War Diary: 4 Bn Welch Regiment, June - August 1944

Discussion in '53rd (Welsh) Division' started by Swiper, Jun 28, 2009.

  1. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Hi Al and what fab news. Would it be possible to send to my email ady or dod you prefer posting them here so others may benefit too? Cheers for now, Murdo
     
  2. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Hi Al and would this be the CO from the beginning of 1940, Sir Charles Coleman? He is listed as being the CO from 1941 to 1944 but isn't more accurate. If he wasn't t the beginning of 1941, who was his predecessor please? Lastly, have you any idea were the battalion was billeted in Banbridge prior to Keady? I need that info to ask a friend in the Banbridge Chronicle if he can find me some photos. Many thanks in advance, Murdo
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Aljones

    Aljones Junior Member

    Hi Murdo

    'A' company was billeted at Morton's Store, Banbridge at Keady it was the Old Linen Mill - a three storey building near a river.
    I am looking into the other documentation - there is a place on this site for Unit Diaries - it might be better for others if I started to put them there rather than on a forum site?

    It will take a little time for that
    Regards
    Al
     
  4. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Many thanks Al and great stuff. Must look again which company he was in and let you know. We've got plenty of time - I've "waited" 23 years to listen to my father's tapes but far too late as he died in 2002 and could have answered all my questions then! Have a nice day
     
  5. Aljones

    Aljones Junior Member

    Hi Murdo

    I have posted January 1940 on the following: Forums; 53rd (Welsh) Division; unit history, war diaries and docs; under 4th Welch Battalion. See how you get on. I will then post the rest. The war diaries take a bit of getting use to with the terms - OR = Other ranks etc. You can google a lot of the terms to understand them.
    Edit : Link > 4th Welch Battalion Jan 1940 (Bambridge, Northern Ireland) - war diary
    The 4th Welch Battalion consisted of approx 800 officers with four companies and one support. The highest rank of commanding officer is likely to have been a Lieutenant Colonel. The company's (120 men approx) are run by Captains and Lieutenants. The companys are split into platoons. It is rare for more junior ranks to be mentioned although there are some names in December 1940.

    If you haven't got your father's paybook and testimonial you can apply for his records - it costs to have this even for a failed search. A few years ago I got my father's for £38 and it only repeated was in his books anyway. The records are immense - the size of several football pitches apparently. Google how to do this through the MOD.

    It would really assist your research if you understand the army structures - there is a lot of information about.

    I hope that helps

    Al
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2020
  6. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Many thanks lots of good information in your message. I am getting used to some things of course and noted about paybook and testimonial. Someone (I think it was Ewan) said that it takes a very long time to receive them and they only accept checks! Since I live abroad adn don't have a UK account, I need to go through my daughter in London and she hasn't had a check book for a couple of years! January 1940 is too early for my father as he finished OCTU 166 in February and had some leave and waited in vain for his uniform! It didn't arrive in time and was told to report in his best civvy outfit which was his father's WW1 Seaforth Highlanders kilt and a Harris tweed jacket and waistcoat woven by his grandmother!!! The Depot CO shouted at him "What are you doing here flaunting your national dress?" Dear oh dear - good start, eh?
     
  7. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Hi Al and my father was in C Company in early 1941. He mentions something about going out on a "skee/skeam" which I do not know what it means others than an exercise or something like that. I wouldn't mind knowing who the CO of that company was and apparently a solicitor in civvy street. It would between say end of January and sometime in late March early April and he left for India with some other Welch Regiment officers and sailed from Glasgow on the 24th March 1941 (Convoy WS7 and then WS7X from Durban to Bombay) and arrived in Bombay on 05.05.1941 for a new capture of his services.
     
  8. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    Hi Al and my father was in D Company in Banbridge (early 1940 but say, lrom late February) and they were in a large barn he says. He mentions that the CO Depot, a Major, also came over to Northern Ireland as a Lieutenant-colonel and they got to know each other quite well. Wonder who that was?
     
  9. Murdo Duncan

    Murdo Duncan Closed Account

    My father went on two interesting courses he says in 1940. One to Bangor for the interpretation of aerial photos and a second one, a snipers course is Bisley and was there on the 15th of September when there was a (favourable) turn in the Battle of Britain. He calls it "A big important matter of history". Can any tell me about Bisley please? My father was with C Company, 4 Welch then and I'd like to know who were the other officers if c-possible, especially his CO and perhaps the Lieutenant-Colonel who had been a Major in charge of he Depot in Cardiff when he arrived in a kilt and received a bollocking!
     
  10. Teetie

    Teetie Member

    Is there anybody who has the war diarys of the 4bn Welsh Regiment of March 1945. For a relative from Swansea I’m searching for what happened to private David Morgan who was sadly was killed in action on 27 March 1947. He had his temporary grave in Dingden ( Germany). After the war he had his last resting place at the Reichswald War Cemetery. He was only 19 years old.
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Double checked the year on CWGC.
    For the record:
    Lance Corporal David Morgan | War Casualty Details 2040510 | CWGC
    LANCE CORPORAL DAVID MORGAN
    Service Number: 14731223
    Regiment & Unit/Ship: Welch Regiment 4th Bn.
    Date of Death: Died 27 March 1945
    Age 19 years old
    Buried or commemorated at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Grave Reference: 47. H. 7.
    Location: Germany
    Additional Info: Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Morgan, of Alltwen, Glamorgan.
    Personal Inscription: NID HEDDIW AND BOB DYDD MEWN TAWELWCH Y COFIWN


    If no one responds to your War Diary request, here's the relevant TNA Reference:
    4 Welch Regiment | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/5286
    Description: 4 Welch Regiment
    Date: 1945 Jan.-Dec.

    Should you be unable to get to Kew yourself, some forum members might be able to get you a copy for very reasonable rates.

    Good luck with your research.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery


    David Morgan (unknown-1945) - Find a Grave...
    [​IMG]


    LANCE CORPORAL DAVID MORGAN
    Service Number: 14731223
    Regiment & Unit/Ship

    Welch Regiment

    4th Bn.

    Date of Death
    Died 27 March 1945

    Age 19 years old

    Buried or commemorated at
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

    47. H. 7.

    Germany


    • Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
    • Additional InfoSon of Thomas and Mary Ann Morgan, of Alltwen, Glamorgan.
    • Personal InscriptionNID HEDDIW AND BOB DYDD MEWN TAWELWCH Y COFIWN

    DISCOVER WORLD WAR CASUALTIES WHO LIVED IN YOUR AREA
    Use our postcode search tool to discover more about the war dead from your local area and build a link to your local history.


    Download certificate
     
  13. Aljones

    Aljones Junior Member

    War diary of 4th Welch that covers 27/3/1945 - it is a photo of the document so enlarge it to read. good luck
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Aljones

    Aljones Junior Member

    Second copy of 27/3/1945 War diary of 4th Welch that covers 27/3/1945 - it is a photo of the document so enlarge it to read. good luck
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Teetie

    Teetie Member

    Do you know the birthday of David?
     

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