either but I`m including his card should someone else come searching on `Douglas Aird`

950980 Gnr Douglas Aird




Kyle

 

I think I was mistaken regarding his middle name. On the document with his memoirs the foreword is signed by his son, and I mistook that to be my great great uncles name. So Haig may have been his middle name and this indeed is him in the casualty report.

 

The Infantry Brigades of 5th Infantry Division were unique in that they had integral Brigade Support Companies. These were created in May 1943 in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. They were a way of getting two 4.2-inch into the OOB without having to reorganise the divisional machine gun battalion (7 Cheshires). The companies consisted of two 4.2-inch mortar platoons and an AA platoon armed with 20mm AA guns. The personnel came from the Brigade Defence Platoons with additional personnel being assigned from the battalions of the brigades...so although he may have been officially 6 Seaforths, it sounds as if he was with one of these platoons.

The companies have war diaries. I have 13 and 15 Brigade, but not 17 Brigade.

17 Infantry Brigade: Support Company | The National Archives
17 Infantry Brigade: Support Coy. | The National Archives

 

With the help of all that has gone before in the thread, your great uncle's medal application card (courtesy of TNA via commercial subscription partner Fold3).

Hopefully the Paisley address given on the card will be familiar to you.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Hello and welcome aboard, although I know I’m a bit late with that .

I don’t know if you have this book, but if not, I highly recommend it, Fifth British Division by one of its members, George Aris:



There are plenty of copies here at Abe Books, for example:

Fifth British Division by Aris - AbeBooks

Trust me, it’s a great history of the Division’s war.

 

See this at bottom of post #1.

 

Oops.

 

To tie in with Gary's post, and for information of Akulluka, from 6th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders War Diary.

Prelude to Sicily, War Diary entry Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th April 1943, the 4.2 inch mortar.

"Following War Office Controlled Stores were received today - thirty No.38 wireless sets (for issue down to Rifle Pl HQ) and one 4.2" mortar complete. Instructions as to employment of 4.2" mortar have not yet been received but it is expected to be withdrawn for use in Bde or Div Support Coy"

Which clearly became the case as Gary's post proves.

It's possible that Douglas's first sight of the 4.2 inch mortar could have been around this time.

Kind regards, always, Jim.

N.b. War Diary images courtesy of TNA Kew via one of their many commercial partners.



And pertinent entry close up:

 

War diary entry from 1st April 1944.