Went to see the Rhododendrons at Bowood House today as I promised to give Diane (dbf) a photo of this War Memorial to the Petty-Fitzmaurice brothers, one of whom was Irish Guards, the other Wilts Yeomanry. I saw the Marquis of Lansdowne's name on the Cassino Memorial last year. It's on a wall in the family's Mausoleum, where serveral generations of their family lie.
'Ow da 'aver 'alf live hey... Nice pictures Owen. It looks quite a peaceful place. I'm sure Miss D will be pleased with them
Thanks Owen for the photo, sorry I missed the thread. Looks like a lovely setting. So sad though for the family, losing 2 sons/brothers and only a matter of days apart. From the two IG Coys involved in the action that day against 9 SS Pz Div, there were approx 110 casualties, ie wounded and killed; Lord Fitzmaurice's death was caused by sniper fire. See posts #38-44 on this thread for more about IG on 11 Aug 44 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/13742-irish-guards-3-bn-war-diary-june-1944-a-4.html CWGC :: Casualty Details Lieutenant Lord EDWARD NORMAN FITZMAURICE 253926, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 22 on 11 August 1944 Younger son of Lt.-Col. Henry William Edmund Petty-Fitzmaurice, D.S.O., M.V.O., 6th Marquess of Lansdowne, and the Marchioness of Lansdowne, of Bowood, Wiltshire. Remembered with honour TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. E. 9. CWGC :: Casualty Details Captain CHARLES HOPE FITZMAURICE LANSDOWNE 72231, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps who died age 27 on 20 August 1944 7th Marquess of Lansdowne. Son of Lt.-Col. Henry William Edmund Petty-Fitzmaurice, D.S.O., M.V.O., 6th Marquess of Lansdowne, and the Marchioness of Lansdowne, of Bowood, Wiltshire. B.A. (Oxon.). His brother Edward Norman also fell. Remembered with honour CASSINO MEMORIAL Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2.
From the Royal Wilts, The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1920-1945 by Lt-Col P.W. Pitt TD. page 206. The officer mentioned is Lord Lansdowne. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16525&d=1242036416
All from The Times, dates as noted. [If a few of these come out unreadable apologies - the best I can manage at the moment] Wednesday, August 23, 1944 Thurdsay August 31, 1944 Thursday January 4, 1945
They look like beautiful gardens Owen, well done on the pics. It was indeed a tragedy for a family to lose two sons in such short succession. Diane, from that report above, it states that Lansdowne was the only one killed and that the rest of the crew survived?
Hi Ger, Both the 'heir and spare' having been KIA, the title passed to their cousin who according to the newspaper was serving with the Royal Scots Greys. Erm, that report was from Owen, but yes seems so; bad luck for both him and his brother who had only been in France for a couple of months.
A photo of Charles Hope Fitzmaurice Lansdowne from the Bowood website. I forgot to add link last year. The Lansdowne Family – Bowood House & Gardens
Owen - as you are aware - the Royal Wilts Yeo were in the 9th Armoured Bde of XIII corps along with 78th - 4th and 6th Armoured and the South Africans who went up the West side of the Appenines to Trasimeno - Perugia - Spoleto - Arrezzo and Florence with the 5th US Army as the rest of 8th Army assembled for the start of the Gothic Line Battles over on the Eastern - Adriatic side for the 25th August'44. The main reason he was buried at Cassino was probably owing to the fact that the cemeteries at Bolsena - Assisi etc were not ready in August and Cassino was in preparation. Cheers
Gentlemen - Just to close the circle on the death of the 7th Marquis Lansdowne... I am going through the WO missing Files (WO 361). Those for western Italy 1944 are all grouped in WO 361/801, including details for R WILTS YEO. During the action at Monte Doglio as already described, the Marqis's veh was hit on the engine decks and he killed (head out of turret). The remainder of the crew baled out to be captured and marched away as prisoners. For those interested, the details of the veh concerned are as follows: T. 149470 - Sherman V - C Sqn, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1943 - Pic details via Peter Brown Archive - 20 Aug 44 - Monte Doglio, Italy. Veh Comd was Capt CH Fitzmaurice, 7th Marquis of Lansdowne. Veh hit in the rear. Comd KIA and remaining crew later seen being marched off as PWs - Regt Missing Files, TNA File WO 361/801 The veh name...? 'LANSDOWNE ARMS' of course ! Roddy
Found a couple of your photos Belated thanks for that Roddy. Was able to find a couple of your photos Owen.
cheers D. Thread looked a bit bare without them. Ought to go back one day & redo them, it's a good day out there.
Haha! whilst looking for another disc I found the one with pics on that was covered in dust. Have edited them into post #1.
