War Diary - 1st Battalion, The Hampshire Regt - June 1944

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Buteman, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Here are the war diary pages for the battalion of the above regiment for June 1944.

    DSCF5446 (Large).JPG
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 14, 2017
    Ramiles, ClankyPencil, Owen and 2 others like this.
  2. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello ramacal,

    Are you covering all of 50 Div in June, or just the 231st Infantry Brigade?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Hello ramacal,

    Are you covering all of 50 Div in June, or just the 231st Infantry Brigade?

    Best,

    Steve.

    Steve

    I copied some June 1944 war diaries for a friend and I thought I'd make them accessible to Forum Members. I was not carrying out any research for myself and had not given any thought to which Division or Brigade they were part of.

    The others I will be posting shortly are the June 1944 war diaries for the 2nd Devonshires (231 Brigade) and 6th & 7th Green Howards (69 Brigade). I don't have the 5th East Yorks (69 Brigade) or the 6th, 8th & 9th DLI (151 Brigade)

    Regards - Rob
     
  4. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Thanks for sharing these Rob. I've viewed all of the different diaries you have posted with great interest.

    Cheers

    Jonathan
     
  5. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Rob,

    I have sent you a PM, but regarding the above - yes please! :)

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2018
  6. charlwojo

    charlwojo Junior Member

    Hello Ramacal,

    I am looking into the movements and involvement of the 1st Battalion the Hampshires durign the second world war and was amazed to find your pictures of the actual war diaries. Is there the possibility that you would be able to provide the Battalions diary entries for the subsequent months July - Oct?

    I am very interested as my Grandfather was a private during the campaign and managed to get to Holland before he was hit by shrapnel and seriously injured.

    Any help you could provide would be most welcome.

    Many Thanks
    John
     
  7. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum John,

    The 1st Bn, Hampshire Regiment were with 231st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division from late August 1943 for the duration, landing on Gold Beach on D-Day and then throughout NW Europe - until 50 Div was reduced to a training cadre on 30 November 1944; with Monty saying it 'had done enough'.

    Let's see how your request develops and I will add more, if appropriate, in due course. It may be helpful if you could post your grandfather's name and details of his service record if held?!? These are, obviously, private matters and you should only post if happy to do so!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Steve mac

    it was my understanding that 231 Bde with Brig Gen Uhrquart joined with 50th Div for Sicily in July '43 to replace 150th bde which was lost long before at Gazala - they tried all sorts of bdes but settled on 231 bde - Uhrquart went on to become Maj Gen of 1st para div

    Cheers
     
  9. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Tom,

    I trust you are keeping well!

    I wrote this once already but the ether sabotaged my 'encryption'.

    The 168th Infantry Brigade - 1st London Scottish, 1st London Irish Rifles and 10th Royal Berks - were part of 50 Div for the 'Husky' landings, but apparently were not up to muster. Now I cannot comment on this general statement with any authority, but my little reading on the period 27 April to 10 October 1943 leads one to this conclusion. I will read more, and reach a definitive and personal conclusion sometime hence.

    The 50 Div orbat has 231st Bde joining the division on 10 October 1943, having started Husky as an Independent Infantry Brigade; fresh out of Malta. However, a lot of my reading shows 231 Bde with 50 Div before the end of the Sicily Campaign and whilst involved in the Italy landings. This is why I always say 'August', but I have never heard it be July and it may well have been later!

    What do you think/know?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  10. paulcheall

    paulcheall Son of a Green Howard

    Hi John and welcome. My dad was fighting in 6 Green Howards, 69 brigade, 50 div alongside the Hampshires on Gold beach. You should be able to click through to my dad's website and learn a little more. I have some pics of the Hampshires attending the 50th anniversary of D-day in France if you'd like me to dig them out. I believe they are just ww2 enthusiasts dressed up but they make a nice memento.
    Paul

     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    not much point , he's not been on forum for over a year.
    Last Active Jan 24 2013 05:24 PM
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    From WO 223/39 1 Hampshire Regiment The Landing, June 1944.

    WO 223 papers and files relate chiefly to the 1944-45 campaigns in France and Germany (Operation Overlord etc). They were prepared by the Staff College from war diaries, regimental and battalion histories, etc. for the use of officers attending the 1947 Course.

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. Gold

    Gold Member

    Hello,
    it is possible to have a copie of it please ? (green howards and 2nd Devon)

    Thank you !

    Regards,
    Guillaume
     
  14. Mac 923

    Mac 923 New Member

    Hello, I'm researching Private 14292183 Harry West of 1st Battalion The Hampshire Regiment. He went from the U.K. to Normandy on 19th June 1944 and was wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans near Caen on 20th July 1944, subsequently becoming a PoW at Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf. I wonder if anyone has the 1st Battalion war diary for these dates please ? The daughter of Harry West ( who is now deceased ) would dearly love to find out how he was wounded, in what particular action and how he was taken prisoner.
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    For Info
    UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    Name: H West
    Rank: Private
    Army Number: 14292183
    Regiment: Hampshire Regiment
    POW Number: 81229
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: VIII-C
    Camp Location: Konin Zaganski, Poland
    Record Office: Infantry and Army Physical Training Corps Record Office, Stanwell Road School, Ashford, Middlesex
    Record Office Number: 23

    TD
     
  16. Mac 923

    Mac 923 New Member

    Thank you, Tricky Dicky ! :)
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Hope this helps.
    Extract from page 227 ,
    Chapter XVIII The 1st Battalion In Normandy ,
    The Royal Hampshire Regiment by David Scott Daniell.


    page 227.JPG
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  18. Mac 923

    Mac 923 New Member

    Owen, thank you, you are an absolute star mate !
     
  19. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    There is an online pdf for the...

    - CANFORD SCHOOL -
    -- ROLL OF HONOUR --

    Graham Mason Elliott (8 41) Lieutenant, Hampshire Regiment.
    He was commissioned from Sandhurst into the 24th Lancers in March 1943. He later transferred to the Hampshire Regiment and landed on D-Day on "Gold" Beach with the 1st Battalion. He was severely wounded during the attack on Arromanches and died of his wounds in Hasler Hospital on June 9th 1944 which was the day following his 21st birthday.

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    LIEUTENANT GRAHAM MASON ELLIOTT
    Service Number: 268027
    Regiment: Hampshire Regiment, 1st Bn.
    Date of Death: Died 09 June 1944
    Buried or commemorated at
    DURLEY (HOLY CROSS) CHURCHYARD
    Grave 495.
    United Kingdom
    Country of Service: United Kingdom


    The 24th L - War Diary - for Graham Mason Elliott has...

    19/3/43 2/Lt.G.M.Elliott, RAC, was posted to the Regiment from RAC, OCTU.

    &

    23/11/43 Selected Officers of the Regiment attended a lecture on “Battle Intelligence” given by Lieut.Col.Ewart at HQ, 8 Corps.
    2/Lts F.B.Creamer, A.H.Wade and G.M.Elliott were attached to 165 OCTU, Dunbar.
    Selected Officers of the Regiment attended a demonstration of the use of 4.2” mortars at Wheeldale.
     

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